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econsultancy_xml

Put a sign up box in a prominent position on your website This means placing it above the fold where it can easily be spotted, and making it clear what the box is. In this example, Next has perhaps been too subtle; the sign up is above the fold, but easily missed: <img alt="Next email sign up form" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2786004293_0410242843_m.jpg" /> In this example from Borders, there is no danger of missing the form, while the site has also given you a good reason to subscribe: <img alt="Borders email sign up" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/2786867976_5ae0719663_t.jpg" /> Use mulitiple sign up forms Puttting a sign up form on every page of your website will increase the chances of getting more sign ups. Not every visitor to your site will arrive via the homepage. Get some details from customers A lot of email sign ups are pretty basic. Just asking for an email address alone may simplify the process, but it is perhaps worth asking for a few more details so you can use this information to make your emails more relevant, though you should take care not to put off people by asking for too much. Promote email sign ups in store If you have a retail store, use this to encourage more customers to sign up for emails. For instance, my local Borders store will ask me if I want to sign up for emails when I make a purchase, offering discount vouchers in return. Follow up purchases If someone has just made a purchase from your website, send them a follow up email asking if they want to join your mailing list. Offer incentives The previous example from Borders offers 20% off an in-store purchase when you sign up, so provides a good reason for people to make the effort. Offering discounts is a great idea, but you could also offer entry to prize draws, or a free white paper, depending on your website. Put a 'refer to a friend' link in emails When sending emails, why not give people the opportunity of forwarding it on to a friend, especially if you have created some compelling content for your emails. Waterstones' emails, which provide some book recommendations, has provided a nice clear link to send it on to a friend, which is a good way to grow your list: <img alt="Waterstones refer to a friend email" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2786901164_b4b38a478f_o.jpg" /> Related research: <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/email-marketing-platforms-buyer-s-guide-2008">Email Marketing Platforms Buyer's Guide 2008</a> Related articles: <a href="/blog/2641-is-there-a-future-for-acquisition-using-email-marketing">Is there a future for acquisition using email marketing?</a> <a href="/blog/2610-how-to-retain-inactive-email-subscribers">How to retain inactive email subscribers</a>

<FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Put a sign up box in a prominent position</Emphasis> <Emphasis>on your website </Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>This means placing it above the fold where it can easily be spotted, and making it clear what the box is.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>In this example, Next has perhaps been too subtle; the sign up is above the fold, but easily missed:</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Image AlternateText="Next email sign up form" Source="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2786004293_0410242843_m.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>In this example from Borders, there is no danger of missing the form, while the site has also given you a good reason to subscribe: </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Image AlternateText="Borders email sign up" Source="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/2786867976_5ae0719663_t.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Use mulitiple sign up forms</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Puttting a sign up form on every page of your website will increase the chances of getting more sign ups. Not every visitor to your site will arrive via the homepage.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Get some details from customers</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>A lot of email sign ups are pretty basic. Just asking for an email address alone may simplify the process, but it is perhaps worth asking for a few more details so you can use this information to make your emails more relevant, though you should take care not to put off people by asking for too much.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Promote email sign ups in store</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>If you have a retail store, use this to encourage more customers to sign up for emails. For instance, my local Borders store will ask me if I want to sign up for emails when I make a purchase, offering discount vouchers in return.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Follow up purchases</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>If someone has just made a purchase from your website, send them a follow up email asking if they want to join your mailing list.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Offer incentives</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>The previous example from Borders offers 20% off an in-store purchase when you sign up, so provides a good reason for people to make the effort. Offering discounts is a great idea, but you could also offer entry to prize draws, or a free white paper, depending on your website.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Put a 'refer to a friend' link in emails</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>When sending emails, why not give people the opportunity of forwarding it on to a friend, especially if you have created some compelling content for your emails.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Waterstones' emails, which provide some book recommendations, has provided a nice clear link to send it on to a friend, which is a good way to grow your list:</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Image AlternateText="Waterstones refer to a friend email" Source="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2786901164_b4b38a478f_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Related research: </Emphasis> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="http://econsultancy.com/reports/email-marketing-platforms-buyer-s-guide-2008" Window="Self">Email Marketing Platforms Buyer's Guide 2008</Link> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Related articles:<LineBreak /></Emphasis> <Link URL="/blog/2641-is-there-a-future-for-acquisition-using-email-marketing" Window="Self">Is there a future for acquisition using email marketing?</Link> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="/blog/2610-how-to-retain-inactive-email-subscribers" Window="Self">How to retain inactive email subscribers</Link> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent>

2008-08-22T11:49:00+01:00

econsultancy_xml

With email marketing, it is far more desirable to build up your own list of prospects than take a short cut by buying or renting ones from elsewhere. Doing so means that those on the list have already expressed an interest in your products or services, and are therefore far more valuable. Here a few tips to help you build up your list...

<FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>With email marketing, it is far more desirable to build up your own list of prospects than take a short cut by buying or renting ones from elsewhere.</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Doing so means that those on the list have already expressed an interest in your products or services, and are therefore far more valuable.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Quote>Here a few tips to help you build up your list...</Quote> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent>

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For further information about email marketing, download Econsultancy's <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/email-census">Email Census</a> (based on a survey of digital marketers) and the <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/email-marketing-buyers-guide">Email Marketing Platforms Buyer's Guide</a> (particularly relevant for the UK market). See also the <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/email-marketing-statistics">Email Statistics Compendium</a>.

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Tips on email list building false

2008-08-29T09:00:00+01:00

tips-on-email-list-building

2009-04-28T23:14:08+01:00

2009-10-13T09:46:08+01:00

407