9 Tips on How to Build Email List from Scratch
If you're starting a business or blog from scratch, one of the best things you can do is start building your email list from Day 1. Building an email list is one of the best ways to reach your target market and grow your business. But how do you build an email list from scratch? Here are some tips on how to build an email list from scratch quickly.
DISCLOSURE: Some of the links that I share in this article ARE my affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. In fact, sometimes you'll get a discount or free credits just FOR using my link. 🙂
How to build email list from scratch tip 1: Start with an opt-in form on your website or blog
There are a few things you need to do to build an email list from scratch. First, you need to collect email addresses. You can do this by having people sign up for your newsletter or by having them fill out a contact form on your website.
You can create an opt-in form and adding it to your website or blog. This is a form that visitors to your website can fill out to sign up for your email list. You can grow your list organically by encouraging your website visitors to sign up for your list.
This is the easiest and most common way to build an email list. This way, you can capture leads and grow your list without having to spend any money or extra time on it.
Tips on creating an opt-in form
There are a few important things to keep in mind when creating an opt-in form:
1. Make sure the form is visible in a prominent location and easy to find.
2. Keep the form short and to the point. Only ask for the information you need. This form should be simple and easy to fill out, and it should clearly state what the person is signing up for.
3. Offer something for signing up for your email list. This could be a discount, exclusive content, or access to a freebie.
4. Make sure the form is mobile-friendly as more and more people are accessing the internet from their phones.
5. Include a strong call to action that encourages people to sign up for your list.
6. Promote your opt-in form through social media, your website, and any other channels you have available. You can do this by adding a link to your sign-up form on your website or blog, or by promoting it on social media. You may also want to create a landing page specifically for your sign-up form.
Offer something valuable for signing up
When someone signs up for your list, make sure that you offer something valuable for their name and email address. Ideally, this will be a discount (with eCommerce stores), a free resource like a report or ebook that contains useful information about your business or blog (this is called a Lead Magnet) or access to exclusive content.
By giving away something for their name and email address, not only are you building an audience that's interested in what you have to say but also getting people involved with what you're doing right from the start!
How to plan for what freebie to give?
The first step is to choose a goal for your email list. What do you want to use it for? Once you know that, you can start planning your opt-in freebie. This is the ethical bribe you offer people for their email addresses. It could be a PDF guide, an ebook, a video course, or anything else that would be valuable to your target audience.
Creating a Lead Magnet
Creating a lead magnet is one of the most effective ways to build an email list from scratch. By offering something of value for an email address, you can quickly build up a list of people who are interested in what you have to offer. The key is to create a lead magnet that is irresistible and relevant to your target audience.
One way to do this is to offer a free report or eBook that contains valuable information that your target audience would find useful. Another option is to offer a free trial or discount on your products or services. Whatever you decide to offer, make sure it is something that your target audience would trade their email address for.
Another example of a lead magnet is an email course or challenge. An email course is a great way to answer to the question of how to build email list from scratch. By providing valuable content in a series of emails, you can attract new subscribers and convert them into loyal fans.
To create an email course, start by brainstorming a list of topics that would be valuable to your target audience. Once you have your list of topics, create an outline for each email in the course. Briefly describe what the email will cover, as well as any links or resources that will be included. Next, write each email in the course. Be sure to include a call to action at the end of each email.
You can reach out to your social media followers and ask them to sign up for your email list. Share links to your sign-up form on your social media channels, and offer incentives for people who sign up (such as discounts or exclusive content).
You can also use social media to promote your email list and encourage people to sign up to grow your list organically. Alternatively, you can also use paid advertising to reach a wider audience.
Collect email addresses when people sign up for an event
One of the simplest ways on how to build email list from scratch is to collect email addresses when people sign up for an event or class. This could be a webinar you’re hosting, a class you’re offering, or a free online event.
To make this process easy, you can use Zoom or Eventbrite, which will let you create a sign-up form you can add to your website or event registration page.
