Building a loyal base of email subscribers requires ongoing effort. Yes, many take the easy way and purchase a list, but in the long run this can hurt your reputation, and ultimately the growth of your business. There are a few ways you can legitimately target the people who are interested in the information you have to offer. Listed below are four easy methods you can employ to grow your email marketing list.
1. Offer Value: When people subscribe to your email list they expect something in return. Decide what value you can provide them with as an offer of gratitude. Discounts, advance access, advice and tips are all useful options.
2. Show Examples: Encourage your audience to sign up by letting them know exactly what they can expect to receive. Offering a small sample will increase your subscription rates significantly. For instance, allowing your audience to see past copies of your newsletters, e-mails and promotions will help to attract a wider readership.
3. Make it Quick: Make the sign-up process quick and simple or you run the risk that people will become bored or annoyed and end up exiting the sign-up page. Basic information is all you need from your subscriber: First Name, Last Name, Email Address. Allow them to sign up anywhere on your website, blog, Facebook fan page, Twitter…. don’t make them search for it. By simplifying the process, you will greatly improve your chances of converting visitors to subscribers.
4. Make Emails Easy to Forward and Share: Insert a “forward to a friend” link in your emails or simply ask them to share with friends that may be interested. Make the email content easy to share on social-media sites, which gives your subscribers the option to share your information across their platforms. Additionally, track this activity to see how many people are sharing your information.
As always, avoid being overly solicitous, as that approach will only serve to undo much of the work you’re trying to accomplish.
For daily social-media tips, visit our Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TheIbisNetwork