There's no denying that email marketing plays a huge role in
the growth of many successful businesses. Unfortunately, some digital marketers
become so caught up with the idea of building a booming email list that they
think it's the only way they can achieve huge growth and lasting success.
It isn't. An email list can be a great way to keep in touch
with your sales leads, but there are other strategies and methods that can help
your startup make it through the first five years when approximately half of
all new businesses fail.
For email marketing to be truly successful, you typically
need to grow your list organically. For most businesses, that isn't going to
happen overnight. However, the following strategies will help you better
promote your brand to lure in new customers and leads while building your email
list along the way.
Related: 10 Laws of Social Media Marketing
Content marketing
Effective content marketing can help potential leads
discover your business in a more positive light than an unsolicited email ever
could. Publishing a guest post on a well-known site with high readership is a
great way to encourage new people to visit your own website, sign up for an
email list or start a free product trial.
Smarter networking
We've all heard how networking is important to success in
the business world, but far too often, we associate networking with
uncomfortable business luncheons where everyone is more focused on making a
sales pitch than actually connecting with other professionals.
It doesn't have to be this way. If you express a genuine
interest in others, you can put yourself in a much better position to build
lasting business connections.
Says Sterling Griffin, a sales and business coach,
"When I get asked the famous question 'What do you do?' I respond by
turning it around and asking, 'Well, I do a few things, but what's your story?'
When I ask about them (showing I care about them), it's like Christmas came
early and they found an unexpected gift under the tree. Then, when they finish
sharing their story, they inevitably ask about mine. And since I showed I care
first, they respond by caring back about my answer."
While these interactions require more one-on-one, in-person
work, they can also result in some of your most valuable leads. Someone you've
formed a genuine connection with is far more likely to take a lasting interest
in your business.
Related: 4 Ways to Market Your Business for Free
Facebook lead ads
While Facebook's incredibly large user base can make it seem
like an intimidating area to focus your marketing, the social media giant's
advanced targeting metrics make it an ideal tool for customer outreach.
As I've noted in the past, carefully selecting your campaign
parameters is vital for a successful Facebook advertising campaign. You need to
make sure your message matches the interests of your target audience while also
presenting a clear call to action that encourages customers to sign up for your
email list, follow your page or buy your product.
Hashtags aren't going to make or break your Facebook
advertising efforts, but continually optimizing your campaign's copy, targeting
and call to action will allow you to achieve a better cost per impression and
conversion rate so you can gain new customers.
PPC and landing pages
You can't ignore the power of Google and pay-per-click (PPC)
marketing. While search engine optimization (SEO) campaigns can take months to
deliver noticeable results for your business, PPC advertisements can bring in
new customers the day after your campaign begins if you adhere to proper
messaging and targeting practices.
Of course, quality PPC ads aren't enough to build a customer
base. Your landing page should also be a top priority, as this is where
interested users are actually going to decide whether they'll sign up for your
email list or place an order. A clean, simple design that highlights your
headline, the key benefits of your product or service and a signup form can
ultimately make all the difference in generating sales and leads for your
business.
Related: Use These 5 Steps to Create a Marketing Plan
Conclusion
As the above tactics illustrate, building a booming emaillist -- and more importantly, a solid base of loyal customers -- isn't out of
reach, even if you're starting with zero email subscribers. By using the above
tips as a starting point, you can achieve the necessary growth to get your
business on the right track.
Article From: www.entrepreneur.com
