I bet you've heard this over and over again, "An Ezine or newsletter really is an important key to a successful business." "Why do I say that?" you say to yourself. Well let me first say that the foundation or base to the success of a business is building a responsive subscriber or customer list.

You need to send out an ezine or newsletter, so you have the means to build a subscriber or customer list. Everybody talks about this, but how many people actually implement it into his or her marketing strategy? I would have to say that the majority of business owners don't implement this strategy online or offline. Remember the success of your business depends on it.

Everybody talks about driving traffic to their website. Then in some miraculous way a visitor is going to love your product or service and buy it right on the spot! Wow, I bet you and I wish that was the way it happened. The truth of the matter is, the majority of visitors are not going to buy from you on their first visit.

You can have the best product or service in the world that meets your visitor's needs and they most likely are going to pass it up on the first visit. In fact, they may need as many as 7 to 10 times to finally make their decision to buy. Someone visits your website and just loves what you have to offer. They might bookmark your site, but probably not. They'll say to themselves that they'll check back again, but that's a big maybe to depend on for the life of your business.

And remember all the money and time you've spent to drive visitors there. People are busy and they'll forget about you or worse, your competitor will snatch them away from you.

If this is the case, then you must have a way of capturing your potential customers contact information to follow up with them. This is where your newsletter becomes the incentive for your visitor to give you permission to contact them. Your newsletter is your follow up tool and can be the key to the success of your business.

A newsletter serves two very important purposes. One, it is the vehicle to build your list. You provide quality content and in exchange you receive a persons contact information. Second, it builds a relationship and rapport with your prospect. They get to know and trust you and you potentially receive a customer for life.

Okay so we've established a newsletter is important. But sending out just anything won't do. Please listen to this very carefully, because it will make such a huge difference in your results. Give your subscribers quality content with the intention of helping that individual.

I feel if your intent is to just sell something, they'll feel it and they won't trust you. Be in the business of helping people solve their problems, even if they never buy your product.

In fact many subscribers may never buy your product or service, but they will love your newsletter. You may say, "How does that help me?" Well, that person might not buy from you, but he or she could be your best marketer. They'll tell everyone they know about your great newsletter and what a great business you have.

Those that they refer may become you best customers. And as you probably already know, word of mouth is the very best advertising you could have for your business.

Provide a useful high quality newsletter in exchange for your visitors contact information. You will then have the ability to follow up and remind your subscribers that you are there to provide the products, services and useful information to help them in their lives.

Build your list by providing quality content in your newsletters and build a relationship for life.

In conclusion, before you spend your valuable time and money on driving traffic to your site, have a way to follow up with your visitors. Offer them an ongoing newsletter with useful quality content. Build a loyal responsive list by helping your subscribers with valuable content and you will see your business succeed beyond your wildest dreams.