This document provides 21 ways to grow an email list fast. Some key techniques include putting a sign-up pitch on all stationery and business cards, including a sign-up link in every blog post and social media profile, offering a free webinar or podcast series to attract subscribers, using visual elements and specific landing pages optimized for sign-ups, and seeking out interview opportunities on other podcasts and shows. The overall recommendations are to test multiple list-building tactics that appeal to your target audience and combine compelling incentives with easy sign-up processes.

1. 21 Ways to Grow
Your List Fast

2. 21 Ways to Grow Your List Fast
Growingyourlistisn’tjustthe resultof a one-timeprocessthatyousetup. It isall about makingthe
mostof everyopportunitytoputyourself outthere andgetinfrontof rightpeople –your target
market.
Savvysmall businessownersknowthere are manywaystodo that, includingthesetoplist-building
techniques.
1. Put your sign up pitch on all your stationery
One easyway to getyourideal clienttoeagerto workwithyou: Make sure you include asignup
pitchon all your stationery –includingbusinesscards.
Thisdoesn’tmeantryingtofityour life historyina3.5” X 2” rectangle. Justadda line underyour
signature thatcombines:
 Your incentive
 A simple call-to-action
 Your signup URL
(Youcan evenmake yoursign-upcall-to-actionyourentire businesscard)
2. Come from a place of “helping”
One of the biggestmistakessmallbusinesses make: Approachingpotentialclients withthe agenda
of selling,pitchingaproductor gettingsomethingFROMsomebody.
Create yoursignup incentive,box andcall-to-actionfromaplace of sharingandgiving. Thismeans
genuinely(a) puttingyourself inyourpotential ideal clients shoesand(b) caringabouthow to make
life instantlybetterforherandyouwill attract clients whowill notonlysignupforyourservice –
they’ll rememberyourname.

3. 21 Ways to Grow Your List Fast
3. Put your blog sign-upwebcontact form in the “prime” area
Countlesstestsandstudies have shownthatthe bestplace tophysicallylocate yoursign-upbox is
nearthe top,right-handcornerof your webpage,above the fold,asBloggingTipsdemonstrates
here:
The onlyexceptiontothis: If youare writinga blogforleft-handedpeople (seriously) –inwhich
case,place it on the left.
The reason? Most right-handedpeople’seyesautomaticallyglance upatthe top rightside of any
webpage theysurf into – but southpawstendtoglance upand to the left!
4. Make themrememberyour name
It’sone thingto capture a subscription,butit’sawhole differentball game togetyour new
subscribertorememberwhoyouare and whyshe shouldbe excitedtoreceive emailsfromyou.
One way:Foregothe double-opt-inprocess. If youare offeringasimple templateortipsheet,make
it ridiculouslyeasyforthemandinclude the downloadimmediately,rightonthe “Thanksforsigning
up” page. (You can still sendyourwelcome email detailinghow oftenthey’ll hearfromyou,what
theycan expect,etc.)
Thisinstantdownloadwill be suchapleasantsurprise,itwillmake youstandoutfromyour
competitors.

4. 21 Ways to Grow Your List Fast
5. Include a sign-uplinkin everypost
Don’trelysolelyonyourofficial webcontactformcontainedinyoursidebar: Make sure there isa
waypeople cansubscribe – andshare – in everypost.
You can do thisby includingasimple call toactionat the endof everyarticle.
(E.g.“Sign up here to receive weekly updates”.)
6. Findcommon ground
Alwaysbe askingyourself –andthe personyou’re “talking”to(whetherornotit’sthroughyour blog
or in personatan event) –“What isgoingon inyour life?” Findout whatis importanttothemand
why.
Askthemquestions. Reallylistentoandvalidate the answers. If youhave somethingrelevantto
contribute,share asecretor two of your ownabouta similarproject. Be interested,genuine and
real,and the connectionwill follow.
It’sall about makingthat connection.
7. Be specific
Is there anaction youwant yourideal client totake? The more specificanddirectyouare intelling
them,the betterresponse you’ll get.
For example,don’tjustsay: “For great logoscall usto see how we can helpyou”. Saysomething
like: “Contactus NOWto findout HOW you can get a logo you’ll lovewithin the next7 daysorless”.
The more specificyouare,the betterqualified yourinquiry will be.
8. Don’t wait for your product/service to be completedbefore startingyour list

