101 Ways To Seriously Grow Your Email List

101 Ways To Seriously
Grow Your Email List

Trick #1:
Add an opt-in form to your blog sidebar
Adding an opt-in form to your blog sidebar is a great place to
start. If you have an active blog, this is a traffic-heavy area and
a great place to attract new subscribers. You can add a signup
form to the sidebar of a WordPress site with this plugin or
develop a custom sidebar. Your form should include a message
telling visitors why they should sign up.
Take a look at how writer
Jeff Goins uses his sidebar
to promote his newsletter:

Trick #2:
Add a Hello Bar to the top of your website
Hello Bar is a simple bar that runs across the top of your website.
Within the bar, you can add a custom message and encourage
email signups or direct visitors to a landing page where you can
capture emails later on.
See how B2B marketing expert Diana Huff uses Hello Bar to get
subscribers:

Trick #3:
Add an opt-in page to your main menu
Add a “Subscribe” or “Updates” or “Connect” page to your
main menu and give your opt-in form a home of its own. A
page dedicated to your email updates can help reel in your
more easily distracted visitors.
See how the blogging
mastermind Blog Tyrant
does it here:

Trick #4:
Create a custom opt-in form on your homepage
One of the best pieces of real estate you have on your website
is the slider section right below your main menu on your home
page. If your main call to action on your site is your email
subscription, consider building a custom email signup slider. This
is especially popular for bloggers.
Derek Halpern from
Social Triggers does
this beautifully:

Trick #5:
Prompt visitors with opt-in form popups
There is a lot of evidence to indicate that popups, when
tastefully done, can grow your email list. Popups collect email
addresses or provide visitors with a link to important content
where addresses are collected later on.
While popups can be annoying and are not a fit for every
business, there are many thought leaders that swear by their
results. To add a popup to your site, you can use a WordPress
plugin like Popup Domination or build something custom.
Remember to give visitors ample time or a few clicks before
triggering the popup, or you might scare them off.

Trick #6:
Add an opt-in form to the footer of blog posts
Adding a signup form to the footer of your blog posts is an
excellent way to transform new and returning blog readers into
engaged email subscribers. We know from experience:
By adding a custom HTML signup form to the footer of our posts,
we experienced a 156% increase in our email signup rate in just
30 days.
Creating a custom signup form requires contracting a graphic
designer and a developer. Check out oDesk or Elance for
developers and Dribbble or Behance for designers.

Photo by jessleecuizon - Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/86251769@N00

Trick #7
Add an opt-in form to every page on your site
Adding signup forms to every page on your site gives visitors a
call-to-action that follows them through their full-site browsing
experience.
Websites can be noisy. This tactic prevents potential subscribers
from browsing your site and missing a chance to subscribe.

Trick #8:
Write amazing opt-in form copy
The headline should grab
attention and tell people exactly
what they get by signing up for
your emails. Example: “Get Your
Free Content Marketing Toolkit”
The body should qualify people
and nudge them to take action.
Example: “If you’re serious about
content marketing, enter your
email address below to receive
the Content Marketing Toolkit.”
The call-to-action should be
simple and immediate. Example:
“Get The Toolkit.”
Here’s a great opt-in form
example from Michael
Aagaard at Content Verve:

Trick #9:
Add something extra to your opt-in forms
Include the dollar value. If you’re offering an eBook or Toolkit or
online course in your opt-in form, add the dollar value. Example
“Get The Free Content Marketing Toolkit (Valued at Over $300)”
Add a testimonial. A testimonial is great for boosting business. If
this wasn’t true, Yelp would be out of business. If you don’t have
any testimonials, survey your favorite subscribers.
Add social proof. Include a message about how many people
currently subscribe to your emails. If you have thousands of
subscribers, people will want to find out what all the hype is
about. Example: “Join 25,000+ of your peers!”
Include a privacy policy. People hate spam. Adding a privacy
policy message and a link to your privacy policy is
comforting. Example: “We respect your privacy (link).”

Neil Patel really adds something extra on his Quicksprout opt-in
form, and it works:

Trick #10:
Keep submission fields limited in opt-in forms
We all want to know as much as possible about new subscribers.
It’s tempting to ask for more than an email address but people
have grown weary of the ask.
Give people comfort and eliminate unnecessary custom fields
from opt-in forms. You can always survey subscribers once
you’ve earned their trust.

Trick #11:
Customize opt-in forms for anticipated traffic surges
Let’s say you’re about to get featured on a major site and
expect significant referral traffic. You want to transform the
guest readers into email subscribers.
Check out the opt-in forms on the website you will be featured
on and shape your form messaging to their audience.
Trick #12:
Optimize opt-in forms to improve conversion rates
Test small changes in opt-in forms to improve conversion rates.
Make one small change and test its impact. You can test form
location, design, copy, call-to-action, and more.
Small changes such as mixing up your voice from first to third
person or testing a new color scheme can be effective. Results
will help you tailor your entire signup process.

