14 Simple Ways To Build Your Store’s Email List
June 12, 2014
A Store’s Email List Is Priceless
Your email addresses are one of the best ways to reach current and potential customers. Constant Contact, an email marketing company, calls an email list your “Money List.” Make sure you’ve got a strong “money list” by using some of the following techniques to build it.
1. Put A Fishbowl On Your Counter
The old adage applies, “You have to give a little to get a little.” To receive email addresses, offer a prize drawing as an incentive. Shoppers will need to fill out a special entry form that includes their email address, but don’t ask for too much information or you’ll lose them. Make sure they know they’ll be hearing from you about future promotions too.
2. Add A Sign-up Form Or Call-to-action To Your Facebook Page
Go to your Facebook “Settings” and in the left column look for “Apps” to add one to your page. Or, Facebook now offers a “Call-to-action” button that will take viewers directly to your web page where they can sign up to receive your emails.
3. Make Sure Your Online Listings Are Up To Date
Check all of your business listings on sites such as MerchantCircle, Yelp and Yahoo! You can add a sign-up form on most listings.
4. Use Sandwich Or Chalkboard Messages
Use signage indoors and outdoors to mention special coupons and discounts that are only available to those who provide their email addresses. If you or someone you know is handy, here are the instructions for a diy chalkboard and sandwich board. DIY Instructions
5. Collect Emails With An Online Survey
Head over to Survey Monkey and create a free online survey. Shoppers who take the survey will have to sign up using their email address. Naturally, to get feedback from them you’ll also have to provide a special discount, coupon or prize drawing.
6. Create A Pinterest Board
Create a board on Pinterest that’s strictly for your email messages and post them as soon as they come out. Be sure to include a sign up form.
7. Use Printed Materials
Are you handing out bag stuffers? Special flyers for an upcoming promotion? Be sure they all encourage sign-ups too.
8. Add QR Codes
Hubspot offers an older but still handy guide for setting up free QR codes.
9. Hold Social Events
Holding special sale events or classes is a perfect way to get people to sign up on your email list. Create a special subgroup to send targeted emails to those attendees in particular.
10. Sponsor An Event
When you become a sponsor, you’re often given the email addresses of those who have participated in the past.
11. Run An In-store Raffle
Raffle off a prize only for customers who’ve given their email addresses.
12. “Refer-a-Friend” Program
By rewarding customers who give their friend’s email, you’ll gain trusted followers.
13. Employee Incentive
Whoever gets a certain number of new email addresses in a week receives a gift certificate.
14. Good Offers
Obviously, the better the offer, the more incentive to give you my email address, but don’t abuse the privilege.
For more on growing and using your email list:
Building Consignment Store Loyalty Through Email
10 Steps To Improve Consignment Email Marketing
9 Consignment Emails You Should Send This Holiday – Infographic
