Are you struggling to grow your email list and connect with your audience? As an affiliate marketer, learning how to build an email list can mean the difference between lackluster sales and hitting your revenue goals.
But with so many strategies out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
In this week’s episode of Seeking Profit, Emil and Andrew shared five easy and proven ways to grow your email list. I’m going to break it all down in this article.
From content upgrades to exit-intent popups, these tips will help you attract and retain more subscribers than ever before. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s get started!
5 Simple Ways to Grow an Email List
Content Upgrades
One of the most effective ways to grow your email list is to offer valuable content upgrades that your audience can only access by subscribing.
This can include e-books, checklists, templates, or any other type of downloadable content that your audience will find helpful.
Content upgrades are specific to the content you insert them into. If you have content on your site that gets a lot of traffic but is too difficult to monetize, a content upgrade is a great idea.
Generic Lead Magnets
Most sites have info content that gets some traffic, but not enough to justify it’s own content upgrade.
These pages are perfect for a generic lead magnet.
This is what Emil calls “the HubSpot approach.”
These lead magnets can be ebooks or downloadables that are very generic and apply to a wide swath of your content.
You’ve likely seen these all over the internet, including on our site. Since most of our content is about affiliate marketing or blogging, guides in those categories are perfect for lead magnets.
Here’s an example of one of our lead magnets:
Get Your FREE 20-Page Guide To Making $1000/Day From Your Niche Blog
Above-the-Fold Lead Magnets
Above-the-fold lead magnets are similar to content upgrades, but they appear right at the top of your web pages before the visitor has to scroll down.
This can be a powerful way to capture attention and encourage sign-ups. If the lead magnet is the first thing readers see, they’ll be much more likely to interact with it.
Make sure your lead magnet is something your audience will find valuable and relevant. It should ideally work as a replacement for your article, since readers may forget about your post after opting in.
Free Tools
Another effective way to grow your email list is to offer free tools or resources that your audience can access by subscribing.
This can include calculators, quizzes, or any other type of interactive content that provides value to your audience.
A great example of this is a mortgage calculator. You allow your users to calculate a mortgage, and after they click the calculate button you’d ask for their email address to send them quotes.
TIP: If you are having trouble coming up with ideas for tools or lead magnets your audience will love, ChatGPT can give you tons of ideas in seconds.
Exit Intent Popups
Exit intent popups are triggered when a visitor is about to leave your website. This can be a last-ditch effort to capture their attention and encourage them to sign up for your email list.
Make sure your exit intent popup is compelling and offers a clear value proposition. Ideally, this would be a last-ditch effort to give a reader your lead magnet that you already offered them.
People hate exit-intent popups, but they work. Just make sure to keep them off your money pages, and try other methods of getting email addresses first.
[Bonus] Content Gates
Content gates are tools requires visitors to enter their email address in order to access your content.
You’ve likely run into these if you’ve ever browsed major news sites online
This can be an effective way to capture leads, but it may also turn away loyal readers, so it’s important that your tech is capable of identifying someone who has already accepted or declined.
Blocking your readers from reading your content won’t be great for SEO, but it could help blow up your list in the right situations.
Why Affiliate Marketers Need an Email List
Email marketing allows you to communicate directly with your audience, build relationships, and drive sales.
By growing an email list, you can create a valuable asset that can drive revenue for years to come. Plus, email marketing is often more effective and cost-efficient than other marketing channels.
The more interaction you have with readers, the more likely you are to make a sale.
Also, as affiliate marketers, we don’t often have the opportunity to create repeat customers. But email lists fix all of that.
If you want to build a dedicated audience and increase your affiliate income, building a large email list is the best way to do it.
Our Team Of Affiliate Marketing Experts Will Teach You How To:
- Outrank Bigger Sites
- Monetize Your Content
- Engage Your Audience
Email List FAQs
Can I buy email lists?
No, you should never buy email lists. Purchasing email lists is a violation of most email service providers’ terms of service and can result in serious penalties. Also, they never convert well. Buying email lists is just a scam.
Can I send emails to people who didn’t opt in?
No, you should never send emails to people who did not opt-in to receive them. This is considered spam and can damage your email reputation and deliverability.
You can send personal emails to people inviting them to join your list, but that’s tedious and your time would be better spent elsewhere.
How often should I send emails to my list?
The frequency of your emails will depend on your audience and your content. However, it’s generally recommended to send emails at least once a week to keep your audience engaged.
I recommend against sending an email every day. The more you email your list, the less they notice when a message from you hits their inbox. Novelty is part of what gets people to open your messages.
How do I manage my email list?
You can manage your email list by using an email service provider (ESP) like ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign. These platforms allow you to segment your list, track subscriber behavior, and automate your email campaigns.
What should I do if people are unsubscribing from my list?
If people are unsubscribing from your list, it could be a sign that you need to improve your email content or frequency.
Take a closer look at your email analytics and see if there are any patterns in the types of emails that are receiving high unsubscribe rates.
How can I make my email list grow faster?
To make your email list grow faster, consider implementing some of the strategies we discussed in this article, such as offering content upgrades, using above-the-fold lead magnets, and implementing exit intent popups.
How to Grow Your Email List – Final Thoughts
Growing your email list is a critical component of a successful affiliate marketing strategy.
By implementing these simple methods, you can start building a loyal audience that is more likely to convert on your offers.
Remember to always provide value to your subscribers and prioritize building a relationship with them over making a quick sale.
For more great online business insights like this, or for a more in-depth view of these strategies, make sure to watch Seeking Profit on YouTube, or tune in on Apple Podcasts.
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