Trick #13:
Develop an original, interactive opt-in form
Businesses have experimented with everything from 3D graphics
to animation to gamification to spice up signup forms. Coming
up with something completely original and interactive is a great
way to grow your list.
One example we spotted at Get Elastic is an engaging game
developed by Sephora in fall 2013. Visitors entered email
addresses to follow a ball that traveled Pinko-style into a slot
where a unique prize was revealed.

Trick #14:
Create an eBook on an in-demand topic.
E-books are extremely popular email subscription gifts. Why?
If you choose the right topic for your audience and add
unforgettable value, you can build a list of engaged subscribers
who trust you and care about what you have to say next.
Take a look at the eBook that KissMetrics offers… next slide 

Notice that the Kissmetrics eBook educates readers on how to
measure data that matters for making “the right decisions”.
The eBook targets people who are interested in analytics, a
perfect audience for KissMetrics. One can assume that a person
interested in measuring data might want a software that can
help them do that – this is the KissMetrics solution.
Ideally, you want to create an ebook that grabs the attention of
your ideal audience, showcases your expertise, and introduces
the audience effectively to your products or services.
How can you write an ebook for your audience? Next slide
eBook continued…

1. Choose the right topic. One of the best ways to choose an in-
demand topic is to select one of your most popular blog
posts, and expand on it. Pick a topic you know and care
about because you can expect follow-up conversation.
2. Write your eBook. Draft outline, set deadlines, and write. Use
competitor blog posts and eBooks for inspiration. Reach out
to a friend or connection to edit and make final edits yourself.
Keep it conversational and comprehensive.
3. Design & upload eBook. Create a dedicated page for your
eBook or design a custom PDF version. Outsource the design
on Dribble or Behance and make sure to get a beautiful
cover design and a cover thumbnail for opt-in forms.
4. Update opt-in forms & welcome email. Once your eBook is
ready, update all of your opt-in forms and give subscribers a
link to their free eBook in their welcome email.
How To Write An In-Demand Ebook

Trick #15:
Create an email course.
An email course is a powerful way to encourage people to sign
up for emails. With an email course, you can deliver in-demand
information to subscribers broken into a series of emails that they
can digest over a period of time.
Take a look at the Internet Marketing for Smart People email
course from Copyblogger… next slide 

The Internet Marketing for Smart People email course introduces
Copyblogger’s subscribers to its high-performing content via a
20-part email series:
How can you create an email course? Next slide

1. Choose course subject. What will you teach subscribers in the
email course? Review your popular blog posts and eBooks
and identify a common greater goal to teach subscribers.
2. Develop lessons. What specific lessons will you teach in your
emails to support your overall goal? List out lessons you want
to teach + content supports each lesson.
3. Create emails & landing page. Use ExpressPigeon to design
emails. You may need more than one email per lesson. Emails
can link to supporting content or you can create a landing
page dedicated to each lesson.
4. Set up email sequence. Use ExpressPigeon autoresponders to
set up your email sequence for new subscribers.
5. Update opt-in forms. Update your subscription page and opt-
in forms to tell visitors about the exciting course.
How To Create An Email Course

Trick #16:
Run recurring webinars.
A webinar is a live video conference where you can share a
presentation or screencast with your audience. Attendees can
ask questions and interact via voice or messaging - one of the
most engaging forms of content marketing there is.
Webinars come highly recommended for converting website
visitors into loyal subscribers and customers. Running weekly or
monthly webinars can help you stay ahead of the competition
by showcasing your expertise on the latest industry topic.
Let’s look at an example of recurring webinars… next slide 

Moz uses webinars to
educate their audience on
online marketing in an effort
to build their email list and
ultimately upsell attendees
on Moz online marketing
tools. I'm sure you're
wondering how you can use
webinars to build your list.
Learn how to run your own webinars… next slide 
Webinar example…

1. Choose the right topic. Select a topic from one of your best
blog posts - how-to's, list posts, and case studies usually make
for great webinars. Make sure you pick a topic you know and
care about or you might get crushed in a Q&A.
2. Create your first presentation. Your presentation should be a
simple slideshow that leaves room for conversation. The focus
of a webinar is to educate - if you get too salesy people will
run away and never come back. Don't forget to prepare a
Q&A. This is where you really establish yourself as an expert
and build a deeper connection with your audience.
3. Choose your software. Hosting a webinar requires a service.
You’re better off paying for quality and capturing leads than
messing around with software that might crash. Try
GoToWebinar or BigMarker.
Continue reading… Next slide
How To Run Webinars

4. Promote your webinar. Create a blog post to promote your
webinar. You might want to launch the post a month in
advance - especially if you are just getting started. Use social
media and email marketing to let people know. Everyone
who signs up for your webinar will need to register with an
email address - good news for you!
5. Develop a series. A one-time webinar probably won’t bring
many customers but if you run consistent webinars, as a part
of a series, you can expect new and return attendees.
Create a calendar for your webinars and develop a series.
6. Send follow-up emails. After each webinar finishes, email
your audience with a special offer and invite them to join
your email list to hear about the next webinar. This is a great
way to convert webinar attendees into ongoing subscribers.
How To Run Webinars continued…

