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7 Simple Ways Grow Your eMail List

Growing an eMail list is one of the most important parts of creating a successful eMail Marketing Strategy. And for a lot of businesses, also one of the most challenging. You know you have something valuable to offer current and potential customers, but how do you actually get them to sign up ?

Luckily, there are a number of tools you can use to grow your eMail list. Let us take a look at real life situations from small businesses, where they have achieved success with eMail marketing and solved the list growth formula in the process :

1.   Use a paper sign–up sheet
This is one of the simplest ways to grow an eMail list. It is also one of the most effective. Most effective when you have a retail store or a brick and mortar location where you interact with customers face–to–face.

The sign–up sheet could be a A4 sheet with the heading – Would you like to receive emails every week about new, hard to find books and free book reading events ?

This simple question offers a glimpse of what can be expected from an eMail and provides an encouraging incentive. People, then, know exactly what they are going to receive.

2.   Add a sign–up button to your eMail
It is very likely that not everyone who sees your eMail is on your eMail list. If you share your eMails on social media, many of your fans and followers will not be on your eMail list. People may also have forwarded your eMails to friends.

If you share content that is really popular, people will share it. That’s a great boost. It could be on any platform. They may even ask  the friend to subscribe. This could be fantastic way to get new people on the eMail list. To make it easy for people to join, it is critical that you have a button which says Join Now, to any eMail you send out.

3.   Put a sign–up form on your website
Your website will normally be the first contact many people have with your business. Don’t miss the opportunity to stay connected with these new visitors, the prospective clients. Adding a sign–up form to the website, can become a  whole new way to connect with new customers. Always give the option to join your eMail list, when they come into the website.

4.   Collect eMail addresses when people sign–up for an event
If you host events where people register or buy something, you should be collecting important contact information. It is a perfect moment to ask people to join your eMail list. It gives you a chance to communicate, after the event. This can also include sending a follow up survey to event attendees.

5.   Collect eMail addresses at industry tradeshows
Industry events, tradeshows and conferences are the perfect place to grow your eMail list. For your business, such events give a chance to connect with new customers and other partnering businesses. Have sign–up lists at multiple locations, if possible.

6.   Have another close look at your existing database
Don’t overlook your existing database of contacts. Colleagues, friends, and family members can help kickstart your list growth. These are people with whom you have an existing relationship, over a period of time. These could also be from your personal eMail contacts, or from business circles.

7.   Offer a downloadable whitepaper paper or an expert report
Start new customer relationships off on the right foot by offering them a whitepaper or another educational resource in exchange for their email address.

 You can share a piece of free knowledge, which you have as an expert, as the perfect way to attract new clients to their business. Once they sign up, new leads can receive a series of automated emails with helpful information about your business.

                       What Do You Think ?  (I really want to know !)

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