Developing a list of subscribers and writing something they would be interested in, is not as difficult as you would think.
Do you sell a variety of high quality products? Do you design and create?
If the information regarding your website is something you would love to hear about, if you were a visitor, then you are on the right track.
There are a variety of list online companies that you can use to create lists. But one thing you want to be sure of – don’t sign up with one of those sites that promise you thousands of subscribers. That’s not what YOU want. You want subscribers who want to hear about your products and what’s new.
Once you decide on a reputable company – I use Vertical Response – create a page that your visitors can use to sign up.
Building a list is word of mouth. Get your friends and family members to sign up. This will make sure that your sign up page/form is working. Create a newsletter for those few subscribers – make it as interesting as possible – talking about new products, as well as specials that you offer for subscribers only, will help. And stressing that they pass your newsletter along to their friends and family often times gets a flurry of new subscribers.
Regardless of what service you use – it boils down to how much they anticipate your next newsletter.
Talk about your website. Talk about something new you have designed that will be perfect for them to use as a gift. Talk about holidays coming up and how, what you have to sell, would work with that holiday. Talk about Christmas gifts (or what ever holiday is coming up) and offer ideas as to how they can use your product/designs.
Talk about saving money – and what a sale on your website (if you plan on offering one) could do for them as they make their holiday gift lists.
Have a contest and give subscribers an extra entry. Or make the contest just for the subscribers.
Give something away to each subscriber. If you have an ebook that would be of interest, or some gift cards – years ago I found a site I was interested in, and they gave away a package of recipe cards to each subscriber as an incentive to sign up.
You don’t have to do all the above and certainly not all at the same time. You want to create anticipation.
Are you really busy designing and creating and you don’t have time to create a really good newsletter – write it as if you are talking to a friend – your newsletter doesn’t need to be long to peak the interest of your subscribers.
Still need help? Ask around for someone who can help you by writing your newsletter. I have a wonderful writer that I use to create my newsletters. Linda Lewis has been writing for many years. I finally realized that I can’t do it all. So we coordinate the writing of my newsletters with special promotions that I use for my website, Sandi’s T’s.
If you have any questions – I would be delighted to hear from you.
Sandi
