| Philosophers have long debated the question - if a | | | | Have a Contest. Similar to surveys, you can offer |
| tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear | | | | prizes to those who sign up for your mailing list. Try |
| it, does it make a sound? While this is not a question | | | | collecting customers' business cards, and have a draw |
| that concerns many email marketers, the concept | | | | for a grand prize. |
| holds true. Whether you're new to email marketing, | | | | Use Social Media. Ask your followers on Twitter or |
| or a seasoned writer, if no one is reading the emails | | | | Facebook to sign up for your email alerts. Be sure to |
| you send, no matter how great they are, they're not | | | | mention that your emails include information and |
| going to make any noise for your brand or your | | | | offers not available elsewhere. |
| sales. | | | | Hand Out Postcards. Sometimes customers won't |
| In order for your email marketing programs to really | | | | have time to sign up for your mailing list on the spot. |
| make the noise they are capable of, you need to | | | | Hand them a pre-paid postcard to fill out and mail |
| start building and growing your opt-in email lists. | | | | later. You can also increase your chances of capturing |
| Follow these 10 tips and soon you will have a growing | | | | email address by giving the option of signing up online. |
| list of customers and prospects that are looking | | | | Capture Friends of Friends. Encourage the people on |
| forward to hearing from you - and will ultimately help | | | | your email list to forward your emails to their friends. |
| win you business. | | | | You can even offer an incentive for doing so. Offer |
| Ask at Point of Sale. Ask for an email address at the | | | | a gift or discount if their friend signs up and mentions |
| point of sale. Let the customer know your mailing list | | | | them. |
| will notify them of discounts, email-only specials and | | | | Get your staff on board. Give your employees |
| first notice of sales. | | | | incentive to collect email addresses. Offer a small |
| Offer Free Information. By sharing your expert | | | | reward for each name collected, or a larger reward |
| knowledge, you can attract your customers to join | | | | to the employee who gathers the most email |
| your email list. For example, if you own a garden | | | | addresses by the end of the month. |
| shop, offer tips on the best fertilizers. All your | | | | Go Mingle. Sign up and participate in your local |
| customers need to do to get your valuable tips is | | | | community events. Become an active participant in |
| give you an email address to send the tips to. | | | | local organizations. Business-to-business owners should |
| Loyalty Programs. Create or promote a loyalty | | | | attend meetings of special interest groups where |
| program that promises exclusive, members-only | | | | potential customers may be. Get their business cards |
| benefits. When customers sign up and provide their | | | | and ask if you can email information to them. |
| email address, offer an on-the-spot discount or a | | | | There are plenty of other ways to grow your mailing |
| free gift with purchase. | | | | list as well. Get your list-building mechanism going and |
| Polls and Surveys. Place a relevant poll on your | | | | you'll have lots of people to send your emails to. You |
| website, or use ballot cards in a store location. Offer | | | | may not know if that falling tree makes noise, but at |
| a free gift or discount when customers participate, | | | | least you'll have plenty of customers and prospects |
| which will be sent to their email. | | | | listening. |