Having an email list is one of the most important things for your digital download business. When you have a list of people who want to hear from you, you can sell more products and build stronger connections with customers. This guide will help you create and grow your email list the right way.
Why You Need an Email List
An email list gives you direct access to people interested in what you sell. Unlike social media, where your posts might not be seen, emails go straight to your subscribers. Here’s why an email list matters:
You own your list. Social media platforms can change their rules, but your email contacts stay with you.
Email makes more sales. People who join your email list are more likely to buy from you than social media followers.
You can send targeted messages. With email, you can send different information to different groups of people.
It builds relationships. Regular emails help customers feel connected to your business.
Starting Your Email List
To begin building your email list, you need a few basic things:
Choose an Email Service Provider
You can send messages and gather addresses with the aid of an email service provider (ESP), which is particularly beneficial for companies that provide digital downloads.
- Mailchimp
- ConvertKit
- AWeber
- GetResponse
Look for a provider that:
- Makes it easy to create signup forms
- Lets you send automated emails
- Works well with your website
- Fits your budget (many have free plans to start)
Create a Signup Form
Your email signup form should be simple and clear. Ask for:
- Email address (required)
- First name (optional)
- Interests (optional)
When creating a sign-up form, avoid asking for too much information to encourage more people to sign up, and strategically place your form in visible spots on your website.
- At the top of your homepage
- In the sidebar of your blog
- At the bottom of blog posts
- On a popup that appears after someone has been on your site
Offer Something Free
People need a reason to join your email list. Create a free digital download (often called a “lead magnet”) that solves a problem for your target audience.
Good lead magnets for a digital download business might be:
You can offer a variety of free resources to attract potential customers, such as a sample chapter from a paid e-book, a mini-course related to your products, a helpful checklist or worksheet, or a template or pattern.
Whatever you offer, ensure that it reflects the quality of your paid products and provides real value to your customers.
Growing Your Email List Faster
Once you have the basics set up, try these strategies to grow your email list more quickly:
Create Content That Attracts Your Ideal Customers
Write blog posts and create videos that help people who might buy your digital products. At the end of each piece of content, invite readers to join your email list for more helpful information.
For example, if you sell digital knitting patterns, you might write blog posts about topics related to knitting to engage your audience and promote your products.
- How to fix common knitting mistakes
- The best yarns for different projects
- How to read knitting patterns
This kind of content marketing brings the right people to your website.
Use Social Media to Drive Signups
Share pieces of your free lead magnet on social media to get people interested. Create posts that highlight the benefits of joining your email list.
You might say: “Get my free guide to starting a podcast – just sign up for my email updates! This guide has helped over 500 people launch their own shows.”
Remember to always include a link to your signup form in your social media profiles.
Run a Contest or Giveaway
People love free things. Host a giveaway where entering requires joining your email list. The prize should appeal to your ideal customers – perhaps a bundle of your best digital products.
Verify that your contest complies with the regulations of any websites you use to advertise it. Certain social networking platforms have stringent guidelines about competitions.
Partner with Others in Your Field
Find other business owners who serve similar customers but don’t compete directly with you. Suggest swapping promotions – you tell your audience about them, and they tell their audience about you.
This kind of partnership marketing can quickly bring new subscribers to your email list.
Add Signup Forms to Your Digital Products
When someone buys a digital download from you, include information about your email list in the download. Describe the advantages of subscribing, such as receiving updates and exclusive deals.
To entice them to sign up, you may even provide a unique offer for them.
Keeping Your Email List Healthy
Growing your list is important, but keeping subscribers engaged matters too. Here’s how to maintain a healthy email list:
Send Valuable Content Regularly
Create an email schedule and stick to it. Your subscribers should know roughly when to expect emails from you. You might send:
To keep your audience engaged, consider sending weekly tips related to your digital products, monthly newsletters filled with helpful content, and occasional promotions and special offers to keep them interested and loyal.
Make sure every email provides value, even if you’re selling something.
Segment Your List
Not all subscribers want the same information. Divide your email list into smaller groups based on:
To better understand your customers, track what they’ve purchased, which free download they chose, how they interact with your emails, and what topics they’re interested in to tailor your marketing efforts effectively.
