A subscriber list is essential for businesses as it allows them to connect directly with the target audience, nurture leads, and drive sales. But the question is how can we create email subscriber lists?
This article will be your guide, so let’s dive into it.
CRAFTING LEAD MAGNETS
It is the basis of any successful email list. Lead magnets are the free incentives that you offer in exchange for a user’s email address. They are used to attract the audience to your email subscriber list and provide them with valuable resources in return for their contact information.
Let’s understand a little more about what lead magnets are before proceeding further:
- The purpose of lead magnets is to offer something valuable to the user, specifically something they need. It could be resources, knowledge, or any product/service.
- The lead magnets must resonate with your customers so that they are more likely to subscribe.
- There is a variety of lead magnets you can create. Which includes downloadable content like ebooks to exclusive content previews, free trials and demos of your product/service, etc.
Click here to learn more about Lead Magnets.
We now know what lead magnets are and what they do, so let’s also discuss their importance:
As mentioned above, it attracts your customers. And once they have subscribed you can keep providing them with informative and engaging email content. Similarly, it lets you promote your products or services to an audience who has already shown interest by subscribing to your list.
Moving on, understanding your audience is extremely important before crafting the lead magnets.
- You do not want to offer generic content to them. Therefore, conduct proper market research and identify all the pain points of the audience. So that the lead magnets can directly address those challenges.
- Provide them with exclusive content previews, and give them a taste of valuable insights that they will only be receiving if they join your list.
- For businesses that offer software or service-based products, they can offer free trials or demos to the audience to pique their interest for a full subscription.
MAKE SIGNING UP EASY
Imagine a user is interested in your blog post on your website but due to the poorly designed form, they are unable to subscribe and learn more about it. Here is how you can optimize your forms:
- Keep it concise and focus on essential information like name and email address. Forms that are extensive can lead to problems in the signing-up process.
- The placement of the form is also very important. Avoid placing it in the footer where it might get overlooked, rather you should consider sidebar placements, strategically timed pop-ups, and after-content forms.
- Your CTAs should be compelling and must highlight the benefits of joining your list. Avoid generic phrases like “Subscribe” and instead use phrases such as “Unlock Exclusive Tips Now!” or “Get Your Free Guide Today!”
Pro Tip: Try A/B test with varying colors, fonts, and wordings to see which one can resonate with your audience the best.
A/B testing guide for sign-up forms.
SPECIALIZED PAGES FOR SIGNING UP
Strategically placing signing-up forms is effective, but have you ever considered creating especially dedicated pages for specific lead magnets?
These pages only focus on a singular thing and that is getting people to subscribe!
Here is why these pages are helpful:
- Unlike any general website page, these pages are designed for a specific lead magnet being offered. Here, you do not have any extra information, it consists of one clear message about what people get by signing up.
- These pages highlight the benefits of joining your list, the benefits could include anything from solutions to tips for improving lifestyle.
- It is suggested to incorporate visuals that complement your brand identity and the content you are offering, on this page.
- As always, keep experimenting with different layouts, headlines, and CTAs for better results. These landing pages often contain built-in A/B testing functionalities.
DESIGN TOOLS
Make technology your best friend when it comes to crafting content. These are a few design tools that can be used to elevate your landing pages:
Canva
This is a user-friendly platform that lets you create amazing pages. And the plus point is that you do not need any coding skills! You get to explore their vast range of pre-made templates and design elements which you can use to craft something eye-catching and professional.
PROS & CONS
Pros:
- It is very easy to learn and use, even for beginners who do not have any prior design experience
- It offers a free plan with access to a huge library of templates and designs
- Its drag-and-drop functionality makes creating visuals and landing pages quite easy.
Cons:
- Since it has a free and a paid version, therefore, the free plan might have limitations as compared to the paid plan.
- Even though it is great for creating designs, you may not be able to craft complex designs, it is only suitable for basic designs.
Unbounce & Leadpages
These are also tools dedicated to creating landing pages. They also offer drag-and-drop functionality and make it easy to build a page even if you are not skilled developer. All you have to do is pick a template, customize it with your content, and you are ready to go!
PROS & CONS
Pros:
- These are specifically designed for landing pages
- Many of the plans also allow you to A/B test different landing pages to optimize and use the best one
- Advanced features include paid plans with offer better features for email marketing as well as analytic tools.
Cons:
- As compared to Canva, they have a slight learning curve, especially for non-technical users.
- Some features require a paid subscription
Click here to visit Unbounce and Leadpages.
While we all know what role technology plays in work, apart from landing pages we may also use technology for an overall positive user experience. Here is how you can do it:
Canva for Pop-up
Even though pop-ups are effective, but we all know how annoying they can be at times and can even drive people away from websites. Canva can help you create pop-ups for your brand that are visually appealing and can attract people to subscribe.
- There is a variety of pop-up styles and functionalities.
- Pop-ups can be targeted too for a more personalized experience
- There are also plans that provide analytics and tracking features through which we can measure pop-up performance
However, setting up pop-up features might require more technical knowledge and skills and may even require a paid subscription for advanced features.
Additional Tools for Pop-up Customization
You have other options available like OptinMonster or SumoMe, for this purpose. They offer a wider range of pop-up styles and functionalities and allow you to create timed pop-ups, scroll-triggered pop-ups, and even pop-ups that appear when the visitors are leaving your website, this is also known as exit-intent pop-ups.
Always use pop-ups strategically and avoid overwhelming your visitors.
By considering the pros and cons of whatever tool you use, you can make an informed decision and enhance your efforts. Keep in mind, that the best tool is the one that is user-friendly and empowers you to create visually appealing content for your website visitors and converts them into engaged subscribers.
Well, this is not all! Once people start subscribing there are a few more steps that you need to follow which will help you connect with more people.
- When people sign up for your emails, you must always send them a friendly welcome message. This is an excellent chance for you to introduce your brand and what they can expect from your emails.
- Secondly, prioritize creating valuable content. People subscribe for a reason, keep creating informative content for them.
Anything will do, from blog posts to videos, as long as your audience finds it helpful and interesting. You can then promote it on other social media platforms to get more subscribers.
- There are various marketing tools out there that can make sending emails easier for you. For example, these tools can schedule your emails, personalize them for different groups, and even track the progress.
- You must always check the email results after sending them. This will be helpful for you in understanding what kind of emails your audience likes best.
And you can use this result to make even better emails in the future!
- Always follow the email-sending rules to prevent people from getting spammed.
Creating an email subscriber list is not as easy as it sounds, it takes a lot of time and effort. These are just a few tips to help you all. So, put these tips into action and watch how your audience
grows.
