Email marketing remains one of the most effective digital marketing strategies, and for 86% of professionals, is the preferred channel of communication for business purposes.
If you’re relying on your Facebook connections to get the word out about what you’re up to, you open yourself up to the uncertainty of that platform. If Facebook disappeared tomorrow, would you have a way to be in touch with your FB friends?
Obtaining their other contact info, especially their email address is a must.
In a world where people regularly check their emails on the go, building a strong email list is absolutely necessary for your business. However, it’s not always an easy task. Here are 5 simple ways you can start growing your email list today.
1. Sweeten the deal with an opt-in incentive
People are more likely to give you their email address if they know they’re getting something in return. It’s no secret that we live in an age of instant gratification. Use this to your advantage and give away a valuable asset that people want, then follow up with an email nurture campaign.
2. Get creative with pop-ups
One of the reasons why so many pop-ups fail is because people think they’re robots triggered to react when it senses you’re about to leave the page.
By being creative and using your unique brand voice, you attract more attention. Be witty. Be sarcastic. Make people second-guess what they’re missing out on if they choose not to sign up for your newsletter.
Here’s an example of the pop-up on our site. Have fun with it!
3. Host a webinar
Host a webinar with a topic that attracts your target audience. Invite a guest with a large audience to help you co-market your webinar. If the topic is right, webinars are a great way to capture high-quality leads, create brand awareness, and bring your thought leadership to life.
4. Create a social media giveaway
People LOVE free stuff! Host a social media giveaway to drive engagement, gain more followers, and increase your social presence.
If you want high-quality email addresses, the prize should be something that will only attract people who are genuinely interested in your products or services; otherwise, you’ll end up with thousands of email addresses from contest junkies.
5. Refer-a-friend program
Even the biggest brands in the world have referral programs – Uber, Tesla, Dropbox, and Google, to name a few. These programs come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s just a matter of finding one that works for you.
For obvious reasons, the programs that offer attractive rewards are the most successful. It can be as simple as emailing your existing email list with a form that allows them to refer friends in exchange for something like a $10 gift card or a free product.
If you invest the time to implement any of these 5 strategies (hopefully all!), you’ll start seeing results immediately. If you’re interested in joining a community of entrepreneurs who are working on building their business and brand online, while still learning and keeping up with offline strategies, join our exclusive Facebook group today!
