Online Marketing Education | Learn Marketing

Now that you have begun your email marketing campaign, you should take a look at the importance of building your email list. It's definitely ok to start with a smaller list, but you must make the effort to grow your list.

Each person you send your email to is a potential customer. If you're not collecting email addresses in every way possible, you are missing out on valuable sales opportunities. The bigger your list is, the more your mailings will impact the growth of your business.

With so many places and ways to acquire email addresses, there is really no reason why you can't build your list quickly.

Here's six easy ways to capture emails and grow your email list!

1. Your Website
   
   Your website is often the first place people go when they want to find out more about your company. This is the most convenient and affordable way to capture their email addresses. Below are just a few simple ways to get people to sign up for your email list.
   
   Place an obvious sign-up form on your home page. Make this form prominent, so there is no way to miss it. They are there to find out more about your business, don't miss this chance to establish a connection with them.
   
   Create a sign-up opportunity by offering a newsletter, industry articles, blog or other interesting content on your site. At the end of your article, you can put a call to action, for example, "Enjoy this article? Enjoy a new one every month! Sign up for our monthly article updates!" Another way to build your list fast is by giving readers an option that says, "Click here to subscribe to our newsletter."
   
   Ask them to sign up when you offer content to download. Can you provide a free, valuable guide, white paper, report or other type of download? If your visitors are getting something for free, why not ask for their email? It's a standard procedure most people are used to and it gives you free contacts.
   
   Offer an incentive. Giveaways, sweepstakes and exclusive online specials are always fun ways to entice visitors to sign up using their email address. It's a win-win, you get their email and they receive what they signed up for when you send them an email.
   
   
2. Printed Materials — Promote Online Sign-Ups
   
   Whether you're sending a reminder card or a general business promotion, you can direct recipients to your website to sign up for your free newsletter. Most people will visit your website anyway and by giving them a place to start, you can capture their email — plus they learn more about your products or services. This is proven to generate a lot of response.
   
   You can add this one line call to action on almost all printed materials including:
   
   Direct Mail
   Letters/Stationery
   Postcards
   Brochures
   Business Cards
   
   
3. Emails
   
   You probably send personal emails every day! Add a line to your email signature and everyone you email will see that you have an e-newsletter. It could say something like, "Get new tips every month! Click here to subscribe to our monthly newsletter." This is easy and it's free.
   
   
4. In-Person Meet and Greet
   
   When you meet potential customers face-to-face at a tradeshow, networking event or business meeting, time may be limited to pitch your products or services. Even if you exchange business cards, a great way to educate them on what you can offer is to direct them to your website to sign up for a 30-day free trial, free e-newsletter or marketing article.
   
   This is also a great tool that your employees and sales associates can easily do over the phone as well.
   
   
5. Presentations and Seminars
   
   Do you ever give presentations or seminars? If so, we highly recommend dedicating your final presentation slide to your newsletter. Instead of listing only your name and company information, be sure to include your newsletter sign-up web address. Let them know they can find out more about what you offer by signing up for your free newsletter or 30-day free trial.
   
   
6. Work Together with Other Businesses and Organizations
   
   Find a few credible businesses in your field, who aren't competitors, and partner to promote each other's services in your email campaigns. Mention them in your newsletter with a link to their sign-up page and ask them to do the same in return.

To quickly increase your email contacts (and potential leads), implement as many of the above suggestions as you can. Continue to look for additional ways to build your list — there's always room to grow!

No matter what type of business you have, there are always opportunities to find qualified contacts and turn them into happy customers.

– – –

Joy Gendusa, Founder and CEO of PostcardMania, has grown PostcardMania into one of the nation's largest and most effective marketing companies specializing in lead generation for small to large-sized businesses being recognized on the Inc. 500 and 5000 lists. She's been named the Tampa Bay CEO of the Year as well as Business Woman of the Year in Tampa Bay, featured on MSNBC's "Your Business" and has twice been an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.

By 2008, revenues reached nearly $19 million and the company now employs over 150 people, prints 4 million and mails 2 million postcards each week, representing more than 40,000 customers in over 350 industries.

If you would like to interview or book Joy Gendusa as a speaker, please email joyspeak@postcardmania.com or call 800-628-1804 ext. 281.