Mastering Email List Building: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building an Email List from Scratch
Ziaur Rahaman
🚀 Helping Coaches, Consultants & Service-Based Businesses Build Successful Sales Funnels for Growth 📈
Building an effective email list is crucial for successful email marketing. It forms the foundation upon which you can promote and grow your business, as an engaged email list makes the process much easier.
However, if your email list consists of low-quality contacts, you'll likely experience high bounce rates and disappointing returns on investment. In this article, we will explore the process of building an email list from scratch, but not just any list. We will focus on attracting new subscribers who will actively engage with your email marketing campaigns and contribute to the growth of your business.
Ready to get started? Let's delve into the nine strategies for building an email list from scratch.
Table of Contents
By following these strategies, you can build a high-quality email list that consists of engaged subscribers who actively participate in your email marketing campaigns. Let's explore each method in detail to help your business thrive.
1. Offer a Valuable Newsletter
Before diving into specific strategies for building your email list, it's essential to ensure that your newsletter is of the highest quality. If your subscribers find it valuable and worthwhile, they will be more likely to subscribe, engage with it, and spread the word to others.
To achieve this, I recommend treating your newsletter as a valuable product. First and foremost, you need to develop an outstanding product, and then effectively communicate its benefits.
Here are three key guidelines to consider when designing your newsletter:
1. Focus on Your Target Audience
Direct your attention towards the individuals who are most likely to become your customers. Continuously gather insights about their information needs and craft content that addresses their daily challenges effectively.
2. Provide Useful Content
Ensure that the content you share in your email marketing campaigns is genuinely valuable for your target audience. It should offer practical solutions to real-life problems and be easily accessible for them to benefit from.
3. Foster Engagement and Seek Feedback
Utilize your newsletter as a platform for two-way communication. Encourage your subscribers to engage with you by incorporating elements such as email replies, questions, surveys, webinars, and more. Remember, the closer you are to your existing and potential customers, the better you understand their information needs.
According to email marketing benchmarks, when you consistently deliver value to your subscribers, you can expect to see higher conversion and engagement rates. By adhering to these principles, you can ensure that your newsletter becomes a valuable resource for your contacts.
2. Utilize Pop-ups and Signup Forms on Your Website
Once you have prepared your newsletter, it's crucial to promote it, and the ideal starting point is your own website.
To capture email addresses on your website, two essential tools are required: pop-ups and signup forms.
Signup forms, also known as opt-in forms, are subscription forms that you incorporate into the layout of your website. Typically, you will find them in the website's footer or side column. E-commerce brands often place them in the customer's profile or shopping cart as well.
On the other hand, a pop-up is a small window or banner that appears in the foreground while visitors browse your website. Pop-ups do not disrupt your website's layout, and you have control over when they appear.
While pop-ups generally yield higher subscription rates (1-10%) compared to standard signup forms (0.5%-2%), I recommend using both tools in conjunction.
Begin by adding a standard newsletter signup form on every page of your website. Then, incorporate a pop-up that appears to visitors who have engaged with your website for at least 10 seconds.
As you become more comfortable with using website pop-ups, you can add additional ones. However, exercise caution not to display too many pop-ups too frequently, as they can become annoying.
There are various methods to create your pop-ups and opt-in forms. One convenient option is to utilize a signup form builder. This can be a standalone form builder that integrates with different email marketing platforms, or it may already be built into your newsletter software.
Using a standalone builder offers the advantage of a wider range of prebuilt templates and targeting options. However, keep in mind that it requires integration and may involve additional costs on top of your email marketing software or CRM.
For a convenient and cost-effective solution, I recommend trying the Free Popup Creator from GetResponse. It provides numerous prebuilt form templates, over 30 display rules, and seamless integration with their email marketing software.
To gain a better understanding of how the tool works and how to install the opt-in form on your website, you can refer to the following video walkthrough:
You can get started with the Free Popup Creator from GetResponse today and try it out without any cost. Simply sign up for a GetResponse Free account, and you're all set to create your first pop-up form!
If you want to explore other options, you can also check out two lists: one with the best popup tools and another with the best WordPress plugins for list building.
Pro tip: Within the realm of popups, there are various types available, such as welcome mats, exit intent pop-ups, and fixed bars. With the tools mentioned above, you can create all these types of popups and enhance your list-building efforts.
3. Create Compelling Lead Magnets
At times, the newsletter alone may not be enticing enough for people to join your email list. This is where lead magnets play a crucial role.
