No matter where you look on the web, the key to making any money online is wrapped up in the list. Without one, you’ve got a major hurdle to clear. The following concept, may be your answer to fast-tracking exposure!

At some point in time, you have probably visited a trade show within your industry. You saw legions of companies within your industry, selling goods from booths and visitors looking to buy or develop leads for themselves. Using this model, why not create your own mini trade show with friends or colleagues who compliment each other’s businesses?

By combining the lists from say five to ten companies, who share the same target audience, put together a promotion to present a series of services to this body of contacts and feed off of each other. Here is how you could approach it:

1: Gather together businesses who have a growing list of emails from contacts that the group as a whole might benefit from. For instance: Accountants, lawyers, business consultants and financial people would all share the same target audience – small business. Put together a joint list. Make it a rule that your list is not for sale, but only to be used within the confines of the trade show arena. The joint list only mails from one location. Once the show is over, all parties return to their own lists.

2: Put together some teazer emails, and start to push them at this joint audience, to prime the pump. Let them know the time span the “Trade Show” will occupy. Also give them the opportunity to opt-out of the mailing if they so wish.

3: The day of the “Trade Show” launch send out the first of many consecutive mailings. Encourage each of the participants to offer something of value to contacts. An example would be to offer something, that could be used to harvest new emails for your own growing list.

4: Once the span of the “Trade Show” has expired, follow up leads, and send out thank you emails with announcements on the date to expect the next one.

5: Send out a web survey to gage awareness of the show and see what needs tweeking.

How ever you do this, be sure to take your best shot as it could expose your product or service to a large audience. In the lead up, your list could be told of your valuable contacts, and your desire to provide meaningful assistance to them from a variety of positions. Benefit from a larger list without the grueling years of building one. It is a great way to boost your brand by helping others to succeed. The true spirit of networking.