We know that competition is fierce and customer engagement is paramount in the realm of e-commerce. So, to tackle that, building an effective e-mail list can prove to be a successful tactic. It is not just a collection of random addresses but rather a powerful tool that connects businesses with their audience. However, the process of building an effective email list is not that simple. It requires a strategic approach that balances value creation, privacy considerations, and customer engagement. Therefore, to understand that, let us delve into 10 proven strategies that e-commerce businesses can employ to build email lists.
Picture Credit: Krsto Jevtic
Including an Email Sign-Up Form
An aggressive and successful tactic is to incorporate an email sign-up form into an e-commerce website. This strategy makes use of the reciprocity principle. It indicates businesses provide customers with meaningful incentives in exchange for their email addresses. Businesses can prepare a convincing offer that appeals to the audience’s preferences by explaining the advantages of signing up.
This can include getting direct knowledge about new product launches, getting access to instructive videos, getting attractive discounts, etc. People who think about sharing their email addresses feel inherently important because of the possibility of such services.
Also, the email sign-up form acts as the basis for developing a long-term relationship with customers. Businesses may modify their content to fit particular preferences as they collect more data on their users over time. This improves the entire customer experience, increasing the likelihood that customers will stay interested and devoted to further communications.
Providing Discounts on Rare Occasions
A difficult scenario may arise when discounts are offered in return for email addresses. In particular, customers might quickly start to buy, mostly because of the discounted prices offered. Also, offering discounts to those whose email addresses are already in their possession could not provide much of a return. Therefore, the approach of repeatedly discounting products should be avoided in order to retain income streams.
However, extending unique discounts to two specific groups can be a wise strategy. This comprises both new visitors who are in the beginning phases and loyal customers who have shown consistent support over time. In addition to rewarding customer loyalty, this exclusivity encourages new customers to interact more frequently.
As a balanced strategy, these exclusive offers can also be offered across various platforms of social media. This is because it draws in and develops new leads while simultaneously respecting the investment of loyal customers. Businesses can increase income by carefully customizing discounts to their customers’ requirements. It can be done without affecting the value of their products.
Picture Credit: Max Fischer
Incorporating Referral Incentives
Referral incentives provide an efficient method to gather lots of email addresses at once. The fundamentals of this strategy involve sending out personalized emails to previous customers with a referral incentive. A chain reaction happens when these customers spread the incentive to their friends. Subsequently, this results in the gathering of many email addresses.
Instead of offering the chance to suggest only one person, a referral email should provide the chance to pitch multiple people. This increases the referral program’s potential effect. As it encourages customers to tell their friends and family about the business. By doing this, businesses may rapidly grow their email list while utilizing the influence of social networks and personal referrals.
Leveraging Gamification
People use video games to fulfill their interests and receive rewards from them. Profiting from this attraction, businesses may easily incorporate game elements into their marketing plans. This strategy is called “Gamification,“ which adds engaging components that successfully increase audience engagement.
Digital scratch cards, online competitions, and quizzes are a few typical instances of gamification for email gathering. In this case, businesses provide a chance to get a freebie or prize. To be able to give prizes, it requires participants to enter their email addresses.
The basic concept is simple yet powerful. Businesses entice users to disclose their email addresses by offering the chance to win something worthwhile. This is demonstrated as the method of reward delivery and solidifying the effectiveness of gamification.
Picture Credit: Yan Krukau
Presenting Case Studies
Businesses should constantly try to provide content that connects with their target audience when developing a content marketing plan. Different audience preferences necessitate a diversified approach. This suggests that some audiences could choose longer-form information over shorter articles, such as case studies.
Case studies serve two purposes here. They serve as tools for explanation as well as effective lead magnets. It implies that they use actual situations to demonstrate how a product or service may successfully handle particular problems. Case studies are an effective kind of social evidence because of their direct link to actual situations. However, they should be substantiating the credibility and efficacy of a product or service.