A lead magnet, also known as a freebie or content upgrade, is a valuable offering for your target audience that you provide in exchange for their contact information. Lead magnets are highly effective because their value is often more immediate and apparent than that of a newsletter.
For instance, an ebook titled "10 Best Email List Building Tactics Used by Top 1% Bloggers" is likely to yield a higher conversion rate than a monthly newsletter offering email marketing tips.
Lead magnets come in various formats, including:
- Ebooks
- Guides
- Reports
- Checklists
- Resource kits
- Frameworks
If you haven't utilized content upgrades before, start by creating one that addresses the most frequently asked questions about your topic and provides information that is challenging to find elsewhere.
Here's a great example from the School of Calisthenics, who developed an ebook specifically for beginners interested in calisthenics training.
Remember, by offering valuable lead magnets, you can significantly enhance your email list building efforts and entice more individuals to subscribe and engage with your content.
If you're interested in delving deeper into this subject, make sure to explore our comprehensive guide on lead magnet examples. It not only showcases inspiring examples but also provides valuable insights on selecting the perfect lead magnet for your campaign. Additionally, our study based on a survey of 790 marketers identifies the most effective lead magnets for lead generation.
Seeking inspiration? Look no further than our recent webinar, in collaboration with our partners from Flipping Book, on the strategies to expand your email list using lead magnets. It's packed with valuable information and practical tips to help you succeed.
4. Design Effective Landing Pages
In the hustle and bustle of your website, it's possible that even with targeted pop-ups, your opt-in forms might go unnoticed by visitors. This is where landing pages come to the rescue.
A landing page, also referred to as a "lead capture page" or a "squeeze page," is a focused web page specifically designed to convert website visitors into valuable email subscribers.
Dedicated to collecting email signups, landing pages typically present a solitary call to action and eliminate any potential distractions that could hinder conversions. As a result, they often achieve impressive conversion rates. In 2023, the average landing page conversion rate across all industries stood at an impressive 7.12%.
To provide you with a great example, take a look at this landing page promoting a free ebook from Masala Body. It effectively captures the essence of a well-designed landing page.
I suggest starting with the creation of a single landing page to promote your newsletter, and then creating additional landing pages for each lead magnet you develop.
Similar to pop-ups, there are various methods for building landing pages, but the most convenient option is to utilize a dedicated landing page builder.
Take, for instance, the Website Builder offered by GetResponse. It provides mobile-optimized landing page templates that are free to use, along with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and a vast library of stock images. Additionally, if you prefer a more customized design, our AI-generated features allow you to effortlessly create a unique landing page tailored to your needs in just a few moments.
To witness the power of our landing page builder in action, check it out here:
Recommended by LinkedIn
For further insights into this topic, we recommend delving into our comprehensive guide on crafting high-converting landing pages. Additionally, be sure to explore our informative post that examines some of the best landing page examples, providing valuable inspiration and practical tips.
5. Attract Subscribers through Social Media
Now is the perfect opportunity to extend the promotion of your newsletter and lead magnets beyond your website by leveraging your social media presence.
There are various effective methods to grow your email list through social media:
1. Incorporate a banner promoting your lead magnet into the background or cover image of your social media profiles.
Take inspiration from Adam Grant, a renowned organizational psychologist, who effectively promotes his work through his Twitter profile. Here's an example of how he does it.
2. Enhance your social media profile bio by including a link to your newsletter signup form, enabling interested individuals to easily access and join your mailing list.
3. Share thought-provoking content on your social media platforms, accompanied by links to your newsletter or lead magnet for those seeking further knowledge on the subject matter.
Katelyn Bourgoin, renowned as the Customer Whisperer, provides an excellent example. In one of her posts, she encourages her audience to visit her profile and join her newsletter, effectively combining insightful content with a clear call to action.
This strategy is exceptionally clever because social media platforms such as LinkedIn often restrict the organic reach of posts containing external links that direct users away from the platform. However, Katelyn's approach circumvents this limitation by inviting people to visit her profile and access the link from there. By doing so, she ensures that the algorithms work in her favor, preventing any restrictions on the reach of her posts.
4. Engage your audience by organizing giveaways and contests, where one of the methods to boost the chances of winning a prize is by joining your email list. This incentivizes individuals to become subscribers while simultaneously fostering excitement and participation in the event.
Discover the innovative email marketing strategies employed by Sabaton to transform their email subscribers into devoted fans. ✉️
5. Implement paid lead ad campaigns to effectively promote your lead magnets to a specifically targeted audience.
To gain comprehensive insights on building an email list with Facebook and creating a Facebook Landing Page to explore further.
