Contact management software is used to hone the effectiveness of your marketing messages and to keep people interested, but even the best program in the world won’t do you any good if you aren’t able to recruit subscribers. Here are a few tips on how you can encourage people to sign up for your opt-in email list without resorting to heavy bribery or veiled threats.
Keep your opt-in page simple and clean. Just as it’s critical for your website's overall appearance to remain uncluttered, the importance of keeping your opt-in page as simple as possible can’t be overstated. Your audience should have absolutely no doubt what you’re asking them to do.
Offer rewards and incentives of joining your opt-in email list. Take a moment to highlight the benefits of membership by offering an initial coupon or voucher for free or discounted services.
Ensure privacy. Subscribers want to know that you’re not going to turn around and share their email address with anyone else. The most dependable way to earn their trust is by including a short, brief privacy statement that ensures they won’t suddenly start getting hit with marketing messages from affiliates.
Establish expectations. Some people may be hesitant to agree to join your opt-in email list if they aren’t sure what they’re getting themselves into. Be sure to include a brief statement about what your newsletter will offer, and how often they can expect to find it in their inbox. If you plan on firing off a newsletter a day – even though it’s not a good idea to test your subscribers’ patience by doing so – disclose this to them now. They’ll appreciate your honesty.