Don’t let social media distract you from one of the oldest and most effective marketing platforms out there. Email is still a great way to reach people, as 99% of consumers check their email every day. In fact, email generates $38 for every $1 spent, which is an astounding 3,800% ROI – making it one of the most effective options available, according to Hubspot.
So when is the last time you signed-up for something? Was it worth it? These are the questions you should be asking yourself when getting ready to grow your email list.
Add Calls-to-Action to Every Page
Don't make people meander around your site before finding opportunities to become a contact. Instead, frequently use calls-to-action (CTAs) on your webpages as an invitation to visitors to take action. For example, you can call on visitors to “join us,” “download now” or “get access.” A call-to-action should be in the form of a link or button and effectively communicate the value of clicking on it -- visitors should know exactly what to expect when they get to the landing page the CTA points to. The best use phrases that are brief with strong verbs.
Need inspiration? Check out this great article by Hubspot featuring 31 Call-to-Action Examples You Can't Help But Click.
Offer Something in Exchange
The most effective way to grow an email subscriber list is to offer something of value in exchange for signing up to receive your emails. This can be a piece of content, a tool, webinar, discount, etc. For example, you can create a free ebook and host it on a landing page that asks visitors to provide their email address in order to download it. Just keep in mind that it needs to be something your audience cares about enough to hand over their email address.
Use Shorter Forms
It can be a challenge to find the right balance between requiring too much and too little information on a contact form. Is your offer valuable enough to the visitor to be worth the form completion? When in doubt – keep it short. A shorter form usually means more people will be willing to fill it out, so you’ll generate more leads.
Create Remarkable Content
If you offer content directly related to your visitor’s needs, your email won’t feel like advertisement. Instead, it will feel helpful and valuable. That means writing to them as if they were a friend, or an acquaintance, in a way that is both concise and interesting. The better your content is, the more people you will retain in your email database. Not sure how to make that happen? Here are a few ideas on how to create content people care about.
Collect contacts in person
Offline events are still a great way to grow your email list. This can be at trade show, conference or even in-store. Utilize a tablet to encourage people to easily sign-up without the burden of pen and paper. Give people an incentive by asking them to demo a product, participate in a questionnaire or become a member to access discounts.
