One of the most common questions I'm asked is, "how do I build a list of email addresses?"
Well, there are a number of ways to do it, some of which are free and some of which cost money. Here are 8 excellent list-building techniques that'll help you build your list in no time:
1. Your existing clients
Do you have email addresses for all of your existing clients? If not, get them and add them to your list.
2. Your existing leads and prospects
There are no doubt already people who have enquired about your products and services but haven't yet bought. Add all of them to your list, too.
3. Networking contacts
When you meet people whilst networking, get their email address from their business card and add them to you list.
4. Public speaking attendees
Do you do any public speaking? If you do, offer to send something worthwhile to your audience and get them to leave their business cards if they want it. For example, when I do public speaking events about marketing, I always offer the audience my free "Marketing Action Guide". To get it, they just need to give me their business card at the end of the event and I send it to them and add them to my list.
5. Google Adwords linked to Landing Pages
Using Google Adwords to build an opt-in email list is an extremely effective technique, although it will cost you money as you have to pay for your clicks. The key is to drive the people who click on your advert to a landing page that offers them something compelling in return for their name and email address. When they fill in the form, you send them what you promised and add them to your list.
6. Direct Mail linked to Landing Pages
This is a variation of technique number 5. Instead of driving traffic to your landing pages from Google Adwords, you drive them to your landing page by sending them a letter in the post. This is a great way of converting a postal list into an email list. Of course, as with the Google Adwords method, you need to ensure you offer something compelling or people won't give you their name and email address.
7. Host a Teleseminar
This is a great mechanism for rapid list building. Find someone who already has a big email list and say you want to interview them on a teleseminar. The teleseminar gives them an opportunity to get in front of your client base and it helps them to build credibility with their own list, as being interviewed is a great credibility builder. They can also have a recording of the teleseminar to use in their own future marketing.
The way you build your list is by getting the person you're going to interview to invite everyone on their list to attend. To reserve their place, they need to go to your website and fill in a form with their name and email address. Hey presto, everyone who signs up to attend is now on your email list.
8. Joint Ventures
Another fantastic list-building technique. Create something worthwhile, such as a free guide, and create a landing page with a web form for people to fill in to get it (HINT: this can be the same compelling offer you use with techniques 5 and 6 above). Then, find people who already have lists of the kind of people you want to attract and allow them to offer your free guide to their email list. They email their list with a link to your landing page, and anyone who fills in the form now becomes part of your list.
Apply these techniques rigorously over the next few weeks and months and you'll soon build a large, relevant list of email addresses to use in your email marketing campaigns.
Good luck!
