The money is in the list!

The secrets of generating sales are to have a large email list of contacts. Size isn’t everything. Instead, put the focus on quality instead of quantity.

How to Build Your Email List

  • Build Your List Organically – Start with people you already have a good relationship with. Add prospective buyers/sellers as they contact you.
  • Target Your List – Add contacts to a category that fits their needs. This enables you to better target your emails.
  • Automate – Apply technologies and tools to save valuable time and increase your bottom line.
  • Offer Something of Value – A free report or some other item of value could cause a contract to sign up or reach out to you. Try asking them to participate in a poll or offer a free consultation.

How to Create an Organic Mailing List

  • Up Your Opt-In Game – An opt-in form should definitely be on your website. However, it should also be found on your social media accounts. If that option isn’t available, add information in your social bios, services, or other sections of your social media accounts.
  • Utilize Social Media – Social media offers a huge opportunity to connect with potential clients. Post updates and links to offers you want to promote.

How to Use Technology to Track Success

  • Double Opt-In – This means a subscriber must confirm their email address via a response email sent to them from your auto-responder. It helps eliminate spammers and fake email addresses
  • Check Open Rates – Services such as Constant Contact, SendInBlue, and Ixact Contact provide reports that show how many people opened your email, what links they clicked on, and bounce rate.
  • Sale Funnels – Immediately add a contact to your sales funnels. Most paid subscriptions offer this as part of their service.
  • Sign-Up Information – Set up your sign-up forms so they automatically go into the right mailing list. Paid services often provide the HTML code for this so you can add their forms to your website.

Best Practices

  • Attention-Grabbing Headlines – Add a headline that grabs their attention and makes them curious about your emails. Otherwise, your email will be sent to the deleted file.
  • Make It Personal – Add your contacts’ names to your emails. It adds a personal touch and makes it appear that it was sent especially to them – not along with hundreds of other contacts.
  • Keep it Short – People get tons of emails every day. Long email messages will often be skimmed or skipped altogether.
  • Add Links – Whether it goes to a blog post, a special offer, or something else, an email is a great place to add a link back to your website or landing page.
  • Add Unsubscribe Information – This protects you as well as your contact. Make it easy to unsubscribe. You don’t want to be seen as a spammer.
  • Forward to a Friend – Referral business is the best business. Add a “forward to a friend” option to your emails. There’s a trust factor built into an email sent by someone who already knows the sender.

Timing is Everything

  • Weekdays – The best time to send an email is before or after work hours. The most replies occur between 6 a.m. – 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
  • Track Your Emails – If you are sending contacts to a webpage, a blog post, or landing page, you will be able to track it through your email program. Otherwise, set up a Google Analytics account and track dates and times.

Most Importantly

  • Keep in Constant Contact – This builds trust and provides an opportunity for your contact to get to know you better.
  • Frequency is Key – Although you don’t want to deluge contacts with promotional information, it’s important to stay in touch often.
  • Be Consistent – If you decide to send a weekly or monthly newsletter, be sure to stay on that schedule. This applies to any other strategy or contest, etc. you put in place.
  • Be Responsive – Respond quickly to any questions, comments, or complaints. This lets your contacts know you care about what they have to say or contribute.

In Conclusion

Know how to create a solid email list. Find the best service or solution to automate your emails and responses. Always use the best practices. This will build trust, create more website and blog traffic, and create a better experience for your contacts. Stay in touch on a consistent basis and be responsive to your contacts’ needs.

Secrets to Building a Responsive Email List