7 Easy Ways to Build your Newsletter List

My mission is to provide designers with tools to make their businesses run smoother and generate more income.  Since email newsletters have proven to be the most cost-effective, sales generating marketing vehicle for designers, I have written countless articles, published several books, and done many audio programs teaching designers how to create their own profitable email newsletter campaign.  And when that wasn’t enough, I launched the Ezines Done For You! program, where I take over the whole newsletter process – completely.
 
But the one thing I can’t take over is building your list of subscribers.  You need to have a strong database of people who are looking forward to receiving your newsletters.  So in this article, I give you 7 easy ways to build that list.
 
One thing to keep in mind as you are growing your subscriber directory is that quality is more important than quantity.  Yes, we all want a big list.  But adding random names and email addresses or forcing unwilling people to subscribe will actually hurt your newsletter.  A list of 100 eager readers will bring you better results than a list of 1000 anonymous strangers who have little interest in interior design.
 
Now get started on building your quality list:

1. Get email addresses of ALL past and current clients.  From now on, you should always get new clients’ email addresses as part of your regular information gathering.  Put a space on your contract for this.  Call all past clients and let them know that you’d like to offer them a free subscription to your valuable design newsletter.
2. Print a sign-up form and bring it with you to every networking and business meeting.  Ask everyone you meet if they’d like a free subscription to your valuable design newsletter.
3. Add a sign-up box to your web page.  Most ezine service providers will give you a personal code that you simply need to copy and paste onto your homepage.  If you don’t have a website, put the sign-up box anywhere that you have a web presence, like Facebook, AvaLiving, online portfolio, etc.
4. Tweet about your newsletter.  Social networking is a great way to build your list.  As you build relationships and make connections with people around the world, invite them to subscribe to your valuable design newsletter.
5. Use your business card.  Instead of just listing a few services and products, use your card to create a call to action.  “Get your free subscription to Design Inspiration by going to…”
6. Hold a raffle.  When you are at a trade show or a speaking event, offer a prize – like a free consultation, a gift certificate, etc.   Anyone who enters their email address to win the prize is likely to be a good prospect for you.  Make sure you let everyone know that if they don’t win the grand prize, they will still get a free subscription to your valuable design newsletter.
7. Write articles.  This has been one of my quickest list-building tools.  You can write a design article and have it published in someone else’s newsletter – someone who is in a similar business with your same target audience, but who is not a direct competitor.  Make sure you end the article with “Click here to get your free subscription to…”

So get started now!  Building your list can be fun!