10 Tips to Build Your Mailing List
Increasing the size of your mailing list can significantly build the client base of your business. The informative newsletter you send out encourages repeat business, drives sales and entices average customers into becoming product evangelists.
These hot tips will make your mailing list numbers skyrocket!
1. Add a Sign-up Option On All of Your Pages
Each page of your site should have at least one opportunity to sign up for your newsletter. The lead page should receive a larger and more noticeable box, but every page should have a link to your mailing’s opt-in page.
2. Add a Link to Your Signature
Every post that you make and every email that you send should have a link to your lead page on it. You want to provide every opportunity for your viewers to get on your mailing list.
3. Move the Sign-up Form
Put your sign up box front and center on your lead page. You’re proud of the mailing you produce, so why hide it?
Try out different positions on your page to see what works the best. There are some businesses that use pop-up windows to make it impossible to go onto the page without signing up but it is always better to give your visitor the choice.
4. Encourage Friends
Ask your subscribers to email your newsletter out to friends who may also be interested. Your newsletter may be perfect for many friends, giving you more chances to impress.
If you have been itching to run a contest, offer a prize to the person who brings in the most friends.
5. Share Links With Other Newsletters
Combine forces with other writers. Check into the possibility of exchanging newsletter links with your peers, gaining more exposure for the both of you. A tiny blurb about your business can expand your list immensely.
6. Include Links in Your Articles
Articles in article banks usually have ‘about the author’ section at the very end.
There, you can provide a link to your website or subscription page. New members will sign up for your list as your articles get distributed on the web.
7. Give Exclusive Deals
Offer your customers something exclusive for reading your mail.
Give them a little percentage off of their next purchase or send them a free ebook for signing up. Make your visitors realize that there is something in it for them if they opt in today.
8. Put a Link to Subscribe On the Newsletter
Aside from having links to join in your mailing list all over your site, make sure that there’s a link to join in on the newsletter itself. You want to make it as easy as possible for the friends of your subscribers to sign up for your great mailings.
9. Show Your Customers Previous Mailings
Your customers want to know what they’re in for when they opt-in to your list.
Show your customers the types of deals and information that they can receive just by signing up. This works much better than merely telling them about it.
10. Maximize Real Life Opportunities
When it comes right down to it, every person that you come in contact with is a potential subscriber to your mailing list.
Have your information placed on a business card that you can hand out at conventions and meetings.
Take a potential client’s card and ask them if you can sign them up for your newsletter. If you are speaking, pass around a clipboard so your attendees can opt in to your list.
There are plenty of ways to increase the size of your mailing list. Try out a few of these great suggestions and you will see your numbers grow.
What tips would you add to the list?
- James
NOTE: The views contained within this post are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of FMS SEO. For more information on writing for FMS SEO and getting more exposure for yourself and your website then please visit here.
Image: Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Great tips for building a mailing list, but I’m starting to wonder if the value of mailing lists are diminishing. I wonder if there will be a time, when people will only subscribe via RSS so that they have full control of their contact information. I wonder if this will lead to better RSS management apps and change the way subscribers are gathered, and web pages are organised.
Fiona Bosticky recently posted..Why do People become Fans on Facebook
This a pretty good list of ideas to take into consideration. I recently started my mailing list and would think that what I’m offering adds extreme value (I hope) and people will want in for what they get out of it.
I don’t do that much promoting it except on my blog but now that I have some ideas I’ll start implementing.
Thanks!
Eric recently posted..Get To Know Me Better: Ask Me Any 2 Questions You Want
First time on this site and I’m blessed to have found a wealth of SEO information. Great article James!
A subscription link in the newsletter…..this is a brilliant idea and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done; I’ve subscribed to many over the years.
Great article James! Will bookmark this as I am planning to start that list one of these days.
JR @ Internet Marketing recently posted..Try the Best Content Spinner for $7
I’m pretty lucky when it comes to my blog engage mailing list. I don’t have to waste time trying to get people to join. It’s simply part of the membership. I make note when everyone first signs up that they are not just signing up to blog engage and that it’s mandatory to recieve our newsletter. Most people don’t mind and if they do I simply remove their account upon their request.
The sad part is the pligg software doesn’t allow me to take them off he list. it simply messages everyone in the user database. This is something they should look at fixing so I don’t have to remove peoples accounts in order to send a mass e-mail.
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