How to Build Email List
Marketing through email is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach your audience. Email marketing also offers one of the highest conversion rates for marketing channels, with an average conversion rate of 20%. If you’re just getting started with email marketing and aren’t sure where to begin, this article will give you a few tips on how to build an email list for your marketing campaigns. Creating an email list is the first step in launching any successful email marketing campaign — whether it’s for a business, non-profit organization, or personal brand. Building an email list might seem like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be. Read on to learn how you can build your own effective and useful email list in no time.
Plan Your Strategy
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to grow your email list, it’s important to outline your overall strategy. This will help you to understand where you need to focus your efforts, as well as how you’re going to get there. Your Target Audience - When growing your email list, you want to make sure you’re targeting the right people. If you want to build a B2B list for example, you’ll want to make sure you’re targeting people in your industry or people who work in similar industries. If you’re targeting the general public, it’s unlikely that they’ll be interested in what you have to offer. That’s why it’s important to know who you’re targeting right off the bat. Why do you want to build an email list? - There are many reasons why building an email list is a smart strategy. Email is a low-barrier-to-entry marketing tool because you don’t need to spend money to build your list. What do you want your email list to achieve? These are all important things to think about before you create an email list. Only then can you begin to think about how you’re going to achieve it. From there, you can start to build your strategy. What is an email list?
An email list is a database of emails that you’ve collected from your website visitors and customers. The purpose of an email list is to allow businesses to communicate with their customers or prospects by sending emails. There are three main types of email content:
· Email newsletters: These are great for sharing content and keeping subscribers up to date. · Email marketing campaigns: These are ideal for driving sales, including special sales and discounts. · Email blasts: These are quick notifications sent to subscribers. They’re often sent as a one-off event, such as a change in hours or a reminder of an upcoming event.
An email list enables you to send out information and updates to your customers or prospects. You can also use an email list for outreach and to build relationships with influencers in your industry.
How to Build Your Email List
Create a sign-up form to build your email list Most businesses have an online presence and will have a website that they want to promote their product or service to customers. One of the easiest ways to collect emails from your website visitors is with a form. Most website editors make this easy to set up but if yours does not there are tools you can use to manage your list. When deciding which type of form to add to your website, keep in mind the importance of conversions. You want your form to be easily and quickly accessible for your visitors. Keep your form short, sweet, and to the point. Offer something for free in exchange for their email address — like access to exclusive content, newsletters, or a free digital guide.
Here is an example and while you are here, please subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive information only posted in the weekly newsletters.
Create a welcome email to onboard new subscribers Once you start collecting emails from your website visitors, it’s imperative that you welcome them to your list. You want to make sure that new subscribers know what to expect from your email marketing campaigns. A good way to welcome new subscribers and let them know what to expect from your email marketing campaigns is to create a welcome email.
Here is an example, and while we are here, please subscribe....
The welcome email should include an introduction to your business or brand, as well as instructions on how to unsubscribe from the list. A welcome email gives you an opportunity to highlight the value of your email list while also giving new subscribers a clear idea of what types of content and offers they can expect from you in the future. Use Existing Relationships If you already have an existing relationship with a person or company, there is a chance that they may want to sign up to your email list. As such, it’s important to make note of it when the opportunity presents itself and build on that relationship.
When you go to industry events, be sure to get your visitors’ emails. You never know who you might meet, and it’s always a good idea to get something in writing so that you have a record of who you met.
Offer discounts or freebies - This can be a great way to incentivize visitors and customers to sign up to your list. Whether it’s a special deal that only those who have signed up to your list can access, or access to a free eBook or guide, offering something of value can go a long way towards growing your list.
Use your employees - Don’t forget about the people you work with every day. If you’re employed in a B2B industry, you have the power to grow your list by asking your co-workers to sign up to your list.
Leverage Your Audience’s Behavior If you’re struggling to find new subscribers, you may want to look at how your audience is behaving. Are there certain actions your readers are taking that could be leading to signing up for your list? By understanding the psychology behind why people sign up for your list, you can use it to your advantage.
* Your readers want to win. People want to feel as though they are winning at life. As such, giving them access to exclusive content or offers can be a great way to leverage their desire to feel victorious. * Your readers want to be informed - People also like to feel like they’re informed. Give them access to your blog content and they will be happy to sign up. * Your readers want to be part of a community. People like to be part of a community, whether virtual or otherwise. If you can create a sense of community through your blog and email list, you can attract many readers. * Your readers want to be heard. People also like to feel as though they have a voice. You can offer a way for your readers to interact with you and each other by adding an email list.
Offer Exclusive Content to Grow your List You can leverage the desire to be informed by offering exclusive content to your list. Make sure that it’s relevant to your industry and will be useful, and your readers will be happy to subscribe.
Create an email course - An email course is a great way to provide your readers with a ton of value. Make sure that each email is relevant and valuable, and your readers will be happy to subscribe.
Create an eBook - If you’re not quite ready to create an entire course, you can also create an eBook and offer it to your readers. It’s not as time-consuming, but it will still provide your readers with a ton of value.
Create a video - If you want to provide your readers with visual content, you can create a short video. Make sure that it’s relevant to your industry, and you’ll have readers signing up for your list in no time.
These are all great ways to grow your email list, and once you have a big enough database, you can begin to send out automated emails to your list and create a successful email marketing strategy from start to finish.
Now that you know how to build your email list, let's look at the best email marketing tools to help you manage that list.