Content Marketing
5 Ways to Build a Highly-Engaged Email List

5 Ways to Build a Highly-Engaged Email List

April 24, 2017
3 min read

An email list with relevant, high-quality contacts is a company’s best asset. While there are many online and offline techniques to build an email list, it’s a marketer’s job to ensure that your list remains relevant and up-to-date to reduce database decay.

According to HubSpot, your email list degrades approximately 22.5% each year, so it’s a good idea to implement a regularly scheduled data cleansing program. Building and maintaining a healthy email list takes time and effort, but it should still take top priority.

Whether you’re running an online business, a brick and mortar shop, or a mix of the two, you still need a way to stay in touch with your prospects, customers, and fans. As consumers become increasingly dependent on the internet in their day to day lives, the feasibility of email as a communications tool will hold steady. Email as a marketing channel is very much alive and should not be ignored.

Techniques and trends in online marketing constantly evolve, so it all boils down to a relevant contact list that you have total control over. If you haven’t already started building your email list, there’s no better time than now.

Tips to Build a Relevant Email List

  1. Optimize Your Signup Forms and Popup Boxes

Email signup forms can (and should) be optimized on every page of your website. They can also be integrated with certain social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Make sure they’re easy to find and visually engaging. You can also create popups to help increase lead conversion rates.

Don’t be shy when it comes to signup forms – put them everywhere! A neat hack is to ask your employees to include a link in their email signature that lets users subscribe there and then.

  1. Build Your Social Media Presence

Find out where your potential clients and target audience are hanging out. Build your social media presence by posting relevant content such as quotes, images, videos, or anything you know your audience might like and comment on.

Follow other accounts that are relevant to your industry and don’t hesitate to post comments and share relevant posts. Don’t be a troll. Make sure that all your posts are directed at helping users and equipping potential clients with useful information.

Once you have established your social media presence with valuable comments and posts, users are more likely to check out your profile. Include a link to your landing page or blog that leads them to sign up and provide their email address.

  1. Create Valuable Content

Blog, blog, blog! Create valuable content on a regular basis and post it on your website’s blog. You can also build a microsite with landing pages that capture lead data.

With this awesome content, you can show users that you are an authority in your specific niche. Let them know you’re offering free industry information and educational materials.

Blogging can help you build an email list. Just ensure that your signup form is easily visible on every blog post you create. Through this, you can also determine which post is performing the best, so you can recycle and repurpose the same content to promote exponential list growth.

  1. Offer Freebies and Incentives

Offer users something they can’t resist. This can be in the form of a downloadable eBook with relevant content, a useful tool, a template, access to a free webinar, exclusive discounts, or incentives via your loyalty program.

Give users something in exchange for their email address and other contact details. Whatever incentive you decide on, make sure it’s something your target audience really wants.

Make use of your existing followers by rewarding subscribers or clients who refer their friends or family members. Offering freebies or incentives to encourage advocacy will work to enhance customer loyalty and generate more leads.

  1. Join Trade Fairs and Events

Offline events such as trade fairs and expos are great ways to reach your target audience. These trade shows are usually frequented by highly-focused individuals that are likely to make up your target market. Make your booth enticing, and incentivize your sign-up booth. Some businesses even host mini games where users can win free items.

Joining offline events is almost never free. You need to shell out a certain amount, depending on what kind of event it is or who is hosting, just for the right to set up a booth. Not to mention the resources needed to get the right people to run your booth and encourage sign-ups.

Yes, it may cost you a significant amount, but bear in mind that an email list may well be the best investment that you make. It also doesn’t hurt to network with other industry professionals who might just be able to give you a hand in the future.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’re starting to collect email addresses, the fun part begins! Optimize your email sequence with a tone that reflects your unique brand personality and keep posting educational and valuable content to keep your new subscribers engaged.

Remember to import your new contacts in your email marketing software’s email list (if the process isn’t automated) and don’t forget to send them a welcome email to say thanks and confirm their subscription.

Ready to start your email marketing campaign? Make sure you’ve got all your bases covered with our FREE checklist!

 

The post 5 Ways to Build a Highly-Engaged Email List appeared first on PureB2B.

2 thoughts on “5 Ways to Build a Highly-Engaged Email List

  1. Amanda Maurer

    Hi Johanna,

    Thanks for the great insights. We are always looking for ideas and tips to give our clients on how they can effectively grow their email lists. I agree with you when you say to put forms everywhere. Users want it to be as easy as possible to sign up. But I also think that there is a line. Too much promotion and too many pop ups can hurt the user experience, causing them to feel annoyed and leave your site.

    Thanks again for the great post!
    Amanda

  2. Paul keren

    Hi Johanna,

    Thank you a lot for giving the valuable inputs for building Email List. As a marketing Executive I am trying a lot to build my email list for marekting campaign and after reading this blog I got a clear picture of how to build the email list. And I agree with you about Social Media and now Social Media has taken over the market and It is much important to be present on Social Media.

    Anyway it is very much helpful .

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