One Simple Way to Build Your List
Clients often ask me for advice on how to maintain and grow their e-mail lists. It's an important topic. Did you know that people change their e-mail addresses once every three years on average?
What does that mean for your e-mail marketing strategy? It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get all of your subscribers to update you every time they switch to a new e-mail address. One thing you can do is make an effort to continually add new subscribers to your list. This will help you battle "list shrinkage," plus new subscribers are often your most avid readers. It's kind of like the way my Grandma used to keep that candy jar full ... you need to constantly replenish your supply of readers.
Read on for one simple way to keep the new subscriptions coming in.
Add A "Sign Up" Link To All Outgoing E-Mail Messages
One really easy way to gather new e-mail addresses for your list is to provide a link to your online "Sign Up" form at the bottom of every e-mail message you send out from your organization.
Most e-mail programs offer a way to do this. In Microsoft Outlook, for example, you can create a signature that attaches to all of your outgoing e-mails. If you don't use this feature already, you should consider it. For example, every e-mail I send out from Outlook on a daily basis automatically contains a signature at the bottom with my company address, telephone number, e-mail and web addresses. Plus, I have a link to my online "Sign Up" form for "Good Thinking." Most e-mail programs allow you to customize the font and colors, and add graphics and hyperlinks to web pages. Here's what my signature looks like:
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Katey Charles Communications
357 Marshall Ave., Ste. 102
St. Louis, MO 63119
Phone: (314) 918-8088
Fax: (314) 918-8089
katey@kateycharles.com
www.kateycharles.com
Sign Up for "Good Thinking: Tips for Better E-Relations"
Everyone who receives an e-mail from me now has the opportunity to sign up for my e-mail newsletter. I might even catch someone who I do business with who used to be on my list but changed his or her address. If you think about it, it's a no-brainer!
Spend just a few minutes setting up your signature today and watch what happens. Search for "signature" in the Help Index for your e-mail program, or ask your IT person to help if necessary. Please let us know your results!
Okay, I've said enough. I'd like to know what you think! Send your feedback and suggestions to me at goodthinking@kateycharles.com.
