How to Build Your Email Marketing Database
Building your email list is the first building block in developing a comprehensive email marketing program. How you collect contacts depends on your type of business, but some best practices apply to all. The goal is to build the most comprehensive list possible to maximize its potential to reach customers with your marketing & promotional materials.
Best Practice #1 Make it easy for them to sign up!
Integrate your sign-up form into your website in multiple locations
Incorporate it into your social media strategy
Run sweepstakes & giveaways that require sign up
Incorporate signing up into other existing actions such as when making an online purchase, signing onto onsite Wi-Fi, etc.
Import emails from online orders, information request forms, etc.
Research your local and national restrictions regarding data collection and use and be sure to adhere to them!
Best Practice #2 – Use an enticing offer to get sign ups
Provide new sign ups with an exclusive one time offer that is compelling enough to hand over their email.
Run a contest during which time all new sign-ups are automatically entered to win a grand prize. Make sure this prize is big enough to draw attention and generate interest such as free X for a year!
Bonus for brick-and-mortar establishments: Train your team to mention these offers/contests when conversing with the guests.
Best Practice #3 – Promise (& Provide) Value
Potential members have to feel like you’re going to provide them value in the form of exclusive discounts, resources or free items, not just general programming, promotions and news. If they believe you’re just going to spam them with irrelevant updates and click-bait, they won’t give you their contact information. Bonus: Integrate loyalty functionality that promises to reward their spends/visits.
In Closing
Now that you’re a pro at generating opt-ins, remember that getting sign ups is useless if users quickly unsubscribe. To avoid this, make sure you’re consistently delivering on the value you promised. If you’re interested in having a custom email strategy built and managed for you, look no further. To learn more about our email marketing solutions, visit www.trifectamarketingservices.com.