Opt in email lists have been the most well established online marketing method since the end of the spamming era. While some internet marketers may have been saddened or threatened by the end (or more appropriately curtailing) of the use of spam servers to send out unsolicited emails, the vast majority in the industry feel otherwise. Opt in email lists provide much better results and create the opportunity to build a lasting and rewarding relationship with their consumers. Here's three reasons why.

Users of Opt in Email Lists See Substantially Better Results In the industry what we know as black-hat marketers used to use software to raid the web for contact information wherever it was unprotected. They then would send out massive amounts of messages knowing they could count on some tiny percentage clicking on the offer and either buying or registering as a lead. Many times this was all the black-hatter needed in order to make a decent living, but it gave the industry a really bad name.

Today people read more content themselves on the web, delivered based on their history of browsing or their personal news reader settings. Whatever the case it is the consumer of content that drives all the activity. While it may have scared some marketers to allow consumers to be in the driver's seat the positive results (trust in buying online and confidence of buyers) are unmistakeable: online sales trounced all records last year and expectations for 2011 are even higher. Today someone reads a page, seeks out more information, and willing hands off their contact information to opt in email lists knowing full well that they will not receive undesired promotions.

Consumers Feel More Comfortable Buying from Known Sources Another blessing of opt in email lists is the opportunity for the online marketing professional to make multiple contacts with the consumer without feeling the pressure to make a hard sell sales pitch. The professional can lead the reader to several pieces of available information which might make the buyer's choice easier. This is where the value of opt in email lists is built: with the trusted guidance of the knowledgeable salesperson.

Allowing Consumers to Show You Which Phase of the Buying Cycle They're In The last point I want to make about the change in marketing behavior is the increased ability to track and understand the buying cycle of consumers. Good autoresponder software these days tracks not only clicks, but more importantly which links were clicked. The diligent marketer can review campaigns after a hundred views or so and see where there message is reaching the hearts and minds of their audience, and make adjustments accordingly.

Using software to build and manage opt in email lists is standard industry practice today. When marketers direct their readers to well made WordPress affiliate sites their online sales and income dramatically increase.