Trick #17:
Run a recurring email contest or giveaway.
Let's say you have a great product but cannot afford to give
samples to every new subscriber. Why not run a recurring
contest or giveaway? This is a strong opt-in incentive. Who
doesn’t want a chance to win something on a regular basis?
For example, I helped launch Tiesta Tea online a few years ago.
We gave away free tea on Twitter every Friday and earned
thousands of customers in the process. I could have improved
the giveaway by making it exclusive to email subscribers.
Here's what I would do today...  next slide

1. Choose a giveaway and time frame. What product can you
give away? How often can you afford to give it away? Is this
giveaway enticing enough to get people excited about your
emails? With the Tiesta Tea example, we would give away 5-
10 free tins of tea every Friday.
2. Create entry points on your website. Contest entry points are
your opt-in forms. Update your forms to let visitors know about
your contest. With the Tiesta Tea example, your messaging
might be: "Sign up for the Tiesta Tea Club for a chance to win
free tea every Friday.”
3. Announce winners via email. You can send an email to your
subscribers on select dates to announce winners. You might
want to include a special discount for "losers" to encourage
them to make a purchase.
How To Run Recurring Email Contests

Trick #18:
Create a special club for subscribers.
What if you could turn your email list into an exclusive club?
Wouldn’t people rather be a part of something special than
something they see every day?
The concept is simple – transform your email list into a “club” or
“membership” and offer subscribers multiple incentives for
joining. This is more of a branding tactic than anything but it can
be very effective for building a list.
Take a look at Pillsbury’s club for subscribers… next slide 

Pillsbury calls its email subscribers “Members” and promotes the
club heavily on its website. Members get free coupons, samples,
and a newsletter subscription. When you dive deeper, you’ll find
they also get a free calendar and entries to recurring events.
Learn how to create a club for your subscribers… next slide 

1. Come up with a catchy name. What will the name of your
club be? It’s ideal to make people feel like they are a part of
something important. What name is cohesive with your
brand? Is it a club? A membership? A community? It’s up to
you to decide.
2. Choose incentives for subscribers. What is the value in joining
the club? People need to know what’s in it for them. You can
choose multiple incentives from this post to generate ideas.
Consider offering ongoing benefits such as recurring contests
or giveaways.
3. Update opt-in forms & process. Be sure to update your opt-in
forms and process. One of the most fitting opt-in tricks to
consider is creating a page dedicated to your club and
adding it to your main menu.
How To Create A Club For Subscribers

Trick #19:
Record an audio gift.
Your audience is busy and sometimes they need an option to
learn on the go. That’s where an audiobook or podcast
becomes such a valuable subscription gift.
Developing audio for subscribers gives them an opportunity to
listen and learn – on the way to work, relaxing at home, or
driving their kids to school.
See how Audible offers a free audiobook… next slide 

Why couldn’t you offer the same deal to your email subscribers?
Would your audience value a free podcast or audiobook?
Audio gift example…
Learn how to create an audio subscription gift… next slide 

1. Choose the right topic & write the script. Select a popular
blog post or eBook and transform it into a script.
2. Record your audio. Outsource the voiceover on Craigslist or
do it yourself at a local studio. You might want to buy a USB
microphone if you plan on creating a recurring Podcast.
3. Upload audio and create landing page. Upload your audio
to an audio platform like Soundcloud. Enable free downloads
on the file. Once uploaded, you can create a custom page
on your website and embed the audio, with script, for easy
downloading & streaming.
4. Upload opt-in process. Update your opt-in forms and
welcome email to make sure new visitors know about your
audio gift and new subscribers receive the link to its landing
page when they sign up. A custom cover design can help.
How To Create An Audio Gift

Trick #20:
Offer a discount.
Everyone loves a good deal. Offering a special discount on
products or services in exchange for an email is a great way to
attract new subscribers.
NFL SHOP offers 10% off to new subscribers… next slide 

NFL SHOP uses a custom opt-in form to collect information about
new subscribers. You don’t need a major budget to pull this off.
Discount deal example…
Learn how to offer a discount to new subscribers… next slide 

1. Choose your discount. Will you offer a discount on all
products or services, one specific product or service, or a
specific brand? Are there any products or services to exclude
from the offer? Choose a deal that is financially responsible
for you and extremely attractive to your audience.
2. Generate a promo code. Create a custom promo code for
your email subscription offer. Make sure subscribers can only
use it once but avoid an expiration date. Why? If subscribers
haven’t redeemed the coupon in a certain time period, you
may want to send them a reminder
3. Update your welcome email. Use ExpressPigeon to insert a
button that directs subscribers to a page where your discount
applies. Make sure the page only houses products or services
that are eligible for the offer.
4. Update opt-in forms. Update your opt-in forms so visitors know
about your deal and subscribe for emails.
How To Offer A Discount Deal For Subscribers

Trick #21:
Offer a free trial.
Do you sell a product or service that requires recurring
payments?
Consider giving away a free trial membership. This attracts
people who are interested in your products or services – exactly
the type of audience you want on your email list.
A free trial gives people a taste of your expertise and a very
direct path to becoming paying customers. Even if they don’t
covert into customers after the trial period, you can continue
the conversation via email.
Check out how BJ’s Wholesale Club offers a free 60-day
membership to website visitors. next slide 

Notice in the bottom-right corner of BJ’s subscription form, visitors
have an option to “Subscribe to BJ’s Emails”.
Another option is to simply require email subscription to have
access to a free trial. Once you have their emails, you can easily
let them know more about your business and their benefits.

