5 ways to build an organic email following
Email marketing is not dead, especially if you use it effectively and creatively. After all, nowadays, email addresses are as precious as getting someone’s number. Would you endlessly spam someone with texts and call them about irrelevant information if you just met them? I hope not. Treat an email address with the same respect. Don’t spam people. If you haven’t yet built an email list or know where to start, here’s how to, effectively.
1. Start with your existing clients
Your clients are clients because they have already bought from you. They are already engaged. Chances are, they are more likely to be interested in what you have to say compared to someone that has never bought from you. Start with their interests, FAQs, and challenges. What can you help them with? Have you helped one client with something that may benefit another? Tell them about it, email is your way to be productively proactive. Share information that is useful.
2. Host an event, ask for interest
If you don’t yet have any clients, hosting an event (networking, social etc) may be a great way to meet new people. In addition to this, it’s an effective method of gauging people’s interest in the same types of events, products/and services. Make sure you are being GDPR compliant with information that people have given you though. Always ask for permission first. You can do this when people sign-up for the event and give their name or email.
3. Create a useful piece of content answering FAQs
Do you often have a few or more people asking you the same question? Whether it’s about your service/product or the industry in general, frequently asked questions (FAQs) are not only SEO friendly but also useful to share with others. Your answers could be educational and valuable to those that don’t yet know about you or your business. By answering these questions and sharing them with others, you can position yourself as an expert and thought leader.
4. Create a value-add newsletter
You might not speak to your clients/customers every day. Some businesses only speak to their clients once a year, or only when they decide to buy. If this is the case, a monthly newsletter is a great way to keep engaged with clients you don’t often get to speak to. It’s also a subtle way to remind them you are there for them. However, make sure this newsletter is a valuable addition to their inbox, rather than ‘just another spam email’. Offer exclusive advice or discounts that you’re not offering to those that haven’t signed up for your newsletter. That way, people will understand why they should sign up.
5. Promote your newsletter and direct people to sign-up directly
If you don’t promote your newsletter, how will people know about it? Share the sign-up link on your socials or other media channels. Give people previews and reasons to sign up. Recommend your clients to share it if they feel comfortable doing so. Keep it exclusive, but shout about it so people know what to expect.
Start somewhere, build on it as you go
Don’t worry if you’re starting from zero on your email list. No matter what your business is, there is a way to build this from the ground up. Keeping people on your email following engaged is perhaps more challenging than attracting sign-ups in the first place. Use this valuable data with caution and always have the intention of providing more value to people.
Not sure where to start? Give me a shout and I’ll see if I can help.