34 Ways To Build Your Email List

There is no doubt about it… If you are looking for a low-cost way to reach existing customers and potential new ones with a marketing message, email is a great option.

Not only is email marketing an affordable way to spread the word about your brand, product or service, it delivers high impact results.

But how do you build a solid email list to send to? Here are some ideas:

Social Media

1.  Twitter Campaign

All you need to do is create a Twitter campaign to promote something to your followers. It can be an eBook or a free downloadable resource that requires an email address in order to be redeemed.

2.  Facebook Page Promotion

This is a variation of the Twitter campaign where you use your Facebook page and promote an offer on your timeline. Again, an email address is required to access the offer.

3.  Facebook CTA

On your Facebook Business Page, you can now utilise different types of call-to-action (CTA) buttons. You can collect email addresses by simply having the button direct traffic to a landing page that requires an email address to access.

4.  LinkedIn

One more variation of the Twitter campaign can be used on your LinkedIn Business Page or in relevant LinkedIn groups you are a member of. Simply add links to gated offers that require the standard email address to access.

5.  Pinterest Promotion

Another way to collect email addresses is to pin photos of your marketing items to appropriate boards on Pinterest. Each offer would require an email address at the sign-up phase.

6.  YouTube

An effective way to use your YouTube channel is to add call-to-actions and URLs in your videos. You can encourage viewers to subscribe by including links in the video description sections to relevant landing pages.

7.  Google+

Offers and email sign ups can be promoted through your G+ page by using your regular G+ update posts as well as in your About section in your G+ profile.

Via Your Website

8.  Make Opt-ins Visible

On your website, you want to make it painfully easy for visitors to find your opt-ins. Keep them visible at all times and if you can’t include them on every page, be sure to have them on your homepage, your blog pages, the About Us page and the Contact Us page at the very least.

9.  Guest Blogging

Every time you have a guest blogging opportunity, if possible add a CTA and a link to your blog or a landing page with an opt-in within your author bio.

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Via New Content

10.  Lead Magnets

Create a new free eBook or a downloadable document, checklist or cheat-sheet with information of interest to your website visitors. With their email address submission, they can download this new product.

11.  Free Resource Tool

If you are a creative type, develop something of use such as a new online tool that can be utilised following signing up with an email address.

Via eMail

12.  Awesome Content

One great way to build your email list is by using email itself. But in order to attract potential new customers, the marketing content you send to your existing list has to be so awesome that it excites your current subscribers. It also has to excite them to where they will pass it on to their friends which will bring you some new subscribers.

13.  Sharing Is Caring

As an extension of the idea about awesome content, why not go right out and request that your current subscribers share your latest email? You can also include social sharing buttons on blog posts to make it even easier.

14.  Contests

Since you are in direct contact with subscribers via email, make use of their undivided attention by promoting an online contest of some kind. Entries require an email address and once again, encourage sharing of the contest details with others. You can offer an additional entry for each additional share.

15.  Multiple Email Streams

There’s always the chance that someone subscribing to your current email list knows someone who would like to hear more about a different service or product you offer. If you create different types of subscriber lists you can directly target those with specific interests. It can highlight interest in different products and services and can pull in new subscribers that may not otherwise be interested in your current content.

16.  Add New Life To Your old List

Have a stale email list? It’s okay because you can still pull some life out of it by sending out a new campaign. It will interest some and you can delete those who do not respond which will result in leaving you with a fresh list of interested contacts.

Via Traditional Marketing

17.  Offline Event Collection

Anytime you attend an event such as a trade show or market of some kind, have a sign-up sheet handy to collect email addresses. Add them to your database and start connecting.

18.  Host Your Own Offline Event

In addition to attending trade shows or markets as a vendor, why not host an event yourself? You can keep it small and organise a simple meetup, host a workshop or whatever. Again, use a sign-up sheet at your event to collect contact info from participants.

