How to Grow a Massive Email List

Pat Walls

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Updated: September 12th, 2024

What Is An Email List?

Emailing list is a list of individual email addresses that you have permission to send email campaigns to.

I am sure you already know that email marketing is one of the effective channels for reaching your target audience. But do you know that the success of your email marketing efforts largely depends on the size and the quality of your email list?

Therefore, you ought to build a great email list that will get results for your business.

This post shares important tips to help you grow the email list.

Email List Key Takeaways

Email marketing delivers an average return of investment of 3,800%.
Email list is an important element of a successful marketing strategy.
Keep your emailing list fresh and up to date
Building a high-quality email list requires patience and perseverance

How Email List Works And why It is Critical

Email marketing is an effective way of communicating with your customers - whether you're introducing new products, product sales or simply just have an announcement to make.

The more engaged email subscribers, the more customers!

Building the email list is crucial because email is the best way to build a relationship with your potential customers.

When new customers or prospects add to your email subscribers, it is an indication they are interested in what you offer.

Besides, when you send emails to prospects, they are likely to convert into paying customers. In fact, you are more likely to get higher click-through rates through emails compared to tweets.

Therefore, email lists are important because email marketing is the best way to connect with customers. In that regard, it makes sense if you invest time and resources into growing the emailing list.

Real-world Examples Of Brands Focused On Building Email Lists

Here are the top examples of brands that achieved success through building their email lists.

1. How Buffer Doubled Email Signups In 30 Days

Buffer, a marketing software, implemented several changes to their email signups, an initiative that saw them double the emailing list in just 30 days.

Before implementing the changes, Buffer averaged 2,349 monthly email signups from two blogs. However, following the changes, they got over 5,450 email signups, which was more than double the previous month.

Here is a chart comparing what they were doing before the email push and what they are doing after.

2. How Video Fruit Moved From 0 to 205 Email Subscribers In 48 Hours

Bryan Harris, founder, and CEO at Video Fruit embarked on a 48-hour email list building challenge from scratch. Within 48 hours, his company gained 205 email subscribers.

He explains in his blog how he literally got to slightly over 200 email subscribers in just 48 hours.

How To Grow Your Email List

Create a branded opt-in pop-up form for your homepage
Add clear CTA buttons to subscribe on every landing page on your website
Consider using lead magnets that require signups
Use timed surveys that pop up while visitors are browsing
Post about the email newsletter on social media accounts
Create unique and sharable email content
Encourage subscribers to forward your emails
Send a re-engagement email with incentive
Create a new lead-generation offer
Promote an online contest

There are hundreds of tools out there for email marketing. Pricing depends on how many email subscribers you have - so you may want to consider starting small at first.

Here are a few common tools:

MailChimp

A marketing automation platform and an email marketing service.

The free plan, up to 2000 subscribers - what you get

Send up to 12,000 emails per month
Up to 2,000 subscribers
Email support included for 30 days

"Essentials" plan Plans start at $10 per month

Up to 5,000 subscribers $50 per month
Up to 10,000 subscribers $75 per month
Up to 25,000 subscribers $150 per month

Standard plan Plans start at $15 per month

Up to 5,000 subscribers $75 per month
Up to 10,000 subscribers $99 per month
Up to 20,000 subscribers $189 per month
Pricing: Freemium
Twitter: @MailChimp
Website: mailchimp.com

Businesses using MailChimp:

878 successful businesses are using MailChimp ➜

Get MailChimp ➜

Klaviyo

Klaviyo’s the ultimate ecommerce marketing platform trusted by 50,000+ brands, like Chubbies, Living Proof, and Hint. Deliver higher-value, personalized marketing experiences across email, mobile, and web.

Up to 250 contacts: Free!
Up to 1,000 subscribers: $30 per month
Up to 2,500 subscribers: $60 per month
Up to 5,000 subscribers: $100 per month
Up to 10,000 subscribers: $150 per month
Up to 20,000 subscribers: $375 per month
Pricing: Freemium
Twitter: @klaviyo
Website: klaviyo.com

Businesses using Klaviyo:

417 successful businesses are using Klaviyo ➜

Get Klaviyo ➜

Constant Contact

Email marketing for small business and nonprofit organizations.

500 subscribers $20/mo
2,500 subscribers $45/mo
5,000 subscribers $65/mo
10,000 subscribers $95/mo
Pricing: Paid
Twitter: @ConstantContact
Website: constantcontact.com

Businesses using Constant Contact:

42 successful businesses are using Constant Contact ➜

Get Constant Contact ➜

Grow your Email List

Email marketing is an effective way of communicating with your customers - whether you're introducing new products, product sales or simply just have an announcement to make.

You may want to consider offering content upgrades and giveaways to ensure you are consistently updating your email list and keeping your customers engaged.

The more engaged email subscribers, the more customers!

There are hundreds of tools out there for email marketing. Pricing depends on how many email subscribers you have - so you may want to consider starting small at first.

Here are a few common tools:

Matt Rudntsky, founder of Platypus Publishing discusses lessons learned and the importance of growing your email list from day 1:

Case Study

"But build your email list from Day 1. Nothing beats a direct line to your ideal customer’s inbox, that they gave you permission to use"

Give them free content from the outset -- so when you eventually ask for a sale, they’ll be happy to listen. 90% free content, at least. Then, be unafraid to sell the other 10% of the time.

If you’re trying to grow your email list, make sure you’re on dozens of email lists yourself. Think a list is a good fit for you? Reply to their email, thank them for their content -- and link to something of your own. Connect. Reach out to them separately and quickly explain a win-win partnership. What can you offer their audience that they can’t? Teach it to them for free. If you have a similar number of subscribers, offer a “lead magnet swap.” This strategy has led to 90% of my email list growth (that 839 number includes duplicates -- but I gained over 400 subscribers on that one partnership).

My biggest mistake was waiting to build my email list. I should’ve done it five years ago. Don’t be like me. Your early profits will come from doing things that don’t scale … but your long-term profits will come from the things that do scale. Ever since I focused on creating win-win partnerships with other entrepreneurs, my email list has skyrocketed and is on track to grow exponentially (I’ve already got multiple partnerships lined up for 2020).

how-i-started-a-5-5k-month-business-helping-people-write-books

Matt Rudntsky, on starting Platypus Publishing ($320,000/month) full story ➜

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Pat Walls