Trick #22:
Offer free samples.
Sometimes the best way to entice people to sign up for emails is
to give away exactly what you’re selling.
This is especially powerful if you sell products that people can
buy over and over again. For example, MOO offers free business
card samples for website visitors:

In order to receive the cards, you have to create a MOO
account. Once you’re a member, MOO emails you special offers
and reminders to finish your project.
Giving free samples can be a great way to entice people to sign
up for emails and become paying customers.
If you have a great product, can afford to give away samples,
and are confident people will come back for more – this could
be the perfect subscription gift for your business.

Trick #23:
Create a video for your audience.
Interview yourself…
Use a webcam to record yourself sharing expertise on your
industry with your audience. Offer a few tricks and ideas and
share some stories to help your audience relate.
Upload the video on YouTube and when someone subscribes,
share the link with them. Don’t worry that the video is available
publicly on your YouTube channel.
If the content of your talk is valuable, subscribers will appreciate
it. Your video should deliver what you promise in your opt-in
forms.
Another option is to create a tutorial video… next slide 

Create a tutorial video…
Show people how to do something the right way and they’ll love
you for it. Give people a tutorial video as an email subscription
gift, but make it something important.
What can you show your audience how to do that nobody else is
doing better than you? The topic you choose should be
something that is broad enough to engage anyone in your
audience but different enough to entice them to sign up.
Once you know what to record, you can create your video.
Programs like Camtasia or Screenflow make it easy to record a
screencast – a video of what’s happening on your computer
screen. A screencast gives people the visuals they need to follow
your how-to’s and they’ll be grateful for subscribing.
If you’re doing something more hands-on, you can always
create a how-to video that shows the actual process. Don’t be
afraid to fly different.

Trick #24:
Develop an online tool.
Developing a tool for website visitors can be a great way to
attract new subscribers.
Companies like Hubspot offer online tools that require an email
subscription. New subsscribers are automatically added to a
propsect list and receive marketing email.
Some people argue against this approach, as it can be viewed
as misleading. Marketing leader Neil Patel, who believes tools
can be a better investment than content, offer tools for free
without requiring subscription.
Take a look at a Hubspot tool & Quicksprout tool… next slide 

Hubspot Tool
Notice this tool
requires an email
address for access.
QuickSprout Tool
This tool requires a
URL for access.
Online Tool Examples

Trick #25:
Create a custom confirmation email.
Once a visitor signs up for emails via one of your conveniently
located and brilliantly designed opt-in forms, you should send
them a confirmation email. This confirmation step, referred to as
“double opt-in”, is important to maintaining a quality email list.
A confirmation email is your first direct communication with new
subscribers. It should reflect the look and feel of your brand.
Design a custom newsletter with ExpressPigeon in minutes. Keep
it simple. Your design should prime subscribers for future emails
but not distract them from your main call-to-action: Clicking a
confirmation link.
See how we send a simple confirmation email… next slide 

Trick #26:
Create a custom confirmation page.
It’s amazing (disappointing?) how many subscription
confirmations lead to a dead end. When a new subscriber
confirms subscription, you have an opportunity to redirect them
to any URL. Why settle for a simple thank you?
Design a custom confirmation page on your site that welcomes
subscribers to the community. Looking for content to include on
the page that is applicable for your business?
Great content ideas for your confirmation page… next slide 

• Warm welcome. Welcome subscriber to community and
thank them for joining.
• SPAM protection. Encourage subscriber to add your email
address to contact list to bypass SPAM filters.
• Social media sharing. Give subscriber option to connect with
you on social media channels.
• Content sharing. Offer subscriber a link to engaging content
on your site.
• Tell a friend. Prompt subscriber to tell their friends about your
email subscription.
See a great example from Amy Lynn Andrews… Next slide
Confirmation Page Ideas

Trick #27:
Create a welcome email to remember.
A welcome email is your first email to new subscribers. Give
them something that excites them for what’s to come next.
Deliver your free giveaway (as promised), thank them for
subscribing, and prepare them for what’s coming next.
This is also a great time for a surprise! Consider offering a special
“thank you” discount.
See how Gregory Ciotti does this at Sparring Mind… next slide 

Trick #28:
Reach out to friends and family.
When you’re building an email list, don’t
overlook the power of your personal
network. In the early stages, some of the
best support you’ll get to grow your list can
come from your strongest connections –
friends and family.
Sure, some of the people closest to you might have no interest
in your emails. But what about their friends? What about their
professional connections? You never know until you ask.
Learn how to reach out to friends and family… next slide 

