Tips For Growing Your Newsletter List

We all know content can go a long way in attracting, converting, and keeping customers, but what do you do if you have no one to send that content to? It can be a bit of a buzzkill when you spend time crafting an excellent newsletter, for example, just to realize you only have a short list of subscribers. If you’ve been in this situation, here are some tips to help you figure out how to build a newsletter audience and grow your email list in general.

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1. Gatherings

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Even though in-person events aren’t back in full force yet, there are still plenty of opportunities to get large, targeted lists. Consider hosting a webinar and asking attendees to opt in to receiving your newsletter, or sponsoring a virtual trade show and receiving the list of attendees. You can also buy lists, but these are often outdated or incomplete. So, we recommend using lists from your own events or recent third-party events hosted by credible organizations instead.  

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2. Check Your Content

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When you’re exploring ways to grow your email list, first pause a moment and take a look at your content. Is it extremely promotional, reading more like an advertisement than a newsletter? Or is it something valuable that your recipient will actually want to receive? If you’re not sure, run it by a colleague or friend and ask for their honest opinion. If you’re asking people to opt in to getting yet another email in their inbox on a regular basis, you need to make sure there’s something in it for them. Whether you include a healthy recipe in each newsletter, a new fitness move, a discount or a contest invitation, the newsletter should be engaging. Make it so, and the list will grow naturally as subscribers share your content with others.

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3. Make It Easy

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If people are highly motivated to do something, they’ll work harder to make it happen. But if their motivation is on the lower end of the spectrum, you need to make things extra easy in order to get them to follow through. Most people have lengthy to-do lists and not much incentive to sign up for a newsletter, so you need to go the easy route in this case. Add a “Join My Mailing List” button on every email you send out, and include a link in employees’ signatures. Offer a short sign-up form on your website and a paper sign-up form at in-person meetings. Make sure to use social sharing and “email to a friend” buttons on your newsletter itself, so people can do your legwork for you and get your newsletter increased exposure. The easier it is, the more engagement you’ll get.

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4. Form A Partnership

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This is one of our favorite methods for how to build a newsletter audience. Think about any businesses that have services or products complementary to your own. For instance, maybe you offer cooking classes, and an organization down the road sells high-quality cookware, utensils and kitchen tools. This type of partnership can be a great pairing. Ask to run a promotion on their site or in their newsletter, and offer them the same in return. You’re likely targeting the same people, so you can each benefit from getting in front of the other’s customer base. Another idea is to co-host an event with the partner or jointly put out a marketing offer. There’s power in numbers, and this tactic can go far in helping you grow your email list.

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5. Get Feedback

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If you’ve tried all of the above and still aren’t seeing increases in sign-ups or a growing email list, solicit feedback. Send a quick survey to your customer base and ask them if they’ve enjoyed your newsletter, and what type of content they’d like to see. Maybe they want to see tutorials about the different ways they can use your product, and would prefer videos over text. Such little changes can make a big impact, but you won’t know to make them unless you ask. We hope these ways to grow your email list help you out and get you more subscribers. But if you still need some help reaching your audience, give us a call. Connecting businesses with their buyers is what we do best.