Organizing a Webinar
For audiences that are more likely to be interested in video content, webinars offer an additional avenue for businesses to use as a lead magnet. According to a survey, more than 73% of sales and marketing leaders participated in these online webinars. In addition, the most effective lead magnets as well.
A powerful way to engage with a large audience is by hosting a webinar. Therefore, building an email list and sending out information about such content could prove to be beneficial and intriguing. The execution of a successful webinar, however, necessitates resource allocation, so this must be kept in mind.
This includes creating a specific landing page for the webinar, meticulously setting up the event, and other necessary errands. Despite the resource involvement, webinars provide businesses with an excellent platform for engaging with customers and offering immersive experiences.
Picture Credit: Gabriel Benois
Using Live Chat
Within the setting of e-commerce, the method of leveraging chat feedback to expand an email list has a lot of potential. Businesses that use live chat actively encourage customers to start conversations, ask questions, or offer feedback.
This interactive strategy encourages participation. As, it opens up a channel for direct connection between a business and its customers. It allows them to take advantage of the chance to answer customer inquiries while also gathering useful data. Chatbots or human operators may be used to manage this interaction.
Every landing page has a live chat widget strategically placed to maximize efficiency. With this method, businesses may draw customers’ attention throughout the whole navigation process. Thereby promoting a consistent presence that nurtures user engagement at various touchpoints.
Gated Content
Premium-quality information that is not easily accessible on all web platforms is referred to as gated content. Businesses ask for users’ email addresses in exchange for allowing them to read or download this information. Beginner’s manuals, e-books, case studies, and whitepapers are just a few of the materials that fall under this category.
The value of gated content goes beyond its contribution to the growth of e-commerce email lists. It acts as a catalyst for increasing a business’s level of competence in its industry. A process of disseminating carefully studied and unique resources helps build the business’s trust. As a result, it presents itself as a credible authority in the field. Businesses may strengthen their commitment to providing their audience with useful information by using gated content.
Picture Credit: Convertkit
Delivering Product Samples
A smart approach to getting new customers to join the email list is to offer them free samples. Businesses that offer free samples to new members successfully give them a concrete experience. Either a well-liked and established product or a freshly released product might be used to provide this experience. These samples serve as an introduction to the business’s product line for the customer. As a result, an initial connection is made, and a chance to experience its services is given.
But there are two impacts of this engagement. One is that it gives new customers a chance to try the business’s products before making a purchase. Since customers can evaluate the product’s worth and quality, this is particularly useful in fostering trust. Another benefit of getting a free sample is that it acts as an incentive. It makes it more probable that the customer will carefully evaluate the business’s offers and think about making a purchase.
Through Conversational Pop-Ups
Conversational popups effortlessly combine the elements of an interesting quiz with a standard welcome popup. They function as one of the dynamic tools for segmenting contacts and constructing an email list. The process unfolds in certain stages. To get a better understanding of the website visitor’s interests or specific issues, a question is first addressed to them. This tactical study is a priceless chance to learn more about the preferences of potential customers. They also cover the kinds of products that are needed to be highlighted in personalized suggestions.
The popup then asks for the customer’s email address in return for a discount. This encourages the sharing of contact information in an effective way. Based on the customer’s replies to the initial inquiry, the popup delivers customized product recommendations in the final stage. This strategy streamlines the browsing process by hastening the customer’s route to the things that catch their attention.
By promptly and precisely directing customers to their chosen products, this technique automatically increases conversion rates. In addition, the information gathered through this participatory process is quite valuable. Throughout further discussions, this information can be used to create customized email content for new subscribers.
Saajan Ahmed
(Assistant Vice President - Sales)
Hi, Saajan here! reach out to me with any questions you might have, we'd be glad to help.
It’s important to remember that building a successful email list involves more than just providing data. Rather, it involves growing a community of active and devoted customers. The main emphasis should always be on providing significant value through content that is essential, relevant, and interesting. Consequently, it creates a sense of loyalty and trust in addition to maintaining the subscribers’ interest and connection.