1. Be serious. Make sure you plan on following through with
what you’re pitching in your email subscription. Otherwise,
you’ll hear about it forever. It’s not worth ruining your personal
relationships unless you are 100% committed.
2. Don’t be serious. Contact friends & family with your usual
communication method. If you usually call your cousin, don’t
email her out of the blue with a request. Call her, and if she
wants to help, send a follow-up email. Keep it casual.
3. Make the ask & be direct. Make it easy for your friends and
family to help you. Provide a clear call-to-action. Do you
want them to share a subscription page link with one friend
they know would love your emails? Or simply share the link on
their Facebook wall? It’s up to you to choose the ask.
If you are confident in what you’re building, you should have no
problem turning to friends and family for their help.
How To Invite Friends & Family To Subscribe

Trick #29:
Reengage your dated opt-in list.
Are you sitting on an opt-in email list that
you built years ago? Send a reengagement
email to give subscribers the option to re-
subscribe to your emails.
This is a great way to build your list and
ensure that subscribers are engaged and
interested in your campaigns.
This for opt-in lists only – buying email lists is illegal.
Related post: 11 Reasons To Never Purchase An Email List

Trick #30:
Send personal emails to old contacts.
Over the years, I’m sure you’ve emailed
hundreds, if not thousands, of people that are
interested in the topics you cover in your
email campaigns.
Even if you haven’t stayed in touch with these
connections, you can still engage them to
sign up for emails. But how do you go about it
without spamming?
Learn how to invite old contacts to subscribe… next slide 

1. Make a list of connections. Sift through your address book
and make a list of contacts that might be interested in your
emails. You can easily export contact lists from most ISPs.
2. Draft a template email. Draft an email that explains the
benefits of your newsletter and links to your subscription
page. This will be your template to work from when sending
one-to-one emails to each contact on your list.
3. Send personalized emails to each contact. With a template
to guide you, write an authentic, personal email to every
contact on your list. Make sure you include a memory cue or
hint to showcase that this is a one-to-one email.
This tactic sounds tedious, but you’ll be surprised by how many
people respond to a genuine, personal email.
How To Invite Old Contacts To Subscribe

Trick #31:
Send messages to LinkedIn connections.
Identify connections that might benefit from your emails and
send them private messages. Include a link to your subscription
page and mention the benefits of signing up.
Make sure to keep each message unique because LinkedIn users
can mark messages as spam.

Trick #32:
Promote your subscription in targeted groups.
LinkedIn Groups are a great place to communicate with industry
peers on a variety of topics. Promote your subscription in groups
that are likely interested in your emails.
Review Group Rules before posting or you could get kicked out.

Trick #33:
Promote your subscription on all social channels.
Make a public announcement on all of your social media
accounts to encourage your fans, followers, and connections to
sign up for emails. Tailor the post to each audience.

Trick #34:
Develop a system for in-house promotion.
If you’re just introducing email marketing into your
business, engage your team to encourage them
to help you drive awareness to your subscription.
The whole team will benefit from list building.
While this should be a win-win for everyone, it’s important not to
force the issue. If the team supports the business and its mission,
they will likely have no problem promoting a company email list.
Consider using some tips from this deck to give them direction on
how to spread the word. Getting every member of your team
excited to promote your subscription can be a valuable step to
reaching more subscribers.

Trick #35:
Post an ad on Craigslist.
Craigslist can be a useful resource to attract new subscribers. It is
free to post ads and you can get specific in terms of location and
subject matter.
When I was promoting the launch of an online social network for
music artists, over 80% of our beta users came from Craigslist. How
did I go about it?
• I encouraged people to submit an email address for a chance
to join a beta community and focused on benefits of joining in
the ad copy. I did not include any links.
• I tested ads in Chicago, and expanded to other markets once
they were successful.
Craigslist won’t work for every business but it is especially helpful if
you are building a list for a product launch or a local event.

Trick #36:
Invite people to subscribe in your email signature.
Simply add a line to your email signature encouraging people to
sign up for your list and include a link to your subscription page.

Trick #37:
Create a paper sign-up sheet at your business.
Create a paper sheet at your business where visitors can sign up.
Make sure to highlight the incentives of subscribing and place the
sheet where people can see it.
You can place the sheet in waiting areas or near your register.

Trick #38:
Ask people to sign up in person.
A real-world conversation can be a great
opportunity to invite people to sign up for
emails. Sound crazy? Imagine this…
You just had a meeting with a prospective
client. Maybe they’re not ready to seal the
deal just yet. You don’t want to harass
them for their business. What can you do?
Ask them if you can add them to your email list. Tell them why
you will help their business, with a simple subscription. This is a
great way to convert interested prospects into customers.
Your emails better add value!

