If you’ve researched how to build an email list, you’ll find one common piece of advice: Create a freebie and advertise it on social media to get emails.
But what if freebies aren’t your thing? What if you’re still working on creating a freebie but want to jump-start your list? Do you really need a freebie to generate those leads?
The answer is somewhere in between yes and no. So, before you decide whether or not to create a freebie to build your email list, let’s take a look at the facts.
Fact #1: Buyers Are More Important than Freebie Hunters
First things first, the size of your email list doesn’t matter if none of those people are converting into paying customers.
If you can attract 5 paying customers without a freebie, your email list is more valuable than if you had 10 freebie seekers but no buyers.
Fact #2: Freebies Are a Great Way to Attract an Audience
There’s just no denying it, people love receiving free stuff. It’s like samples at the grocery store – they capture your attention, get you to try something new and maybe even convince you to buy something you had no intention of spending money on.
Not everyone will buy, but it’s a tried-and-true way to turn browsers into buyers.
Fact #3: Freebies Give Potential Buyers a Sneak Peek at Your Services
Not all freebies are created equal. A good freebie will be an accurate but small sample of what you can do for a paying customer.
It’s something to hook your target audience on and show them that you really can help them with their needs.
Fact #4: There Are Other Ways to Achieve Results
While freebies are an excellent way to attract customers, they aren’t the only way. Do you write regular blog content? Put a link at the bottom of each post encouraging readers to subscribe.
Add a section to your home page about staying in touch via your email list. You can even advertise your email list on your YouTube videos, podcasts or wherever else you create – no freebie needed.
So, when it comes down to it, freebies will always be an amazing way to grow your email list. They attract people who would otherwise never give your business a second look and they give people a peek at what you’re capable of.
But they aren’t the only way to attract subscribers, and at the end of the day, it’s the paying customers who matter.
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