Then send more targeted emails to each group. This email segmentation leads to better results.
Clean Your List Regularly
Remove subscribers who haven’t opened your emails in several months. While it might seem bad to have fewer subscribers, having an engaged list is better than a large one with people who don’t read your emails.
Many email service providers charge based on list size, so this can also save you money.
Ask for Feedback
Sometimes simply asking subscribers what they want can improve your email marketing. Send a survey asking:
- What topics they’d like to learn more about
- How often they want to receive emails
- What kind of digital products they need
Use this feedback to make your emails better.
What to Send to Your Email List
Once you have subscribers, what should you send them? Here are some ideas for effective email content:
Welcome Sequence
Create a series of 3-5 emails that automatically go out to new subscribers. These emails should:
In your welcome email, be sure to deliver your promised free download, introduce yourself and your business, explain what subscribers can expect from future communications, share some of your best content, and include a special offer for new subscribers to build a strong connection from the start.
This welcome sequence helps turn subscribers into customers right away.
Educational Content
Send helpful tips and information related to your digital products. If you sell recipe e-books, you might share cooking techniques or ingredient substitutions.
This kind of content shows your expertise and keeps subscribers opening your emails.
Behind-the-Scenes Updates
People like to feel connected to the businesses they support, so sharing your process for creating digital products or telling stories about your business journey can add personal touches that build stronger relationships with your subscribers.
Product Launches and Promotions
When you release new digital downloads, your email list should be the first to know. Create excitement with:
- Sneak peeks of what’s coming
- Special early-bird pricing
- Bonus items for subscribers only
- Limited-time offers
Your email subscribers should always get your best deals.
Building an email list takes time and effort, but it’s one of the best investments for your digital download business. Start with the basics: choose an email service provider, create a signup form, and offer something valuable for free.
Then focus on growing your list through content marketing, social media, partnerships, and other strategies. Keep your subscribers engaged with regular, valuable emails that mix helpful content with occasional promotions.
Remember that your email list is about building relationships, not just making sales. When you genuinely help your subscribers, they’ll be more likely to buy your digital products and recommend them to others.
With consistency and patience, your email list will become your most valuable business asset, bringing in sales and creating loyal customers for years to come.
Having an email list is one of the most important things for your digital download business. When you have a list of people who want to hear from you, you can sell more products and build stronger connections with customers. This guide will help you create and grow your email list the right way.
Why You Need an Email List
An email list gives you direct access to people interested in what you sell. Unlike social media, where your posts might not be seen, emails go straight to your subscribers. Here’s why an email list matters:
You own your list. Social media platforms can change their rules, but your email contacts stay with you.
Email makes more sales. People who join your email list are more likely to buy from you than social media followers.
You can send targeted messages. With email, you can send different information to different groups of people.
It builds relationships. Regular emails help customers feel connected to your business.
Starting Your Email List
To begin building your email list, you need a few basic things:
Choose an Email Service Provider
An email service provider (ESP) helps you collect addresses and send messages. Good options for digital download businesses include:
- Mailchimp
- ConvertKit
- AWeber
- GetResponse
Look for a provider that:
- Makes it easy to create signup forms
- Lets you send automated emails
- Works well with your website
- Fits your budget (many have free plans to start)
Create a Signup Form
Your email signup form should be simple and clear. Ask for:
- Email address (required)
- First name (optional)
- Interests (optional)
Don’t ask for too much information or people won’t sign up. Place your form in visible spots on your website:
- At the top of your homepage
- In the sidebar of your blog
- At the bottom of blog posts
- On a popup that appears after someone has been on your site
Offer Something Free
People need a reason to join your email list. Create a free digital download (often called a “lead magnet”) that solves a problem for your target audience.
Good lead magnets for a digital download business might be:
To attract potential customers, consider offering a free resource such as a sample chapter from a paid e-book, a mini-course related to your products, a helpful checklist or worksheet, or a template or pattern.
Whatever you offer, make sure it shows the quality of your paid products and provides real value.
