Developing an engaged email subscriber list provides one of the most valuable assets for growing your blog and business.
Email subscribers serve as a built-in audience to market new content and offers to. Plus acquiring subscriber emails allows communicating directly without relying solely on unstable social media platforms.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover step-by-step how to build a mailing list from scratch, write compelling newsletters, and foster loyalty from your subscribers. Let’s dive in!
Select Your Email Service Provider
The first step is selecting the right email service provider (ESP) to host your mailing list and send emails.
Top solutions to consider include:
– Mailchimp – The most popular ESP with generous free tiers, automation, and integration options.
– ConvertKit – Built specifically for bloggers with email sequence and landing page builders. More affordable paid tiers than rivals.
– AWeber – A longtime reputable ESP with intuitive campaign creation tools and analytics.
– Constant Contact – A user-friendly solution ideal for beginners, with marketing automation capabilities.
Evaluate options against your budget, ease of use, integration needs, and email volume. Most provide free trial periods to test.
Create an Opt-In Incentive
To drive signups, you need an appealing incentive for visitors to exchange their email address.
Offering a lead magnet like an ebook, cheat sheet, or email course in exchange for subscribing gives time-strapped visitors instant gratification.
Other potential incentives include:
– Exclusive discount codes
– Entry in a giveaway contest
– First look at upcoming products or content
– Curated industry resources or toolkit
Deliver the promised incentive immediately upon opt-in to establish trust and value.
Embed Signup Forms Across Your Website
Place email signup forms prominently on key pages like:
– Blog homepage
– “About” and “Contact” pages
– Post sidebars or footers
– Behind buttons and links saying “Join our list!”
Keep forms short requiring only email and optionally name. Reduce required fields to eliminate friction.
Use popups and welcome gates to catch exiting visitors but don’t overdo their frequency.
Make forms mobile-friendly. Test layouts and CTAs for maximum conversions.
Promote Your List in Your Content
Prompting list signups in your blog content capitalizes on engaged readers.
Ways to integrate promos include:
– Mentioning the reader benefits of joining your list – more tips, deals etc.
– Linking CTAs to your signup page when relevant so readers can take you up.
– Writing posts sharing your most popular newsletter content to provide samples.
– Thanking existing subscribers for being part of your community. Social proof builds FOMO.
Listing subscriber perks in sidebars/footers reminds scanning readers to join.
Incentivize Shares to Expand Reach
Encouraging social shares expands potential opt-ins through readers’ networks.
Offer perks for sharing like:
– Discounts for referring friends who subscribe
– Entries into a contest for sharing signup links
– Exclusive content for top referrers
– Public shoutouts on your blog/social praising evangelists
Leverage readers to promote your list among built-in audiences.
Announce Your List on Other Channels
Cross-promote your mailing list across all platforms.
– Share signup links on your social media profiles.
– Add links to email lists and newsletters in your YouTube descriptions if you have a channel.
– Mention your subscriber goal and ask followers on Instagram, Twitter etc. to help spread the word.
– Leverage any existing website advertisements to also tout your list.
Broadcasting everywhere maximizes exposure to potential subscribers.
Launch Email Nurturing Sequences
Automated email sequences “nurture” new subscribers by providing ongoing value.
Example 5-10 email sequences could include:
– A welcome series onboarding subscribers with key website pages and resources.
– A content upgrade series delivering your best lead magnet pieces in a drip.
– An event countdown series building excitement for a product launch, webinar etc.
– An inactive win-back series re-engaging ghost subscribers if they go silent.
Well-crafted sequences make managing subscriber communications scalable.
Write Compelling Newsletter Content
Well-written, consistent newsletters keep your list engaged long-term.
Tips for compelling newsletters:
– Curate a mix of original articles, blog content recaps, Q&As, deals etc.
– Break up text with visuals, infographics, gifs and videos.
– Personalize copy by directly addressing readers.
– Feature behind-the-scenes company updates and introductions to build rapport.
– Poll subscribers and highlight user-generated content submissions.
Deliver information readers crave but can’t get anywhere else. Give VIP treatment.
Analyze Metrics and Optimize
Use email analytics to identify high-performing list-building tactics.
Key metrics to monitor:
– Open and clickthrough rates for send types like broadcasts vs sequences
– Conversion rates of embedded CTAs and links
– Unsubscribe rates to identify potential content or messaging issues
– Top performing subject lines and send times
– Engagement based on subscriber segments like tenured vs new
Constant list-building testing and tweaking improves results.
Building a highly engaged email list fuels business growth in multiple ways. You forge deeper reader relationships, drive recurring traffic, increase sales, and have an audience ready to purchase new offerings.
Invest upfront in creating a high-value subscriber experience, and subscribers will reward your efforts with loyalty.
