Asking for an email address can feel like pulling teeth. People hold onto their email addresses like gold. They fear handing it over to companies because they don’t want to be bombarded with sales offers or promotional emails that aren’t interesting. Instead, they want value.
If you’re struggling to grow your email list, you’re not alone. Marketers face an uphill battle to get people opting in to receive their content.
But it’s not as hard as it seems. Here are 10 of the best ways to grow your email list.
1. Write Well
One of the easiest ways to get someone new to your list is to get your list sharing your best work. That won’t happen without quality content.
The strongest writing is the kind that delivers value. It answers the questions your audience didn’t even know they had. When the person reads it, they’ll feel like you’re so far inside their head, they can’t help but send it on to their like-minded friends.
The more your email recipients forward your work, the faster you’ll grow your list.
2. Incentivize Stale Opt-Ins
Do you already have a list of people who aren’t opening or reading your work? It’s time to reinvigorate your list with a new opt-in.
Put together a new lead magnet (more on this below) and send it to your list. Require them to opt-in again to receive it. This might sound counterintuitive but it creates buy-in among your email recipients. If you haven’t sent them something in awhile, it’s a good way to excite them about what you’re going to start selling again.
3. Create a New Report/E-Book/Whitepaper
Perhaps the most tried and true method of getting someone to sign up to your list is to create a lead magnet.
Lead magnets are reports, e-books or whitepapers that reward your visitors for signing up. It’s incentive to hand over their email address. It’s relatively easy to prepare a highly attractive offer to your prospects. Create and promote your lead magnets and you’re sure to see a flood of new email list sign ups.
4. Host a Webinar
Instead of giving away a free report, whitepaper or e-book, try hosting a webinar instead.
Webinars work well because you can host a variety of them on different subjects. The more times you can answer your customers questions in a free webinar, the more likely you are to get people to sign up for your email list.
5. Host a Giveaway
Giveaways are another great way to incent people to sign up for your list. Everyone likes a chance to win something for free! When the only cost to enter is to give an email address, you’re sure to see a lot of people signing up.
Use tools such as Rafflecopter or Wildfireapp to facilitate the giveaway. Then, sit back and relax while the leads roll in.
6. Promote Your New Lead Magnet on Social Media
Is social media part of your marketing plan? If so, it’s time to put those platforms to good use.
Host a promotional campaign on Twitter. Sponsor a tweet or target a specific audience and drive people your landing page where you ask for an email address in exchange for your lead magnet.
Facebook has a new call-to-action tool that lets you guide your followers to sign up with you. It’s simple and super effective.
We’ve chosen the call-to-action of getting people to contact us, but you can also choose one that directs people your email sign up page. Here’s what it looks like:
Put up a wall on your LinkedIn company page and require people to give you their email address before they can engage with your community. It’s always good to attach a lead magnet onto this so there is more incentive to do this.
Pinterest isn’t just for weddings and crafts. Many businesses use it too. Pin pictures of your lead magnet and direct it to your landing page where you can ask for an email address in exchange for something useful.
7. Use Videos
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. That means, it’s prime real estate to attract a flood of new visitors.
Use your videos to grow your email list while also building exposure for your business. In your video, add a call-to-action. Your viewer will already be hooked on your message and will want to hear more. Give it to them and get an email address in the process.
8. Leverage Partnerships
You spend time networking and building your list of partnerships. Now, it’s time to use those connections to build your list of leads.
Business partnerships are one of the best tools in marketing. They give you access to a new audience you might not have reached before while also limiting the amount of time you need to spend marketing. It’s easy and effective.
Create a campaign specifically for your business partners to make it simple for them. Give them email scripts and a link where they can send their interested buyers. Don’t forget to thank your partners by offering an incentive to them too, such as a discount or a prize.
9. Go Offline
Do you ever do tradeshows or attend conferences? These are prime opportunities for getting email list sign ups.
Many people forget to ask for a person’s email address because they are face-to-face. However, this is one of the best times to get it. The person knows you and trusts you so handing over something as personal as an email address is easier.
Like in the online world, offer an incentive for the person to give you his email address. This can be a contest or promised ebook. You’ll be amazed at how many people give you their personal information when they know they will get something in return and already have the rapport with you because of the human-to-human interaction.
10. Make it Simple
No matter how you attract new visitors, it’s vital that you keep your email sign up system simple and straightforward. Don’t make visitors on your website hunt for how to get on your list. Add links and keep your sign up forms front and center. The easier it is, the more likely someone will be to hand over that golden piece of contact information.
