Once you’ve decided to build an email list for your business, you might be wondering what the best email list-building ideas are and how you can implement them most effectively in your own business.
In this article, we’ll cover the reasons why it’s important to create an email list, which tactics work best, and much more! Read on to learn more!
Types of Lists
With a handful of different lists, you can reach out to your audience and work towards building relationships that last. Use these strategies to determine which lists are best for your needs and how often you should update them.
What email list would be the most useful for you?
- Customer list: Gather emails from people who have already bought your product or service. You’ll have access to those potential customers in the future when they need what you’re selling.
- Your prospects list: Those who haven’t yet made a purchase with you will become more valuable as they grow closer to purchasing something from you. Be sure to offer incentives like freebies or discounts if they sign up now.
For example, Sign up for our newsletter and get 25% off any purchase!
- Subscriber list: As a business owner, you may want to create an opt-in form on your website where visitors can subscribe to receive updates from you.
- Fan base list: If you want to market products other than your own but still maintain your current customer base, this is the list for you! These are people who love what you do and trust your opinion.
They could easily become paying customers too because you know their likes and dislikes so well. And finally, we have the ever-important event list.
Having known the types of email marketing list, let’s look at the email list building ideas that will ensure your success as a business owner
Email List Building Ideas
Use embedded signup forms
The best way to grow your email list is by creating an eye-catching signup form. It should be easy for users to find, use, and understand it.
There are different types of form fields you can use; with the most common being email signup.
Embedded forms work best when they’re on your website’s home page, so people don’t have to leave your site to opt in.
Another popular placement is within blog posts – if a reader wants to subscribe, they just need to enter their email address into a box at the bottom of the post.
You might also want to consider placing them within your social media platforms or inside product pages on your eCommerce store – if someone signs up while browsing through our products, we’ll get access to their contact information as well as their purchase history.
Create Autoresponder Series
One of the best ways to build your email list is by creating an autoresponder series, which you can set up on the most popular email services.
This series will be triggered automatically after a subscriber opts in to receive content from you.
Start with a welcome message that contains a brief description of what your emails will include and asks them for their name and email address so that you have a way to contact them in the future.
The next message should focus on providing more information about who you are and why they should listen to your messages. You may also want to include some additional benefits such as how often they’ll get messages or the types of topics they’ll cover.
It might also be a good idea to give them a teaser at this point or even offer one free item if they sign up now.
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Introduce gamification
If you are struggling to stay creative and engaging with your email list, gamification may be the answer. It turns what might seem like a boring task into something interesting and enjoyable, drawing people in and making them want to share their experiences.
A recent example of a company using gamification successfully is Nike+ Running App which has a leaderboard system that allows runners to compete against other people or themselves.
This adds a competitive element that can make all the difference in keeping email subscribers engaged!
You could implement this by giving points for each activity (e.g., 1 point per click on an email link, 2 points per click on an ad link) or by adding different levels and badges (e.g., bronze, silver, gold).
Create Squeeze pages
A squeeze page is a web page that is set up with the sole intention of capturing emails to build your list.
They are often attractive and lead off with an immediate bribe, such as a free ebook or cheat sheet.
You want your squeeze page to have some sort of bait to entice people to give you their email addresses.
One effective tool that has been proven over time is the use of urgency.
Using urgency allows you to offer something for a limited time only, so it creates an I need this now mentality.
For example, let’s say you have an offer for something like 20% off if they sign up within the next 24 hours.
That’s going to help with conversions because most people don’t want to miss out on a deal.
As well, you could try offering them something else in return for signing up.
That way, when they come back to check out your site in the future, there’s another opportunity for them to buy from you.
Add Images to Your Emails
Images are powerful. They get our attention, which is the first step in retaining information. If a photo has your attention for just a second or two, you’ve already absorbed some of its messages.
A thumbnail image can also keep recipients from clicking spam in their email inbox by including visual content.
Consider adding images to your next email campaign.
You might include one that catches your eye as you’re scrolling through a website or book, one that illustrates an important point on your list, or one that helps illustrate something being promoted.
Try these sites to find free stock photos: Pexels; Pixabay; Unsplash; Picjumbo is another site with high-quality stock photos for sale. As with most things online, beware of scams and make sure the site is legit before making any purchases.
Include links to relevant articles and websites at the bottom of your email newsletters so readers can learn more about subjects they care about.
It’s helpful if they go to a new page or tab when they click so subscribers don’t lose track of where they were reading in your email newsletter while browsing other pages on your site.
Email List Building Ideas – Conclusion
It is a known fact that email marketing a profitable venture. But that is if you have a great idea on how to start.
With this article you have a guide on how to start on a very good note.