I have developed what I call a reciprocity-based list attraction strategy for joint venture projects.

This strategy was responsible for adding hundreds of subscribers to my partners lists during IAWBO’s September birthday celebration (the gift bag). Many reported it was the largest list growth they had experience from a “giveaway” style project.

Here’s how it works:

Have your joint venture partners contribute an EXCLUSIVE GIFT to your give-away. Exclusive meaning that the gift is not available anywhere else for-free.

Each JV partner provides a landing page URL where subscribers can collect the gift without having to opt-in. << Yes, you read that right – no opt-in.

Now, you’re probably wondering how do partners grow their lists if this is the case right? I have a solution for that… a proven strategy that actually increases your opt-ins.

The gift is provided without an opt-in THEN, directly underneath the download link (on the same page) the partner will invite them to opt-in for a bonus or surprise gift.

Example: Let’s say the (no opt-in) gift is an exclusive audio recording. The bonus or surprise gift requiring opt-in could be a companion action guide, transcript or checklist. The more relevant or complimentary to the initial gift the better.

Here is an example that you and your partners can model from IAWBO’s Birthday Celebration http://www.laptopmom.com/HowToDoATeleseminar.html

TIP: Add an autoresponder campaign to the mix to convert subscribers to customers and who knows where else these visitors will click once they are at your site.

There are 3 key ingredients to this strategy.

1) GIVING: The no opt-in approach to receiving gifts from the experts is a welcome reprieve from the traditional giveaways that require we opt in to every single persons list to get a freebie that is readily available on the net anyway. Giving without the expectation of receiving activates the law of reciprocity.

2) EXCLUSIVITY: Knowing they can’t get the gift anywhere else free coupled with giving it without need for an opt-in increases trust immediately. This is huge and a great premise to outline the opt-in invitation that follows. (Wow… if they are going to give me this for free, what will I get if I do opt-in).

3) RELEVANCY of the bonus/surprise gift so that it is desirable and a logical opt-in.

Another benefit here to the JV partners is that subscribers are more likely to use their primary email address when opting in. The give removes the worry that they’ll be bombarded with unwanted communications and they are less likely to create a “throw away” email address to collect all the goodies. This means high quality subscribers for the JV partners.

This strategy worked wonders for IAWBO’s month long birthday celebration and I’m using it again for the Virtual Goodie Bag we’re preparing for the Success Rituals 2.0 book launch and IAWBO’s new Hope Chest (watch for that coming February 1st).

~ Gina xo