If you have been online for awhile now, you have no doubt heard marketing guru's proclaim that

'the money is in the list.' And there's no doubting that this is one piece of information that

is absolutely true, but building a list is easily said than done. Some people don't want to go

to the trouble, while others really don't know where to start, and still some think it's not that

important; that it is a dieing art. This article will not focus on the techniques of building a list,

but on why you should consider email marketing as a profitable and viable income stream.

1. Email Address

Everyone online has an email address - and it is one of the reasons people get online is so they

can access their emails. It is also the gatekeeper to accessing everything else online,

including social media from Facebook to Twitter. Without an email address, you won't get far.

The best part about capturing email addresses is that your message will sit in their inbox even

when that person is away. Sooner or later, that person will check their inbox, and hopefully

your message.

2. Communication

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are great places for people to mingle and communicate with each other. You can find out what people are talking about, what's trending, and catch up with friends and family on a regular basis. It’s fun and interactive. But if we really want to know what's going on, then it's email that we turn to. With email, you get the good with the bad (spam), but the good always outweighs the bad. People are looking for the good news from friends, the latest gossip, and so on. Good news, prizes, a free eBook, or some kind of special offer. If you have built up a relationship with that person, then you have a better chance of making a sale or future sale sometime down the track.

3. Who Owns the List?

There are many ways you can communicate with your audience, including Facebook, Twitter, and even Squidoo and Hub Pages, to name a few. It is true that these sites are great ways to communicate with your followers, but with all great systems, nothing is infallible. Any of these sites can delete your pages for whatever reason, and where would that leave you then? I might not happen, but what happens if it does?

There is no way you can contact your followers or subscribers. That's why it's so important to have an email list. It is something that can't be taken away from you. It's an asset for life - and for your business, especially if you decide to sell your business at some stage.