No matter what industry you’re in, it’s always beneficial to have a strong list of email subscribers. However, building one can feel particularly tricky for creative business owners who may not have time to dedicate to the cause. If you’re unsure how to grow your email list, try the following techniques – you’ll have hundreds of subscribers in no time!
What is an email list, and why is it important?
An email list is essentially a collection of email addresses. The collection builds as customers submit their information, agreeing to receive emails from your company. An email list allows you to build a relationship with your customers, help them move along the sales funnel, and drive traffic to your website.
5 tips for growing your creative business’s email list
So, how do you encourage existing or potential customers to subscribe to your emails?
1. Make sure your website has a clear email sign-up option
It may seem obvious, but having a landing page or email sign-up form on your website can do a lot of the hard work for you. Make sure the option is in an obvious place and clearly set out – you might want to consider a pop-up that grabs your visitor’s attention.
2. Add a call to action to each of your social media profiles.
Prospective customers don’t always realise you have an email list. With over 2 billion users on Instagram alone, social media platforms certainly offer fertile ground for attracting new subscribers. Make it nice and clear to anyone who visits your Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn pages by drawing attention to your email list and adding in a call to action (CTA).
Be persuasive by including what benefits they can enjoy by signing up – for example, access to exclusive offers or bonus material.
3. Create a lead magnet
A cost-effective way to attract email subscribers is to create a lead magnet – a free resource that requires a visitor to provide their email address in order to access it. This could be a knitting pattern PDF, a craft tutorial video or any other digital resource.
Why not promote your lead magnet on your social media platforms, too?
4. Set up an online contest
Another option is to create an online contest or giveaway. You don’t need to have an expensive prize – just make sure it’s something your target audience will be tempted by.
You can promote your contest on social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, and encourage followers to click through to a website landing page. There, they can enter their email details in order to be in with a chance of winning your prize.
5. Collect emails offline
So far, we’ve discussed digital methods for growing your email list but why not utilise your offline networking, too?
Perhaps you regularly attend craft and trade shows or networking events. This is the perfect opportunity to chat with other attendees and encourage them to sign up for your email list. Set out a humble pen and notepad and ask them to write down their information – sometimes simplicity is best!
Making the most of your email list
Once you have a lengthy email list, it’s important to provide your subscribers with valuable content. To make the most of your contact base, it’s a good idea to segment your list to target specific audiences, schedule regular newsletters, and find out exactly what your subscribers want from your creative business.
If you’re looking for support in these areas, Erin from Bizzybee can help you out with effective email management services.
Want to learn more? Book a free call to discuss your needs today.