Failing to reach those most likely to purchase your goods and services typically results in fewer sales or worse, the closing of your business. But to reach people, you must find them online, which can be a daunting task. Luckily, there are some tried and true ways to reach people and turn them into subscribers without having to spend hours, days, weeks, or months surfing the Internet trying to draw attention to your email campaigns. These methods are not necessarily new, but with the advent of social media, they aren't as trendy as they used to be - but that doesn't mean they don't work!
Online Forums
Online forums are still a common way for people to find information about everything from do-it-yourself home repairs to advanced cooking techniques. Almost every niche has at least one forum where people can go to communicate with others to gather information, ask or give advice, or find other online resources.
Determine which forums those most likely to have a need for your products and services visit and start posting advice and comments. Become an expert on the forum so people will want to receive even more information from you. Most forums allow you to add links to your website or landing page on your profile. Follow the rules concerning posting comments (most forums don't want you to post sales information or contact info directly on the site) and build an online reputation from there.
Guest Blog Posts
If you don't want to start your own blog, why not volunteer to write periodic guest posts on other blogs? If you're an expert or can prove you know a lot about a specific topic, find a blog and ask the owner if you could write a post. Most bloggers want others to contribute and will welcome posts from those that can prove their expertise. Bloggers also understand the importance of marketing and typically allow guests to post links to websites and landing pages. Tap into another person's subscriber list to build your own.
Subscriber Boxes
Create a simple subscriber box that asks people for their name and email address. Post boxes on everything from your website to social media pages. Encourage people to sign up to receive email content from you by offering a free gift such as a report or product sample. Creating a subscriber box allows you to quickly and easily post it wherever you can online to expand your email list.