The internet is a massive place and for anyone wanting to do business online, the opportunities are endless. This is because with millions of people logging onto the internet each day and hundreds more getting connected every minute, there is a huge customer base for just about every product. One of the primary ways to be successful on the internet is opt in list building, so that you can directly cater to your subscribers on your list via newsletters.

However, building a responsive list is easier said than done especially since opt in list building presents it's own share of challenges including creating an attractive opt in page, getting new people to subscribe to your list, maintaining relations with subscribers, keeping your subscribers interested, converting your subscribers into buying customers etc.

Such challenges are run of the mill for most internet marketers and are hurdles that can be overcome without too many problems. But, the most important challenge of all when it comes to opt in list building is for you to be able to define your niche market before you even begin to build your list.

So, why should you define your niche market?

Remember when I said earlier that the internet is a big place with endless opportunities for sellers and marketers. Well, that is a plain fact known by every net entrepreneur out there, which is why most internet market sectors are saturated to the limit.

In other words, when trying to join the general internet mainstream, you will find yourself competing with hordes of other businesses in any given sector and at any point in time and the only way to flourish in such a scenario is to distinguish yourself by choosing your own niche rather than trying to fight the already established business entities. This is why the given situation merits the old adage - "It's better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in the sea."

Defining Your Niche Market:

Defining your niche market is a step by step process where you first need to define the large market that you wish to be a part of and then pick a service that established service providers do not already provide. However, if finding such an opportunity or unfulfilled market need is hard to come by, then you need to be innovative and come up with a "new" need using your creativity and knowledge of the customer base in your chosen sector.

In a nutshell, one of the main challenges of opt in list building is to know your product or service really well and then place extra emphasis on what sets you apart from your competitors. You can also develop your niche based on several factors including the type of customer you want to sell to, the kind of services you provide, the manner in which you provide your services, your network of influence, geography and last but not least, your personal style or approach.

Understanding who your customers are will also help you target the right people in opt in list building. This way, your audience will be limited, but will better understand what you are saying and the chances of converting prospects into customers will be much higher!