Build an Email List: Why Your Business Needs This Smart Marketing Move

If you’re serious about growing your business, you’ve probably heard the phrase “the money is in the list.”

There is a reason every smart marketer (and even the biggest brands) put email list building at the top of their marketing priorities, because it works.

In my recent video, I break down exactly why building an email list is one of the most effective actions you can take for your business, and how to get started the smart way. Let’s dig a little deeper and explore how you can grow your list, why it matters, and the best tactics for boosting your results.

Email List Building

Let’s face it: building a quality email list takes time and energy, but the pay-off? Absolutely worth it. According to the latest findings, email marketing boasts a jaw-dropping 4,200% return on investment that’s $42 for every single dollar spent!

Even more impressive, email is 40% better at converting than popular places like Facebook or Twitter. And, 72% of customers even say they prefer email as their main channel of communication. So, if you’re only focusing on social media, it’s time to rethink your strategy.

Build Your Email List

Before you rush off to buy a list, stop! True email list building is about permission marketing: inviting customers to want to hear from you. This is not just good business, it’s the law.

Using an email service like Kartra not only keeps you compliant with regulations like the CAN-SPAM Act (something you can’t ignore: remember Jeffrey Gooden’s 70-month sentence for breaking the rules!), but also makes it easy for people to opt in and out as they wish.

Always ask before adding anyone, and use trusted software to manage your list safely.

Signup Form

If you want people to join your list, don’t make them hunt for your signup form. Place it in a prominent spot on your website: above the fold (meaning, before people scroll), in your sidebar, footer, within blog posts, and even as an exit popup.

Design it to contrast with your site, so it stands out but still fits your brand. And most importantly, keep it simple just ask for first name and email, nothing more. Every extra field reduces your signup rates!

Reason to Join

“Sign Up For My Newsletter” doesn’t cut it. Give potential subscribers a compelling benefit, tell them what they’ll get, and how it helps them. Will they save time? Learn something new? Get exclusive deals? Paint a picture of how their life or business improves by being a part of your email community.

Use a Tempting Freebie

One of the best ways to grow your list fast is with a freebie, something high in perceived value but low in time commitment. Checklists, cheat sheets, simple guides, coupons, or easy tutorials work wonders.

The key is to solve a specific problem quickly. Avoid overwhelming new subscribers with huge ebooks or long video series at first; baby steps will get you more signups and stronger engagement.

Offline Opportunities

Take your list-building offline! If you have a store, invite customers at checkout. Add a signup link to printed materials, your email signature, social media bios, even your Google My Business profile.

Attending an event? Use it as a chance to collect signups by offering your irresistible freebie.

What Works

Not all platforms will bring you the same results. Keep a close eye on your numbers: if Facebook brings the most signups, focus there.

Don’t hesitate to try LinkedIn, Instagram, or other channels, but if an effort isn’t working, ditch it and invest more in what does.

Grow Your List

I’ve put together a free Email List Blueprint to help you turbocharge your email growth. Grab yours at the link below.

But email list building is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to a smart marketing strategy. Let me ask you a question: Do you know how your marketing stacks up?

Find out by taking the SMART Marketing Quiz. Get customized results on how to get smarter with your marketing, you’ll learn exactly what your business should focus on, get personalized recommendations on how to get the best bang for your marketing buck, and unleash your business’s true potential. It’s like having a personal marketing coach by your side!

And remember, you don’t need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or a dedicated staff to market your business; you don’t even need a lot of time.

What you need is to be smart, and list building is smart for your business.

If you're ready to grow your business with smart marketing you can:

1. Sign up for weekly FREE Business Bytes with CEO, Torie Mathis

2. Get a SMART Funnel and begin to automate your marketing

3. Learn Digital Marketing with a Smart Marketing Course

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TORIE MATHIS

Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs grow their business with Smart Marketing.  She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, international speaker + trainer, and the CEO + Creative Director at Lake Shark Media. She also teaches entrepreneurs how to get smart with digital marketing at toriemathis.com