You hear it all the time…the fortune is in the list.
But having a list is not enough when it comes to marketing. You need a list of subscribers who are engaged, and interested in what you have to say.
If you are using the internet to grow your home based business, list building is one of the most effective and reliable marketing strategies.
Most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t necessarily know how valuable this tool is. Think about it…when people sign up to your list, they are signing up because they want to hear from you and your company.
They are pre-qualifying themselves by giving you their contact details, and permission to contact them on a regular basis. Once they subscribe to your list, you can segment your messages, and design your email communication to match your reader’s preferences.
As you build your list and attract qualified leads, you’ll be able to guide them through the decision making process by aligning content to specific buying cycle stages.
15 ways to help you build your email list:
#1 Offer quality content
Nobody just gives up their email address for free. If you want to build a valuable relationship and engage your audience, you need to provide content that is worthwhile and interesting.
#2 Put sign-up forms on every web page
Your sign-up form should be everywhere your potential subscribers are. Make sure it’s visible and easy to fill out.
#3 Use social media to collect email addresses
Integrate your sign-up forms with social media platforms. Driving traffic from multiple sources allows you to build a strong email marketing list much faster.
#4 Design your sign-up form carefully
Ask only for the information you plan to use. A good rule of thumb is that less is more — the shorter the sign-up form, the higher the conversion rate.
#5 Show your privacy policy
Inform your readers that you will not share their personal information with third parties. A clear privacy policy helps you build trust and convince visitors that it’s safe to subscribe.
#6 Show samples of your content
Let your subscribers know what they are signing up for. Use your older content samples to “sell” the email sign-up.
#7 Include a call to action
Put a call to action in your submit button; such as ‘Sign me up!’ This makes the sign-up process more engaging and improves the conversion ratio.
#8 Give away freebies
Think of a relevant incentive for your audience (eBook, infographic, video, etc.) and provide it for free.
#9 Ask subscribers to share
Take the time to prepare valuable, shareable content. Remember, adding social share buttons are not enough; you still need to ask your subscribers to use them.
#10 Build a content distribution strategy
Producing great content is only half the battle. Make sure it’s visible to the right audience. Define who your ideal audience is and find out where they like to congregate online. Then choose communication channels accordingly.
#11 Publish landing pages
Create a landing page where visitors can download premium content in exchange for their email address. A dedicated web page helps users focus on the call to action and increases conversions.
#12 Include testimonials on your landing page
Social proof helps build trust toward a brand and its products. Use testimonials from satisfied customers to help visitors make a decision.
#13 Blog regularly
You already know content is king, and great content brings more traffic. Develop a realistic content publishing schedule and stick to it.
#14 Guest post on popular blogs
Publishing your content on other blogs is a great way to build relationships with other bloggers in your industry and introduce yourself to new people. Include a backlink to your blog, and your blog’s search rankings will go up.
#15 Collect email addresses at offline events
Be ready to collect email addresses at trade shows and conferences. Ask for business cards or use the Forms on the Go app to instantly add people to your list.
It’s time to get started.
Now you know a handful of effective ways to build one of the most effective marketing assets…your email marketing list!
Interested in learning more?
“Helping passionate women entrepreneurs build their business
online so they can spend more time living, and less time working!”
Tamyka Washington
