How to Grow Newsletter Subscribers

A newsletter is a great tool for you to use to engage, advertise, or communicate with your readers about new developments, sales, and many other topics. But if you don’t have subscribers, then nobody will read it! Fortunately, you can use strategies to help attract new subscribers to grow your mailing list and reach more people. You can also keep your current subscribers engaged so they continue to read your newsletters and are more likely to share it with their friends and colleagues.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Attracting People to Sign-Up

1. Create a pop-up that prompts people to sign up to receive something. On your website or in paid ads, use a pop-up that asks people to join your newsletter mailing list in order to receive a prize, discount, free e-book, or some other sort of incentive. When they enter their information to join the mailing list, send a welcome email that includes information about how to receive the item or offer.^[1]
   
   • Use offers like a 10% discount in your store or free shipping on their first purchase for joining your newsletter.
   • People are much more likely to join your newsletter if they’ll get something in return for it.
   • You could also simply advertise information as your incentive. For example, the pop-up could say something like, “Join the Weekly Brew for a hot and fresh recap of the week’s biggest news stories.”
2. Write a blog post and include an opt-in form for your newsletter at the end. If you don’t have a blog for you or your business, start one! Use it to post longer-form articles, and as a secondary location for the content you place in your newsletter. Include a link for people to subscribe to your newsletter in your blog posts and place it at the end, when readers have finished the article and are more likely to want to join.^[2]
   
   • Include links to your blog on your social media and on your website, if you have one.
   • Use your blog to archive your previous newsletters so people can go back and read them if they want to.
3. Share posts on social media inviting people to subscribe to your newsletter. Use your personal or company social media to share a link to join your newsletter’s mailing list. Include an inviting caption that will attract people’s attention such as, “Subscribe to my newsletter for tons of useful info and helpful articles!”^[3]
   
   • Avoid sharing multiple posts in a row so people aren’t turned off by it.
   • Don’t post a link to join your newsletter in groups or pages that you don’t really participate in or people will think it’s spam and aren’t likely to subscribe.
4. Use social media ads to reach your target demographics. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all feature the ability for you to make targetted ad campaigns and sponsored posts that will be seen by your target audience. Create an ad campaign on one or more of the platforms that includes a link to join your newsletter.^[4]
   
   • You do have to spend money for ad campaigns on social media.
5. Use free giveaways to get people to subscribe. In your pop-up ads, ad campaigns, social media posts, or on your website or blog posts, include information about a prize or offer for new subscribers. When a new person signs up for your mailing list, send them an email thanking them for joining and include information about how they can claim their prize or redeem the offer.^[5]
   
   • The prize could be a branded item such as a magnet or a drink koozie, or it could be a discount or free shipping for an item that they purchase from your store.
6. Collect email addresses at your store or at events to add to your list. A classic way for you to grow your newsletter subscribers is to have a clipboard with a sign-up sheet in your store or at your table during an event or trade show. Take the sign-up sheet and input the email addresses into your mailing list so you can start sending them your newsletter.^[6]
   
   • If you’re using a sign-up sheet at your store, you could offer people a small incentive, such as a pen or a 5% discount on a purchase if they sign up.
7. Ask people only for their email address so they feel secure. Allow people to enter their email address so you can send them your newsletter and make it optional for them to share their name, address, or any other personal information. If people feel comfortable signing up for your newsletter, then they’re much more likely to do so, and they may provide their personal information if it’s optional.^[7]
   
   • Don’t force people to give you information or they may not join your mailing list.

[Edit]Keeping Your Readers Engaged

1. Write articles that are polished and well-formatted. Make sure there aren’t any spelling or grammatical mistakes before you release your newsletter or people may not want to subscribe to it. Use language, information, and data that is relevant and useful to your readership so they’ll continue to read your newsletter and recommend it to their friends and colleagues. Format the articles correctly and include them in your newsletter.^[8]
   
   • For instance, if your newsletter is intended for young lawyers or paralegals who practice environmental law, you’d want to include information about new legislation and cases that are relevant to their field.
   • Always proofread your newsletter for spelling or grammar mistakes, which can quickly cost you subscribers.
2. Include content that is relevant to your target audience. Add graphics and images to your newsletter to help break it up visually and to keep people engaged. Use content that makes sense for the people you want to attract and read your newsletter so they’re more inclined to subscribe.^[9]
   
   • For example, if your newsletter is aimed at young business professionals, you could add a funny meme or two in addition to your data about the stock market to make your readers more engaged, and more likely to share the newsletter with their friends.
   • Avoid including irrelevant content just to fill out your newsletter. For example, if your newsletter is aimed at middle-aged homemakers, don’t add images of your favorite pop star.
3. Publish your newsletter on a set time and day so it’s consistent. Choose a specific time and day to release your newsletter so your readers can anticipate and expect it, which makes them more likely to read it and recommend it to their colleagues and friends. Use a scheduler or set a reminder for that time so you can always release your newsletter on a consistent basis.^[10]
   
   • If your subscribers know they can rely on your newsletter being delivered consistently, it will make it seem more credible and professional, which makes them more likely to share it.
4. Send a follow-up email to subscribers who haven’t opened the newsletter. Use your metrics to determine which subscribers haven’t clicked on your newsletter to open it. Send an email to those subscribers that includes your recent newsletter to gently prod them or get their attention so they’ll open it and read it.^[11]
   
   • Use an email subject line that innocently gets their attention such as, “In case you missed it…” or “Here’s a look at last week…”
   • Be careful not to spam your subscribers or send them multiple follow-ups in a row or they may block or unsubscribe from your newsletter.
5. Give your subscribers prizes for referring your newsletter. Include a link at the bottom of your newsletter that allows your subscribers to share it with their friends so they can subscribe to it. Keep track of how many people they get to sign up for your newsletter and give them a prize when they reach a certain number so they have an incentive to do it.^[12]
   
   • For example, if a subscriber gets 3 people to sign up for your newsletter, they could get a discount at your store or a coffee mug with your logo on it.
   • People are much more likely to subscribe to your newsletter if they’re referred to it by a friend or colleague.
   • Only count referrals that lead to actual subscribers so people have further incentive to get others to sign up for the newsletter, and won’t just share the link blindly.

[Edit]References