You can write snappy, persuasive emails, but it won’t matter if you don’t have anyone to send them to.
Feeling bummed about the small size of your email list? We have you covered.
Last week we shared 5 easy ways to build your email list. We also covered 2 super important facts about your email list. Here’s a refresher:
- Your email list needs to consist of the right people: past and potential customers.
- Building your email list requires a strong, clear call to action (CTA).
The CTA often includes the promise of value like access to sales, an informative newsletter, or the latest industry trends. Few people voluntarily read boring sales emails.
Send out valuable, engaging emails to the right people, and your business will boom!
This week we’re giving you 7 more ways to grow your email list. Ready to learn?
1. Put a pop-up form on your website.
You might be nervous about putting a pop-up on your website because, in your experience, pop-ups can be annoying.
But the thing about pop-ups is. . . they work!
A pop-up ensures every person who visits your website has a chance to sign up for your email list.
The pop-up should contain 1-3 sentences and a clear CTA that tells readers why your emails are important. Use personality in your word choice. Whether your brand is friendly, sassy, helpful, or informal, this is the place to showcase your voice.
Here are some examples:
- “Don’t be a stranger! Click below to join my community of DIYers. I’ll share tips, inspiration, and how-tos twice a week!”
- “Still haven’t decided what’s for dinner? Let us help! Sign up for our email list to get FREE recipes in your inbox every week.”
- “Leaving so soon? Stay in the loop about all the latest cryptocurrency news by joining my email list here.”
You can also include personality in the buttons of your pop-up. Buttons where readers respond “yes” or “no” can show them the value of signing up for your emails.
You’ve probably seen pop-ups with buttons like this before:
- “Yes! I want to look my best and love my body!” and “No, I don’t want to lose weight.”
- “Yes! I’m ready to have the best lawn on the block!” and “No, I prefer to be ordinary.”
A little bit of humor and personality can make someone reconsider hitting the “no” button.
How you set up your pop-up depends on several factors. Your website host and email service provider (ESP) may already have the tools you need, or you can use an outside service. Research the tools at your disposal and find a pop-up service that fits your business’s needs.
2. Give your audience a free ebook or PDF in exchange for their email address.
Offering prospective customers a PDF in exchange for their email address is a great way to build your list and forge relationships with new customers.
First, think about your dream customer. What kinds of questions do they have? What things would they like to know about your industry? Is there valuable, relevant information you can give them for free in a PDF?
Your PDF should have a catchy title that makes the reader want to learn more. Look at these examples for inspiration:
- “10 Things You Should Know before Buying a House”
- “14 Secrets That Will Help Your Dog Live Longer”
- “The Most Important Question You Can Ask Your Personal Trainer”
The hardest part of this strategy for growing your email list is writing the PDF. If you have some dated blog posts, consider repurposing them. Combine old, related posts with new content to create a PDF that’s exclusive to email subscribers.
Once you have your PDF, promote it with ads on social media. The people giving you their email address will also be interested in your products and services, making them perfect potential customers!
3. Put a CTA for your email newsletter in your Instagram bio.
Instagram is a little trickier than other social media platforms when it comes to directing readers to your website. You can’t put a link to your email sign-up landing page in the caption of your posts. Instead, you’ll need to use your Instagram bio.
Your bio only allows for 150 characters so you may need to trim down your CTA.
- Go to your profile page on the Instagram app.
- Select “Edit Profile.”
- In the “Website” section, put a link to your email sign-up landing page.
- In the “Bio” section, write a short CTA for your email list.
- Press the checkmark in the top right corner of your screen to save your changes.
Now when you make Instagram posts or stories promoting your email list, include the phrase “link in bio.” Readers interested in signing up will find the link on your profile page.
4. Add a CTA button on your Facebook page.
Your Facebook business page makes it easy to direct visitors to your email sign-up landing page. Using an “action button,” you can direct visitors on your Facebook page to another website of your choice.
The action button is a customizable blue button that appears below your cover photo on the right side of your Facebook page.
While most businesses use the action button to direct people to their store or contact page, you can also use the button to get more email sign-ups. When you edit the button, go to the “Contact You” section and choose the “Sign Up” option. Then link it to your email sign-up landing page.
Check out the Facebook Help Center for detailed instructions about setting up an action button on your page.
5. Promote your email newsletter on Pinterest.
Pinterest is known for gorgeous visuals and helpful how-to’s. If you have high-quality images of your products, this is the site to share them.
You can also use Pinterest to promote your email list. A sleek graphic with a strong CTA and a link to your sign-up landing page can attract lots of new prospects to your email list.
You don’t have to be a graphic designer either to make an eye-catching image for Pinterest. Free tools like Canva can help anyone make beautiful designs.
6. Offer your customers digital receipts instead of paper ones.
Do you have a brick-and-mortar store? At the register give your customers the option to choose email receipts instead of paper.
When customers enter their email address, include a CTA and checkbox so they can opt into your list. (Just like we covered last week with your online checkout page, make sure this box isn’t already filled.) Customers interested in your newsletter, sales, and educational materials can select the checkbox, opting in to your list.
This eco-friendly choice saves paper and snags their email address so you can follow up with them. It’s a win-win!
7. Notify customers via email when a product is back in stock.
When one of your products goes temporarily out of stock, take the opportunity to collect some email addresses. On the product page, offer to let customers know when the product is available through email.
Be sure to follow up on your promise. Don’t just add the customer to your list and forget to notify them about your product.
Create a special segment in your ESP for customers who want news about a returning product. When the product is available again, send that segment some promotional emails. Consider giving them early access to the product—after all, they’ve waited patiently for it to return.
Not only does this method collect email addresses and earn customers, but it also helps you establish yourself as a business who keeps your promises.
Believe it or not, we still have more methods for growing your email list. Keep an eye out for our next blog post, where we’ll cover some final tips!
Maybe you don’t have the time or expertise to implement these methods. Pop-ups, PDFs, social media, and email segmentation take time, and you’re responsible for a lot already. Why not let us build your email list for you? Schedule a call with Sigl Creative, and we’ll help you grow your email list, boost your conversions, and foster customer loyalty!
