- of your website and/or blog. (Or better yet, include a sign up form in the main navigation bar).
- business page.
- encouraging people to sign up for your list, and post them on social media channels (especially Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn).
- and bring a newsletter email sign up clipboard or book. If you’re tech savvy, bring an iPad or mobile device with you. Ask each person you talk with to sign up. Do the same for any business cards you receive.
- Include a link to your newsletter sign up form in your personal email signature.
- Have your employees mention the newsletter and emphasize the benefits (exclusive discounts, events, educational info, reminders, etc.)
- Join your local chamber of commerce, email the member list (if it’s opt-in) about your services, and include a link to sign up for your newsletter.
- Art galleries, software companies (one here has a party every quarter and invites the neighboring businesses), retail shops, consultants (lunch & learn) can all host an event and request attendees to join your newsletter.
- Offer a birthday club, and give something special to those who sign up.
- Incentivize your employees. Give them financial rewards for adding new subscribers to the newsletter.
- Give something away like samples, a tour, a consultation, a free how-to guide, infographic, how-to video, etc. Have people sign up for your newsletter to qualify.
- Get referrals. Ask your customers to encourage friends to sign up. In exchange, give them a discount.
- Use Pinterest! Here’s a step-by-step guide to building your email list with Pinterest.
- Make and upload videos to YouTube, then include a link at the end of every video directing people to your newsletter sign up form.
- Post your sign up form page on LinkedIn and sponsor it.
- Send a postcard. Have a list of postal addresses without emails? Send a direct mail offer that can be redeemed when the recipient signs up for your newsletter.
- Include a link to the email sign up form in your Twitter business profile description. Here’s how to edit your Twitter profile.
- Use a Lightbox. When someone attempts to leave your site, display a lightbox and ask them to sign up.
- Include a forward-to-a-friend link in all your emails.
- Create a tab on your business Facebook page and include an email sign up form.
- Offer “Newsletter only” discounts and mention them on your sign up form page and on social. Don’t use those offers anywhere but in your newsletter.
- Ask people over the phone. If people call your business for whatever reason, don’t hang up until you’ve asked if you can add them to your newsletter.
- Put a fishbowl on your counter, ask for business cards and permission to sign up for your newsletter, then do a weekly prize giveaway of your product and announce it in your next edition.
- Then, include a link in your Instagram bio asking people to sign up to participate in the giveaway.
- Include a call to action, a link and/or a sign up form at the end of every blog post you write.
- Add a link or sign up form in the footer, and/or side bar of your website.
- to advertise and gain sign ups for your email newsletter.
Bonus: Optimize your site for appropriate SEO keywords, and ensure your business is on appropriate online listings. You want to appear at the top of organic search results when people are looking for your products or services. This will help get your business and your newsletter sign up form found.
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Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in September 2009 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and relevance.
Tags: building an email list, email list, email lists, email marketing, email sign up form places, growing your email list, high-converting places for your sign up form, how to get more email followers, Small Business, small business marketing, where to place your sign up form