Growing your email database should be an essential part of your marketing plan. Having a database full of your customers and potential customers gives you the opportunity to connect with them personally as well as advertise new products, sales and exciting events! I have rounded up some top tips on the best ways to gather contacts to add to your list.

• Paper sign up forms
  Great at events or in store – ask customers to complete a paper version of your signup form and input them manually into your database. Or, go digital with an iPad!
• Competitions
  As part of your competition – ask customers to opt-in to your newsletter to be in with a chance of winning the prize.
• Sign up from Facebook
  Add a signup button to your profile to encourage page visitors to sign up.
• Opt in at checkout
  Add a button to your checkout/payment page that customers can tick to opt-in. You must only sign up customers who tick this box.
• Pop up
  If a customer visits your website it means they have an interest in your brand. Give them the opportunity to sign up to your list with a pop-up or registration bar.
• Events
  Print cards for trade shows and events or take your iPad with you for customers to fill in their email addresses.
• Refer a friend
  Ask your current subscribers to refer a friend – if their friend signs up, offer the customer a 10% discount code.
• Social media
  Easy to do and completely free! Give your followers an incentive to sign up to your newsletter – discount codes, sneak peeks, sample sales.
• Take the opportunity to refresh your email
  Think about why people didn’t choose to re-subscribe to your emails after the new regulations were brought in by GDPR – is it time for a refresh? Think about your target audience but keep in mind the demographics of customers on your existing database.
• Give special access
  Make your customers feel like they are in the know about something exclusive. Offer subscribers something only they can get.

P.s. remember to always be GDPR compliant!