General News

In the past, when I talked about my success of building up an eCommerce website, I most often mentioned that I couldn't do it without my mailing list. I had over 30,000 subscribers who wanted to know more about what my company had to offer on either a weekly or monthly basis.

Immediately the question was: "How did you get those subscribers?"

By no means are any of these a guarantee but it is what I did to build my subscriber base. I hope they help you in your effort to build suscribers.

1. Place a "subscribe box" on every page of your site.

Mailing list subscribers are going to subscribe if they want to but how can they know to subscribe if you don't make it readily visible and available to them to do so? Make sure you a place for people to subscribe and make it readily visible. Don't hide it, show it off! Put it right at the top and close to your navigation.

Make It Say "YES! Come and subscribe and see what we have to say about our website!"

2. Entice your subscribers with "FREEBIES"

All of us are guilty of wanting something for FREE. So entice subscribers with something for FREE! Whether it be a coupon, a small gift, a recipe, a pattern or whatever SMALL but thoughtful free item you can give to show your appreciation to those who do subscribe.

Think of it as saying: "Thank You! I appreciate you want to know more about our business."

3. Place a "subscribe box" during the checkout process.

For those customers who have made the decision already to purchase with you, make sure you ask them if they want to be updated and hear more information about your business. Whether it is a checkbox, comment or other method, ask them: "Do you want to hear more about our business?"

The best way to build a customer base is to get the come back and shop for more. How are you going to get them back after the sale if they don't know about what's new or on sale or the news you have to share?

4. Hold a Monthly Drawing for something FREE

By far the most successful way I drew in subscribers. I gave away something for FREE, no charge to customers, no purchase required. It might have been small or it might have been large but it had VALUE to the customer.

Sure you are going to get the individuals who just want something for FREE! But eventually if they keep coming back and see what you have to offer over and over and over again, you will have a higher chance of turning them into a customer because they will be more enticed to BUY.

And to capture those drawing junkies who like to enter and win, list your drawing on websites that cater right to those individuals. My #1 recommendation is Online-Sweepstakes.com. It's free to list and you gain access to over 141,000 members.

But remember, before holding a contest, drawing or sweepstakes, that you find out the laws of your state on holding them.

5. Referring New Subscribers

If your current subscribers like what they are reading, make it easy to refer new subscribers to you. Use a script or link in your newsletter that all they have to do is click on and enter the e-mail addresses of friends to forward it to.

It's a quick, simple and easy way to have the message about your site spread and the best part is that your current subscribers are doing the work for you!