An email list includes the contact details of new and potential clients or customers who have agreed to receive marketing emails. Whether they’re signing up for newsletters or freebies, an email list is an essential tool for any business. You can use this list to send out content that’s designed to engage your audience and increase sales.
As you know, I use Active Campaign, an all-in-one platform that offers a spectrum of tools that go well beyond standard email marketing. It covers email automation, sales automation, customer relationship management (CRM), marketing automation, and even machine learning! This means you have a single place for managing multiple aspects of your marketing strategy, saving you time and streamlining your operations.
Active Campaign has allowed me to grow a hyperactive email list of over 7000+ people, and with the powerful tools built in I can easily remove people that don’t interact with my emails, keeping my list super focused and engaged.
Even if you already have an email list, it’s important to keep building it. A good email list growth rate is 2.5%. Not seeing this kind of growth yet? Don’t worry! In this article, we will look at seven marketing techniques to help grow your email list fast. From incentives to pop-ups and everything in between, you will be able to confidently collect email addresses for your marketing strategy.
Newsletter sign-up links
A newsletter is one of the best ways to grow your email list. It’s also a useful opportunity to engage your audience, showcase your brand and encourage sales.
The trick is to offer something of value in your newsletter. Special discounts, tips and insights are more likely to increase sign-ups.
Include newsletter sign-up links on your homepage, sidebars and all blog posts. You’ll also want to add the link to all email signatures.
If you have printed materials, you can include QR codes on all posters, flyers and other marketing materials.
Incentives
Everyone loves an incentive. Whether it’s a discount or some useful tips, incentives are an effective way to grow your email list. A simple line like “Sign-up to receive exclusive blogs, insights and more”, could be enough to convert your audience. Other incentives can include free PDF files, a free course, or access to a webinar.
Giveaways are another great way to grow your email list fast. Find a prize directly related to the needs and interests of your target audience. Promote the giveaway across social media channels to ensure maximum reach. People will then have to sign-up for your marketing emails in order to enter the prize draw. This is a particularly powerful technique if you are hoping to engage new customers and raise brand awareness.
You can also launch a referral program where existing customers can refer a friend in return for a special offer. Both the existing customer and the referee will need to sign up to receive the offer.
Add a friend referral pop-up form to your website. Describe what’s in it for the customer and keep it simple.
Active Campaign makes it super easy to automate Opt-In incentives. By creating an automation you can automatically send welcome emails and download links for freebies as soon as a new user signs up for your list.
Pop-ups
While pop-ups can be annoying, they are actually one of the most effective strategies for growing an email list.
A well-crafted pop-up reminds customers to sign up. They can be used to highlight a special offer, free trial or giveaway. If you decide to utilize pop-ups, make sure that they do not interfere with the user experience. Keep them simple, easy to read and well-timed. Display pop-ups just before a customer leaves the website or as soon as they enter. If you know your audience well, you can create more personalized pop-ups to increase your success rate. To get started, choose from a range of pop-up builder tools.
Webinars & online conferences
Is your email list lacking in numbers? One way to secure sign-ups is to host a webinar or join an online conference. Let’s start with webinars. Webinars are a great way to engage with your current audience and collect their contact details. Pick a relevant topic and promote it through your social media channels and website.
If you don’t feel ready to host your own webinar, join an online conference as a guest speaker. Online conferences can broaden your audience and help grow your reach. The organizers of the event may allow you to share a newsletter sign-up link or offer incentives in return for sign-ups. On top of that, online conferences are a great way to network and showcase your knowledge and expertise.
After the event, send a follow-up email to ask for feedback and boost conversion rates.
Call to Action
It goes without saying that a call to action (CTA) is essential for any marketing strategy. The majority of online visitors are unlikely to seek out your newsletter. You need to show them exactly how and where to sign-up. That’s where a well-crafted CTA comes in.
CTAs should be displayed multiple times across your website including the landing page and blog posts. Not only does the CTA increase newsletter subscriptions by up to 20%, but it can also be used to direct your audience to specific content like guides, how-to articles and online courses. To put it simply, without a well-written CTA, your business will miss out on potential sales.
Social media
Social media can boost visibility, attract new customers and improve brand awareness. Learning how to grow your email list with social media is a useful skill. Start by including the newsletter sign-up link on all platforms. Social media campaigns that involve competitions and giveaways to encourage newsletter sign-ups, also offer a high success rate.
Social proof
Have you ever signed up to something just because someone else has told you to? That’s the power of social proof!
People today are busy and find themselves inundated with marketing emails. Social proof makes you stand out from the crowd and gives them another reason to sign-up. Consumers are usually drawn to products and services that are tried and tested. In other words, they are more likely to sign-up to something if they know that other people have too.
Use social proof to build your email list by displaying the number of people who have signed up to your newsletter. Alternatively, use real-time notifications every time someone signs up. Active Campaign integrates seamlessly with social proof aps like Fomo making it easy to show off new email signups and other ActiveCampaign actions in real time.
10 FAQs about growing your email list
Q1: How do I start building an email list from scratch?
Tip: Begin by creating an enticing opt-in offer, like a valuable eBook or exclusive discounts, to encourage visitors to subscribe to your emails. Place opt-in forms strategically on your website and social media channels.
Q2: What’s the best way to attract subscribers organically?
Tip: Leverage content marketing by regularly sharing high-quality, informative content. Use a content upgrade strategy, offering bonus content to those who subscribe, to entice visitors and grow your list naturally.
Q3: How can I optimize my website for email list growth?
Tip: Implement pop-up or slide-in forms with compelling calls-to-action (CTAs) on your website. A/B test different variations to find what works best for your audience in terms of timing, design, and messaging.
Q4: How can I encourage existing customers to join my email list?
Tip: Offer existing customers an incentive to join your list, such as an exclusive loyalty program, early access to sales, or personalized recommendations. Highlight the benefits of being on the email list.
Q5: What role does social media play in growing my email list?
Tip: Promote your opt-in offers on your social media platforms, directing followers to sign up. Host social media contests or giveaways where entry requires subscribing to your email list.
Q6: How can I enhance email sign-ups during events or webinars?
Tip: Use dedicated landing pages for events or webinars, and integrate registration forms that automatically subscribe attendees to your email list. Follow up with engaging content post-event to maintain their interest.
Q7: Is it important to segment my email list, and how do I do it?
Tip: Yes, segmenting your list allows for highly targeted campaigns. Segment based on demographics, purchase history, engagement levels, or preferences. Tailor content to each segment for increased engagement.
Q8: How do I reduce unsubscribes and maintain a healthy email list?
Tip: Set clear expectations during sign-up about the type and frequency of emails subscribers will receive. Provide an easy and visible way for subscribers to manage their preferences or opt-out if needed.
Q9: How can I leverage referral programs to grow my email list?
Tip: Encourage your current subscribers to refer friends, family, or colleagues by offering incentives like discounts, freebies, or early access to new content. Make the referral process simple and rewarding.
Q10: What’s the key to successful email list growth in the long run?
Tip: Consistency and value are key. Regularly engage your subscribers with valuable content, promotions, and personalized messages. Continuously optimize your strategies based on data and feedback to keep your list growing and engaged.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to grow your own email list, there are plenty of marketing techniques to choose from. Your email list is a vital way to engage your audience and boost sales. Some of the best ways to grow your email list include incentives, newsletter sign-up links, leveraging social media channels or crafting effective pop-ups and call to actions.
And if you are looking for the best platform to build your email list, you cannot beat Active Campaign. And if you need more persuading, here’s My Top 5 Reasons You Should Use ActiveCampaign in Your Business
