How to grow your audience outside your signup form

As email marketers, we often talk about the best ways to optimize your signup form and grow your list.

But though getting the most from your signup form is an important part of your list growth efforts, why stop there? There are plenty of ways you can grow your list beyond your form – and even beyond your website! Here are just a few of our favorite methods.

1. Host a webinar.

I can personally attest to the fact that not every webinar is an hour-long snoozefest. (Don’t believe me? Check out some of ours!)

Whether you plan it alone or with a strategic partner, webinars are a great way for your company’s thought leaders to show off their expertise and generate new leads who are genuinely interested in what your brand has to offer.

2. Create (and gate) a piece of valuable content.

Content marketing is a popular method of lead-gen for a reason: It works. And though there’s something to be said for giving out your company’s best tips and tricks for free, when you put a ton of time and effort into a piece – like a guide, whitepaper, or in-depth case study – most people will be willing to part with a little bit of info in order to access it.

3. Give something away.

Just like people are willing to part with their email for valuable content, they’re VERY willing to part with their email for the opportunity to get some free stuff. Whether it’s a week-long trip to the Caribbean or just a t-shirt with your brand’s logo on it, giveaways are a simple and easy way to quickly attract new people to your audience.

4. Take things offline.

If have a brick-and-mortar location or you’re attending an offline event, be sure to use it as an opportunity to expand your online presence, too! Nowadays, you can keep the on-the-go email signup process seamless (and stylish) by using our handy Guestbook app for iPad.

5. Promote your email list on social

This one’s super easy to implement: Your social audience has already shown interest in your brand by choosing to follow you. So why not make the simple ask for them to sign up for your email list, too? I particularly loved the email signup experience local Nashville brand Nisolo provides their Instagram followers:

6. Encourage sharing

Make sharing your email as easy as possible by including share buttons within the body of the campaign. Providing unique and entertaining content certainly helps increase sharing and rewarding those who do with a special coupon or exclusive opportunity can go a long way. That's a built-in loyalty program!

Have any other strategies (outside of your signup form) helped you grow your list? Tell us about them in the comments!