How to Create an Email List That Works! : EmailOversight

In the US, nearly 80% of adults use email. In fact, the 3.8 billion email users worldwide make up half the planet’s population.

Meanwhile, email marketing can produce $44 for every $1 spent.

In order to develop a strong email marketing campaign, you need an email list. Otherwise, who are you sending your emails to?

Here are the nine tips you need when learning how to create an email list. With these tips, you can reach and nurture customers, then generate sales. Your ROI will start to rise as a result.

Set your next email marketing campaign up for success! Get started with these tips for creating an email list today.

1. Pinpoint Your Target Audience

First, take the time to learn as much as you can about your target audience. You’ll struggle with creating an email list otherwise. You want to make sure your content appeals to your target audience.

Start by creating a buyer persona. Picture who your customers are based on:

Age
Gender
Location
Pain points
Hobbies
Interests
Buying behaviors
Careers
Language
Education
Goals and roadblocks
Values
Fears
Marital status
Household income
Salary

The better you understand your audience, the more likely you’ll appeal to their needs. They’ll become more likely to give you their emails as a result.

If you have a broad audience, segment them into multiple buyer personas. Then, create content with each group in mind. You can use content marketing to draw people to content on your website.

Then, you can use a compelling call-to-action to encourage them to fill out your email opt-in form.

2. Update Your Website

About 55% of users open and receive emails on their mobile phones. What happens if a mobile user visits your website? If your website isn’t mobile-optimized, you could lose that lead.

Instead, you can update your website to generate fresh leads and nurture your email subscribers.

The next time someone opens your email from their mobile device, they’ll have an easier time exploring your content. Then, you can convert that website visitor into a lead or sale.

When updating your website, keep the latest user experience (UX) design trends in mind. UX ensures your website is fast, organized, and easy to use. Improving the UX will keep people on your pages longer.

You’ll have an easier time converting visitors into email subscribers as a result.

In fact, almost 90% of shoppers won’t return to a website after a bad experience. About 53% of mobile users will leave if your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Bad mobile optimization bothers nearly 50% of users, too.

You can improve your website’s UX by:

Making sure pages load quickly
Making sure you’re mobile-optimized
Organizing your navigation
Testing your site on mobile and desktop devices
Improving readability (using shorter sentences and paragraphs, choosing easy-to-read fonts, etc.)
Organizing long pieces of content under headings and subheadings
Using contrasting colors to ensure links are easy to find
Featuring imagery over text

Look at the content you feature above the fold. Consider placing your opt-in form near the top of the page. You could generate more email subscribers as a result.

You can use a heatmap or session replay tools to learn more about the user’s experience on your site. Then, you can make more informed improvements to your pages.

3. Choose an Email Marketing Provider

Before you learn how to create an email list, you’ll need an email marketing platform. You can choose from different platforms.

Your email marketing provider will help you organize your email list. You’ll also use it to send emails to your subscribers.

Maintaining an email list is just as important as creating one. Make sure you’re comfortable using the platform you choose. Otherwise, you might avoid cleaning your email lists.

Look for a provider that allows you to:

Create a variety of sign-up forms
Send your signup forms to different lists
Monitor the effectiveness of each form
Segment your subscribers based on distinct behaviors
Send automated messages based on each segment

You can learn more about single versus double opt-in emails here.

Segmenting your lists will help you personalize each message for each buyer persona. You can also send messages based on website behaviors. For example, you can send an automated message to someone who abandoned their cart.

Maintaining an email list will help you generate more engagement in the future.

4. Create a Tempting Offer

You can use different methods of email list creation. For example, try creating different offers on your website. Incentives can help you draw people in and boost your email subscribers.

Don’t offer potential subscribers “free updates.” That language might come off as spammy. Instead, offer something relevant and helpful.

For example, you can offer readers a discount code or free shipping. Use the fear of missing out (FOMO) when creating your incentive. Offer the incentive for a limited time.

FOMO can push people to take action immediately.

You can use gamification when creating an email list, too. An interactive sign-up form can help you draw in customers.

For example, you can create a “wheel of fortune” offer. People can enter their email to spin the wheel. They’ll sign up for your emails and win a discount code at the same time.

You can also create a giveaway.

For example, consider using Facebook or Instagram to reach your target audience. Offer a prize and prompt them to fill in their email to sign up. Then, encourage them to spread the news about your business for additional submissions.

Create a strong lead magnet on your website, too. For example, you can offer a helpful eBook in exchange for the reader’s email.

Test out different incentives to determine what helps draw in subscribers.

5. Use Every Resource

It’s not enough to create a lead magnet on your website. You also need to draw people to your website. Otherwise, no one will see the lead magnet.

Boosting traffic to your website can help you discover how to create an email list with ease.

Social Media

Consider using social media to keep prospective customers interested and engaged. Then, post a link to a landing page on your website. Give them a reason to visit your site.

For example, you can direct them to a contest or giveaway.

Encourage people to share your posts, too. Then, you can reach an even broader audience.

Try creating different posts and offers on social media. For example, you can create a giveaway or host a contest. Then, create a deadline for sign-ups.

Remember, leveraging the FOMO can help you generate immediate results.

PPC Ads

Pay-per-click (PPC) can help you generate brand awareness and website traffic. When someone clicks on your ad, they’ll reach a landing page on your website. You can create PPC ads for social media or post them on search engines like Google.

Create eye-catching, engaging ads. Use branded imagery to boost awareness and recognition. Then, use a strong call-to-action to encourage people to visit your website.

From there, your opt-in form and page content will do the rest.

SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) can help you rank higher on search engines. Boosting your SEO ranking can help you appear in front of more customers. You’ll generate brand awareness and website traffic.

You can use SEO to appear for a mix of different searches. When someone looks for your product or service online, they’ll see your website.

Create different blog posts for a mix of topics. Then, add a strong call-to-action to the end of your post.

For example, you can prompt readers to subscribe for more helpful tips and guides.

Consider adding an opt-in email at the beginning and end of each post.

6. Keep Your List Healthy

Remember, maintaining an email list is important, too. People change their emails constantly. You could have a ton of inactive subscribers on your list.

Inactive subscribers could impact your open rates.

You can keep your emails clean using an email validation process.

7. Improve Your Opt-In Form

Take a look at your opt-in form. Is it short and easy to use? Are you using a strong call-to-action to prompt subscriptions?

Ask for essential information only: the subscriber’s name and email address. A long-form might scare them away.

Consider adding a pop-up form to your website, too. You can prompt people to subscribe before they leave the page.

8. Create a Referral Program

Create a referral program and encourage your current customers to spread the news about your business. You can offer a discount code or coupon in exchange.

Don’t forget to send your loyal customers a thank you message! Showing your appreciation could draw them back to your business.

9. Analyze and Optimize

As you use these tips and learn how to create an email list, keep analyzing the data. Which strategies are working? If some are falling flat, you know it’s time to make a change.

Then, you can optimize your strategy to generate even more subscribers!

How to Create an Email List: 9 Tips for Successfully Gaining Leads

Don’t send emails to a tiny email list. Instead, learn how to create an email list with these nine tips. With these email list tips, you can reach a huge audience of subscribers.

Then, you can draw them to your store and start boosting your ROI.

Need help improving your email lists? We’re here to help.

Explore our pricing today to get started.