Email marketing can be a powerful tool for small businesses, allowing you to connect with your audience directly & promote your products or services. But what if you’re working with a smaller list…or worse, no list at all? dun dun dun.
It’s pretty safe to say that in order to make the most out of email marketing, you usually need a robust subscriber list.
So, if you’re thinking “uhhhh where do I even start?” you’re in right place!
In this Email Marketing 101 guide, we’ll explore exactly how to create, grow, and maintain your email subscriber list, and even discuss how to reach the coveted milestone of 10,000 email subscribers *gasp*.
Yes, it IS possible and if you follow the steps mentioned here, like really follow them, you can do it, too.
How do I even begin to create an email subscriber list?
We hear this question often here at Avrah Virtual and our answer remains the same, start with the basics:
- Choose an Email Marketing Service: To begin, select an email marketing service like Brevo, MailChimp or Constant Contact. Platforms like these provide tools to help both create, and manage your subscriber list.
- Create an Opt-in Form: Ideally, your website should have an easy-to-access opt-in form where visitors can subscribe to your emails. Place it prominently, such as in the website header, footer, or as a pop-up.
- Incentivize Subscriptions: Offer something valuable in exchange for email addresses. We call this a “lead magnet”. This could be a discount, a free ebook, or exclusive access to content or promotions.
- Segment Your List: As your list grows, organize/segment it based on subscriber interests, demographics, or purchase history. This allows you to send content that’s relevant and better targeted.
Once you’ve chosen your email marketing service, created an opt-in form, and found an effective lead magnet, you’re already halfway there. Obviously, you cannot immediately segment your list, well, until you’ve actually built it!
So that brings us to the next stage…
How do I actually start building my email list?
To achieve the milestone of 10,000 email subscribers (and beyond), it’s essential to first implement a comprehensive strategy.
Lucky for you, we’ve included these tried-and-true methods here:
Consistent Quality Content
This one {almost} goes without saying. Buuuut, we’re still going to say it. One of the fundamental steps is to maintain a consistent stream of high-quality content on your website as well as your social media platforms.
Consistency is key; by offering valuable information and engaging your audience, you increase the likelihood that visitors will choose to subscribe to your emails.
I know what you’re thinking, “duh” but you’d be surprised how little time business owners actually spend on social media in general.
Guest Blogging
Expand your reach by contributing guest posts to reputable websites within your niche. In your author bio, include a link to your email opt-in form.
This way, you can tap into established audiences and direct them to become part of your subscriber list.
Social Media Promotion
Leverage the power of social media to promote your email sign-up. Share interesting content and post regularly about why people should subscribe to your emails. What’s in it for them. You gotta let ’em know why!!!
To sweeten the deal, consider running giveaways which can be used to incentivize people to join your email list.
Collaborate and Partner
Collaborate with influencers or businesses that complement your product or service offerings.
Some ideas include promoting one another’s services and/or products through joint marketing campaigns or co-hosted webinars.
This type of collaboration effort can help to introduce your brand to new, interested audiences.
Paid Advertising
Invest in paid ads on platforms like Facebook or Google. You can target specific demographics and interests to reach potential subscribers.
Paid advertising can be highly effective at helping to expand your email list rapidly. I mean, think about how many times YOU have subscribed or purchased from a business because of an ad you saw. We’ve written all about paid ads here!
Referral Programs
Think about putting together a referral program in which you can offer rewards or discounts as incentives for successful referrals. This can help encourage your current email list members to refer friends and colleagues.
Doing this not only boosts your current email subscriber list, but also strengthens your community overall.
Content Upgrades
Create exclusive premium content such as challenges, ebooks or webinars, that are accessible only to subscribers. By providing such valuable, exclusive content, you give potential subscribers a compelling reason to join your list.
Optimize Landing Pages
Ensure your email sign-up landing pages are well-designed and optimized for conversion. Use A/B testing to experiment with different elements and find the most effective layout.
A well-optimized landing page can significantly enhance your conversion rate.
Whewwww that was a lot {we know!} You may feel overwhelmed by the amount of options you have for building your email list. Not to worry. We don’t expect you do all of this right away; focus on what you can do right now and take it step-by-step.
Let’s move on to the next stage…
Keeping the Momentum: Nurture Your Growing List
As you steadily begin to get new subscribers, it’s important to keep the momentum going and foster a thriving email community.
Here are some ways you can maintain your current email list while continuing to grow:
- Monitor and Clean Your List: Monitor your email list on a regular basis and make note of inactive subscribers who aren’t really engage with your content (or who’ve gone a significant amount of time without doing so). Removing these inactive contacts usually helps to improve email deliverability and ensures that you’re only sending emails to an audience that genuinely enjoys your content.
- Provide Value: Deliver on the promises you made when they first got on your list by making it a goal to provide high-quality content that’s valuable to your subscribers. You can do this through sharing insightful articles, exclusive discounts, or access to premium content. Not only will this keep your subscribers engaged, it will make them less likely to unsubscribe later.
- Social Proof: Utilize social proof to build trust with potential subscribers by showcasing testimonials from happy customers or notable individuals who use and/or endorse your brand. Seeing this social proof, which should be showcased somewhere near your opt-in form, can help make new visitors more comfortable with subscribing!
- Leverage Events: Host or participate in webinars, conferences, or industry events related to your niche. These events offer excellent opportunities to gather new email contacts who share an interest in your field. Ensure that your opt-in forms are prominently displayed during these events to capture leads effectively.
- Email Signature: Add a subscription link or call-to-action to your email signature. Every email you send becomes an opportunity to attract new subscribers. Make it easy for your contacts to join your email list by including a direct link or invitation in your email signature.
- Partnerships: Continue exploring partnerships and collaborations. Join forces with other businesses or influencers within your industry for joint email campaigns or promotions. These collaborations can introduce your brand to fresh, relevant audiences and boost your subscriber count.
Building and maintaining an email subscriber list isn’t just about the numbers (although numbers are nice!); it’s more about creating/fostering a community that’s both engaged and enthusiastic about what your brand has to offer.
By consistently delivering content that’s high in value, optimizing your strategies, and seeking out new opportunities for growth, you’ll be well on your way to achieving that coveted milestone of 10,000 email subscribers.
We’re SOO excited for you! Remember, the journey to growing your email list is an ongoing process. One that requires a well-thought out strategy, and of course implementation.
Because action = results.
…and we ALL want results, don’t we?
Need help getting started with email marketing? You know where to reach us!! Our customers are consistently hitting {and exceeding} their business goals using the power of emails. Book a FREE consultation today!