5. 21 Ways to Grow Your List Fast
Many people make the mistake of waitinguntil theyfinishaproductbefore settingupa list.It’s
betterto start attractingand signinguppeople immediately.
If you don’tyethave a product, there are twoeasyways to go:
 Offera highly-relevantbutsimple incentive suchasa tipsheetor template –especiallyif
your template isforsomethingthatresultsfromarecentchange (e.g.new YouTube Channel
Art specs).
 Offersomethingdirectlyconnectedto your upcomingproduct -- letreadersdownloada
sample chapterof your upcomingdigital product,signuptobe notifiedwhenitiscomplete
or signup to receive “advance notice”ata special price
Usingthe lattertactic can reallyhelpyougauge how popularyourupcomingproductislikelytobe.
9. Make subscribingeasy
Before addingCaptchaformsand extrafields,putyourself inyourvisitor’splace. Combine asimple
but powerful incentive withdrop-deadeasysignup – and give yourvisitorreasontobe grateful.
Unlessthere isa specificreasonforaskingformore information,firstname andemail addressisall
youneed.
10. Use QR Codes
Withthe ever-explodingnumbersof mobilevisitors,domake sure you
alsoinclude aQR code onyour webpagesand businessstationery –
includingputtingitonyourbusinesscard.
A QR code is justa digital barcode. It takesvisitorswhoscanitwith
theirmobilestoaspecificdestinationof yourchoosing,whichcan
include awebsite,textmessage,phone number –or your signup
landingpage!
11. Ask in person!
Whenattendinglocal eventsortalkingtoclientsinperson, allow themtospeakfirst.Most
importantlyshowinterestinthem
ask fortheirbusinesscards. Whentheyprovide one,askif youcan add themtoyour mailinglist.
If theyhesitate,goonto state whattype of updatestheywill receive,andbe sure tosay how often
these will be generated.One wordof caution –neveradd someone toyourlistwhodidnot
specificallygive youpermission.
12. Make full use of resource boxes

6. 21 Ways to Grow Your List Fast
Whenwritingguestpostsor articles,be sure toprovide aresource box. Thisis a little blurbatthe
beginningorendof a post thatletspeople know whoyouare,whatyoucan offerandwhere to
reach you.
Followthe guidelinesof the directoryor blogyouare writingfor(eachone will be slightlydifferent).
If you write fora blogthat doesn’tallow linksinthe resource box,be sure theydoallow themin
your article andcreate a call to action,as guestblogger, ScottPurcell did,whenguestingon
Problogger.net.
13. Offera free Webinar,TeleseminarorPodcast
Thisis a great wayto attract newsubscribers. Everyone takesitasa matterof course that theyhave
to signup to registerforyourevent – and they’re onyourlistwhentheydo.
Make sure youchoose a topicthat iscuttingedge,timelyandmuchneeded. Tapintocurrenttrends
or changesinyour industry. Promise toprovide somethingnoone else does.
(It’sall inthe promise!)
14. Use a specific,focusedlandingpage strictly for getting subscribers
Whenpeople putlinksinarticles,blogposts,socialpostsandsoforth,theyoftenmake the mistake
of providingalinktotheirwebsite home page. If youwantsignups,create a specificlandingpage
or squeeze page justforyoursign-upofferandsign-upbox.
15. Use Social MediaApps

