5 Ways to Grow Your Newsletter List

Do unsubscribes to your newsletter make you uneasy? Industry experts estimate that the average newsletter list degrades by 22.8% yearly due to opt-outs and abandoned or changed email addresses. Let’s say your newsletter list is 3,000 people – that’s over 500 email addresses each year!

If a shrinking newsletter list is keeping you up a night, then maybe it’s time to try something new. On today’s post, we share 5 ways to grow your database full of subscribers who are engaged, excited, and eager for your next email!

#1 Target website visitors and blog readers: People who are already looking at your website or blog are low-hanging fruit – it’s safe to assume that they are already interested in your brand! Plug-ins such as Hold On Stranger and What Would Seth Godin Do can be easily added to your website or blog as a way to prompt visitors to sign up for your newsletter (or perform other actions such as liking a social media channel). These plug-ins trigger customizable pop-up messages which are aimed at turning the average website visit of just under a minute into a more actively engaged customers. For instance, Hold On Stranger detects when users are about to leave your website (using what they refer to as “exit-intent technology), at which point a pop-up appears prompting them to sign up for your newsletter or subscribe to your blog.

#2 Freebies, Coupons & Giveaways: We all know that most consumers can’t resist a good deal! By offering something valuable in exchange for their newsletter subscription, you will see a lot more growth. Ideas include a coupon code good towards their first order, a free pattern or eBook, or entry into a prize drawing. If you are more tech-savvy, you could even create a free online tool or resource which can be accessed when they sign up for your newsletter. Just make sure that whatever your are offering is worth their while!
#3 Add a Call to Action Button to Your Facebook Page: This new, free feature is geared towards driving traffic to your website by prompting fans to click on the button which appears on the bottom right-hand corner of your cover image. There are seven pre-made options in all (read more here), including an option to directly solicit newsletter subscribers using the “Sign Up” button. You could also opt to direct traffic over to your website and then capture visitors’ email address using option #1 on this list!

#4. Take a Poll: It’s kind of a no-brainer, but the best way to find out what kind of content your customers are interested in….is to ask them! While Facebook has done away with their polling feature, there are still plenty of ways to engage with your fans on multiple platforms to determine their areas of interest, allowing you to then tailor your messaging to keep your fans engaged! Survey Monkey, Ravelry, WordPress, Mailchimp and Constant Contact all offer polling features (note: some are free, while others are paid services). This information can help you refine your message on all fronts, but it can especially ensure that you are sending your customers the type of content which causes them to eagerly anticipate your next newsletter!
#5: Zero in Your Targeting: By taking advantage of the extensive targeting options available in programs such as Mailchimp and Constant Contact, you can generate emails which can be targeted to an area of interest or a specific location. This is particularly helpful if you are a vendor at the many fiber festivals and other regional events, or if you have a variety of products which each appeal to their own niche market.

For instance, if you have polled your customers and discovered that you have a mix of knitters, crocheters, weavers, and handspinners, but that there isn’t much crossover between these three sectors, you would be much better off generating emails which speak to each of these specific groups, rather than trying to send out an email which “covers all of the bases.” While this generic approach may save time, it also waters down your message, appearing unfocused and quite possibly uninteresting to the reader. As a result, it may prompt subscribers to hit the dreaded “unsubscribe” button because they are tired of having to search through your emails to find the content they are truly interested in. Conversely, by sending shorter targeted emails to your customers who have expressed interest in a particular subject, you will be seen as in “in tune” with your customers – and they will most likely look forward to your next email!

Need a little more help putting these best practices into action? Call in the experts at Stitchcraft Marketing! Click here to contact us online or call 719-539-3110 to learn more about our services.