Convert Visitors to Subscribers: 5 Tips to Build Your Email List

If you’ve been reading the Altru Museum Management Software blog lately, you’ve probably seen some new content. In addition to posting release details, Altru new features, and tips & tricks, we’ve started featuring our clients. So many of our organizations do a great job with their social media, events, exhibits, and innovative marketing that we feel like we should share their wisdom with the rest of the Altru community.

In order to keep up with what our clients are doing, I decided to join their listserves – all 100+ of them. In my efforts to join their lists, I’ve realized some organizations make it harder than others. So, here are my suggestions for getting visitors to subscribe to your email list:

1. Location, location, location.

In other words, put it where it can easily be found, preferably above the fold. Clearly marked. With a call to action. If visitors have to search around the tabs on your site, they may never find your listserve sign up. The fewer clicks you put between you and a potential subscriber, the better.

Join Our Newsletter is displayed first, followed by links to social media accounts on the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum website.

Long Island Children's Museum has "Join Our Email List" at the top of their website.

Placement really tells your visitor what you want them to do once they hit your site. If you have a link to your Facebook and Twitter at the top of your homepage and your listserve at the bottom, it implies that you prefer to interact with your audience on your social media sites. If you want to build your list, make sure it has priority on your page.

2. Require minimal information.

I hate to say it, but when a listserve makes my address and phone number a required field, I’m really hesitant to sign up. I did on a couple sites - with my work address and phone number – but normally, I would have opted to just check your site from time to time.

Harbor History Museum asks for only the basics.

3. Include it with the links to your social media accounts.

When you have a specific area on your website to connect with your users, be sure to include your email list there. If you have a link to your Facebook, Twitter, Blog, flickr, and YouTube, but not your listserve, your visitors may assume you don’t have a list to join.

Portland Museum of Art groups their E-newsletter with links to their social media accounts.

4. Add it to your Facebook apps.

Facebook has that nifty little app section at the top. Include your events, photos, maps, twitter link, polls, and of course, your email list.

Join My List on Museum of Design Atlanta's Facebook page.

5. RSS as a replacement.

Don’t have a listserve? Enable RSS so visitors can keep up with your blog activity with Google Reader (my preference). Personally, this is my main way to keep up with my favorite blogs and websites.

Subscribe to posts and/or comments on the Tenement Museum blog.

How do you drive visitors to sign up for your email list? Do you still see value in email addresses or are you more focused on blog subscribers or social media fans and followers? Let’s discuss in the comments below or start a conversation in the Altru community!