Trick #39:
Turn phone calls into subscribers.
Let’s say someone calls trying to pitch you
on their business. Ask them if they want
your emails.
Or you have a call with a prospect or
customer. Do they want your emails?
Look for the right opportunities to invite
people to subscribe via phone.

Trick #40:
Use signage to promote your subscription.
Use your outdoor or window signage to promote your email
subscription. Let passerby know about the benefits of your
emails and give them an easy-to-remember URL or QR code to
immediately access your subscription form.

Trick #41:
Promote your subscription on all print materials.
This works best when you offer irresistible opt-in incentives.

Trick #42:
Create print materials dedicated to your emails.
Create postcards or other print materials dedicated to your
email subscription. This works great if you have a special club for
subscribers or run recurring contests.

Trick #43:
Collect emails at a trade show.
This can be a very tricky tactic. People have
no problem signing up for emails if they want
to receive emails. They do have a problem
with being unwillingly added to your list after
dropping an email at your booth in hopes of
winning a one-time toaster giveaway.
If you want to collect emails at a trade show,
promote the benefits of your email newsletter.
Make sure people know that they are signing
up for emails, not just signing up for a chance
to win a one-time giveaway.
If you want to incorporate a contest, announce the winners later
on via email. Let people know that they are signing up for emails
for a chance to win something and to find out about more
contests in the future.

Trick #44:
Organize industry events.
Organizing an event in your city can be a great way to make
memorable connections with people with similar interests. While
benefits to hosting events span way beyond list-building, events
are a great place to collect emails.
Whether you organize a Meetup, educational seminar, or a
hackathon, you should encourage attendees to sign up for
emails. If they enjoy the event, they will likely want to hear about
the next one.
Recurring events, like the Orbit Media Wine &
Web series in Chicago, are especially effective
for building that sense of community.
If you feel like you don’t have the social capital
to host a successful event on your own, find
someone to co-host with you.

Trick #45:
Attend key industry events.
If you’re not ready to take on event organizing, consider
attending industry events. If you target the right audience, you
give yourself a chance to interact with people who are the
ideal subscribers.
You can bring print materials with you to the events or send
people a quick email after you meet them. You might get
inspired to host your own or become more deeply connected
to a community of experts in your field.

Trick #46:
Integrate email with your direct mail campaigns.
If you’re like us and you want to save trees and money, tell
your direct mail audience about your email subscription.
Encourage them to sign up, and when they do, give them an
option to unsubscribe from direct mailers.
To the left is a great example from
my dentist, who sends reminders to
patients when they are ready for a
screening, and requests recipients
to go paperless.
You might want to send a direct
mailer specifically for your email
subscription. Either way, it’s an
easy ask when someone is already
receiving direct mail from you.

Trick #47:
Update your phone line.
Does your business have a phone line?
Replace that dreadful elevator music with recordings
about your website and email sign up. Even your
answering machine can help you get the word out!

Trick #48:
Advertise your subscription on a related website.
Advertise your subscription on a site with similar audiences.
Getting featured isn't easy, and advertising placement can get
you quick results.
Trick #49:
Run a Google Adwords campaign.
Make sure you already offer compelling opt-in incentive and
have a landing page for your subscription to direct ads to.
Trick #50:
Run social media ads.
Promote your email subscription on Facebook, Twitter, and
LinkedIn, with highly targeted social advertising. Drive traffic to
a subscription landing page.

Trick #51:
Place an opt-in form on your checkout page.
Checkout is a perfect time to convert one-time customers into
email subscribers. Offering a discount on a future purchase is a
great opt-in incentive.
Trick #52:
Offer an opt-in option on email receipts.
Some people are weary of subscribing during checkout, so
make sure you reinforce your subscription benefits and offer an
opt-in option directly in email receipts. This could be the
reinforcement they need.

Trick #53:
Send abandoned cart emails.
When someone leaves your site with products in their cart, it's
important to send an email reminder. Once they come back
and complete a purchase, they should have an option to
subscribe for email on checkout and in their receipt.
What do you need in an abandoned cart email?  next slide

• Winning subject line w/ company name and/or product info.
• Company logo & contact information in header.
• Personalized letter to shopper. Tell your customer why you’re
emailing them and how to complete the order.
• Navigation bar that links to various pages on your website.
• Shoppers saved items, with images & brief descriptions.
• Clear call-to-action. Big, bright button linked to shopping cart.
• Recommendations for items similar to the ones in cart.
• Customer support contact information (phone & email).
• Social media links.
See an example of an abandoned cart email…  next slide
What To Include In Abandoned Cart Emails

Trick #54:
Offer a product discount to subscribers.
This is a great incentive to encourage visitors to sign up for
emails. Who wouldn't sign up for emails if it saves them 10%?
Give people a reason to sign up. Run special promotions that
are only available to email subscribers. This keeps retention up
and gives visitors incentive to sign up.
Trick #55:
Run recurring deals for email subscribers.

