1. Put a sign-up box in your store near the register.

Collecting email addresses can be as simple as asking people to sign up with provided registration slips. Just make sure it’s clear that they will be added to your email database. If they seem hesitant, you can remind them that they can unsubscribe at any time.

2. Put that stack of business cards to use!

When you meet with someone face-to-face, you typically swap business cards, especially at a conference or trade show. You can use this strategy in your store, too. Set up a fishbowl at your register encouraging guests to drop in a business card to register for a chance to win a free product or service. Again, be sure to make it clear that they will be added to your email list and can opt-out at any time.

3. Download from your existing POS.

Many point-of-sale systems also work as a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) as well as including tracking emails. Whenever someone on your team is speaking with a contact, add their email to the system. If you can, utilize tagging so you can keep track of who is a customer, vendor or partner. Then on an occasional basis, like once a month, export this information. You can filter the information for customers and send them an opt-in email.

4. Create an exclusive email club.

Invite people to “Join the Club” for your business. Offer an incentive for signing up, such as a free gift or coupon on their birthday. With MailChimp, you can make a hassle-free birthday email that automatically sends your chosen birthday reward to each person.

5. Organize an email giveaway.

Reach out to your existing contacts with postal mail or an opt-in email. Incentivize them to opt-in to your emails with a giveaway or reward. In order to get customers to join in and stay subscribed, the incentive should be value-added and can be as simple as a potholder, a pan or a digital download for a coupon or an industry-related e-book.

6. Take advantage of your incoming phone calls.

A lot of initial contact with customers or potential customers occurs over the phone. This is an ideal time to ask them to sign up for your email updates. Review the benefits of being part of your exclusive email list, such as the opportunity to receive special offers or valuable industry-related information only available to email subscribers.

7. Put your website to work.

Make it easy for a customer to sign up for your email list when they visit your website. MailChimp offers a sign-up form you can add to the footer of your website so it shows up on every page for easy accessibility. Spice up the copy so they can’t resist the offer.

Take this a step further by adding a pop-up window on your website to capture emails. MailChimp has a feature that makes it simple to design and add to your website. MailChimp users have seen their list growth rate increase by an average of 50.8% after adding a pop-up form to their site.

8. Promote your email list on your social media.

Convert your social media followers to email subscribers by posting a link on your Facebook Business page to your email list sign-up form. Don’t forget to share this to your personal social media accounts as well. Be sure to add an incentive that will entice them to sign up.

9. Let your email signature do the work for you.

Add a link to your sign-up form at the bottom of every email you send so anyone who receives one of your emails can sign up directly to be on your list. Attract more participation with an irresistible offer, like an ebook download or industry-related information that can be sent after they register.

10. Get help from your staff.

Motivate your employees to help build the subscriber list. Front desk personnel, cashiers, and floor salespeople are all already talking to customers—why not have them ask customers if they would like to join your email list? You can even take it a step further by creating an internal contest that encourages employees to collect valid email addresses.

11. Take your marketing to the streets with sandwich or A-frame boards.

Sandwich boards are very effective for the restaurant industry and will work for you, too. Set one out in front of your storefront to advertise your email and offer an incentive to those who sign up. If setting it out front isn’t an option, who says you can’t set one up inside? Put it near your checkout or another high-traffic area to call attention to your email newsletter and sign-up incentive.

12. Let your receipts do double-duty.

Many receipt printers let you include personalized copy on your receipts. You can use this area to ask for a customer’s email, or you can simply ask them to write their email address on the back of their receipt. At the end of the day or during a slow period, your front desk clerk or receptionist can help input these.

13. Think inside the box!

With any shipment, always include a note or postcard to promote your email list. Highlight “email only” offers to entice them to sign up right away. This can also work as a bounce-back offer to motivate them to make a second purchase or to leave a review online for your business.

14. Entice with a clever download.

Create an ebook available for download that will interest visitors to your website. It could be anything from a “best practice” related to your field or an industry “Top 10 List”. It doesn’t need to be complicated—just useful or informative. Website visitors would be required to fill out a brief form, including their email, in order to download the PDF.

15. Use the call-to-action button feature on Facebook.

If you have a Facebook page for your business, you have the ability to add a call-to-action button to the top of your page. Offer incentives that will attract the attention of your audience and encourage them to click the button. You can direct this to your sign-up form through MailChimp.

Stacey Steiner – Digital Marketing Manager

Stacey is the digital marketing manager at CFI Marketing. She specializes in project management, planning and strategy, inbound marketing, email marketing, and social media marketing.