Facebook, Twitter and Instagram might still get all the attention, but the fact remains that, especially for startup Founders, email marketing is the most effective way for businesses to reach their customers. In fact, email is 40 times more effective than Facebook and Twitter combined in terms of helping businesses find prospective customers. The reason? Email is personal and private. Moreover, when people provide you with their email address they show a purposeful desire to learn more about your company and products. And you can leverage a one-to-one communication channel to personalize your communications and align them with your customer’s journey.But, in order to maintain excellent email communications, it’s necessary to build your email list, to include both current customers and prospective customers. Here are 5 Ways to Build an Email List.
Capitalize on User Engagement
It’s important to leverage the popularity of your content and reader engagement. If you have a piece of content that’s extra popular with your readers you can set up an opt-in requirement. Users simply provide their email address in exchange for reading the content – whether a free guide, a checklist, or even just a list of recommendations for how to do something. You can also offer this content through website popups, lead magnet content, locked blog content, and content upgrades.
Create Giveaways
Giving away popular electronics or a gift card can work wonderings to acquire email addresses. Simply determine what you’re willing to offer, say a $100 gift certificate for your own services, and get the message out via social media and other channels. When users come to your site to sign up for the giveaway, you’ll be able to capture their email and use it to market to them later.
Advertise
A more traditional strategy that also still works, running ads can include targeting customers in traditional media such as print, radio, and even TV or through digital channels. Facebook ads offer a way to laser-focus on your target demographics and build a large list quickly and affordably is you’re able to keep the price per click low. And don’t forget coupons. While they can cut into profit margins, coupons are a proven way to acquire email addresses and multiply the number of chances for conversion.
Offer Interactive Content
People like to play online games and take online quizzes. They’re an opportunity to either engage in some entertainment or test their skills. In short, they’re fun. When set up on social media platforms, interactive content often gives people the opportunity to compare themselves with their peers as well as easily share the content across peer groups. This is a unique, fun way to draw prospective buyers and have them happily provide their email addresses to access your content.
Go “Old-School”
What about simply picking up the phone? With a name and a phone number, you can quickly and affordably contact potentially valuable people and ask permission to have their email addresses put on your list for a newsletter or other marketing material. What about direct mail? Use self-mailers or postcards to promote a free offer that’s dependent upon their providing an email address. What about networking? Attending a trade show, for example, provides the opportunity to get email face to face.However you do it, an email list is one of the most valuable assets a growth-stage Founder has. As long as you nurture it, it will provide the foundation for your business for many years to come.
