Are you sending out emails to your audience, but not hearing anything back?
There are lots of reasons to maintain an engaged audience.
But oftentimes people make mistakes while building their email list.
Learn how to avoid the common errors in email marketing so that you can nurture your leads!
This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. Please read my disclosure policy here.
5 Things To Avoid When Building Your Email List
#1 – Not Sharing Helpful Content and Advice
One of the problems with sharing offer after offer is that you’re not spending time to share helpful content and give advice to your readers.
People like buying from people they like and trust.
And the best way to earn that trust and loyalty is by helping them out.
Don’t skip this all-important step by not sharing helpful content and advice on a regular basis with your list.
Share some helpful blog posts.
Or write up a few tips in emails that are exclusive to your subscribers.
Start earning and then keeping their trust by mixing up free helpful content and sales pitches.
#2 – Not Letting Your Personality Show
No one likes to read dry emails that share nothing but the facts.
We’re social creatures and like to connect with the people we do business with.
That’s why it’s a big mistake to not let your personality show.
Don’t be afraid to share a bit about what’s going on in your life, what you’re up to and what you are struggling with.
Sharing your mistakes and stumbling blocks won’t make you seem like less of an expert.
It shows that you’re human, you’re learning and you’re someone your readers can relate to.
Don’t be afraid to share who you are and how you got to where you’re at today.
It may also be a mistake to keep your emails all business all the time.
Share a little of yourself and your family every now and then to show your readers that you’re a real human being that they can like and trust.
#3 – Using Too Much Hype And Spammy Headlines
Hyped up headlines work great… for a little while.
But here’s the thing.
Your subscribers will quickly catch on to those hype tactics and start ignoring your emails.
And that’s the last thing you want to happen.
Yes, it’s fine to use a strong, attention-getting subject line every now and again.
If you have a strong solo email that you know will convert well and make you a bunch of cash, go ahead and use that subject line.
Make sure those emails are spread apart with more traditional headlines in between.
Save the hype for rare occasions and never ever use anything spammy or misleading.
You’re spending a lot of time and effort on growing a valuable, highly responsive list.
Don’t risk losing a lot of good subscribers and customers with pushy sales methods.
#4 – Ignoring Responses and Replies From Your List
Are you paying attention to the emails, replies, comments and social media messages you get from your readers?
If not, you’re missing out on a lot of valuable information about your target market.
The better you get to know your readers and subscribers, the better you can serve them with the emails you send them on a regular basis.
Read those messages and respond to them.
When you come across a good question or example, share it with your whole list via an email.
Don’t ignore your readers reaching out to you.
Instead, look at them as opportunities to get to know your market better and to grow the relationship you have with each individual reader who takes the time to write to you.
#5 – Ignoring The Data Your Autoresponder Service Gives You
When was the last time you logged into your autoresponder dashboard and looked at the data and reports available to you?
There’s a lot of valuable information in there that you can use to tweak and improve your email marketing.
Not looking at it, and more importantly not acting on the information you get from the data, can be a costly mistake.
You don’t want to ignore important data like what types of emails get high open and click-through rates and which ones are causing higher than normal rates of unsubscribes.
Ignoring this valuable information will keep you from understanding what your market and your subscribers respond to best.
You can’t test, tweak and get better at marketing to your list unless you look at the data your autoresponder service gives you.
You’re paying them a nice chunk of money each month.
Make sure you take advantage of everything they have to offer.
There you have it.
That’s my list of the 5 common mistakes to avoid when marketing to your list.
What can you start doing differently right away to grow and maintain a valuable and effective list?
Overwhelmed and not sure where to start? There’s tons of support in my Time, Money, & Happiness Matters Facebook group.
This is very helpful to me. I was struggling with writing emails. Now I know what type of emails to send.
So glad this was helpful! 😊