Building a mailing list is an essential aspect of any small business’s marketing strategy. A mailing list is essential for staying in touch with customers, build brand awareness, promote products or services, generate leads and most importantly, to increase sales.
However, it can be challenging for small businesses to build a quality mailing list. This is why it’s so important to use a professional web designer like Moonlit Media. We plan ahead so that you don’t have to!
In this post, we discuss some simple, but effective, strategies small businesses can use to easily build their mailing list.
Use sign-up forms on your website
Your website is one of the most important marketing tools for your business. It is a great place to start building your mailing list. Use sign-up forms on your website to capture email addresses from visitors. These forms should be placed in prominent locations on your website, such as the sidebar or footer.
Using a one-time incentive, like a discount on a first order or free shipping, is an excellent way of encouraging visitors to sign up for your list. Remember the golden rule: the less information you request, the higher your sign ups will be.
Offer exclusive content
Offering exclusive content is another great way to build your mailing list. Create a lead magnet, such as a free eBook or guide, that is only available to subscribers. Promote this lead magnet on your website, social media channels, and other marketing channels to encourage people to sign up.
Run a contest
Contests are a great way to get people excited about your business and encourage them to sign up for your mailing. You can use email to announce contests, to reward specific behavior (such as offering a flash sale if they “click now”), or to reward specific individuals for actions they perform (such as sharing your newsletter or following you on social media). However, make sure you review the guidelines for these types of competitions on the social media platform you use.
Offer a lead magnet
A lead magnet is an incentive that you offer in exchange for someone’s contact information. This could be as simple as a free ebook, whitepaper, or other valuable resource related to your business. If you’re an author, you may find value by offering sneak previews of unpublished material. By providing something of value, you can encourage people to sign up for your mailing list.
Be sure to place the form in a prominent location on your website, such as in the header, footer or sidebar. Some media companies also use this function as a pop-up that must be filled out prior to reading an article.
Use social media to promote your mailing list
Promote your mailing list on social media by sharing a link to your sign-up form and highlighting the benefits of subscribing. You can also create social media-specific lead magnets, such as a free social media marketing guide or a discount code for your products or services.
Collect email addresses at events
If you attend events or trade shows, be sure to collect email addresses from attendees who express interest in your business. You can do this by offering a sign-up sheet or by using a mobile app that collects contact information.
Before using a professional email delivery service (like Constant Contact, MailChimp, or Sender to name a few). These management systems can help you organize contacts and target specific interest groups in each email.
You will also want to make sure you have the proper disclosures and disclaimers on your website, and be sure to reference these links in your direct marketing. Transparency is important to today’s consumer.
There are many ways to generate interest in your business, but email marketing is one of the most important tools at your disposal. This is just one more reason why you should choose a professional web designer like Moonlit Media to develop your business website.
