Real Results: How Real Business Owners Built Their Email List

Building your email list is supposed to be one of the best, and first, things to do as an online entrepreneur -it’s got so many benefits, and should be one of the top priorities of a new business owner. (Don’t believe me? Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income even considers not building a list one of his biggest business mistakes!) The problem is actually building your list. There are so many options and possibilities, and as business owners, there are so many other things we need to be doing than getting potential, long-term, and un-guaranteed benefits from building an email list.

I asked 13 business owners who’ve successfully built their businesses – and email lists, so you can focus just on what works the most. Here’s what’s worked best for building their email lists.

“Webinars were my best email list-building practice.”
Heather Crabtree, Business Strategist to Creative Entrepreneurs

“I tripled my list last year (3k to 9k) and it was through having a range of different opt-in options… ebook, cheat sheets etc. My biggest opt-in though has been an instagram challenge, the conversion rates are almost 50% on the lead-page and I’ve had 2.5k people take the challenge. It’s a mini course which is a taster to my main paid product. Webinars were also a great list builder for me.”

Louise Glendon
Creative Director, Click. Love. Grow.

“Give away 90% of your best advice for free via blog posts and amazing opt-ins and just save 10% for your products or services. When you are giving minded, it comes back in droves.”

Abagail Pumphrey
Co-founder, Think Creative Collective

Offering a free online course. That gave us 500+ subscribers.

Michał Kozioł
Co-founder, Rebel’s Agenda

“Webinars always super charge my list. As far as growing it and getting value from it I think the thing we forget most often is it’s not always about getting them on the list, but keeping them engaged once we get them there. For me it’s about what are you doing after they opt-in? For me it’s consistent valuable content, giving them a reason to open week after week (or however often you email them).”

Stacey Harris
Social media and online marketing trainer

“Offering my crew a free library full of guides, workbooks, audio, and video content grew my list like crazy! Also, once they’re in, sending emails that get to the heart and soul of what it takes to be a creative entrepreneur keeps them reading.”

Devan Danielle
Brand Strategist & Coach

[tweetthis]Real Results: top email list-building tips from business owners & entrepreneurs[/tweetthis]

“Opt-ins inside of blog posts! Best one still is a newsletter cheatsheet placed in a post about creating newsletter content.”

Steph Marie
Graphic & web designer
www.mariebranding.com

Offering e-courses that I could EASILY charge over $100 for free. Once you hit that pain point in just the right way for the clients you want, they start rolling in.

Meghan Maydel
Brand & Biz Strategist, With Moxie and Grace

“My free ebook has helped dramatically! Giving away valuable content is always a sure way to entice people to sign up.”

Mariah Liszewski
Web designer & Front-End Developer, mariahmagazine.com

“Researching what actually you can offer being in the market that your ideal customer are eagerly in need of. Then creating that product in same quality as you would do for paid client. And offering this for FREE as their sign up gift. It has helped me gain potential subscribers out of which one turned into client under a week. So my key point is, what you’re giving in return of emails should be as resourceful as your paid service. Plus, for keeping them all stuck with you in inbox, keep on offering them value, don’t just start sending them sell pitches in letter over and over. Nobody likes this.”

Sadaf FK
Designer for brands and blogs for creatives
www.designblissfeast.com

“Great blogging content with lots of free content.”

Amber Bartell-Slocum
Visibility Coach, amberslocum.com

“I did a lot of work to really narrow in on my ideal customer and what they might like to create my ‘proper’ opt-in. However, I was most shocked by taking the leap into webinars early this year. I think in my industry, people like to connect beyond the website/blog and it really showed; my first webinar generated nearly 100 new opt-ins overnight! Can’t believe I waited so long!”

Lyda Borgsteijn
Nutrition & Wellness Consultant, The Primal Rabbit

“Content upgrades for blog posts and a dedicated landing page for your opt-in offer with no links or distractions other than a very clear call to action for visitors to sign up. I’ve grown my list from scratch over the past couple of months, and both these simple tweaks have brought in lots of new subscribers for me!”

Amelia Anne Wilson
Copy Editor
localisationtranslation.com

[tweetthis]Real Results: top email list-building tips from business owners & entrepreneurs[/tweetthis]

Your turn.

Here’s your homework: pick one of these tips and do it! Let me know the results.