Five Secrets to Email List Growth

by Tom Kulzer

Published on May 27, 2008

Tags: Email Lists, Newsletters, Website Design

Building a list of responsive subscribers via a Web site that has a bit of traffic and quality content is surprisingly easy.

But sometimes, when working with users, we're surprised to see low conversion rates. So, we take a look into just why that might be.

Here are five factors to consider when growing your list.

1. Make your sign-up form easy to find

Too often, we find newsletter sign-up buttons on Web pages tucked away somewhere out of the obvious. When I see a page like this, my first thought is always "this must be a lower priority on the list of actions that the site owner wants visitors to gravitate toward."

That's a shame, because email, like no other technology, gives us the opportunity to turn one-time, anonymous visitors into engaged subscribers with whom we have the ability to develop beneficial relationships.

→ end article preview
Read the Full Article

Membership is required to access this how-to marketing article ... don't worry though, it's FREE!

WANT TO READ MORE?
SIGN UP TODAY ... IT'S FREE!

Your email :

We will never sell or rent your email address to anyone. We value your privacy. (We hate spam as much as you do.) See our privacy policy.

Sign in with your existing account. Simply click your preferred account below!

Tom Kulzer is CEO and founder of email marketing software firm AWeber (www.aweber.com), which helps small business customers manage opt-in email newsletters.

NOTE: MarketingProfs does not allow its content to be lifted wholesale and republished elsewhere without a licensing agreement. For more information on copyright and licensing, see here.

Rate this

Overall rating

5 rating(s)

Comments

by Marleen Prater Tue Jun 3, 2008 via web
Good article, Tom, you are right on with everything. I have found the newsletter box on the top right corner of my website gets noticed. Thanks.
by Sharron Wed Jun 4, 2008 via web
I followed the link from NFIB Smart Brief newsletter to get the 5 Tips to email growth list. I did not mind putting in my email address to get to the next step which I thought was going to give me the 5 tips - but then I had to fill out a long form answering questions I really didn't want to answer and develop a password. Then once I was in your sight I had to "find" the article about the 5 tips.

And then behold - in tip #3 the headline reads "Don't ask for too much information" contradicting what I just had to do to get this article! Not good for your integrity.

Here's my 2 cents - Your information looks great and as a veteren advertising professional I'm sure I'll be interested but - I felt a sort of bait and switch game going on by having to give more info than my name and email and having to answering questions just to get the article.

I lost some respect for the newsletter host NFIB SmartBrief (and I will write them) who provided your link - if the Headline states get 5 tips - the reader shoud be able to get 5 tips with one click and then be given the choice to pursue signing up on your site.

So think about it - I already have a negative attitude about your offerings even though I pursued the article.

How many people do you think did the same thing I did but clicked out without following through after seeing the info they had to fill out to get the article and left with a "negative attitude"?

Just some food for thought for your marketing strategists!
by Terry Thu Jun 5, 2008 via web
I whole heartedly agree with Sharon. The link from the OPEI newsletter to this article was too compicated & violated your own rules.