Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to communicate with your audience, promote your products or services, and grow your business. But before you can start sending out newsletters, offers, or updates, you need to have an email list. And not just any email list, but a list of subscribers who are interested in what you have to say and offer.
But how do you build an email list from scratch? How do you attract and convince people to give you their email addresses and permission to contact them? In this blog post, we will share some tips and best practices on how to build an email list from scratch.
1. Define your target audience and value proposition.
The first step to building an email list is to know who you want to reach and what you can offer them. You need to have a clear idea of who your ideal customer is, what their needs, challenges, goals, and interests are, and how your product or service can help them. This will help you craft a compelling value proposition that will entice them to join your email list.
A value proposition is a statement that summarizes why someone should subscribe to your email list. It should answer the question: "What's in it for me?" It should highlight the benefits and outcomes that your subscribers can expect from your emails, as well as what makes you different from other similar businesses or brands.
For example, if you are a fitness coach who helps busy professionals lose weight and get in shape, your value proposition could be something like: "Join my email list and get weekly tips on how to lose weight, boost your energy, and improve your health without spending hours in the gym or following restrictive diets."
2. Choose an email marketing platform and create a sign-up form.
The next step is to choose an email marketing platform that will allow you to collect, store, manage, and send emails to your subscribers. There are many options available in the market, but some of the most popular ones are Mailchimp, ConvertKit, AWeber, and Constant Contact. You should compare their features, pricing, ease of use, and customer support before making a decision.
Once you have chosen an email marketing platform, you need to create a sign-up form that will capture your visitors' email addresses and other relevant information. A sign-up form is a web page or a widget that asks for your visitor's name and email address (and sometimes other details) in exchange for something valuable, such as a free ebook, a discount code, a webinar invitation, or access to exclusive content.
You can create a sign-up form using the tools provided by your email marketing platform or using third-party services like Leadpages or OptinMonster. You should make sure that your sign-up form is:
- Visible: Place it on prominent places on your website, such as the header, the sidebar, the footer, or as a pop-up or slide-in.
- Attractive: Use eye-catching colors, fonts, images, and icons that match your brand identity and website design.
- Simple: Ask for only the essential information that you need from your subscribers and avoid asking for too much personal or sensitive data.
- Clear: Use concise and persuasive copy that explains the benefits of joining your email list and what they will receive in return.
- Trustworthy: Include a privacy policy or a disclaimer that assures your visitors that you will not spam them or share their data with anyone else.
3. Offer an incentive or a lead magnet.
One of the most effective ways to increase your sign-up rate is to offer an incentive or a lead magnet to your visitors. A lead magnet is a freebie that you give away in exchange for an email address. It should be something valuable and relevant to your target audience and your niche. It should also be easy to consume and deliver on its promise.
Some examples of lead magnets are:
- Ebooks
- Checklists
- Cheat sheets
- Templates
- Guides
- Reports
- Case studies
- Webinars
- Video tutorials
- Quizzes
- Surveys
- Free trials
- Free consultations
- Discount codes
- Free shipping
To create a lead magnet, you need to:
- Identify a specific problem or challenge that your target audience faces and that you can help them solve.
- Create a solution that is simple, actionable, and results-oriented.
- Format it in a way that is easy to access and consume (such as PDF, MP4, MP3).
- Host it on a platform that allows you to deliver it automatically (such as Dropbox, Google Drive).
- Add it to your sign-up form as an option or a requirement for subscribing.
4. Drive traffic to your landing page.
Once you have your landing page and opt-in form ready, you need to get people to see them and sign up for your email list. There are many ways to drive traffic to your landing page, such as social media, blogging, guest posting, SEO, paid ads, etc. Choose the methods that work best for your niche and audience and test different strategies to see what brings the most results.
5. Nurture your subscribers with valuable content.
After you have built your email list, you need to keep in touch with your subscribers and provide them with useful and relevant content. This will help you build trust and rapport with them and eventually turn them into loyal customers.
You can send them newsletters, blog updates, tips, offers, promotions, etc. Make sure you segment your list based on their interests and preferences and personalize your emails as much as possible.
Building an email list from scratch may seem daunting at first, but it is not impossible if you follow these steps and apply them consistently. Remember that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to email marketing. Focus on attracting the right people who are interested in what you have to offer and who will benefit from your products or services.