Trick #56:
Ask subscribers why they are leaving.
Offer an option for subscribers to tell you why they are leaving
when they unsubscribe. This helps gives you ideas on how to
improve your campaigns.
Trick #57:
Give people a chance to resubscribe.
After subscribers unsubscribe, give them an option to sign up.
This seems contradictory, but you'd be surprised at how quickly
you can turn them around with a special deal or a funny photo.

Trick #58:
Prepare your audience for a break from email.
When you know you will be away for a
while, let your audience know.
Whether you’re leaving for a vacation or
a life-changing event, tell your audience.
This builds a deeper level of trust and
connection with subscribers and ensures
they don’t forget about you.

Trick #59:
Develop an inner circle.
Do you have a few subscribers that seem to really love your
emails? Give these fans an option to become a part of a more
exclusive subscription and offer them special deals.
Trick #60:
Feature subscribers in emails.
Ask your subscribers to offer their tips or ideas and feature a
new subscriber in every issue. This gives subscribers an
opportunity to become a part of your team, on a deeper level.
Trick #61:
Ask for suggestions.
Don't be afraid to ask subscribers what they want to see or
hear about in your emails. This can help you improve your
email content for retention and list growth.

Trick #62:
Tweet a link to your subscription page.
Tweet and tell followers why they should sign up.

Trick #63:
Tweet about future emails.
Tweet about upcoming deals or content available only to
email subscribers. Tell your Twitter followers to sign up for
emails to get access to the deal or content before you send
your email.

Trick #64:
Add a link to your Twitter bio.
Include a link to your subscription page in your Twitter bio.
Use a URL shortening service like bit.ly to avoid taking up too
many characters.
See how email marketing expert
Joride van Rijn does it in his bio

Trick #65:
Link to opt-in friendly content on Twitter.
Make sure you have opt-in forms on every page you link to
on Twitter. When you promote a new blog post or eBook
with a tweet, visitors should be able to easily subscribe.

Trick #66:
Send a real welcome DM.
Send a welcome direct message to new followers. Link them
to free content that is relevant to their interests.
Many people hate automated DMs. Take the time to
research your follower and send them a personal message.

Trick #67:
Include “tweet this” links in your emails.
Use a service like Click To Tweet to add buttons to your
emails and encourage subscribers to tweet a link to gated
content or content optimized for conversions.

1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
11111111111111111111111111111111111
Photo by jessleecuizon - Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/86251769@N00

Trick #68:
Include tweets in your emails.
You can use guest content
from Twitter in your emails.
Consider reaching out to
featured people to request
permission before sending.
When you publish an email,
send a quick personal email
to featured Twitter users.
Here’s how we might include
tweets in a weekly email 

Trick #69:
Develop Twitter campaign to promote incentives.
Ultimately, you are tweeting to build your email list!
Do you have offer eBooks, email courses, or webinars to
build your list? Use Twitter to promote your opt-in incentives.
For example, this tweet from Optimize.ly (below) takes you
to a landing page that requires your name & email to get
access to the promoted eBook.

Trick #70:
Send a “did you miss our newsletter” tweet.
No one enjoys feeling left out, especially if other people that
follow him or her received something that they didn’t..

Trick #71:
Thank & retweet supporters.
Thank people or send retweets to people who are tweeting
about your business, newsletter or emails.
This adds exposure to those who may have missed your
tweets about your emails.

Trick #72:
Join discussions and mention your emails.
Join discussions and mention your site. You can target your
audience by observing hashtags and jumping in.
Once followers begin reading and retweeting you, it’s easier
to grab their interest when you promote your emails.
Make a list of hashtags to monitor or use a service like
Sprout Social to save your “Smart Searches”.

Trick #73:
Add subscription tab to Facebook page.
Add a subscription tab to your Facebook page. Design a
beautiful call-to-action image for the tab and link it to your
subscription page.
Use Facebook Email Sign Up to create one in minutes.
Trick #74:
Create tab for gated content.
Build a tab that houses your free ebooks, email courses, or
other content that requires an email subscription to access.

Trick #75:
Run a contest in a Facebook tab.
Run a contest on Facebook that collects emails for entry.
Learn how to do this in this blog post.

Trick #76:
Add a call-to-action in your Facebook cover.
Whether you are pushing people to a contest tab, gated
content tab, or email signup tab, add a call-to-action to
your Facebook page cover.
Include a message (and an arrow) that encourages people
to take advantage of one of the tabs. Make sure to include
the benefits or the reason for taking action.

Trick #77:
Run a Facebook ad or promoted post.
Run a Facebook ad or create a promoted post that
highlights your subscription.
You can promote your subscription page directly or
promote content that requires subscription to access.

Trick #78:
Promote your emails in YouTube videos.
At the end of videos, encourage viewers to sign up for emails.
Include an ending slide with a visible URL for your subscription
page.
In video descriptions, you can add a link to your subscription
page or a piece of related content.

Trick #79:
Share in a Google+ community.
Similar to LinkedIn Groups, Google+ communities allow you
to connect with people with shared interests. Here you can
establish your expertise in your industry.
Share valuable original content and interact with others.
You can promotion your subscription page directly, but
make sure you use an incentive tailored to the community.

