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I'm often asked the question, "If I can't buy a list, how can I get people to opt-in?"   The answer is this:  There are limitless ways to build an email marketing list, but fist and foremost any organization must remember to choose the methods that fit your audience.  Today I will cover a sampling of five methods you can use.  Another great resource is the Email List Growth:  Benchmark Guide published this year by the Email Experience Council.

For many organizations, having enough to say is rarely the issue.  The issue often is building a solid permission-based list in which to communicate information of value.  The solution is easy....weave the opt-in process into all of the others ways you are marketing.  Email marketing is never a standalone marketing method, but rather a compliment to many other methods you may be using for your marketing mix.  Here's my top 5 list to build YOUR list:

1. Website Capture Form: In most organizations, the goal is to drive traffic to the web for information and then flow those leads into the organization.  Incorporate a quick sign up form on your home page or any other location where visitors might be looking for information. (Quick Tip:  Most email service providers offer an easy tool to generate this form AND when people submit their info, it populates your email platform!)  Here's a sample of ours.
2. Social Media Platforms: People underestimate the viral nature of these platforms.  Imagine for every 100 fans, visitors, members any organization could easily multiply their reach tenfold!  These are all potential recipients of YOUR information.  Make it simple, utilize the same form you use for the website.  See how we did it on Facebook...want to learn how?  Read Chris Broshears's post from last week on this very topic!
3. Email Signatures: Organizations don't always see this as a marketing tool, but think of how many emails an organization sends and how many different contacts see that information.  Use an email signature as away to gather subscribers...simply link to your web capture form with simple text-Sign Up Today!
4. Independent Landing Pages: In  a perfect world, all of the people searching for your organization or it's type of services would magically arrive at your website.  However, often searchers do not find your organization directly.  They may find it through other references to your keywords, why not make sure there are EXTRA ways to be found...an independent landing page can be a perfect way to drive those searchers to you.  Again, replicate your web capture form on this landing page and everyone that arrives there will have the opportunity to sign up.
5. Events, Trade shows, Point of Purchase: In others words, in person!  Use every possible touch point to spread the word.  Ask people if they want to join.  If you have information of value that fits that audience, you might be surprised at how many opt-ins you will gain.

There you have it....5 Quick ways to Organically Build an Email Marketing List!  Here's another resource you might find helpful.

Happy List Building!

Carissa Newton | Marketing