Pop-ups are the most effective tool for growing your email list. The key to success lies in offering compelling value and displaying them at the right time. Instead of asking customers to “Subscribe to our newsletter” as soon as they land on your website, give them time to explore. Then, offer a discount, free gift, or exclusive content to capture their attention.
For e-commerce websites, discounts are a popular choice. You can also offer gifts with purchase, free shipping, entry into monthly draws, or early access to deals and new products. Effective pop-ups have conversion rates of 8-15%, significantly higher than the average 3%. The fewer fields required, the easier it is for customers to subscribe. Only ask for essential information like email and phone number.
Exit-intent pop-ups, which appear when a customer is about to leave your website, are optimal. Research shows that exit-intent pop-ups with compelling offers convert 5 times better than regular pop-ups. Effective offers include percentage or fixed-amount discounts, gifts with purchase, and giveaway entries.
If you don’t offer discounts, emphasize cost savings through bundle purchases. For example: “Did you know you can save up to 20% when you buy a bundle? Subscribe to our emails to stay updated on deals and new products.” Then, send a welcome email detailing your bundle savings program.
SMS is a powerful personalized marketing channel. Welcome offers via SMS can mirror email offers, but reserve bigger incentives for SMS subscribers during special promotions. Sending behind-the-scenes photos and early product updates creates a sense of intimacy and connection with SMS subscribers.
Besides pop-ups, include an email signup form in your website footer. This simple signup form acts as a backup when pop-ups are disabled.
Create a simple landing page with an SMS signup form to encourage SMS subscriptions. For example: “New product launching next week. Guess what it is? Join our SMS list to find out 2 days early!”
Add an email signup option to your checkout form. Include a checkbox confirming consent to receive marketing materials. Shopify and other e-commerce platforms support this feature. You can pre-check the box or leave it unchecked. Pre-checking will gather more emails but may result in lower quality leads.
Encourage your social media followers to subscribe to your email and SMS lists by linking to your website signup forms. For example, announce upcoming product arrivals and urge followers to subscribe for early access.
Avoid overusing collaborative giveaways with multiple brands. While they attract a large number of subscribers quickly, engagement and conversion rates are often very low, wasting resources and potentially harming your email reputation. Focus on sustainable strategies to attract truly qualified leads.