Growing Your Email List Faster
Once you have the basics set up, try these strategies to grow your email list more quickly:
Create Content That Attracts Your Ideal Customers
Write blog posts and create videos that help people who might buy your digital products. At the end of each piece of content, invite readers to join your email list for more helpful information.
For example, if you sell digital knitting patterns, you might write blog posts about:
- How to fix common knitting mistakes
- The best yarns for different projects
- How to read knitting patterns
This kind of content marketing brings the right people to your website.
Use Social Media to Drive Signups
Share pieces of your free lead magnet on social media to get people interested. Create posts that highlight the benefits of joining your email list.
You might say: “Get my free guide to starting a podcast – just sign up for my email updates! This guide has helped over 500 people launch their own shows.”
Remember to always include a link to your signup form in your social media profiles.
Run a Contest or Giveaway
People love free things. Host a giveaway where entering requires joining your email list. The prize should appeal to your ideal customers – perhaps a bundle of your best digital products.
Make sure your contest follows the rules of any platforms you promote it on. Some social media sites have strict rules about contests.
Partner with Others in Your Field
Find other business owners who serve similar customers but don’t compete directly with you. Suggest swapping promotions – you tell your audience about them, and they tell their audience about you.
This kind of partnership marketing can quickly bring new subscribers to your email list.
Add Signup Forms to Your Digital Products
When someone buys a digital download from you, include information about your email list in the download. Explain the benefits of subscribing, like getting updates and special offers.
You might even create a special offer just for customers to encourage them to join.
Keeping Your Email List Healthy
Growing your list is important, but keeping subscribers engaged matters too. Here’s how to maintain a healthy email list:
Send Valuable Content Regularly
Create an email schedule and stick to it. Your subscribers should know roughly when to expect emails from you. You might send:
- Weekly tips related to your digital products
- Monthly newsletters with helpful content
- Occasional promotions and special offers
Make sure every email provides value, even if you’re selling something.
Segment Your List
Not all subscribers want the same information. Divide your email list into smaller groups based on:
- What they’ve purchased
- Which free download they chose
- How they interact with your emails
- What topics they’re interested in
Then send more targeted emails to each group. This email segmentation leads to better results.
Clean Your List Regularly
Remove subscribers who haven’t opened your emails in several months. While it might seem bad to have fewer subscribers, having an engaged list is better than a large one with people who don’t read your emails.
Many email service providers charge based on list size, so this can also save you money.
Ask for Feedback
Sometimes simply asking subscribers what they want can improve your email marketing. Send a survey asking:
- What topics they’d like to learn more about
- How often they want to receive emails
- What kind of digital products they need
Use this feedback to make your emails better.
What to Send to Your Email List
Once you have subscribers, what should you send them? Here are some ideas for effective email content:
Welcome Sequence
Create a series of 3-5 emails that automatically go out to new subscribers. These emails should:
- Deliver your promised free download
- Introduce you and your business
- Explain what subscribers can expect
- Share your best content
- Include a special offer for new subscribers
This welcome sequence helps turn subscribers into customers right away.
Educational Content
Send helpful tips and information related to your digital products. If you sell recipe e-books, you might share cooking techniques or ingredient substitutions.
This kind of content shows your expertise and keeps subscribers opening your emails.
Behind-the-Scenes Updates
People like to feel connected to businesses they support. Share your process for creating digital products or tell stories about your business journey.
These personal touches build stronger relationships with your subscribers.
Product Launches and Promotions
When you release new digital downloads, your email list should be the first to know. Create excitement with:
- Sneak peeks of what’s coming
- Special early-bird pricing
- Bonus items for subscribers only
- Limited-time offers
Your email subscribers should always get your best deals.
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Conclusion
Building an email list takes time and effort, but it’s one of the best investments for your digital download business. Start with the basics: choose an email service provider, create a signup form, and offer something valuable for free.
Then focus on growing your list through content marketing, social media, partnerships, and other strategies. Keep your subscribers engaged with regular, valuable emails that mix helpful content with occasional promotions.
Remember that your email list is about building relationships, not just making sales. When you genuinely help your subscribers, they’ll be more likely to buy your digital products and recommend them to others.
With consistency and patience, your email list will become your most valuable business asset, bringing in sales and creating loyal customers for years to come.