The Complete Guide to Building Your Email List in 2023
Building a strong email list is one of the most important things any business can do to drive growth and revenue. Email marketing remains one of the highest-converting digital marketing channels, with ROI averaging $42 for every $1 spent.
With a new year upon us, now is the perfect time to either start building your email list or optimize your existing efforts to grow your list. Use this complete guide from ListBuilders.io to build a powerful email list in 2023.
Set Objectives and KPIs
Before diving into list building tactics, it’s important to have a clear vision of your objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs). Do you want to build a list for lead nurturing? Promotions and sales? Engagement?
Define your goals so you can track the right metrics. Common email list KPIs include open rate, click rate, conversion rate, subscriber growth rate, and unsubscribe rate.
With clear goals set, you can build lists, create content, and measure performance based on those objectives. Align email campaigns and list growth efforts with what you want to accomplish.
Create Valuable Lead Magnets
Lead magnets incentivize subscribers to join your list. Offer something valuable in exchange for their email address. Some effective lead magnet examples include:
Ebooks, Whitepapers, Guides
- “The 2023 Guide to Facebook Marketing”
Templates, Tools, Calculators
Checklists, Cheat Sheets
- “10 Tips for Writing Headlines”
Implement Lead Capture Forms
Once you have lead magnets ready, place email signup forms strategically around your website to convert visitors into list subscribers. Some top places to add forms include:
Website Popups
Blog Sidebars
Content Footers
Product Page Descriptions
Navigation Bars
Confirmation Pages
404 Error Pages
Keep forms short and reduce friction by only asking for essential info like email and name. Make the CTA button compelling (e.g. “Send me the guide”). Offer multiple lead magnet options if possible.
Promote Offers on Social Media
Social media is key for driving traffic to your signup forms. Promote lead magnets frequently using attention-grabbing posts.
Share blog posts featuring the lead magnet and post download guides or excerpts to provide value on social directly while also linking to landing pages.
Leverage paid social ads to get leads by targeting engaged users and optimizing ads to collect emails. Retarget website visitors through custom audiences.
Send Lead Nurturing Emails
Lead nurturing helps convert subscribers into loyal customers over time. Send a welcome email introducing yourself and linking resources. Create an email series or automation workflow that delivers value.
You can segment lists by lead status and tailor content accordingly. For example, send new leads educational materials and product/service information. Promote to engaged subscribers who are nearing a purchase.
Make sure emails are personalized, relevant, and convey benefits. Avoid aggressive sales pitches in early nurturing stages. Provide subscribers with the information and reasons to purchase from you.
Partner Up for Co-Marketing
Look for mutually beneficial co-marketing opportunities with businesses that align with your audience. This expands reach and taps into new networks.
Some options include guest blogging, list swaps, joint lead magnets, sponsored content, social media takeovers, and promotional giveaways. Collaborate on campaigns where you each distribute content and capture leads.
For example, contribute a guest post to a partner’s blog in exchange for them sending an email promo of your lead magnet to their list.
Grow through Retargeting
Retargeting gets leads from previous website visitors who didn’t convert initially. Use pixels and tags to track traffic then serve targeted ads across the web. Remind visitors about downloadables they didn’t claim.
Retargeting helps stay top of mind until visitors are ready to opt-in. Sophisticated platforms let you target custom segments with specific messages and offers. Dynamic creative helps serve different variations to find the most effective approach.
Watch Performance and Iterate
Analyze email list KPIs regularly to see what’s working well and what needs optimization. See which lead magnets drive the most conversions. Experiment with different promotions, giveaways, and call-to-actions. Shift investments into the highest-performing sources and campaigns.
Refine based on data to maximize the number of quality leads and subscribers you acquire. Set goals each month and quarter to steadily grow your list over time.
Building a robust email list takes consistent effort across many channels. Follow this blueprint to attract more engaged subscribers in 2023. Let your list continuously fuel your business growth for years to come.
If you want to know how to do this effectively in 2023 and beyond, get in touch with one of our experts here.
