email marketing tips

 

12 Tips on building your email marketing subscriber list.


You can quite easily achieve newsletter sign-ups from your website. Our email management solution can provide the HTML for a subscription form which you can paste into your webpage, so, in terms of the technical aspects, building up subscriptions is not difficult. The real issues relate to marketing.

1. Clever placement. You should place the sign-up link in a prominent position on your homepage, ideally somewhere above 'the fold' (the area visible on the screen without having to scroll). Clever use of graphics and placement should draw the eye to the sign-up link. By making the sign-up link a priority you are more likely to be successful in gaining newsletter subscriptions.

2. Multiple forms. Try to place a sign-up link on nearly every webpage on your site. By following this rule, potential subscribers will not have to go back to the homepage to subscribe. Not only are you making it easier to subscribe you are giving the reader the necessary tools to take another action.

3. Provide a rationale. With competition at an all time high, it's essential that you provide a compelling and beneficial reason for someone to subscribe to your newsletter. You need to set your business apart from your competitors.

4. Provide an incentive. Maybe entry into a contest, discount coupons or internet only offers. What you are looking for is something that your subscribers value.

5. Word-of-mouse. Within the content of your newsletter you can ask readers to encourage their friends to subscribe. A reader can also forward their copy of the newsletter to a friend, but you risk the friend clicking on the unsubscribe link and undoing your hardwork. The most beneficial option is to encourage use of the 'forward to a friend' function that our email management solution provides.

If your business primarily contacts clients over the phone, face-to-face or by a variety of other offline methods, don't despair! there are a number of straightforward steps you can take.

6. Face-to-face. By providing an incentive, for example, entry into a prize draw, or regular updates of new products or services, customers/clients will be more likely to part with their details. A straightforward registration form well positioned can make the process much easier. Essentially all you need is their email address.

7. Get active. It can be necessary to actively seek newsletter subscriptions. For instance, your business may exhibit at shows. This can provide the perfect opportunity to gain information of potential clients for your email newsletter.

8. Over the phone. For the best results, it is essential that every employee of your business knows how to ask for subscription details over the phone. Providing telephone guidelines for employees can prove to be a useful tool.

9. Promote your website. The more you promote and display your domain the more potential clients get to see it. Simple. Any promotional material that you have should display your domain. Advertisements, sales collateral, fliers, bags and business cards to name a few. All of which promote your brand and direct prospects to your site.

You are not alone! At least not in seeking newsletter subscriptions that is. You could choose the option of seeking subscriptions from other websites and newsletter lists.

10. Subscribe at checkout. During the online checkout process you can ask for a subscription. Each customer who makes an online purchase should be asked to check a box to indicate his or her desire to receive a free newsletter subscription.

11. Co-registration. You can find partners whom you ask to place your subscription form on their 'thank you for subscribing' webpage and offer to put their subscription forms on your thank you page. This process is relatively easy to put into place, however, success depends on finding the right partners.

12. Mutual backscratching. Finally, if there is a newsletter that you particularly like or has a relevance to your business, approach the editors to plug your newsletter to their subscriber list. In exchange you would plug their newsletter to your subscriber list. It's worth a mention that this approach is most successful when both parties' subscriber lists are similar in size.

These tips are designed to give your business a head start with your email marketing. The list is by no means exhaustive, but it does provide you with a foundation to get started. Market More can provide your business with a comprehensive email marketing solution that is not only cost effective but fully automated and instantly trackable.