Ask For Email with Purchases
If you sell products on eCommerce stores, the easiest way to build your list is to require an email at purchase. You can do this by ensuring that every customer who purchases from your store is added to your mailing list. This way, you can send information about the product they are using and update them on other important details.
Leverage your existing network
If you have an existing network of customers or followers, leverage that by asking them to sign up for your email list. You can do this by sharing a link to your opt-in form on your social media channels or by emailing your existing network.
This way, not only are you helping them by providing them with more value but also building an audience that's interested in what you have to say and do.
Give your current subscribers incentives to invite their friends to join
Besides offering something valuable for signing up, you can also give current subscribers an incentive to invite their friends as well. For example, if someone signs up for your mailing list, they could be given access to something like a free webinar or training session and the ability to invite a friend who isn't already on the list and when they do, both people will get access!
This way not only are you building an audience but also giving them another reason they should stay subscribed so that they don't miss out on everything else that you have coming down the line!
Host a Giveaway or Contest
Hosting a contest or giveaway is a fun and effective way to get people to sign up for your email list. Make sure the prize is something that will appeal to your target audience, and promote the contest or giveaway on your website and social media channels. Prizes should preferably be something digital, so you can easily give them away.
Use Targeted Ads
Targeted paid ads are a great way to reach new people and encourage them to sign up for your email list. When creating your ad, target your ideal customer and include a link to your opt-in form.
For example, Facebook ads let you grow your email list and generate more leads by creating a “lead ad.” They allow for a highly targeted approach, which helps you reach the exact audience you’re looking for.
Tips on Creating Email Content
Once you have a list of email addresses, you need to send out emails. You can use an email marketing software like MailerLite or Aweber to help you with this. They will provide you with templates and tools to help you get started.
Start sending them engaging content that will keep them coming back for more. Regularly send out email newsletters, special offers, and announcements to keep your list growing. With a little effort, you can quickly build an email list that will help your business thrive.
Develop a Valuable Newsletter
The most important thing when building an email list from scratch is to create great content that your subscribers will love.
Your subscribers will only stay subscribed to your list if they see value in it. Make sure you’re providing content that is relevant and helpful to your target audience. If you can do this, you’ll be well on your way to building a strong and engaged email list. If you’re not sure what type of content your audience wants, try conducting a survey.
What make a great content?
It should be compelling and interesting enough to get people to sign up. Once you’ve got them on your list, you need to keep them engaged by regularly sending them valuable and relevant information. This could be anything from blog posts and articles to exclusive deals and coupons, latest updates on your business, new products or services, upcoming events, and industry trends.
Always provide value with every email that you send. People hate getting emails from companies and brands but love getting emails from friends and family. So be sure that when someone is signed up for your list, always provide value with every email that you send.
If someone is subscribed because of something free like a report, ebook or some other resource, then make sure it's packed with valuable information instead of just being some fluff piece about the company. Provide them with the information they want. Newsletters will keep your audience engaged and grow to trust you more.
For example, if you're a fitness coach, don't send someone an email that just says “here's your free report”. Instead, write something like “here's your free report on how to lose 10 lbs in 10 days by doing this exercise… “. Don't just send out emails because you want to but because you have something of value to share with the people who are on your list.
Of course, you can’t just send out any old thing and expect people to stick around. Your content needs to be well-planned and edited. You should also consider how your content will be received. In other words, will it be relevant and interesting to your subscribers? Will it help them?
Keep your content interesting
It's really easy to get stuck in a rut for writing emails because sometimes the only things we talk about are things like sales or new products or our latest blog posts. But there's so much more that we could talk about instead of just those same old topics repeatedly.
I know that sales are important as well as new products coming out but if all I ever talk about with my subscribers is stuff like that then eventually they'll get bored with what I'm sending them and unsubscribe from my list to get away from boring content like that.
It's really important when sending out emails to keep things interesting because if all your subscribers do is delete them without reading them, then why would they want to continue receiving them?
