Why Building an Email List Matters to Your Business.
There is a lot of hype around email list building these days, and for 3 VERY good reasons!
Lemme just get right down to it.
1.People are constantly researching. They will land on your site...and they likely will leave.
And even if they are pretty certain about what they need or want, they will continue looking, to “be certain” they have looked into all possibilities. Once someone leaves your site, there is a chance that they will forget about you and never come back. ( Google is a long, dark rabbit hole!)
...If your prospects sign up for your email list (Because you offered them an IRRESISTIBLE freebie in exchange for their addy!) even if they vanish down that long, dark google hole, away from your website- now you have a touch point to engage with them and you can BRING THEM BACK!
2.Posting on social media is a great move for exposure, and you can definitely use it to engage your audience, push your freebies and products...but you don’t own this platform.
Anything from tech troubles to algorithm changes can affect your reach and connection. Make no mistake, this is a rental property and your landlord can make changes at any time!
...But if your prospects sign up for your email list then you're able to keep contact, and continue the conversation...and your list is YOURS. Your house, your white picket fence and YOUR roomy back yard.
You will need to build an email list with a strong welcome sequence, and then send emails on a regular basis to build and maintain the relationship.
There is a marketing theory which says that a person must come in contact with you seven times ( well, 7.2 to be accurate) before they're willing to purchase from you. If you have developed a relationship through email, you are well on your way!
3.Email subscribers are more likely to be buyers.
Do you ever intend to sell products or services on your website? Then you need an email list. Think of it this way: a person’s email inbox is sacred. If they allow you to send them emails, then they’re essentially inviting you into their virtual home. People hate getting useless spam in their inbox, but they’re willing to scroll through an Instagram feed full of photos from acquaintances they’ve talked to twice in their life. Bottom line? Most people are less picky about who they “follow” on social media vs. who they subscribe to via email.
Give your audience a reason to opt-in to your list!
Have a great lead magnet.
Let’s be real, no one really needs another email in their inbox unless it serves a purpose.
We. Are. Flooded. With. Email.
Provide value!! Give them a good reason to want to hear from you.
A lead magnet is a freebie that a subscriber receives for opting-in to your list and is used as an incentive to do so.
There are many different possibilities for lead magnets. (Keep it short and simple, since you’re giving it away for free, but make sure that it provides real value.)
Some potential ideas for your freebie are:
A discount on products or services
A challenge
A checklist that is relevant to your audience
A DIY or step-by-step guide
A (short) phone consultation
A printable planner or calendar
A video
An online course
A quiz
Free templates
Access to a curated collection of freebies
Optimize your website for these sign-ups...Where should they appear?
Once you have your lead magnet figured out, it’s time to start offering it to your website visitors!
On the HOMEPAGE
The homepage is one of the most viewed pages of a website, making it a perfect location for sign-ups! Be sure to include a lead magnet right on the homepage.
Have an ANNOUNCEMENT BAR
Advertising your lead magnet is one of the best uses of the announcement bar feature on your website. Make sure that it clicks through to a landing page that shows an image of and gives a brief description of your lead magnet. Then include a form for them to signup. Since these pages do not have any navigation, this ensures that people will not be steered away from the page without signing up for your list!
In your BLOG POSTS
This provides a great opportunity to invite your readers to opt-in to your list. (Preferably at the END of your post.) However, THIS invitation can specifically relate to the content in your blog post.
In the FOOTER
The footer of your site is another great place to include your email opt-in. If someone has made it to the end of a page, then they are interested in your content! It’s the perfect time to ask them to opt-in. (Another benefit is that by including the opt-in in your footer, it appears on every page of your site.)
Emails typically have an average open rate of 17% and a click-through rate of 1.4%, which is much higher than your social media rates.
It may seem like a lot of work, but you really have to concentrate your efforts on building your email list!!
Any questions or want to add to the convo? I’d love to heard from you!!