If you’re operating any kind of online business, then you’re one of the 90% who have problems getting qualified subscribers to your email list. Whether it’s an ezine, newsletter, or report, the following techniques can help you attract more subscribers.

First, you’ll want to make your website attractive, functional with content that is an attention gabber. With 5 billion web pages to search through, a web site visitor landing on your site is something you shouldn’t take for granted.

How can you expect your visitor to return tomorrow, or next week? If you do not have a sign-up form on your site now, you are throwing away your greatest marketing opportunity. This is the most important marketing tool you can have to build your own database of eager prospects. But, placing the opt-in form on your home page is not the answer. Make it part of your entire site. Build navigation tools that will guide your visitor to fill out your form.

Today’s task of getting people to fill out an email form is like pulling teeth from a Bear’s mouth. However, when you give web users more options to subscribe, they experience greater wonders.

This technique may require a little programming on your part, but it’s well worth the effort. Put your subscription box on other web sites. Look around and find a site that will complement yours. Contact a friend that his/her “niche” is the same as yours. Call or email them and ask if they would be willing to exchange subscription form space with you.

This works best when you ask your partner to put your sign-up form on their site in exchange you putting theirs on your site. Make sure the page on their site is available for the space, because this will require space (depending on the size) to accomplish this. Placing your opt-in form can be done on the left, on the right, or in the middle of any page as long as your partner agrees to it. The same will apply to you when placing their opt-in form on your page.

If you are not familiar with the programming, which is required, ask a webmaster you know to build one that will fit your partner’s page. By doing such an exchange puts your subscribe box in front of people who ordinarily doesn’t visit sites like yours, and definitely grabs their attention to want to subscribe.

This method works extremely well. It will also depend on the site your subscription box is located on. More traffic means more potential subscribers. If you were having trouble getting more subscribers, this proven method will open another door for additional sign-ups.

If you’re starting out to build your email list, you might consider teaming up with other email marketers. There are hundreds, even thousands out there who already own a email database. Contact them to see if your newsletter or ezine can complement theirs. Check and see if they offer ad space of any kind and negotiate a deal for a simple ad exchange. It never hurts to request ad swaps, article inclusions, or even banners.

Viral marketing practices can make a huge impact to your sign-ups. If you only have a small amount of people you send email to, include a forward to a friend link in each message along with a sign-up link for new readers. In the past, you’ve more than likely received a newsletter or promotion from a friend – right? You read it over and want to subscribe, but discover there’s no sign-up link.

Always include your sign-up offer at the bottom of your everyday email. Make sure you have a link to your sign-up form in order to keep the momentum going. Always remember, your email may get forwarded to someone else, so it’s wise to promote your sign-up offer at all times.

If you operate a newsletter or ezine, make every effort to get listed in directories, search engines, and social bookmark sites.

Building your list using offline methods are no different than online, except when it requires a little more ingenuity. You will want to make it a part of your brand identity for starters. Every piece of paper that leaves your office should have a link to your site and/or your email subscription information.

Post your subscription information in your lobby or reception area, at your front desk, or self-standing signs with carry out cards. Place a basket full of business cards next to it, and better yet, let people sign-up right there on the spot. You may even want to include a computer that’s already logged onto your web page sign-up form. The same applies to trade show booths. If you rent a lead retrieval machine from the show vendor, be sure to customize it so you can capture email and permission information.

If you sell in-store items, ask your customers if they would like to receive email notifications from you. When you ring up a purchase, simply let them know what they will be getting and how often. You’ll be amazed how many might say – YES!

Create special business cards with your email subscription information. Like any event, pass out the cards, get to know people you meet. Even if you don’t sponsor any exhibits or have a trade show booth, talk with them face to face and let them know you have valuable information to share.

Promote after the sale. Let’s say your customer didn’t want to get on your email form when given the chance at checkout. They still go home with printed packaging of some form, whether it’s a shopping bag, gift-wrap, or the product packaging itself. Promote a subscription there, too, because (1) they might change their mind and (2) if they’re giving it to someone else, you’ve gained another opportunity.

Send a post card to a rented, permission based list of people. It doesn’t have to be fancy with bright colors. Sometimes that is all it takes to get people on your list. Let them know about your offer and they can start receiving it by email. If you have trouble finding a list, look in the yellow pages in your phone book to find potential subscribers.

Did you know that placing an ad can be as difficult as renting an email database? I’m not talking about placing an ad in Times Magazine. Your local newspaper, your neighborhood newsletter, your Laundromat’s bulletin board. start looking into promoting your offer in everything you read and everywhere you go. The point is – be innovative about your promotion.

When using the telephone, ask everyone who calls if they would like to sign-up to receive further information from you. You will be surprised to find what their response is when they are told what you have to offer. If they call you first, then you have the right to inform them of your sign-up offers.

Use an existing contact database you already have. You probably have one, you just don’t know it. Dig deep into your address book or database to find anyone you ever had a relationship with – anyone who ever bought from you For example; send them a one-time mailing (via email or mail, use whatever contact information you have) explaining that you are starting a newsletter or periodic emailing and ask if they’d like to sign up. Assure them that this is a one-time mailing, and then keep mailing only if they give you permission.

You will want to make sure your email list contains well-targeted, opt-in, permission-based, low bounce/low unsubscribe names. Only use an opt-in or double opt-in subscription method. Double opt-ins are made of the highest quality, since you are guaranteed direct permission from the subscriber and a valid email address.

In conclusion, and most importantly, you will want to offer your subscribers value and relevancy in exchange for their contact information. Tell people up front what they are going to receive. In fact, when you do this, only the interested ones will end up in your database.

The key to successfully building a high quality, opt-in, Permission based email contact list is to realize it’s a continual process. Don’t expect 20,000 names to appear from your opt-in form overnight. But the sooner you start, the sooner you can start building rewarding relationships for years to come.

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