Trick #80:
Create a short video on Instagram or Vine.
Create a short video for Instagram or Vine that tells people
about the benefits to your emails. You can share your video
on other social sites and embed it in a blog post.

Trick #81:
Promote on Pinterest.
Create "Pins" that link to blog posts and content on your site
that requires email signups.

Trick #82:
Learn from the best.
Want to know how to use social media to build your list?
Take a peek at what other prominent businesses and
bloggers are doing in your space to build their email
audience via social.
Trick #83:
Engage your audience while creating emails.
When you're working on a newsletter design or content for
your next send, don’t hesitate to tweet about why you like
working on it and why you find it interesting.

Trick #84:
Encourage users to follow you on other channels.
Encourage users to follow you on different platforms.
If someone already follows you on Twitter, give them an
option to connect with you on Google+ or another channel
and you build a deeper connection.
The deeper the connection, the more the chances they
have to find your content and eventually subscribe.

Trick #85:
Create a social x email tool.
Were you hoping to find a way to integrate your social
media with your email acquisition but found the options
available lacking?
Create a better way! There’s no better way to become an
authority than creating the next great tool.

Trick #86:
Make your email content easy to share on social.
Add social media buttons at the bottom or on the side of
your blog posts and emails to encourage readers to share
your content with one click.

Trick #87:
Promote specific incentives on social channels.
Create posts that highlight specific incentives that you use
to promote your email list. Promote each incentive
separately on all social channels.
For example, you might offer webinars, email courses, and
ebooks to attract new subscribers. Each incentive can be
promoted on multiple social channels.

Trick #88:
Guest blog the right way.
Guest blog on industry sites that target an audience likely
interested in your emails. Make sure to link to your email
subscription page in your author bio. You can also link to
your emails in the post, but only if it is genuinely relevant.
We invited content marketing
genius Andy Crestodina to
guest blog on ExpressPigeon
and he taught us a new tactic
– getting yourself interviewed is
better for SEO than traditional
guest blogging!
Check out his “guest post” aka
interview here.

Trick #89:
Partner up!
Team up with a partner or affiliate site and run joint promotions.
Hosting a webinar with a partner site or running a collaborative
blog series can help you attract a valuable audience, or
people who instantly trust you, to your site and your emails.
Trick #90:
Mention your email subscription in your blog post.
Mention your email subscription in the context of your
article. Try to tastefully slip in a hyperlink to your email
signup. It makes for a good article.

Trick #91:
Engage on industry sites.
Is there a blog that you read regularly?
If you have true value to add, leave a comment. People will
recognize your tips and click on you, finding your website, and
eventually will find your email. Don't comment just to comment.
There is plenty of noise already.

Trick #92:
Get interviewed.
Unless someone wants to interview you for a site that goes
against your beliefs, accept all interview inquiries.
Showcase your expertise and make sure to drop your URL
and tell the audience about your emails. Embrace your inner
celebrity! ;)

Trick #93:
Contribute outside of your niche.
Take your expertise to a leading site in another industry,
create a guest post that benefits that audience, and watch
your list grow. This is a great way to reach new markets and
try new guest blogging tactics.

Trick #94:
Start a conversation.
Content marketing expert Andy Crestodina wrote a great
article on how to start a conversation online. A new connection
can often lead to a new email subscriber, directly or indirectly.
Trick #95:
Turn interaction into opportunity.
Anytime someone engages with your site by posting a
comment or doing anything interactive, try to get a prompt
in front of them to get them on your email list.

Trick #96:
Answer questions on discussion boards.
Actively seek out questions on discussion boards, like Quora,
on topics related to your industry. Provide detailed, thorough
responses for people. This establishes your expertise and will
ultimately drive traffic to your site and help you grow your list.

Trick #97:
Contact key targets in your industry.
Don't be afraid to reach out to important thought leaders in
your space via email or Twitter. Let them know about your
emails and you might open up a world of cross promotion or
add value to them and their business.

Trick #98:
Go local.
Look for prominent businesses and bloggers and news
publications in your community. Reach out to them, and let
them know about your emails. People are generally more
likely to support other locals to help enrich the community.

Trick #99:
Simplify your website.
Get rid of your website design clutter. When you give people
too many options on your website, they often walk away and
choose to do absolutely nothing.
Clean up your website and watch your list grow!

Trick #100:
Be patient.
Just because your program doesn’t explode
immediately doesn’t mean you should abandon
your efforts. Take the time to test out each of
these tactics before moving on to a new one.

Trick #101:
Keep learning.
Never think you know it all as there is always something new
coming on the horizon. Every list like this you read is merely
capturing the best practices of internet marketing today.
Sign up for our email list to keep learning! 

101 Ways To Seriously Grow Your Email List

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Mais procurados

Mais procurados (20)

Semelhante a 101 Ways To Seriously Grow Your Email List

Semelhante a 101 Ways To Seriously Grow Your Email List (20)

Último

Último (20)

101 Ways To Seriously Grow Your Email List