For every $1 spent on email marketing, the average expected return is $42, according to DMA Marketer Email Tracker.
Truly, no matter the size of the business, prospects on an email list can prove vital in shaping the success of your marketing campaigns.
List building can be an excellent way to find new clients to build relationships with. However, it can be difficult to figure out the best methods to use in order to get connections with the most value in a timely manner. This blog post will highlight some of the best (proven) methods for gathering valuable contacts.
Note: Be a respectful marketer. Don’t send emails to people who have no desire to read your content. They will unsubscribe, and email platforms will dock you for it.
Top List Building Methods
Stalk Corporate Websites
The most effective method for list building in 2021 is visiting corporate websites that list locations. These allow easy access to reliable contact information of a large number of similar businesses. As an added bonus, these websites are free because they are intended to help customers find locations near them. This method is valuable for those looking to be cost-effective – not time-effective.
Use Online Resources
Seamless.ai is a website that allows users to input search terms such as titles, names, and locations; the website will crawl the internet for contacts that match those parameters online. While this website does charge a yearly subscription fee to use, it allows users to start with a free trial. You can decide if it is worth your investment. 
Or, give the Better Business Bureau or Manta a try. These websites collect data on companies and compile it, giving useful information such as the head of the company. These websites make finding say, the president, of smaller companies much easier, so you can ask to speak with them. They can also give useful information, such as rough estimates of the number of employees working at a company.
Should you be unable to find a reliable contact on the company website, I highly recommend you give these a try.
Offer Coupons, Deals, or Guides
When running an online retailer or offering any sort of service, coupon giveaways are a highly effective list-building method. Using this method, you require that people input their email to receive a free coupon for your product or service. This can also help to preemptively draw people towards your company. Word of mouth can easily spread about coupons, causing more people to come in to get it, thus giving you more email addresses.
Network Through LinkedIn
A more unorthodox method, though still effective, is to search for potential contacts through Linkedin. This is most useful if you are in a service industry that tends to cater to businesses more than consumers. Linkedin allows you to search for places of work and specific titles, giving you a detailed search advantage. If used in conjunction with Seamless, this strategy will give you desirable leads to connect with, rather than going in blind.
86% of professionals give priority to email connection.
Discretion is wise when using this method, as it may not be in your best interest to connect with every employee you come across. It is usually best to connect only with people in a position to be able to build a relationship with your company so that you aren’t wasting your time.
Use Embedded Contact Forms & Opt-Ins
One of the more direct methods of list building is to add a newsletter sign-up throughout your website. This will allow interested potential customers to sign themselves up for updates on your company, which can include new products or services they may be interested in. Some forms even allow the options, so subscribers can select their interests.
Embedded signup forms are perhaps the most common of strategies for attaining email subscribers. Static embedded forms should be placed on high traffic pages in visible areas, such as headers, footers, sidebars, and splash pages.
For example, if you have a high-traffic blog post placing a signup form here could be a quick win.
The benefit of an embedded signup form is that it is a non-intrusive invitation (i.e. a trust builder).
An opt-in is commonly seen during transactions or contact forms. By providing a simple check box, you invite the subscriber to easily join the list. A common practice is having the box pre-checked and allowing the subscriber to un-check if desired.
Purchase Lists
While probably the most limited option, buying pre-made lists should not be written off. These lists are the quickest way to gain potential clients based on industry, location, interests, etc. Depending on time constraints, this may be the best option in certain instances.
One thing that should be kept in mind, though, is that others may have also bought the same list, which requires you to potentially compete with them – you get to up your game! While the same can happen with other methods, it is less likely if you use other methods to list build.
It is important to remember that even when using the best methods, results are not a guarantee. It is vital that you put the proper amount of effort into your list-building activities. Do not give up if you do not see immediate results.
Persistence is key. Keep at it, and you will massively increase your chances of getting tangible results.
Expand Your Reach
Beyond simply list building, we’ve helped many brands with their newsletters, campaign sequences, audience segmentation, and acquiring new subscribers. We can help you ensure you’re getting the right message across to the right people, and that they do even more than just open your emails before immediately deleting them.
