Are you getting the right people to join your email list?

Is your email list growing the way you want it to?

If your answer to either of those questions is “no, ” you need to look at the foundation you’ve built to ensure it’s designed and created to get the right people to raise their hands and say “yes” to giving you their precious email addresses.

Answering questions from my community is something I love to do, and recently, I did just that, with the result being a series of Ask Me Anything (about online marketing) videos.

The first question I received was about list building, a perennial topic for business owners and marketers.

Below is the video and below the video is an article crafted from the transcript (and yes, I got help from ChatGPT4o to organize the information so it is easier to read than the transcript).

Imagine entering a room filled with potential customers, each eagerly awaiting a compelling reason to stay connected with you. Your email list is that room; the key to filling it lies in your approach to list building.

I recently offered a program called The List Building Lab, which included 12 lessons on my top strategies for effective list-building. The video above and the article below expand on those insights.

I’ll start by emphasizing the importance of a solid foundation. Without it, your list-building efforts might falter. The cornerstone of this foundation is a dedicated, stand-alone page for your opt-in form—#3 on the list below.

Why am I addressing the third essential step?

I’m making an assumption you already 1) know your target audience and 2) you’ve created a valuable reason why (maybe a lead magnet) someone would want to subscribe to your list.

That makes the third step: setting up a dedicated opt-in page. If you haven’t done steps one and two, you must back up and start there.

This page should exist solely to encourage visitors to join your list, whether offering a newsletter, a lead magnet, or another enticing freebie. The dedicated page allows for focused promotion and makes it simple for potential subscribers to opt in without distractions.

Why is a stand-alone opt-in page so crucial?

Many businesses scatter their opt-in forms across various parts of their website – the homepage hero image, the footer, or the sidebar. While these locations are beneficial, they don’t replace the power of a single, clear opt-in page.

This page is a direct, uncomplicated path for your audience to follow, enhancing your promotional efforts. Imagine being a guest on a podcast or speaking at a summit; having a straightforward URL to share can significantly boost your sign-ups.

Creating this dedicated page isn’t just about the opt-in form itself; it’s about conveying the value and benefits to the subscriber.

Here are some key elements to include on your stand-alone opt-in page:

1. Clear Value Proposition: Explain exactly what the subscriber will receive and why it’s beneficial. Be specific about the value they’ll gain.
2. Compelling Headline: Craft a headline that grabs attention and clearly states the offer.
3. Engaging Copy: Use persuasive language to describe the benefits of subscribing. Focus on what’s in it for them.
4. Simple Form: To reduce friction, keep the form fields to a minimum. Ask only for essential information, typically a name and email address.
5. Strong Call to Action: Make your call to action (CTA) stand out. Use action-oriented language that encourages immediate sign-up.
6. Visual Appeal: Ensure the page is visually appealing with a clean design, relevant images, and a layout that guides the eye toward the CTA.

Beyond the stand-alone page, promoting your opt-in page effectively is crucial.

Here are some additional strategies:

1. Social Media Promotion: Regularly share the link to your opt-in page across your social media channels. Use eye-catching visuals and persuasive copy to draw attention.
2. Guest Appearances: When participating in podcasts, webinars, or summits, mention your opt-in page and provide the link. This can attract a new audience who already values your expertise.
3. Email Signatures: Include a link to your opt-in page in your email signature. Every email you send is an opportunity to attract new subscribers.
4. Partnerships and Collaborations: Partner with other businesses or influencers in your niche to promote your opt-in page. Cross-promotion can introduce your offer to a wider audience.

To sum up, my list-building approach involves creating a strong, focused foundation and promoting it effectively. Your dedicated opt-in page is a powerful tool in your marketing toolbox, simplifying the subscription process and enhancing your promotional efforts.

Every email list starts with one subscriber. Treat each one as the individual they are, and your list will grow with integrity.

Author Unknown

Create that stand-alone page, communicate your value, and confidently promote it. By doing so, you’ll be well on your way to building a robust, engaged email list that can drive your business forward.

Ready to start? Craft your opt-in page today and watch your email list grow!

Here’s a comprehensive checklist ready to help you succeed with your list building.

