The Three Deadly Sins of List Building

Welcome to another issue of the no-BS newsletter dedicated to demystifying the world of passive income, where we share practical, reliable strategies to build and sustain income streams that work for you.

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In today's issue:

  • The Three Deadly Sins of List Building

  • If You Fake It, You Won’t Make It

  • Make Money Typing Emails With Troy Ericson

  • Swim in Blue Oceans, Not Red!

FROM MY WORLD

The Three Deadly Sins of List Building

Imagine this: you’re working your butt off, running ads, building funnels, and trying to squeeze out as many leads as you can, but at the end of the month… your results still suck.

You check your stats, scratch your head, and wonder, “Why am I not seeing better returns?”

Chances are, you’re committing one (or more) of the Seven Deadly Sins of List Building.

I see these sins every day when I review campaigns. It’s painful because they’re so avoidable — yet most marketers still fall into these traps.

So let’s cut straight to the chase. Here are the top three sins that grind my gears the most:

Sin #1: Asking for Too Much Information

This one’s a biggie!

I cringe every time I see a squeeze page that asks for a name, email, phone number, home address, and probably a social security number too (seriously, what are you guys thinking?).

When was the last time you handed over your phone number to a stranger on the street?
It’s even worse on the internet. The trust issues here are magnified by a thousand!

The more fields you ask your prospects to fill, the more you scare them away. They’ll bounce off your page faster than a ping pong ball hit by Forrest Gump.

Stick to the basics. Keep it simple — email address only. That’s the gateway to your future profits.

Sin #2: Double Opt-In Debacle

Ah, the infamous double opt-in — the one that makes you want to throw your laptop out the window.

Here’s what happens: your prospect enters their email… but then they have to check their inbox, open your confirmation email, and click a link just to get what you promised.

Guess what? Most won’t do it.

Seventy percent of people just don’t bother. The remaining 30%? They’re the unicorns who actually confirm.

But now you’re paying for traffic that just vanishes into thin air because they never confirm. I’ve seen too many marketers blow their budgets on this one mistake.

Single opt-in, folks. One-click. One action. One step closer to your money.

Sin #3: Ignoring Daily Emails

This one’s the silent killer.

Most marketers are scared of “over-emailing.” They think, “If I send too many emails, I’ll annoy my list and they’ll all unsubscribe!”

You know what’s more annoying? Getting ghosted by your own list because they forget who you are!

If they gave you their email, they have a problem. And if you’re not showing up in their inbox every day, you’re missing out.

“Top of the mind awareness,” as my coach Tom Beal calls it. If you’re not in their face daily, someone else will be.

So, mail them every single day.

Yes, every day. 

It’s not about quantity — it’s about being relevant. Talk about their pain points, their desires, their deepest fears, and they’ll stick around like flies on honey.

There you have it — three of the Seven Deadly Sins that can wreck your profits. Avoid these, and you’ll be miles ahead of your competition.

Curious about the other four? 

Stay tuned! I’ll be revealing more sins in the coming issues — and trust me, you don’t want to miss them.

MY GIFT FOR YOU

I Want To Ship You a Copy of My Book

As our way of saying thanks for subscribing to the newsletter, we’d like to ship you a free copy of the Amazon best-seller List Building Lifestyle: Confessions of an Email Millionaire. This book shows how to build a scalable passive income online even if you’ve got no previous experience.

Claim your no cost copy by texting the word BOOK to +1 833-259-7282

You can also just click the button below if you’re reading this on your mobile device.

This book costs $20 on Amazon, but if you text the word BOOK to +1 833-259-7282, you’ll receive a special link allowing you to get a free copy of the book plus $3,251.88 in bonuses (just chip in on S&H).

MINDSET MAKEOVER

If You Fake It, You Won’t Make It

We’ve all heard the saying: “Fake it till you make it.” It’s one of those phrases that sounds catchy but falls apart in the real world.

Because when you fake it, you’re not building a business—you’re building a house of cards.

Why ‘Faking It’ Kills Your Credibility

Imagine being a brand-new marketer. You’re still learning, you haven’t made a single sale, and a prospect asks, “How much have you made so far?”

You get nervous, your palms sweat, and you throw out a number that’s nowhere near the truth. What happens next?

You’ve just created the perfect recipe for self-sabotage. Because deep down, you know you’re not telling the truth, and every word after that feels like quicksand, pulling you deeper and deeper.

You’re trying to impress, but all you’re really doing is chipping away at your own confidence. 

And when you’re not confident, people sense it.

The Power of Being Real

Instead of pretending to be someone you’re not, own where you are right now. Be honest about your journey. 

Here’s what I mean:

When I first started out, I didn’t have fancy cars, flashy watches, or seven-figure income reports to show off. What I had was my relentless drive to succeed.

I’d say something like: “I’m new to this, but I’m working my butt off every day to master it. I’m committed to learning everything I can, and I’m looking for others who want to grow with me.”

See the difference? 

It’s not about pretending. It’s about being real, relatable, and showing people that you’re someone who’s willing to put in the work.

The Truth Cuts Through the Noise

The fact is, people are bombarded with so much hype and BS these days that they expect you to be fake. But when you show up as yourself—no filters, no pretending—you immediately stand out.

Prospects can’t help but think, “Wow, this person is actually genuine.” And that is what attracts them. It’s what turns a skeptical lead into a loyal customer.

Authenticity Sells Better Than Any Pitch

If you’re just starting out, you don’t need to fabricate success. Share your real story instead. Tell people about your learning process, the struggles you’re facing, and the lessons you’re picking up along the way.

Trust me, they’ll appreciate it way more than a slick sales pitch. They’ll see someone who’s willing to be honest, to keep pushing forward, and to genuinely help them—no strings attached.

Because at the end of the day, no amount of faking will ever get you the results that authenticity can.

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Make Money Typing Emails With Troy Ericson

A brand new career opportunity awaits you. Become an email list manager and make a lot of money while sending out emails for big businesses. How?

Tune in to explore the scope of email list management, the key to writing engaging emails, retaining long-term clients, and more.

CURATED READS

Swim in Blue Oceans, Not Red!

"Blue Ocean Strategy" by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne is a game-changer for anyone tired of competing in oversaturated markets. It flips the traditional business mindset on its head by showing how to create new demand instead of fighting for scraps in a cutthroat industry. Instead of battling rivals, Kim and Mauborgne teach you to step into uncharted waters—blue oceans—where competition is irrelevant.

Packed with real-world examples, it’ll challenge you to rethink your entire business model and find innovative ways to stand out without getting caught up in price wars.

Definitely a must-read if you want to escape the red ocean of competition and start swimming in profitable blue oceans of opportunity.

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