RachelAdvertising and marketing are great ways to bring in traffic, but is there anything you can do to keep a reader coming back to your website once they have visited?
By building an email list, you can remind readers to visit your website. All you need to do is gather those email addresses!
How to Get Email Addresses
First things first, you can’t build an email list without email addresses, so you need to incorporate a way to ask readers to give you their email address. Here are 5 tools that will allow you to create a mailing list in no time!
1. Pop-Up Email Signup Box
This is one of the most common email signup prompts. While a reader is on a website or blog, a popup will show up on the screen fairly quickly asking the user to submit their email address for a specific reason. This reason may be to save an additional percentage at checkout, to receive a weekly newsletter equipped with specials or discounts, or to be the first to know when a new product is rolled out. These popups must provide the audience with some type of content or service that they would want.
In our opinion, there is an easy pick for the top pop-up email product and that is Opt-In Monster. From its unique exit intent function to its sharp designs to its flat-out effectiveness, you can’t do better than Opt-In Monster.
2. Email Survey
Some readers do not want to be immediately bombarded with popups asking to submit their email address, but they may be interested in the website after spending a few minutes on it. An email survey is perfect for those readers because it gives them a chance to enjoy and understand the content of the website before being asked if they want to signup. This will allow you to create a mailing list without much hassle.
3. Social Media Email Signup
Many times, the first website that shows up on the results page from a search engine’s results is a company’s Facebook page. This can be a double-edged sword. While you want traffic to flow to your social media accounts, you also want traffic driven to your website or blog.
If you find you have a large presence on social media, don’t be afraid to create an advertisement asking followers to signup for your online newsletter. This gives users a chance to visit your website more frequently through an email subscription form.
4. Permanent CTA (Call-to-Action) Button
No matter which page your reader lands on, the best way to ensure you receive their email information is by placing a permanent fixed CTA for readers to access immediately.
Readers also don’t want to feel like they are another email address in the database, so try to replace the “submit” button with a better word. If a reader is on your website, they are looking to obtain information on the niche content you are discussing, so use a phrase more captivating than “submit.” Something along the lines of “Access the Catalog Here” or “Download Your Copy Now” will make readers more willing to do an email sign-up. Know your target audience when you are creating this button.
5. Scroll Box Email Prompt
You can also set up the email prompt to pop up when a reader has scrolled to a certain point in the website. This is beneficial for a couple of different reasons. First, the reader isn’t immediately bombarded to submit their email address as soon as they arrive at the website. Second, the reader has invested a few minutes on the website by reading the content you have to offer, so they may like what they see and be more willing to return to the website.
Why You Need Email Addresses
Now that you know how to get these email addresses, what do you do with them once you have them?
1. Weekly Newsletters
The best way to stay relevant to your readers is by staying at the forefront, and a weekly newsletter emailed to your readers is one of the best ways to do this. These newsletters can include a variety of information, such as upcoming sales, events, or new product releases. Newsletters are an easy way to remind your readers to visit your website.
2. Surveys
Many websites will email a survey for readers or consumers to take regarding their recent experience on the website. This survey is beneficial for both you and the consumer. This survey allows the consumer to feel that their opinion is valued, and it allows you to make any adjustments to your website as necessary.
3. Preorder Specials
Loyal customers also have the benefit of accessing a new product before it is available to public. If your website will be revealing a new product, update, or release, send this information out on an email blast to let email subscribers know what is coming and to give them an opportunity to take advantage of before the general public.
4. New Post/Guest Post/New Content
Did you just add something new and exciting to your site? Is this something that your target audience really would want to see? Send out an email to notify your customers of the new product, post or service. Marketing your site in this way will ensure your loyal customers are the ‘first’ to have access to this new content.
What to Do with Those Email Addresses
Once you have obtained email addresses from readers interested in your website’s content, now what?
Once you have obtained email addresses from readers interested in your website’s content, now what?
Not every email newsletter is going to be a “one size fits all” email. There may be content that pertains to some readers, but not all readers.
When users submit their email address, give them the option to select areas of your website they are interested in. For example, if your website niche is related to healthy living, a reader may only be interested in exercises, workout tips, and active wear. By giving readers the option to select the areas they are interested in makes readers feel that you care about their specific interests. This also gives you the option to roll out a variety of newsletters each week, rather than just one per week.
You should plan to send newsletters, promotional emails, or sale specials at least once a week to stay relevant to your readers and to keep constant contact. Try to include special promotional items or codes in these emails, such as a free shipping code or an additional percentage discount after spending a certain amount.
Keep record of readers who unsubscribe to your emails and determine if this happens when certain emails are sent. Do readers unsubscribe after receiving a newsletter with no pertinent information important to them? Do readers unsubscribe when receiving a newsletter with no promotional code or other benefit for them to take advantage of? Or do readers unsubscribe when they are getting emails too frequently?
Frequent emails are a great way to stay engaged with your readers, so it is important to pay attention when they are subscribing and unsubscribing and adjust accordingly.
All in all email campaigns are a great way to keep customers coming back to your site and create followers of your content!