When you think about building an email list for your home based business online some of the most common strategies which come to mind are of course linking an autoresponder to your opt-in box or squeeze page and then driving traffic to your website using ezines, articles, e-books, blogs, free reports, other gifts and contests and so on. You must compensate people for providing their contact information and these are some of the strategies you can use.
However, aside from the most obvious techniques you can employ to create your list there are some tactics you can use every day, in situations you may not be aware of, to add more names to your directory. Here are 8 such strategies you can take advantage of on a daily basis:
1. First of all list building should be in the forefront of your thinking in every situation that may arise with your customers or your prospects. Each time you interact with someone about your home business always look at it as a chance to build your list. For example, if someone calls looking for information ask if they have an email address to which you can forward the documents they need.
2. Most people who are new to Internet marketing believe when they place an opt-in page on their home page their job is done. However, this couldn’t be farther from the truth because you should place either a squeeze page or an exit pop over on every page of your website so you can collect the information you need every chance you can get.
3. When you go to trade shows and other business functions be sure to have plenty of your business cards on hand so you can exchange information with other people at these events. These cards usually contain physical addresses, phone numbers; URL’s and email addresses which you can add to your list.
4. Leave your website URL everywhere and anywhere you can. This is a great way to encourage people to visit your website and when they do make sure they have to opt-in to communicate with you via email.
5. You can use your current email list to help you attract new subscribers. Encourage your current customers to recommend your home business to their friends and family in exchange for discounts and free gifts for those they convince to sign up.
6. If you have an ezine that you send to your list members on a regular basis encourage them to send it on to their associates. If these people like it they will then have to come directly to your website in order to subscribe to receive it on a regular basis.
7. Advertise and hold special events on your home page which you think may be of interest not only to your current members but also to the traffic which may visit your site or may be just passing through. Ask people who do sign up for the special function to refer others who they believe may be interested and offer a prize for the person who refers the most subscribers for the event.
8. Request people who correspond with your business to do so via email. When you send out physical mail for any reason ask them to fill in an email form which of course includes their best email address.
These are 8 techniques you can add to your list building strategy and I’m sure with some thought you can come up with several others to help build your email list. This directory of customers and prospective clients will help ensure the success and longevity of your home business online for many years to come.