Email Newsletter:
- Write stellar content: If readers don’t see the value in your content, they will stop wanting to receive it.
- Make “Email a Friend” button easily shareable: The simpler the process of sharing is, the more likely people will forward it.
- Be consistent: If users are expecting your content and you don’t deliver, you will lose followers.
- Have segmented lists: Not all your emails will apply to everyone; send them relevant content for their interests.
- Refresh old email lists: Create an opt-in campaign for older lists to reconnect with followers that you haven’t contacted in a while.
- Get employees’ email contacts for opt-in campaigns.
- Have social share buttons in newsletters: Let readers quickly share your content on their social accounts to increase visibility.
- A/B test different subject lines: See what subject lines are drawing in more clicks and adjust future newsletters as needed.
Website
- Let users select which newsletters they want: On your registration form, let users select which newsletters they are interested in. They are more likely to open up the newsletters that have relevant content for them.
- Create a call-to-action on “Contact Us” page.
- Put call-to-action on blog content: Not everyone enters your website through your homepage. Put call-to-actions on inside pages as well for higher newsletter visibility.
- Post a sample of newsletter content on website: Have users register for your newsletter in order to “read more” of your content.
- Add a “Reasons to Sign-Up” page on website.
- Post a survey online and promote that the results are sent only to newsletter subscribers.
- Offer a discount on next purchase if a user registers.
- Offer a free white paper with registration.
- Offer an eBook with sign-up.
- Keep the registration information short and simple: Name. Email. Job. Company. What newsletter(s) they want.
- Use a sign-up page, not link, for registration: When possible, don’t make users click a link to go to a sign-up page. Have the form right on the page they are looking at. The more work they have to do, the less likely they are to do it.
- Optimize content on your website: The more users you attract on your website, the more chances they have to sign up for your newsletter.
- Test different call-to-actions and gauge response: “Sign-up for Our Newsletter Today!” “Want more industry news? Check out our weekly newsletter.” “Register today for our new white paper.”
- Visibility of your sign-up form is important: If people can’t see it, they can’t sign-up.
- Make registration mandatory to post comments on your website: When users are posting to your website, they are interested in your content. Don’t miss an opportunity to grow your list by not getting their email addresses.
- Have privacy policies: People don’t want their information leaked, so let them know your privacy policies.
- And then follow through: Don’t rent your list to third parties.
- Don’t send spam: Only send relevant content or people will lose interest.
- Subscriber testimonials: Have users tell others why they should sign up.
Social Media:
- Highlight special offers on social media: Promote discounts, offers, etc. for newsletter subscribers on your social accounts.
- Have a sign-up button on Facebook business page for your newsletter.
- Ask your social media followers to sign-up.
- Host a Twitter Q&A: Show fans you are the expert they should get information from.
- Add call-to-actions in videos: Including videos on Facebook, YouTube and anywhere else you post video content.
- Add call-to-actions to posts: Don’t overload your social media presence with call-to-actions, but sprinkle them in from time to time.
- Occasionally post older newsletter content: Show people what they are missing by connecting them with previous newsletters.
Online:
- Add to employee email signatures: Your employees email their business contacts every day. Including a subscription link in employee email signatures increases exposure.
- Participate in online events: Find co-registration opportunities where you get the leads.
- Sponsor a webinar: Get emails from attendee sign-up.
- Offer a recorded copy of the webinar: Have users register to receive it.
- Host a virtual conference: Grow email list from registration forms.
- Have a landing page just for an email newsletter sign-up.
- Have a landing page for a new product, with an email sign-up in a sidebar.
- Promote your brand when guest blogging: Make sure you are including your website in your author bio.
- Add sign-up on checkout page of your e-commerce site.
- Keep online review sites up-to-date and with website information: Including Yelp and other like sites.
- Mention email newsletter on online assets: This includes podcasts, online videos, etc.
- Add registration form on surveys.
- Add sign-up button to homepage: Creating an easily-seen button gives you an opportunity to gets users coming into your website to sign up for your newsletter.
- Make registration forms mobile-friendly: Don’t miss out on gaining mobile users!
Offline:
- Host an in-person contest with registration information: A giveaway is a great example of this.
- Have a sign inside your business promoting your newsletter.
- Rent a booth at community events: Get face time with current and potential customers in your community. Have a sign-up sheet for your newsletter in your booth.
- Get the most out of your tradeshow booth: Scan attendee information and add them to your email list.
- Host events: Have an auction, banquet, business meeting, etc. and get registrant information.
- Plug your email list at speaking engagement: When you are a presenter at an event, make sure to mention where people can get more information: your company newsletter.
- Mention email newsletter in company voicemail.
- Reach out to traditional mailing list: See if they want to be included in email as well.
- Add QR codes to marketing materials: Include QR codes to printed marketing collateral, including business cards. Link the QR code to your email newsletter registration.
- During in-person meetings, ask clients to sign-up.
- Do the same with vendors and suppliers.
- Get employees involved: Offer employee incentives for collecting emails.
- Fishbowls in your business for business cards: Give incentives for fishbowl drawings, but let them know about future email newsletters.
- Have a sign-up list in your business: People come in and out of your office every day. Give them a chance to sign-up for your email newsletter by having a sign up when they come in.
- Participate in community events: Get your name out in the community. Participate in functions like Small Business Saturday, local sport competitions or festivals.
- Have a sign in your business window: Let people walking by know how they can sign up.
- Add text-to-join options: People are always on their phones. They may respond best to text notifications.