As I mentioned in earlier posts, email marketing and surveys are powerful tools if wielded correctly. But these tools are useless without a mailing list. Building a list from scratch is simple: Ask for it. No rocket science here, just set up a plan to harvest your clients’ information at every possible point of contact.
Let’s look at different ways to get your clients’ email information:
- Website: If you currently have a website, there is no reason why you shouldn’t have a newsletter sign-up box on your homepage. Entice visitors to sign up by offering them something in return, whether it be a report relevant to your services, a special coupon, or better yet, something FREE!
- Physical Sign-Up Sheet: If you don’t have a website, put together a sign-up sheet and place it in a high-traffic area, maybe near your register or service counter. Make sure to mention it when your customers are checking out.
- Invoices, Feedback Forms, Etc.: Take advantage of anything mailed to your clients that will be returned to you.
- Customer Service or Support Calls: When customers call in and you are getting their information, make sure to ask for their email address also.
- Email Signature: Place a “join our mailing list” link in the email signature of your regular correspondence. The link should go to your home page or the most appropriate page of your site where your signup tag is prominently displayed. This is an easy way to get the word out if you send frequent emails.
- Past Clients: You can send an email to individuals with whom you have a prior business relationship. But, you must include a simple, clear and immediate way for them to unsubscribe from, or opt-out of, your list. Although opinions vary, this opt-out approach is used by some of the most successful and reputable companies and is supported by the Direct Marketing Association.
These are just a couple of the ways to capture your clients’ email addresses. Depending on the nature of your business, there could be an endless amount of ways to do this. So get creative, and start building your mailing list today!
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