One of the most valuable marketing assets almost every profitable business possesses is a targeted email list.
Your email list is the most important asset in your business and is critical to building and nurturing relationships with your audience. It is your way of keeping in touch with your prospects, customers, clients, and other people you serve to send out information such as new blog posts, business announcements, new products, or services.
What is an Email List?
Think of an email list as your virtual contact list. It’s a collection of names and information about people who have subscribed to your list (subscribers).
It is especially important because you have ready access to the information about each subscriber. You can collect what details you wish but most people only like to give the minimum information when first joining you. Ideally, just ask for a first name and email address.
How are contacts collected?
Email addresses are collected online either via your website using a form, a lead magnet (freebie/giveaway/coupon), sales landing page and either offered updates via newsletter or as mentioned above a discount coupon or freebie to download.
You can also collect contacts offline from your shop or at an event, show, market stall etc. A really good idea is to run a competition and collect emails for entries. You must always seek permission to add them to your list.
What is a Mailing List
You then have what is known as a mailing list used to send out emails. As your list grows and you can also segment your list into groups, so you know where the contact came from.
However, it’s important to use the information only for the purposes you state when asking for that information. This is to protect people’s privacy. Never pass on the data you collect about your subscribers to others. You should feel privileged that people have chosen to share their contact information with you so make sure you look after it.
Your followers are interested in your work and want to know more about what you have to offer. With an email list, you can communicate with your prospects and customers directly, sending them the information they want.
The valuable content you send to your subscribers then establishes the know/like/trust factor that is so crucial to growing a loyal following of people who buy what you recommend.
Want to learn more about how you can start and grow your own email list?
Why not come along and join my FREE Start An Email List From Scratch Challenge which reveals how to start and grow the type of email list that drives business success!
