Having a highly engaged audience is crucial for any creator, author, blogger or entrepreneur looking to grow their platform. While growing your followers on social media is important, sending regular communications allows you to form much deeper relationships. Email marketing remains one of the most valuable ways to nurture an invested audience in your niche.
Why Focus on Building An Email List?
Email open rates still trump most other platforms. Where the open rate on a Facebook ad might be 1-2%, a dedicated subscriber opening your email could be 20-50%. Having someone’s email address allows you to land highly relevant content directly in their inbox. Over time as the value you provide increases, subscribers become increasingly engaged.
The real beauty of owning an email list is the permission it provides to follow up. Asking your audience to subscribe to your newsletter signifies their active interest in hearing more from you. As their enthusiasm grows, transforming subscribers into fans and patrons becomes much easier.
How To Grow Your List in Any Niche:
- Offer Free Content Upfront
Leading with value is essential when asking visitors for their attention. Consider releasing a highly useful free email course, guide, checklist, or other opt-in gift around your topic. Make it clear the immediate value they will receive in exchange for their email address.
- Promote Your Free Offer Everywhere
Once you create a compelling free offer, promote it widely. This could include links in your website header, homepage pop-ups, blog posts, and through social media. Don’t be afraid to give some exclusive content away for free in return for email sign-ups.
- Send New Subscribers a Warm Welcome
Deliver what you promised right away along with a warm welcome email. Let them know they can expect valuable ongoing content tailored to their interests if they stick around. Outline what they signed up for clearly.
- Create & Stick to an Editorial Calendar
Consistency and routine are key to audience retention. Draft up an editorial calendar mapping out key themes, promotions, or initiatives month-by-month. Integrate special offers, contests, or giveaways to keep your audience clicking.
- Experiment with Different Newsletter Formats
Go beyond basic text-based emails. Try sending short video updates, curated collections of links, polls and surveys to gauge interests, Q&As based on their questions, or suggested resources personalized to the niche. Photos, gifs, and other multimedia elements also tend to perform well.
- Make Subscribing & Sharing Easy
Have email signup links or website widgets on all important pages. Promote ways to share or forward emails to friends interested in the niche as well. Many newsletter platforms even allow subscribers to import contacts. Popping your link in a Facebook group or Reddit thread within niche communities could gain some traction too.
The Power of Turning Contacts Into A Community
Email marketing may seem somewhat old school, but it remains more intimate and effective than most platforms. The personal inbox environment can make subscribers feel like you’re reaching out to them directly. That’s a powerful way to boost brand loyalty over time.
Nothing beats having an invested, passionate audience who actually looks forward to and enjoys your content on an ongoing basis. While social media can face volatility in engagement, email subscribers who have raised their hands to learn from you present much more stability and staying power.
So take the time to nurture that highly interested niche audience who will remain engaged for the long haul. By consistently providing value, personality and special perks, you can transform contacts into a thriving community. The rewards for your business from forging genuine connections could be immense.
Until Next Time
Dominus Owen Markham