19.  Direct Mail Campaign

You can reach new prospects with a direct mail campaign. Be sure to provide a link for interested parties to opt-in or to subscribe. You will gain some new subs using this traditional method.

20.  Webinars

Speaking of hosting your own event, if a trade show or workshop is not the direction you wish to go, you can cut costs and host your own online workshop – a webinar. You will be able to collect contact info when interested parties register to participate.

21.  Paid Search Ads

The internet pay-per-click (PPC) advertising system is still very effective in reaching targeted audiences. By using a PPC campaign you can save on costs and gain access to potential customers interested in your product or service. Be sure to have the clickable ad directed to a landing page requesting email sign-up information.

22.  QR Code

If you use any kind of print media, even business cards, you can include a QR Code that can be scanned. You will want the QR Code to send people to a landing page with an opt-in (with email address request) to become part of your subscriber base.

If you’re serious about learning more on email marketing for your business website, check out our bonus Lead Magnet Ideas resource to help get people onto your list. Enter your details below to get instant access…

Via Other Ideas

23.  Birthdays/Anniversaries

Here’s an idea many retail stores use… offer something to “Club Members” on their birthday or anniversary. But in order to be in the club, they must sign up with an email address.

24.  Telemarketing

Although phone soliciting tends to get a bad rap, it can still be an effective method to reach potential customers. By calling previous customers or the general public, this is a great opportunity to ask these people if they would be interested in joining your email list where they can hear about ongoing promotions.

25.  Bounced Emails

If you send an email but it bounces, you may still be able to salvage the contact. If the return email, sometimes it can contain the actual postal mailing address of the business. If this happens, you can send a postcard requesting a new email address to update your database.

26.  Sharing Is Caring (Part 2)

Have you considered sharing email lists with someone else you know? Between the two of you, there are going to be some fresh contacts. You can do a JV with that person and offer something valuable to their audience. Their audience would have to opt-in if interested in finding out more about your product or service.

27.  Forum Community

Another great way to reach potential new prospects is through the creation of a forum on your website. Forums are popular in that like-minded people can share thoughts, experiences, and tips about your niche, brand, products, or services. This can increase the number of visitors to your website who can then opt-in to one of your lead magnets. It can draw new potential customers into the fold as well.

28.  Swarm

Swarm (by Foursquare) provides business owners with the option of providing a discount or special gift just by ‘checking in’ to your business listing. When the recipient collects their prize, collect an email address.

29.  Blogs/Forums

Even if you have your own blog or forum, you should be active on other ones that are relevant to your brand. Use comments on these to access potential new customers with a link in your bio or signature line to send people to your opt-in page.

30.  Coupons

By setting up a coupon that offers discounts to products in your online store, you can attract new customers. In order to access the coupon, an email address is required.

31.  Talk The Talk

Don’t forget to use word of mouth and encourage those who support your business to do the same. Refer people you come in contact with at networking events or on a regular basis to visit your website opt-in page.

32.  Street Signage

If your business has a storefront location, post signs promoting your newsletter. Provide a discount or prize of some kind to anyone who walks in and asks to join your email list.

33.  Personalise Receipts

Again, if you have a storefront location, program your cash register to print off the opt-in page URL as part of the receipt contact info that goes with the customer. Also, near the register, you can have a place where people can leave their contact details to hear about future promotions.

34.  Pop Ups

This is a bit tricky since a pop up on your website needs to be done correctly to avoid Google penalties, but this can work very well. You’ve likely seen them. When someone visits your website, a short period of time passes from when they first arrive when a pop up will appear on screen requesting opt-in information. You may want to try this as it can be a powerful way to reach new customers.

Feeling Inspired Yet?

As you can see, there are many ways in which you can build your email list. Not all of them are all that hard to do, either. The above list is far from complete but should give you plenty of ideas to start with and once you begin, you will discover other ways to reach out to prospects.

Good luck!

If you’re serious about learning more on email marketing for your business website, check out our bonus Lead Magnet Ideas resource to help get people onto your list. Enter your details below to get instant access…