By : Nidhi Gupta

If you’re just starting an email newsletter, how can you get subscribers to the list? Or, if you have an established email newsletter, how can you grow your own list? Here are 15 strategies to get subscribers to email newsletter list:

1. Tell your clients, colleagues, friends and family. Because you want a list in which subscribers have opted in, don’t add people directly to the list. Instead, provide them with an email sign-up link, or send them to the form on your web site where they can subscribe to your newsletter.

2. Have a sign-up box on every page of your web site. You never know on what page someone will land in your web site — offer them the option to sign up for your newsletter on every single page of your web site.

3. Make your sign-up box compelling. Don’t have a simple sign up box that says, “Join our mailing list.” Give your visitor a reason to sign up for your newsletter, i.e. “Join over 2000 other solo business owners who receive weekly advice on how to get more clients online.”

4. Create one clear call to action. If you have too many options for action on your web site, your visitor will become overwhelmed and leave. Make your primary call to action on your web site a request to subscribe to your email newsletter.

5. Ask for only 2 pieces of info: a first name and primary email address. Make it easy for people to sign up for your list — require them to disclose only a minimal amount of info to be added to your newsletter list.

6. Create a free give-away for new subscribers. If you know your target market well, you know what problems they struggle with daily. Write a short report/article/ecourse that provides the answer to a very overwhelming problem that they have.

7. Create a squeeze page for lead generation. A squeeze page is just what it sounds like — a web site page that “squeezes” contact info out of a visitor. You can give away content-rich ebook to new visitors. One strategy is to market the domain for that squeeze page and write very compelling copy about why they would want this information.

8. Don’t overlook the power of an effective email signature. In it, make an offer for your free give-away and let the reader know how they can receive that info.

9. Create a visual icon for your newsletter. If visitors can see a visual representation of your newsletter or of your give-away, they are more likely to see the value in what you’re offering and part with their contact info.

10. Use a pop-up or pop-over box on your web site. Yes, pop-up boxes are annoying, but they’re quite effective. There are many new varieties now available that look like sticky notes or a paper list. Most of these newer varieties are not blocked by pop-up blocker software.

11. Make subscribing to your newsletter your #1 goal at events. Anytime you attend an in-person networking event or speak at a meeting, your primary goal should be to get people to subscribe to your email newsletter.

12. Offer a free sample or your archives for viewing. Some visitors have to be shown before they bite, so show them where you archive your prior issues and let them experience first-hand all the value you offer in your newsletter.

13. Ask for referrals from your readers. In your newsletter or on your web site, ask your readers to “tell a friend” about your newsletter. There are both free and paid services that offer this option.

14. Get your articles published in other ezines. Make sure that your article resource box (the info that appears about you at the end of your article) includes your compelling offer to get readers to sign up for your newsletter and receive your free gift.

15. Advertise on the back of your business card.

Growing your list takes time. Better to have well-qualified prospects on your list who are truly interested in what you offer than a large list of people who never read what you write. Implement 1-2 of these strategies each week to grow your well-qualified email newsletter list.

Spread the word: related/bookmark it/readit