What’s the Best Way To Build My Customer List?
Email List Building
I wondered how long it would take after the new year started to be asked the question I get asked most often by business-owners–and for which my advice is most often ignored. Answer: One day. I was asked today.
In fact, I’m writing this article so I can point people here when they ask me everyday for the next 363 days. The question: “What’s the best way to build my customer list?”
There are hundreds of ways you can build your list of email addresses if you don’t need customers today…and very few ways that work if you do (pay per click may be one of them). The true, unsexy, answer is you must build your email list of potential customers from scratch a little everyday.
Sort of like the answer to the this question: “When is the best time to plant a shade tree?” Answer: 20 years ago. Next best answer: Today.
But I get the need for an answer that’s less esoteric, so here are my top 5 ways to build your customer list–or as I like to call it, your customer database.
Add more sign-up forms, surveys, slide-ins or pop-ups to your website and company blog posts or email newsletters to improve conversion rates among your customer base. You can’t sell from an empty cart. Offer awesome problem-solving information that showcases your ability to go deeper into their problem than anyone else. When they’re ready to buy, you’ll be the only one on their short list. (Yep, building your list corresponds with having a compelling, sharable website.)
Publish an e-newsletter of relevant content to your email subscribers or customer base with shareable or exclusive content Include lots of links back to offers on your landing pages (see #1). Pitch your email newsletter to potential customers on social media channels and through your email signature to further boost conversion rates.
Join a LinkedIn or Facebook group where your customer hangs out. Answer questions and become known as the go-to resource. Then post a free guide on a website landing page and capture those who fill out a form to request it. (See #1)
Commit to attending at least 1 networking luncheon a month to meet as many new people as you can to collect their business cards. Send them a “nice to meet you” email and ask them how you can be a resource for them to gain new business. Tell them how you can be a resource for their connections. Hardly anyone ever follows up after meetings like these, so just by doing this, you’ll be remembered as the one who took the first step in starting a networking relationship. Add them to your e-newsletter list. (Yes, I know, no opt-in/no permission blah, blah, blah. This is human interaction. If they want off your list, take them off. If you’re not comfortable with this idea, pick another one.)
Partner with a non-competiing business with a sizeable list of the same kinds of customers you want. Work out a cross promotion together. (The key to this one working is that your marketing partner must have a list of as many or more active customers matching your customer profile.)
I could go on, but most people who ask rarely do one thing on this list. It’s too hard, like dieting and exercising. But unlike developing other good habits, building your customer list is hard at first and much easier once it’s built. That’s when the magic really happens, like the first time you get an unsolicited inquiry because you marketed yourself to the right person at the right time in the right way. Or someone on your list sends you a referral who comes “pre-educated” because they checked out your website and downloaded everything you had (see #1) because they thought you were someone who might be able to solve their problem.
The best way for a business to build a customer list is through a combination of targeted strategies aimed at attracting, engaging, and retaining customers. Firstly, offering valuable incentives such as discounts, exclusive offers, or freebies in exchange for email sign-ups can entice potential customers to subscribe to your mailing list. Additionally, leveraging social media platforms to engage with your audience, share valuable content, and promote special offers can help expand your reach and attract new customers. Implementing lead generation tactics such as gated content, contests, or webinars can also be effective in capturing leads and growing your customer base. Moreover, providing exceptional customer experiences and delivering personalized communication can foster loyalty and encourage customers to stay connected with your brand. By continuously refining and optimizing these strategies based on customer feedback and insights, businesses can build and maintain a robust customer list that fuels long-term growth and success.
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