Pro tip: Similar to social media platforms, you can leverage your email signature as a means to collect new subscribers. Simply add a visually appealing banner promoting your latest lead magnet to the footer of your emails. By doing so, every interaction with your customers presents an opportunity to convert them into valuable email subscribers.
6. Collaborate with Other Brands
In order to significantly enhance your subscription rate, collaborating with other brands can be an excellent strategy, particularly when you're starting from scratch to build your email list.
It's important to identify brands that have a similar target audience and preferably do not directly compete with your offerings.
For instance, if you're a dietician with a substantial social media following, you could establish partnerships with popular chefs, fitness coaches, or nutritionists.
Once you've identified potential brand partners, the next step is to determine the nature of your collaboration. The simplest approach is to mutually promote each other's newsletters to your respective audiences. However, a more impactful method could involve conducting a joint campaign, such as a video, ebook, or webinar.
Here's an example of a collaboration we have undertaken with one of our partners, ZeroBounce, showcasing the positive outcomes such partnerships can yield.
7. Leverage Podcasts and Events
If you frequently engage in speaking at events, online conferences, or podcasts, it's a valuable opportunity to utilize these platforms for collecting email addresses.
Whether you host your own podcast or appear as a guest on one, there is usually a moment during the discussion where you can share information about how people can stay connected with you online. This presents the perfect occasion to invite the audience to subscribe to your newsletter or download your lead magnet by directing them to a dedicated landing page.
A notable example is Tim Ferris, a successful entrepreneur and bestselling author, who incorporates this strategy into his podcast. At the conclusion of each episode, he informs listeners about his 5-Bullet Friday newsletter. In his concise pitch, he effectively communicates the benefits of joining his list, the type of content he shares, and reassures the audience that unsubscribing is as simple as signing up. To listen to an example of his approach, you can skip ahead to the 2:03:20 timestamp (although the entire episode is highly recommended).
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When delivering a presentation at a conference or any other event, it's recommended to create a QR code that, when scanned, redirects people to your landing page. This approach is highly effective as scanning a QR code is far more convenient than manually noting down a newsletter signup link.
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8. Host Engaging Webinars
Organizing webinars presents another excellent method for capturing new subscribers.
While some individuals may not enjoy reading ebooks or lengthy reports, they are often eager to participate in live webinars.
In fact, our most successful webinar to date has garnered over 4,000 registrations. To learn more about the strategies we employed to achieve this milestone, we invite you to read our article titled "Dogfooding: How the GetResponse marketing team utilizes its own platform to execute webinar campaigns."
It's worth noting that webinars are not only valuable for list building; they also serve as a powerful tool for establishing your authority and gaining deeper insights into your audience.
Hence, numerous B2B brands, coaches, consultants, and professionals offering specialized services leverage webinars as a highly effective lead generation tool.
If you're intrigued by this specific approach to building your email list, we have an informative article on how webinars works that delves further into the mechanics and benefits of webinars.
9. Implement Referrel Marketing Campaign
Referral programs provide an excellent approach to building your email list, and although they are widely popular among ecommerce brands, an increasing number of fintech and SaaS companies are also adopting this strategy.
The concept is reminiscent of a loyalty program, but instead of encouraging subscribers to make more purchases, you encourage them to invite others to join your newsletter. The more successful referrals they make, the more enticing rewards they can earn.
Typical perks offered by brands include exclusive discounts, free shipping, product samples, or branded merchandise. For SaaS companies, referral programs may even provide in-app credits that users can utilize to reduce their monthly subscriptions.
To exemplify, take a look at how SEO consultant Aleyda Solis promotes her newsletter referral program as an inspiring demonstration of this approach.
To establish a referral program, you'll require the assistance of specialized tools such as GrowSurf, ViralSweep, or Gleam. These platforms offer the necessary features and functionalities to effectively implement and manage your referral program.
Start Your Email List Building Journey Today!
Now that you are equipped with the best methods to construct an email list from scratch, let's recap:
We have explored the significance of leveraging owned marketing channels such as your website, utilizing signup forms, landing pages, content upgrades, and webinars.
Additionally, we have discussed the effective utilization of social media, podcasts, events, and brand collaborations to grow your email list.
It's time to transform these concepts into action. Start generating valuable content and promote it as a highly sought-after commodity. Soon, you will witness the growth of your contact list.
If you are seeking a robust tool to bolster your list-building strategies, don't forget to explore the capabilities of GetResponse. With features like forms and popups, landing pages, webinars, conversion funnels, and extensive integrations, it provides all the resources you need to cultivate an engaged email list.
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