Having a solid email list is crucial for the success of any small business. Email marketing helps you nurture leads, promote new products and services, drive traffic to your website, and maintain relationships with customers. However, building an email list from zero subscribers can be a daunting task for resource-strapped entrepreneurs. This article provides actionable tips to help small business owners create their first email list and grow their subscriber base organically over time.
Start by Identifying Your Target Audience
The first step towards building your email list is identifying who you want to reach via email marketing. Get clear on the demographics, interests, needs and behaviors of your ideal customers. For instance, if you run an online store selling homemade organic skincare products, your target audience may be females aged 30-50 years who value natural ingredients and cruelty-free practices. Keep your niche audience at the center of your email marketing strategy.
Offer a Lead Magnet
A lead magnet is an irresistible free offer you provide in exchange for a visitor’s email address. For example, you can create a free guide, eBook, resource list, coupon or webinar to capture email subscriptions. Your lead magnet should provide tangible value related to your products or industry while requiring an email opt-in to access it. Prominently display the lead magnet on your website and social media. You can also advertise it through paid channels to gain more leads.
Make Signup Forms Accessible
Placement plays a key role while adding email signup forms to your website. Include sign-up forms or popups on multiple high-traffic pages like your homepage, blog, pricing page, etc. Keep forms above the fold so they are visible immediately without extensive scrolling. Reduce the number of required fields in your forms and use smart technological features like autofill to encourage signups. Confirm subscription through a double opt-in rather than single opt-in process to gain more committed readers.
Incentivize Referrals
Word-of-mouth is still the best way for brands to find new audiences. Initiate a listener referral program by offering rewards when existing subscribers refer your business to others. For example, you can provide a special coupon code or discount on products to your customers for every successful referral sign-up. This helps multiply your subscriber count as delighted users voluntarily advocate your business.
Make Social Sharing Seamless
Integrate user-friendly social sharing buttons across all content on your site. Allow readers to easily share your blogs, resources or products with just one click. You can even display personalized signup forms when people share or comment on your posts online. This facilitates visitors to subscribe right from social platforms without leaving their newsfeeds.
Organize Giveaways
Giveaways are an extremely popular tactic to grow startup email lists on a budget. Partner with relevant brands to organize contests offering attractive prizes to entrants. Require participants to sign up for your list in order to take part in sweepstakes. Promote the giveaways extensively through paid and organic social promotion. This strategy helps capture new leads when they enter for chances to win prizes. You also generate buzz around your brand in the process.
Send Welcome Emails
The email subscribers receive immediately after signing up sets the tone for your future communication. Kickstart engagement by sending personalized welcome emails confirming their successful subscription. Educate new readers on what they can expect from your email campaigns going forward. You can also suggest suitable resources or reiterate the lead magnet they accessed based on their interests.
Keep providing compelling content
Consistency and quality content are key pillars for a sustainable email list for small businesses. Send out informative newsletters, promos or offers on a weekly or monthly basis to nurture reader relationships. Well-written blogs, eBooks, webinars and videos emailed to subscribers should solve their pain points. Listen to audience feedback and understand their ever evolving needs to produce relevant content that keeps them engaged.
Implementing the above email list building practices right from inception can organically grow your subscriber base over time. Avoid buying email lists as it breaches privacy while risking spam complaints. Building authentic ties leveraging lead magnets and referrals are more lucrative. With ongoing optimization, you can scale your list to thousands of subscribers who look forward to hearing from you!
