How to Grow Your Email List

Scaling up an email newsletter is hard—I know because I'm trying to do it. But before you can do that, you need to create an email list that people want to join. An email list is a gold mine in a world of digital content. With a list of email addresses, you can promote your articles and provide updates or other information to institutions, collaborators, and customers of interest.

To have a successful email list, you can include a few things in your strategy:

• Offer a valuable resource (also known as a "freebie" or "list builder") in exchange for someone's contact information.

• Include a link to employees' signatures in your emails.

• Have a pop-up on your website.

• Create a blog to gain email subscribers.

Here, I'll share what I've tested and what has worked for me.

So, first of all, sign up to an email sender, such as MailChimp or Convertkit, and the list goes on. There are many options available, and one of them is the best for you. How do you know which one is best? Analyze your needs and goals and which platform has the capabilities you want and fits into your budget.

The next step is to figure out how to get people excited about your mailing list. For that, it's important to think about the core of your list: the content. Is it attractive enough to make readers look forward to your next edition?

Your followers signed up to receive emails from you for a reason, and it's your job to make that sign-up worthwhile by providing relevant content.

Facts tell, stories sell

As human beings, we are programmed to love stories. One way to create relevant content that grabs people's attention is through stories. Use examples of experiences from your day-to-day life, learnings that have arisen from conversations with your friends, and something interesting you've read.

Another way to use storytelling effectively in your email is to identify and articulate your project story and message. To identify them, ask yourself a few key questions: What inspired you to start your research or project? What values and principles guide you? What kind of experience do you want your readers to have when they engage with your mailing list?

To make telling the story easier, you can build blocks of content:

• What your audience desires

• Their motivations and fears

• Solutions and how to achieve them

• What matters to them and the benefits

• Your discovery process

• How your offerings help

Research institutions have the unique advantage of offering content that can literally change the world. Every newsletter should be a treasure trove of information that educates, informs, and intrigues your audience.

Presentation Matters

Use headings, subheadings, bullets, and visual elements strategically to make complex information accessible and engaging. A newsletter that looks appealing and is easy to navigate is more likely to be read and shared, expanding its reach with each edition.

Simplifying the subscription path

The path to becoming a subscriber should be clear. Make sure the subscription process is accessible from your main website, social media platforms, and any other digital touchpoints.

Lead magnets, for example, are an effective technique for obtaining a potential customer's contact information. They can take the form of e-books, technical documents, whitepapers, and other similar downloadable assets.

To access any of these materials, the person must provide their name, email address, and/or company information.

With the right content segmentation, you can offer exclusive materials to encourage subscriptions to email newsletters.

Creating a blog to gain email subscribers

Creating a blog is an effective way to gain more subscribers to your email list. Blogs improve your ranking in search engines, which helps to increase and establish credibility.

What's more, you can collect email addresses through blog subscriptions and send quality content directly to your subscribers' inboxes.

Conclusion

Increasing the number of subscribers to your newsletter is a journey marked by continuous learning and adaptation. Pay close attention to analytics, subscriber feedback, and emerging trends to refine your strategy over time. To facilitate this process, have a support team to help you create your newsletters and create strategies for growing your email list. If you need help, let us know!