Want to know one of the best ways to drive consistent traffic over time? Building an email list is one of your best options. In fact, according to the Direct Marketing Association, for every dollar spent, email marketing generates a nearly $43 return on investment.
People generally respond to emails better than other mediums because they are more personal. They also provide you with opportunities to engage audiences with new content, promotions and tools. Keep in mind before you get started that a general good practice is to send an email at least once a week.
Here are four of the best ways you can grow your email list.
Embed email sign-up forms on your website
One of the best places you can get people to join your email list is on your website. Copy the embed code from the email platform you use (MailChimp or AWeber are great choices) and paste it within the HTML on your site’s homepage. You’ll also want to place the email sign-up on landing pages for specific promotions, on blog articles and any other applicable place on your site. This will give people multiple opportunities to sign up for your email list.
Promote an online contest or offer a freebie
Who doesn’t love to get something for free? One way you do this is by promoting an online contest where your audience can win a prize. You can host the contest on social media or on your website. Another approach is by offering a freebie such as a whitepaper, ebook, tool, or even a PDF list of resources. Whatever you offer, make sure it is something your audience will be interested in. You’ll also require them to enter their email addresses in order to be entered in for the prize or to download the freebie.
Host a webinar on an interesting topic in your niche
One of the most popular methods many entrepreneurs use to grow their email list is by hosting a webinar. You can advertise the webinar through social media ads, online ads, social media posts, and by emailing your current email subscribers. Make sure to link to a landing page that requires people to sign up for your email newsletter in order to have access to the webinar. The webinar should focus on an interesting topic or skill that your audience would be interested in learning.
Create engaging content
No one will respond well to your emails if the content does not appeal to them. Understanding your target audience and its interests is crucial to ensuring your emails will generate leads and conversions. Make sure you have a conversational tone while still maintaining professionalism. You’ll also want to create a short, attention-getting subject line and a link to a blog post, promotion, landing page or any other kind of offer.
Not sure exactly where to start when building your email list? Visit the websites of companies similar to you or any others that interest you that have an email newsletter sign-up widget. Sign up for their emails and then look at the tone of the copy in their emails and their subject lines as they come in. Also, check out the promotions and freebies they offer. These emails can be a great reference for you as you build your list.
Have you tried any of the four ways listed in this article to build your email list or are there any other ways in which you have received more email subscribers? If so, leave a comment below and let us know.