7. 21 Ways to Grow Your List Fast
Thisis possible one of the mostimportanttacticsyoucouldeverinvestin,giventhe popularityof (a)
mobile apps(b) social media.
There are all sortsof social mediaappsyoucan use to increase engagement andsign-ups–butat
the veryleast,use an iFrame appto create custom tabsfor yourFacebookPage headerarea(and
include sign-uplinksinothersocial media,suchasLinkedIn).
You can use your customtabs forany purpose – as actor Jackie Chanhasdone here.
Andthat includesofferingsign-upincentives!
16. Create a Series
Rememberwe talkedaboutwebinars,podcastsandteleseminars? One wayyoucan boostyour
subscriptionsistocreate notjust a standalone event,butashort series.
Whenyoucreate a short,focusedseries,youare givingaway“free teaching”. Peopleoftenplace
higherworthona seriesthanona stand-alone event(andyoucan evenuse astand-alone eventto
promote yourseriesandcapture more sign-ups).
Evenif theydidn’tsignupfor your single event,certainsubscribersmaybe hookedinbyaseries –
particularlyif there isachallenge orrewardassociatedwithcompletingit(e.g.“Produceyourown
eBookin Six Easy Lessons”).
An addedbonus: If theylove the firstlessonand stickaroundforthe nextfive,notonlywill they
knowwhoyou are whentheysee yourname intheirinboxes –youwill have createdthe habitof
engagingwithyou.
17. Be visual!

8. 21 Ways to Grow Your List Fast
Rememberthe oldadage,“apicture speaksa thousandwords”. If you design yoursign-upweb
contact formor landingpage correctly,whatitsaysto the right visitororviewerwillbe compelling.
Use richmedia. Create annotationsinYouTube videos. Use color,space,contrast,size andanything
else youcan thinkof to draw attention toyoursign-upofferorwebcontactform.
Anddo remembertosuityourvisual presentationtoyouraudience.
18. Create a special domain just for your landingpage.
This“rule”is especiallyimportantif youare attractinga sign-upbysuchmethodsasguestingon
online talkradioshowswhere yourhostispromotingyourURL.
People won’tremember: “Goto www.getyourgift.marketingwithmiltfurstly.com”–they’re more
likelytoremember“Goto www.getyourgift.com”.
Keepyourdomainname short,dynamic,relevantandeasytoremember.
19. Add your sign-upURL to your digital signature
Do thisfor forumsandmembershipsites,whereyourdigital signature isautomaticallyincludedin
posts;as well asrighton your “Welcome”page orsocial media“About”sections.
20. Pay attentionto “Voice”
Use yourauthenticvoice eveninyoursign-upform. Keepthe connection…
 Short and to the point,if youare targetingthe veryrich
 Formal, if targetingleft-brainprofessionals

9. 21 Ways to Grow Your List Fast
 Colloquial,if youare targetinggeographiclocationsandniche groupswithastronglinguistic
sub-culture
 Personal and informal,if youare basingyourwebsite onpersonality.
No matterwhat“voice”you use,however,itshouldnever,eversoundstiltedandautomated.
21. Seekout interviews
Anothergreatwayto generate sign-ups: Becomingafeaturedguestonpodcastsandonline radio
talkshows. (Justmake sure your hostwill agree topromote yourlatestproductor website URL.)
It alwayscarriesmore weightwhensomeone alreadyrespectedinanindustryorniche vouchesfor
an “unknown”. Interviewsprovide youwithsocial proof,andyou’re notleftawkwardlyblowing
your ownhorn—yourgrateful hostislikelytodothatfor you,verynaturallyandeasily.
Use multiple listgrowing tactics!
Whatevermethodsfeelmostcomfortabletoyou,dobe sure to targetmultiple tacticsand
techniques: Whatdoesn’tworkforone groupwill be sure towork forothers.
Part of beinga successful entrepreneurisnotonlybeingcreative,butbeingselective andfocused.
Use these twenty-one tipsinyourownunique way.