20 Ways to Build Your Email Lists

As you browse the list below please keep these helpful tips in mind:

• Consider All Touch Points: Use every point of contact with customers and prospects.
• Get Permission: Always obtain permission with the confirmed (double) opt-in method for online contacts. For offline contacts, update your database with when, where and how the contact was initiated. Confirm their permission in the first email.
• Required Information: Obtain email address, name, format preference (html or text) and logical interests/preferences.
• Equal Attention to Lists: Implement strategies and incentives to transform inactive subscribers into active ones.
• Provide Valuable Benefits: Convince potential subscribers of the valuable benefits they'll receive.
• Convey Trust: Clearly state your privacy/email policies.

1. Front and center Sign-Up Form on Your Site - Be sure to remember this basic concept. Make it easy for people to join your email list.

2. Promote Email Benefits - Encourage people to subscribe by showing them the benefits they will get.  Use incentives, testimonials and strong call-to-action copy.

3. Optimize Your Site for Search Engine Placement - Optimize current and archived newsletters for search engines to increase traffic and subscriptions.

4. Include "Send to a Friend" Options - Generate new subscribers with minimal effort if bundled with promotional campaigns.

5. Tie-In to other mail types - Use direct mail and encourage email subscriptions on all print ads.

6. Email Signature Lines - Add "Subscribe to the Company Email Newsletter" to employee email signatures.

7. Help from Customer Service - Instruct staff answering the phones to ask customers and prospects if they'd like to receive newsletters or promotional email.

8. Send Post Cards to Customers - If you have postal contact information for customers but not email addresses, send a post card with opt-in sign-up offer and URL.

9. Present at Presentations - Promote your newsletter in presentations and handouts.

10. Promote Sign-Ups in Confirmation/Transaction Emails - Add messages and links to opt-in pages of all confirmation and transaction emails.

11. Include Opt-in Line on Credit Card Receipts - Not an obvious method, but may be quite effective.

12. Add Opt-in Message to Warranty and Product Registration Cards.

13. Add Sign-Up Message to Invoices.

14. Display Opt-in Forms at Points of Sales stations - An approach used by restaurants and retailers to advertise weekday discounts, catering services etc.

15. Promote Your Email/Newsletter in Articles - Include a reference and link to your newsletter after the byline on articles in trade and consumer publications.

16. Include Opt-in Message and Check Boxes on Shopping Cart Pages - Remember to ask for email format and product/information preferences.

17. Include Newsletter Subscriptions in Trade Show Lead Generation Forms - Obtain permission to send your monthly newsletter to booth visitors.

18. Distribute Press Releases Based on Newsletter Articles - Newsletters with topical articles may warrant a press release. Make sure the press release includes links and information on how to subscribe.

19. Include Opt-in Information on Customer Satisfaction Surveys - Ask permission to communicate valuable information via email newsletters and promotions.

20. Include Opt-in Forms in Product Shipping Boxes - Advertise email promotions on packing slips and direct mail cards with links to your site. Many retailers and catalogers also include promotional offers from non-competing companies.

Need help implementing a new sales or marketing program?  We've got two suggestions:

a) Check out our free marketing templates and tools on this site.  There's ton's of them.  You might want to bookmark the site now, you could be here awhile.
b) Have someone do it for you, check here for options http://www.mymarketingguide.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=24_32

Want more articles like this?