Even with social platforms bursting with cool new features, email marketing remains a tried and true method of keeping in touch with your clients and promoting your newest and most exciting offers. So, how can you make sure your emails have the most impact? By reaching ever more clients, of course!
Here are 3 great ideas on how to do just that.
#1 –Your Blog and E-Mail List
We all know the SEO value of writing a blog, but what about the opportunity to build stronger ties with your readers. Give this a whirl: at the end of each blog post insert a graphic (maybe the same one you’ve used in your social posts) inviting people to sign-up or download your lead magnet. Here’s a couple of examples:
This is what appears at the bottom of my blog posts
Figure 1-Maximize the bottom portion of your blog. Invite people to download a freebie!
Sally Barry with The Attractions Coach makes great use of the sidebar in her blog posts to invite people to her email list.
Figure 2- Use the side bar to showcase your lead magnet
Stuart Lloyd Cohen offers his print books by showing photos of the actual book that’s available in print.
Figure 3- Stuart features his downloadable content with graphics.
#2 –Your Website & your E-Mail list
We’ve all seen pop-up boxes on websites inviting you to download a free e-book or sign-up for a newsletter. Do you have one on your website? Your web design team can create this for you or else check out Supsystic.com. You can customize the pop-up box appearance, timing and location.
Pro Tip: consider setting up your pop-up box to display after a reader has had a chance to digest some of your content. A delay of 6-10 seconds gives them an opportunity to get to know you and your content.
In addition you may want to have your email lead magnet live right on your home page. Here’s an example of how to make your e-mail capture front and center:
Figure 4: Ensure your email magnet Call to Action is clearly visible on your website.
Sally Berry with The Attractions Coach keeps it simple with this bold box.
Figure 5: Clear and clean look and call to action.
#3 — Paid Ads
Lead generation ads on Facebook are relatively easy to set up and can be a powerhouse in your email list growth strategy. The template provided walks thru the steps and even provides sample questions. While you can have up to 21 questions (yikes) research shows that 1-3 questions leads to the highest conversion rates.
Pro Tip: you will need a privacy policy on your website to use this tool.
With all these uses for your lead magnets, here’s some ideas for content for your next downloadable freebie.
Lead Magnet Ideas
Armed with these strategies to grow your valuable email list with interested and intrigued potential clients, you’ll need to give away a valuable resource. Think about what types of questions your clients ask and what types of visual content can help you stay top of mind.
Design evergreen content that may include video, infographics or e-books on:
- Top 10 lists
- Destination Guides
- Dining Guides
- Packing lists
- Travel Tips
- Cruise Tips
- Wedding Planning Tips
- Before You Go checklists
These downloadable lead magnets may take the form of infographics, e-books or simply a checklist. Here’s some tools to create these visual wonders.
Maximize
Now that you’ve added all these potential new clients to your e-blast lists, how else can you keep in touch with them? Create a Custom Audience of people on your email list! Then use this custom audience in your Facebook ads. Such an easy step to stay top of mind and build brand awareness.
Pro Tip: To create a Custom Audience of your email contacts, simply create an Excel Spreadsheet with 1 column of all your email contacts. Upload this to Facebook as a .csv file. Facebook will match up your list with Facebook user accounts. You can then target these people in an upcoming ad. Here’s more details.
Figure 6: Create a custom audience using your own client list.
When you’re ready to increase your market share and your bottom line, remember this: ‘people who make purchases marketed through emails spend 138% more than people who do not receive emails.’ Get ready to skyrocket your sales.
What will you do next to grow your email list?
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About Catherine Heeg
Catherine Heeg is a recognized social media trail blazer passionate about social media and marketing in the tourism and hospitality industry.
She creates and delivers meaningful, dynamic workshops that meet your unique needs in the Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Industry. She and her team help travel, tourism and hospitality pros design and implement social media marketing strategies and tactics that drive traffic to their social and web sites. Learn more…
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