Often, offline strategies for growing an email list are overlooked by many online marketers, as well as individuals who run physical stores. The appeal of online techniques for list building often overshadows the fact that offline methods can be equally effective. Let’s delve into how you can leverage these tactics immediately to cause a significant increase in your email list.
Live Events
Nothing can quite match the efficacy of live events when it comes to offline list-building. The power of personal interaction surpasses online communication. Even when compared to webinars, the opportunity to shake hands, exchange warm hugs, and make eye contact holds unmatched value. These in-person interactions, visual cues, and tactile experiences significantly accelerate the process of building trust.
• Networking Events – Identify where your target audience is attending events. This can be achieved by tracking where industry leaders, influencers, and competitors are speaking, attending, or sponsoring events. Be present at these events with a strategy in mind. Carry along sign-up forms, and offer attendees a small token like a bookmark with a QR code or a USB drive with a document that leads to your sign-up page and gift.
• Speaking Engagements – Don’t just be a participant at events, aim to become a speaker. Once you’ve established your reputation, you can start speaking at these gatherings. When attending events, make sure to network with the organizers. You can also offer to assist them at the event to build relationships. Show your interest in public speaking and distribute copies of your book, which can also serve as a foundation for your speaking topics.
• Workshops – Hosting small local workshops is an engaging and successful strategy for offline list building. You can even consider traveling to host these. Limit the attendees to no more than 20 at a time, ensuring a more personalized experience. Event advertising allows people to sign up for your email list even if they can’t attend. If you wish to accommodate more than 20, consider organizing a series of events or multiple sessions.
• Trade Show Booths – Develop materials for trade booth presentations. Install a touch screen for people to join your list on the spot. Provide take-home materials and make the sign-up process straightforward. If sales are permitted at the booth, offer exclusive on-site deals.
Although the idea of attending in-person events might seem daunting if you’re not accustomed to it, the experience can be rewarding. You’ll meet fascinating individuals and gain more dedicated list members and followers than you could’ve imagined.
Reach Out to Local Businesses Interested in Your Services
Another offline strategy to grow your list involves local outreach. The focus on global marketing often overshadows the potential of the local market. Being part of the local community, you can build trust more quickly. Here are a few strategies to attract locals to your email list.
• Cold Calling – Don’t hesitate to call local business owners who could benefit from your services. If you cater to individuals, you may need to purchase a legal list of those who have shown interest in offers like yours. Request their permission to add them to your list. If possible, add them to a text list as well, giving you multiple avenues for marketing.
• Distribute Flyers and Postcards – Obtain an address list either by purchasing it or gathering addresses of potential customers. Design a flyer or postcard with enough information to encourage them to join your email list. QR codes can be an efficient space-saving tool.
• Membership in the Chamber of Commerce – Joining your local chamber of commerce is an effective way to network and gain information about local businesses. You can list your business online and promote B2B sales through the Chamber Pak that’s distributed monthly. Even if you’re a B2C business, you can provide options to businesses that serve your customers, enhancing their service with your offers.
• Buying Addresses – Reputable companies like InfoUSA.com sell addresses of potential customers from your target audience. Start small when using a new company, testing the waters before scaling up based on the response.
• Utilize Local Services – Your local community may already have services that can help you find your target audience. If you receive mailers filled with coupons for local businesses, consider contacting them to distribute your offers.
Consider the possibility of promotional offers through delivery services, such as pizza or other food deliveries. These businesses could distribute your advertisements on their packaging, such as boxes, bags, or cups, free of charge. This is a fantastic way to spread the word about your product or service in your local area.
Building your reputation locally can lead to increased trust, an opportunity to be a local figurehead, chances to speak at more events, and enhanced authority. The benefits of this approach extend beyond just your local area. The followers you gain locally will have connections, such as friends and family, who aren’t local and can learn about you through them.
Let’s talk about print marketing using QR codes. Contrary to popular belief, QR codes are not obsolete. The issue is that their usage is not well-implemented in the USA and Canada, unlike in China where they are utilized effectively. If you rethink their use, QR codes can be creatively and successfully used in print marketing to grow your list offline.
You could create brochures with QR codes, which direct readers to your website for the full information and an email sign up form for further details. QR codes can also be added to business cards, either on the back or as the main feature of the card to spark curiosity. Moreover, you could incorporate colored QR codes into merchandise like T-shirts, mugs, bookmarks, notepads, or even your own books. If you’ve written a report or a book, you could add a QR code to the front and back covers.
Incorporating offline strategies into your email list building does not mean abandoning technology. Instead, it means integrating technology into the physical world where actual human interactions occur. This approach can lead to a more loyal and interested audience who have had the opportunity to interact with you in person.
Consider offering telephone customer service as an offline list building strategy. Although most small businesses prefer help desks, incorporating phone support into your customer service can help grow your email list. If you employ customer service agents, train them to collect email addresses and obtain permission to add the callers to your list. You could also set up a voicemail system that requests callers to leave their contact details, including their email address.
Collecting email addresses during phone calls is an efficient way to enhance your email list. You can include your phone number on your website, advertisements, FAQ, and business cards.
On a local level, many people would be eager to engage with your business if they knew about it. Don’t wait until you’re online to share your offers; make it a routine to do so locally as well.
Consider starting a loyalty program to build a devoted customer base. You could collect signatures, email addresses, and phone numbers for the program and offer rewards like birthday discounts or additional discounts for frequent purchases.
Finally, hosting contests and giveaways marketed through local newspapers, magazines, and events is another effective way to grow your email list. Requesting an email address on a contest entry form is a simple way to collect contact information. While participation can’t always be mandatory, most people will likely participate, further helping to enhance your email list.
Promote Discounts and Exclusive Deals
Hand out discounts and special deals directly to your customers. Carry around forms or QR-coded cards that customers can use to sign up for your exclusive deals. At trade fairs, consider having a touch screen for customers to use eliminating the need for them to use their own devices.
It’s essential to remember that incentives often drive people to share their information. Make it a regular practice to gather their emails, phone numbers, and names. Ensure they are aware that they will be receiving emails or calls from you in the future. The aim is to make them eager to join your mailing list.
Motivate Your Employees and Affiliates
Find ways to inspire your team, contractors, and affiliates to spread the word about your business. Offer them small tokens of appreciation or cards that they can share with their friends, family, and acquaintances, featuring a unique code that grants them credit. This can be achieved effectively through an affiliate program. Guide your affiliates to distribute the special code you provide, enabling them to promote your offers on a personal level.
By focusing on local opportunities and cultivating your customer list face-to-face, you can establish a loyal customer base that trusts you and desires to be part of your community. By stepping away from your computer, attending events, conducting workshops, establishing loyalty schemes, and innovatively applying traditional methods, you can grow your subscriber list effectively. Indeed, there’s nothing more thrilling than employing offline strategies to expand your list.