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False spring has struck Nashville! I’ve spent the last 2 days on my front porch, starting seeds and planting the garlic I stratified this winter. Even with more cold temperatures to come, I’m excited about the growth my garden will have over the next few months.
Your email list is like a garden, Reader. (I love a good garden analogy 😆)
Over the past 2 months, I’ve talked to you about re-engaging lapsed donors, improving your call-to-actions, and your overall email marketing strategy. Now let’s talk about actually getting more people on your list.
March is a great time to promote email list growth because things aren’t as fast-paced as April and May tend to be. Growing your list now can set you up for more donors, volunteers, or resources later.
The seeds you plant now could bring a great harvest you didn’t see coming.
In the nonprofit world, I see many organizations shy away from list growth because they feel “salesy” or feel like they shouldn’t be self-promotional. But what I see in common between businesses and nonprofits is the same marketing techniques with a different purpose. Your strategy is to build lasting relationships, not buyers. Your call-to-action is an invitation, not a push.
People won’t know about you unless you tell them. They won’t become supporters unless you invite them.
Here are 3 ways I encourage you to grow your email list this month:
- Create a fun lead magnet relevant to your mission. The National Forest Foundation offered fall-themed coloring pages this past year, highlighting fall nature scenes. This is relevant to their mission and great for kids or a relaxing afternoon (my daughter and I colored them together!). Your lead magnet doesn’t always have to be a report – it can be a fun way to promote an upcoming initiative or share your mission. It could be a quiz, a digital download, or an entry for a giveaway.
- An opt-in on your direct mail. I recently shared on LinkedIn about a cute puppy calendar I received from a heating and air company. It was a nice little surprise that now hangs on my whiteboard. If you’re already sending direct mail, include a CTA or a QR code asking them to sign up for your emails. They may have engaged with you in person and could be missing your emails.
- Your newsletters as an incentive! Everything doesn’t have to be new, and there doesn’t have to be a great new launch just to see some list growth. Your emails alone can be the incentive for people to sign up. Just make sure you are providing value or including exclusive content just for your subscribers.
Choose one (or all!) of these methods to grow your email list this month. I can’t wait to see what these seeds produce!
I’d love to hear from you – how are you planning to grow your email list this month? What are some fun incentives you’ve used in the past? Click reply and let me know!
I quit Instagram yesterday.
I've been craving a more tech-free life for quite a few years now. Raising a toddler and working with mission-driven folks have made me want to scale back my time and effort on-screen for a higher-quality life off-screen. So that's what I'm doing - I created a 9-grid with all of my important information, should a potential client find me here, and I logged out of the account.
I've noticed a rise in longing for a more analog life with my fellow small business friends, but I'm wondering, is that an increasing trend for nonprofits as well? Are you looking to do less social media and focus on other areas of marketing? Let me know in the poll below! Your response just may spark some free resources for you. 👀
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| Is your nonprofit hoping to go more "off-grid" this year? |
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