If you are looking for ways to build an email list, then you must have come across various articles by now. So, what’s different in this guide? Well, in this guide, I will show you the ways which I have tried and tested over the period for my different projects. So, basically, I will show you the ways which are useful and reliable.

When you want to expand your business and maximize your customer, it is really important to create ways to attract more visitors to your website. However, there are various methods by which you can draw visitor’s attention to your website. And keep them engaged. One such method is using email marketing.

Now the question arises in order to send emails or offers to your audiences, the very first thing you need is an email list. How do you build an email list? To be precise what are the ways to build an email list? We know it takes a lot of effort to create email campaigns. And the benefit of any email campaign you create can be double if you have a long email list.

So, without much ado, let’s learn the ways to build an email list and grow your business. There are several software available in the market but you need to choose the best email marketing software as per your business needs.

What is an Email List?

An email list is a collection of email addresses that you have gathered through your blog, newsletter, coupons, etc. You may have collected an email address in person as well. And in the digital realm, an email list is one of the powerful ways to market your product and increase conversions.

How to Build the Email List From Scratch?

Building an email list from scratch can be an overwhelming experience. Since you are trying to get the email addresses organically, you need to reach your potential users some or the other way. Furthermore, you need to convince them to leave their email address is a tough job. Building an email list from scratch is a permission-based job. You can store an email address if a user has shown their consent.

Use the Following Ways to Build Email List

1. Select a Suitable Email Software

First thing first, select email software that you think is suitable for your business. Once you have a list you will need a software using which you will create email campaigns and will send emails to your audiences. There are many options to choose from and you should choose the one that you find the most suitable and which you think can serve your needs.

You can choose between Mailchimp, Constant Contact, AWeber, ActiveCampaign, Sendinblue, HubSpot and many. You can compare them and then decide which software you should use. You can check out the following comparisons and make your decision.

ActiveCampaign vs Mailchimp, Constant Contact vs Mailchimp, ActiveCampian vs HubSpot, Zoho vs HubSpot, Sendinblue vs ActiveCampaign, and many more.

All these solutions offer top features and functionalities to help you create successful email campaigns. But which software is beneficial for your business totally depends on your requirements and budget.

Every software is coupled with features that enable you to send mass emails to your audiences at once. They also offer you many free email templates to ease your work. They also provide you sample content for sending business emails, promotional messages, sign up forms, and so on.

2. Time to Grow Your Email List

Now, you have an email marketing software ready. The next big thing is to find out how to grow your email list. When you create a business website no matter how impressive your business is, you should understand how will people get to know about it? Moreover, there are hundreds and thousands of websites out there. Then why do you think people will come to your site?

There should be some reason or anything interesting on your site that can attract visitors to your site. Give your users something that they will like.

Make them an offer they can’t refuse. Because every visitor on your site will not subscribe to your list. You need to attract them and attraction can be in any form such as offers, discounts, subscriptions, and so on.

However, it is possible that people joining your list may make use of the initial discounts and offerings. And then they do not make any further purchase. Thus, establish a strong relationship with them and make them your customers for life.

3. Make Use of Lead Magnets

Basically, lead magnets are the offerings you make to your potential customers in return for some specific information. In this case their email address. Whatever business you are doing and whatever type of audience you are targeting.

You are required to provide them something useful in order to collect their email addresses. There are several examples of lead magnets which you can use such as

  • Cheat Sheet
  • eBooks
  • Discount Coupons
  • Free Templates
  • Webinars
  • Podcast etc.

4. Create a Landing Page

A landing page is an integral aspect of the marketing strategy. Having a landing page on your website can help you capture user attention and the required information as well. A landing page is made to provide specific information (mostly more useful and attractive information).

You can include a call to action on your landing page that will help you get users. Therefore, it is important to create effective landing pages for your site. You can use a CTA button, social icons, headings that define user benefits clearly. Using landing pages is one of the most convincing ways to build email lists.

5. Use Pop-Up Forms

Pop-up forms help you obtain the immediate attention of a visitor. If a user got interested, you will receive their email address. However, some people find pop-ups really disturbing and unwelcomed as they appear suddenly. But according to studies pop-ups have maximum conversion rates. As they show up to the point information but really important and useful information.

Pop-ups are generally time-based events, after a particular time period a user has spent on your site, a pop up will appear. Normally, pop-ups contain offerings and an email field to capture the email address. Thus, it becomes even important to show valuable information, real offering, and deals in your pop-up forms.

Including a pop-up on your website can be quite risky as well. Because there is a possibility that a user doesn’t like the pop-up, so, he or she might get annoyed and never come back. Thus, make sure your pop-up is really interesting and serving a purpose.

6. Utilize Social Media Platforms

Today almost every social media platform has an ad section. They allow you to use the space and attract an audience to your business. However, each platform is made to serve some specific kind of users such as on Linkedin, you will find people who are interested in business. Either they are employing or they are looking for employment. So you can use this space if you are looking for employees for your business.

Nowadays Snapchat is a more youth-oriented social media platform. Here you will mostly find youth sharing their day to day routine or their likings such as photography, cooking, etc. So, any startup may think of showing their ads on Snapchat as well.

Likewise, you can use other platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, and so on.

7. Leverage Facebook Lead Ads

As discussed above, social media is a great option to expand your reach. Facebook is a widely used social media platform. Facebook is used as a social widget by 45.7% of all websites. Facebook can be a great way to build an email list. The best part about the Facebook social ads is that if a user clicks on it, they don’t have to leave the platform. They can sign up without leaving Facebook.

Of course, you are required to create a useful and attractive ad so that the user not only clicks on your add but also signs up too. Don’t worry it’s not tough either. You can use software for that too. Sometimes, Facebook can do wonders for B2C companies.

8. Build Email List Via Affiliates

Making use of affiliation can be beneficial for SaaS companies. imply offer your product on a renowned affiliate platform and tons of affiliates will join you and share their emails with you.

9. Referral Marketing for Building Email List

I am sure you all must have seen a ‘Refer a friend’ button at the bottom of an email that you have received in your inbox. It is an interesting way to build your email list. All those who opt for your newsletter will see a ‘Refer to friend’ button. If they refer a friend, they will add the email address and this the chain will continue. And you will be receiving email addresses.

You can design a formal message or any custom message you want to display. This way you will be able to grab the email addresses. And your email list will be built with ease.

10. Offer Free Trial Period

This strategy works perfectly for everyone including blogs, Saas, B2C, etc. Every user likes to take a free trial before making any final purchase and investing their hard-earned money in something. When there is a visitor on your site, you can offer them a free trial of your product and with that, you can ask for their email address.

I am sure nobody would think much before giving their email addresses if your product is worth the trial. So, basically, it boils down to your product. If you are offering a useful product then you will surely receive the email address in exchange for the free trial.

Ways to Build an Email List – In Conclusion

Building an email list is crucial for the success of any business. There are countless ways to build your email list and you can choose the one which you think is suitable for your business. However, there’s no one particular solution that works the same for every user. The results may vary and so is the way. Nonetheless, deciding upon which method you should choose is totally your choice. You can follow any of the strategies and see how your email list grows. I would like to know which strategy worked for you. You can share your experience with me in the comments below. Or do let me know if you have used any other strategy than the above-described ones.