How to Build the Best Email List
In today’s digital age, building the best email list is crucial for engaging with donors, especially for nonprofits. According to this Guide to Nonprofit Email Marketing by Constant Contact, 99% of email users check their email every day. This high engagement rate demonstrates the potential of email campaigns to reach and resonate with supporters.
To harness this potential, consider following these five tips to build and maintain a quality email subscriber list:
Why Signing Up is Worth It
When inviting people to join your email list, it’s essential to highlight the perks they’ll get. Think about offering exclusive content, special giving opportunities, early notifications about upcoming events, or personalized recommendations. Let them know how their lives or interests will benefit by signing up. For example, you might tease an upcoming date for a matching gift, opportunities for volunteering, or access to an exclusive webinar.
Make Signing Up a Breeze
Signing up should be super easy. Avoid long forms that ask for too much information. Just get the basics like their name and email address. Place your sign-up forms in strategic spots across your website—like the homepage, within blog posts, or during the donation process. Try different formats such as embedded forms, pop-ups, and slide-ins to see what works best. Other methods of collecting emails can be done in person at events, or via social media.
Share Engaging Content
Great content is essential for attracting donors. Regularly update your blog or newsletter with articles that provide an exclusive perspective on the clients your organization supports, whether through education, personal experience, or industry insights. Use engaging visuals like infographics and videos to appeal to a broader audience. Share snippets or previews of your best content on social media to spark interest and drive sign-ups.
Think Forward
Create content that people will want to share. Consider what makes you share something—usefulness, emotional impact, or surprising studies. Encourage your subscribers to share your emails by adding social sharing buttons or a ‘forward to a friend’ option. The more your content is shared, the more potential donors you can reach.
Get Creative
Stand out by being innovative and creative. Host giveaways or raffles that require an email sign-up for entry. Partner with influencers or other businesses to reach a wider audience. Use personalized emails to make your subscribers feel special and appreciated. Continuously analyze your strategies through A/B testing to see what works best and make improvements. Track metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to measure success and make data-driven decisions.
By following these fun and strategic methods, you can build an email list that’s not only high-quality but also engaged and growing over time. Reach out to one of our experts today to elevate your email fundraising efforts!
