Insight Marketing tips to grow your newsletter list

Before you pay anyone for a “list” of potential newsletter subscribers, you should absolutely attempt to capture these names directly. Why not? It’s free, and you know that purchased list will cost you a bundle in cash, time, and credibility once the spambots are linked back to you.

If you build it, they will come.

This doesn’t apply to fields of dreams, but also to great subscription lists filled with names and emails that are specifically applicable to your business.

The most effective way obtain a good list is to build it yourself. And it all starts with good content. If you build it, they will come. Here’s how:

Quick, Easy Tips to Grow Subscriber Lists

1. Practical, useful, original content. You will never collect email addresses just because you provide a newsletter “free of charge.” You must first provide content worthy of their time, giving readers a reason to click, stay, and subscribe. Provide unique and valuable information first and foremost.

2. Make it easy. Add a subscription form to every page of your website, and make it easy to find. Place in the same spot on every page, clearly identified. Request minimal information: the more details you ask for, the less likely you are to capture the email address.

3. Provide a sample newsletter. Future subscribers should be able to review your newsletter before they sign up. The free sample to a free newsletter is necessary to secure capturing the email address.

4. Archive past newsletters. Archive past newsletters to build credibility as an authority in your field, while providing readers access to past information. In addition, articles with good SEO techniques can provide additional web traffic.

5. Network with publishers. Publishers of newsletters and/or print articles can provide valuable links, content, and subscribers to your own publication. This is an absolute win-win, with both of you will build your lists faster.

6. Give away opt-in bonuses. Create an opt-in bonus in return for subscribing. An ebook or PDF report, webinar, podcast, or downloadable or web-based software are great options to entice new subscribers, and builds credibility as well. Do not limit opt-ins to new subscribers; if you systematically pass on various freebies, subscribers are unlikely to leave.

7. Ask readers to share. Word of mouth is viral. If a subscriber finds your content to be informative, they will pass your newsletter to friends. This can be a good source of new subscribers.

8. Blog consistently. Blogging creates great dialogue with potential customers, and creates nice synergy with email marketing. Be sure to include a newsletter sign-up form on each blog page.

9. Comment. Post valuable comments on related blogs. In most cases, comments are posted with a link back to your site. This is an easy way to generate new traffic and subscribers.

10. Allow reprints. Websites and publishers actively look for high-quality content. Share yours, as long as it’s not modified in any way. With each reprint, your audience and exposure grows leading to new subscribers, traffic and links.

11. Include “Sign Up” button. Use a button or link within your newsletter providing a text link to your subscription page. Readers will forward newsletters to others, or share online, and the “sign-up” button or link will give others an immediate manner to opt-in.

12. Add a squeeze page. A squeeze page is a mini-sales letter for your newsletter or opt-in bonus, directly building your list. Use a powerful headline and valuable benefits to tease subscribers to sign up. Once created, a service such as WordTracker can find hundreds of targeted keywords, and then you can utilize pay-per-click from Google, MSN and Yahoo.

13. Testimonials mandatory. Put strong testimonials on your squeeze page in any format, video is most believable. To increase credibility, include full names, locations and/or live urls.

14. Establish a Privacy Policy. Let readers know without doubt you will never share their contact information. Establish a Privacy Policy web page, and provide a link to that page below every opt-in form.