Yes, I want the checklist!

Blog header photo by Philipp Katzenberger on Unsplash

The post How to Build a Strong Foundation for Your Email List appeared first on Adventures in Visibility.

Whether you call them “text images” or “text pictures” or “image quotes,” using images with text is a content marketing trend that’s not going away anytime soon.

You’ve probably noticed a lot of bloggers use text images to promote their content, particularly blog posts. I also recommend doing that, as I suggested when I published the Online Visibility Challenge (ongoing, take the challenge anytime!).

The second step in the Challenge is to “Create a quote image from your post” and the third step is to “share the quote image.”

Text to Include on Your Text Images

There are two types of images I generally see associated with promoting blog posts:

1. The title of the blog post with an eye-popping image
2. A quote from the content of the blog post

The image below by Dustin W. Stout is a great example of creating an attractive image with the blog post title:

You can easily create quote/text images on sites like PicMonkey and Canva – two of my favorites – then save them to your computer to use on your social networks.  

Each social network favors different image dimensions. However, if you create your image 560 pixels wide, it will work nicely on Facebook pages, Google+, Pinterest and Twitter. If you take it one step further and create a square image, you’ll be able to create one image that works on Instagram as well.

Where to Share Your Images

My suggestions probably won’t come as a surprise to you. There are five primary sites where you can use your images to promote your content. Caveat: every blog post may not be appropriate for every platform. You’ve got to know your audience.

Tip: Make sure your image has a Call to Action and a URL for people to follow so they can get to your post. Create a redirect link (use a plugin like Pretty Link) or use a link shortener like bit.ly or Goog.le.

1) Google+

Like the other social networks, gorgeous, large images get a lot of attention on Google+. There are a couple of ways you can present your text images: upload your image and in the description of your update, include the link to your blog post; or share the link to your blog post and (at the time of this post) your large image will be displayed automatically along with the title of your post and a preview of the content. For a detailed review of how the link posts work, please read Mike Allton‘s post on the subject.  

2) Facebook Page

 If you have a Facebook page for your business, you probably do this already, right?

The optimal size (currently) for images on Facebook is 560 x 292 pixels, and square works as well.

NOTE: Optimal image sizes are always evolving, especially on Facebook. Here’s an updated list of best image sizes for Facebook in 2016.

3) Pinterest

 It’s well known that Pinterest can drive a lot of traffic to your blog posts, so don’t neglect this social network. Pin your image to the appropriate board and make sure you include the URL in the description and source. If you think you’re topic doesn’t lend itself to Pinterest, think again and watch this interview with Joan Stewart about how to use Pinterest for dull or yucky topics.

4) Instagram

 Do you promote your content on Instagram? Most people don’t, so you have an opportunity to stand out. Use a pithy quote from your content vs. the title of your blog post. Instagramers love quotes. Then add the URL to the description. The link won’t be clickable but at least your followers can find your content if the quote resonates with them.  Use the #quote hashtag to attract new followers.

When you share an image on Instagram, you have the option to also push it to your Facebook profile and Twitter. In this case, I suggest you don’t do that and have another option for you.  The reason why you don’t want to share on Twitter is that the image is shared as a link vs. a full-size image. There is a better way so your image shows in all its glory on Twitter.

5) Facebook Profile and Twitter

 Before you post your text image on your Facebook profile, set up a recipe on IFTTT (If This Then That). Lou Bortone has built a recipe that creates an action to share an image you post on Facebook and tweet it to your Twitter account with a linked pic.twitter.com image. That means your image shows up in the Twitter stream vs. only showing a link to the image.

This is how your tweet will look:

It’s back. Are you in? #visibilitychallenge #visibilitytip http://t.co/YQUVlXtEbE pic.twitter.com/hp2yT8T1sD

— Denise Wakeman (@DeniseWakeman) March 19, 2014

 There you have it. Five ways to post on six social sites. Are you using any of these tactics? Do you have other ways you share your text images? If so, please share in the comments!

Learn 5 ways to use text images to promote your content. Click to Tweet

The post 5 Ways to Use Text Images to Promote Your Content appeared first on Adventures in Visibility.