How To Build a Powerful, Permission-Based Email List

Email marketing is a great way to connect with your target market. Whether you have a tangible product to sell or simply want to inform your customers or clients of an important industry trend, growing that distribution list is the key to any successful email marketing strategy. Begin my growing your email contact list organically and by making sure subscribers “opt in” to receive your emails. Here are some list-building tips to consider when building your permission-based email list:

• Whenever someone contacts you (either by phone or my email), invite them to join your email mailing list. If they say “yes,” simply add them to your database.

• When networking at en event or chatting with conference goers, ask those you meet if you can sign them up for your newsletter. Communicating face-to-face is the best way to get potential subscribers.

• Contact your professional trade organization for their member list. According to Constant Contact, a few trade organizations provide their chapter lists to members at no charge while some may request a small fee in exchange for the national list. Once you get the list, send these potential recipients a direct mail letter first, asking them to opt in to receiving your correspondence.

• Make sure to include an invitation to join your list in your email signature block (at the bottom of your email), which should be included in all of your outgoing emails, your autoresponder messages, when posting in forums, etc.

• Include a newsletter sign-up box on your website, blog and any other social media sites you use, such as Facebook, so you can capture potential subscribers wherever they land.