If you're searching for information on how to build a list or already own a list, your end goal is probably to generate an income from that list.
Sure, sometimes people will build a list for hobby purposes or to create some sort of charity funding group.
However, most of the time, if you're looking to start your own mailing list, the end goal is to generate profits.
What you're looking to do when it comes to building a profit-generating list is to build a list of people with similar interests or concerns.
They have similar problems and they're looking for solutions.
You are the solution provider.
Generally, these are people who are looking to learn more from you.
When you are building a list, you want to keep the end goal of profit in mind.
Some people send free information all day long and their subscribers lap it up happily, but the list owner doesn't make any money at the end of the day.
You've got to promote some products to your list that will actually make you a profit and also help them.
You also need to consider what niche you are entering.
Some niches are inherently more profitable than others.
So you want to enter niches that are proven to be making money through the list building process.
These include weight loss, investing, dating and Internet marketing.
The first 3 niches have lesser competition than the Internet marketing niche, and smart Internet marketers regularly clean up in those markets from email marketing.
There is less 'email clutter' in those niches so you can really leap frog your competitors using the techniques you learned from Internet marketing.