After a career as a professional musician and band leader in the Miami South Florida Area I decided to see if I could make some money with this new internet thing. After years of trial and error I started to get the hang of it and now I am completely financially independent because of my various online businesses. The goal of this blog is to chronicle my continued marketing experiences. I focus on real examples of what works and what does not work.
Google does not give us a recipe for getting our sites ranked. We have to use our own experiences to see what actually works rather than theory.
I hope you enjoy the blog. Please let us know what you think in the comments area. We appreciate your feedback.
In the world of digital marketing, email lists are an extremely valuable resource. They allow businesses of all kinds—small start-ups, large corporations and even personal blog owners—to directly reach a potential audience. Crafting and building a well-targeted email list has only one problem: it often can feel quite daunting. Don’t fret! We’re here to help you build your email list fast with these effective and straightforward strategies.
Putting Opt-in Forms Everywhere
Simplicity is key here. With this in mind, our first strategy entails putting your opt-in forms everywhere. Literally, EVERYWHERE.
Whether you have an online business, a blog or even just a social media profile, you have internet real estate. Place your opt-in forms in the sidebar of your website, at the bottom of your webpages and even in the footer of your site.
A perfect example is my classified ad website, where I have an opt-in form right at the bottom. I also highly recommend using pop-ups. Yes, they might come across as annoying to some users, but trust me, they work exceptionally well!
Another effective strategy is plugging links to your landing page on your social media profiles. This will significantly increase the visibility of your opt-in form and will no doubt skyrocket your number of subscribers.
You might be worried about making your forms look perfect – Well, don’t be! Just make sure that getting your forms out there is your number one priority. You can always go back and perfect them later!
Utilize Email Marketing Systems
Before you can begin the email list building process, you’ll need an email marketing system. If you don’t have one yet, get one ASAP!
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I personally use Aweber and Sendy, but I highly recommend looking at Aweber and system.io.
These two platforms offer numerous features beyond the email marketing system and you can start for free on both of them.
Use Pop-Ups Everywhere
As mentioned, pop-ups are your best friend. Use them everywhere across your site. Once installed, pop-ups generate more email addresses than just an in-line form!
Keep it Simple: Ask Only for an Email
Keep your opt-in forms simple to maximize your subscriber count. In most cases, just asking for an email or a name and an email will get you more subscribers. People are likely to fill shorter forms compared to long ones.
Reach Out to Your Contact List
Don’t forget about your existing network! Reach out to your email and phone contact list and invite them to join your newsletter.
Here’s a clever idea you can put into play right away: Set up your Gmail’s vacation responder to link to your newsletter sign-up page. That way, people who email you will get an automatic prompt to join your newsletter.
Offer Incentives
Offering incentives can be a major game changer. High-value incentives, such as free marketing software worth $597, can be alluring enough to make potential subscribers sign up instantly!
Other incentives can include eBooks and informational courses. Get creative and remember that the goal is to add value for your target audience.
Create Engaging Content
Creating engaging content is an effective method to grow your list. For instance, creating YouTube videos answering FAQs about your industry can go a long way. Don’t forget to include the link to your newsletter sign-up page in the video description.
Special Offers and Discounts
Special offers or discounts can have a big impact, but a timed incentive creates urgency among users. For instance, offering a $100 off for subscribers with a countdown clock ticking away is an effective strategy.
Generate Traffic through Online Platforms
A clever tactic that someone used on my YouTube channel involved creating a YouTube channel and a single video. The video had links directing people to join their newsletter in its comments. This is a unique way to attract more subscribers without looking like spam.
A-Game Marketing: The Old School Way
Sometimes, the old ways are the best.
It might sound counter-intuitive, but traditional methods like networking offline and making one-on-one connections online can build strong, lasting relationships with subscribers. This level of personal attention is often appreciated and more likely to lead to loyal customers.
Constantly Create Content
The most foolproof way to build your email list is creating quality content consistently. This can include blog posts or videos posted regularly, solving your audience’s problems.
Final Thoughts
Remember, it’s not just about building an email list, but about maintaining it and nurturing your subscribers.
“The money is in the list”. I have made hundreds of thousands of dollars with email marketing, so I encourage you, no matter what business you’re in – I don’t care what it is – you’ve got to be building your list. “
This guide should give you a ton of ideas to get started. Good luck, and may your email list grow exponentially!