Don't just sell, sell sell!
No one enjoys being sold to 24/7, and the same is true for your subscribers. Although they signed up because they wanted information from you and your brand, that doesn't mean that they want to be bombarded with sales offers every day.
For example, if someone signs up for a free ebook about weight loss but then gets daily emails about buying supplements and workout programs from you instead, they'll probably unsubscribe and never come back, which means no new customers or sales for you!
A good rule of thumb is to provide 75% of information and educational content and 25% on promotional content for your emails.
Make sure everything is spelled correctly
I'm sure most of us have gotten at least one typo-filled email before. We all know how much more difficult it makes reading through an email. Not everyone is a native English speaker, so mistakes are bound to happen. But, you can easily use tools such as the spell and grammar checker that come with Microsoft Word or other editors to make sure that everything is spelled correctly. So don’t be lazy and always run through the checker to make sure your content is free from spelling or grammar errors.
Typos and grammatical errors will not only ruin the look and feel of your email, but they can also make it difficult for people to understand what you're trying to say. Other than that, it just makes you look unprofessional and sloppy. So whatever you do, double-check everything before hitting send!
Be careful when you use personalization
Different email marketing software has different ways to enable you to personalize your email with the subscriber’s names. However, the format may differ and if you don’t use the format correctly, you may end up sending email with email content like “Hey {name}, how are you?” instead of “Hey Lisa, how are you?” which is what you have intended.
This not only doesn’t give you the benefit of personalization which endears you to your reader, but makes your email look amateurish. I have made this mistake myself a few times before so have major regret after sending. So always check your email content and always send yourself (or some friends and family to help you go through the content with a fresh point of view) test emails before you schedule sending out the actual email.
Have a strong call-to-action
One of the most important aspects of any email campaign is having a strong call-to-action, otherwise known as CTA. A CTA is what tells people what the goal of your email campaign is. Whether it is getting them to subscribe, visit a website or buy something, so consider what you want people to do when they read your email. Then use a strong CTA to encourage them to do it.
The best way to ensure that your CTA is effective is by using a contrasting color. Since this makes the button or link really stand out from the rest of the text, it makes it easier for people to see what you want them to do next.
Make it easy for people to unsubscribe
It might seem like a small step but if you're serious about growing and maintaining your subscriber list, then I highly recommend putting an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every single one of your emails just in case someone decides that they no longer want their inbox clogged up with emails that aren't relevant for them anymore.
There are many email marketing experts who disagree about whether having an unsubscribe option on every email you send is a good thing but if you ask me, I'd say that you should give people the option of whether they want to continue receiving your emails rather than forcing them into continuing with them.
It is better that they unsubscribe from your list if they don’t want to receive your emails any more than they report your emails as spam to stop the subscription. If you have received too many spam complaints, this will affect your email deliverability in the long run.
Add a signature line at the bottom of every email
I'm sure most of us have gotten at least one email from someone who didn't have a signature line at the bottom of their email. When I read these emails, I usually notice that they didn't include a signature line because they didn't care enough about their email to even bother signing it.
It's really important to include a signature line at the bottom of every email you send out because this is where you can add your name, your business name, your website address, social media links, etc. If you don't include a signature line in every email, then people will think that you're not professional and don't care enough about what you do to even sign off on your emails.
If you include a signature line at the bottom of every email, then people will know that you take what you do seriously and will put in the effort it takes to make sure your emails look good and are easy for people to read.
Conclusion
Growing an email list is the best way to build revenue and keep an audience as a solo entrepreneur. I have shared 9 tips on how to build email list from scratch in this blog post. By using a sign-up form on your website or blog, using social media, or running a contest or giveaway, you can quickly grow your list in a short time.
You don’t need to use all these tips right away to see more results with your email marketing campaign. Instead, start with the one that looks the most rewarding and the easiest for you to get started. The more you optimize and build your email lists, the more success you will have in the long run. So start building your list in MailerLite today!
