7 Ways to Build Your Email List
One of the most common questions I get asked about online marketing is, “How do I build an email list?”
I took a stab at answering this question with two smart cookies (I mean savvy marketing professionals), Jocelyn Harmon and Alia McKee. (We took a whole range of additional questions from nonprofits as part of a Network for Good Ask the Expert call - you can check out the whole thing here!) Here is the list we devised:
1. Make sure that all your media mentions are driving people to your website (make it a call to action)!
2. Create a strong email-address-collection device on that website. (NOT something lame like “sign up for news” but rather give them something enticing. Give them an incentive or a reason to join. Give them a discount on an event. Give them an article you’ve written or tips for better living and then get their email address in return for your sending that gem to them.
3. Optimize search: A lot of nonprofits are not taking advantage of Google grants—more on that here.
4. Collect emails from donors via direct mail - maybe they’d rather hear from you electronically.
5. Use your email signature - it is a great tool for doing marketing, whether it’s promoting an event or asking people to sign up to hear from you on your website.
6. Ask people to sign a petition - with their email address and with permission to contact them.
7. Collect email addresses at events. I have been to 10 nonprofit events in the last 18 months, and I can’t think of a single one that collected my email address. Lost opportunity!
Syndicate
Thanks for the great tips. Just to expand on the direct mail tip- you can explain in the direct mail piece that you would like to help the environment and use less paper, and that you will start emailing newsletters, updates, etc to them. (Make sure you actually do so!). This has had decent response in the past for me.