Building an email list is a challenging task. Marketers have to do a lot, almost anything and everything within their power, to build their email list. Email marketers have different objectives when it comes to building their list; some are interested in increasing readership, some in boosting sales and website traffic and some are interested in building their brand name. Regardless of the objective behind building a list, there are some standard tips that can be applied to ensure effective list building. Take a look at some ways to build your email list.

Place sign-up forms on your parent website

Incorporate sign-up forms on every page of your website. Place it on the top of the page so that readers can see it easily. Make the link to your sign-up forms prominent enough for your readers to spot it. Inform visitors that they have much to gain, should they subscribe to your email campaign. Make sure the subscription process is simple.

Publish and dispatch a newsletter

If you don't publish an email newsletter, then now's a good time to start. Through newsletters you can stay in touch with your clients and build a lasting relationship. For their part, clients like to get the latest information on subjects that interest them.

Include a privacy policy

Include a comprehensive privacy policy on your website. You can also add a link to the same in your sign-up form. Basically, you have to convince your clients that you won't misuse their email addresses or any other contact information.

Be honest with your clients

Tell your customers honestly what the email is about. If it’s a sales pitch then say so clearly in the subject line or the title. By being honest with them, you can gain the trust of your customers. Customers are more likely to remain loyal to you, once they are sure about your trustworthiness.

Offer incentives for opting-in

You can offer incentives to your clients to motivate them to sign-up. You can give away a free e-book or even discount coupons. If you have products or services, you could give these away as a free trial.

Start a blog

A blog will go really well with your email marketing campaign for two reasons. Firstly, you can communicate with prospective and current clients and secondly, you can place a link to your subscription form on the blog.

Inform your readers when you post something new

Each time you add a new post to your blog, notify your clients. In doing so, you will create a good impression in their mind. This will also increase the traffic on your website. With time, you can expect your email list to grow.

Add your newsletters to different online directories

A number of people use online newsletter directories to search for newsletters of their choice. Discover the most popular newsletter directories on the Internet and then add your newsletters to all those sites.

Send your articles to free online resource websites

If you contribute regularly to your newsletter, then send a copy of your articles to different online resources. You should also include the link to your website or the sign-up form towards the end of the page.

Initiate joint ventures with other companies

Form joint ventures with other companies in your field. In this way, you can combine your subscribers' lists or promote each others publications to your respective clientele.

Recommend other top quality newsletters

You can also include links to other popular newsletters in your own newsletter. Clients always appreciate such efforts as they like variety. You can also ask other publishers to recommend your newsletter to their clients.

Formulate a frequency schedule and stick to it

Inform your clients as to how frequently they’ll receive emails from you. Do not go beyond your set frequency as your customers may lodge a spam complaint against you. One email per month should do the trick.

Organize a webinar

Conduct a webinar or a web based seminar for your clients. Request them to register for the same. Through the registration form, request permission to send mails in future.

Ask your clients to send your emails to others

Request your clients to forward your mails to their colleagues, relatives, friends and family members. Include your 'tell-a-friend' form in the emails through which clients can send invitations to a minimum of five people.

Ask for permission before sending anything

It is very important to ask your clients for permission before sending them anything. Sending promotional emails to people without their permission is called spamming. People can initiate legal action against you for spamming them.

Have a VIP program in place for customers

Offer a VIP program of some sort to customers who have remained loyal to you. You can provide them with discount coupons for different products or services or even free trials of the same.

Collect email addresses from clients when you meet them

Try to get the email addresses of all those people that you come in contact with for the first time. They may or may not agree to give you their email addresses but there’s no harm in trying.

Increase inflow of traffic on website

You can also try and increase the number of visitors to your website. You can do this by organizing opinion polls or contests. Once the flow of traffic increases, your subscription rate will also rise.

Visit different forums on the Internet

Visit discussion forums related to your niche. Contribute on a regular basis to these forums. You can also place your website link in one of the threads. Forums are a great place to look for prospective clients.

Add the subscription link to your signature

Include the link to your subscription form in your signature. This is also a very effective way to tap prospective clients.

Give away sign-up forms at major events

If you are participating in a big event then you can give away subscription forms to fellow participants as well as your audience. By doing so, you can promote the name of your company and can also expect your email list to grow.

These methods for building an email list are sure to provide you with some great results. So, if you are thinking of building a list of your own, don’t think anymore. Give it a shot!