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Grow Your Email List, No Computer Required

Has this ever happened to you?

Someone comes in to your place of business, or attends an event you’re hosting, or makes a donation, or engages with you offline in some way, and then he or she leaves and you have no way of staying in touch. Same goes for all the people who may hear an advertisement for your business or organization on the radio, or see a print ad in the local newspaper.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could add people like this to your email list quickly and easily, and could put the power of joining the list literally right in the hands of your customers, clients, members, or supporters?

Well, it’s possible, and they don’t even need a computer. All these people need are their mobile phones.

That’s right: These days, with mobile technologies making things easier and more portable, people can sign up to join your email list in seconds, and all you have to do is some quick setup.

Here’s what I mean:

1. They can join via text message. Using a service like Constant Contact’s Text-to-Join , your customers can join your email list simply by sending a quick text message. All you do is pick a keyword, and then tell people to text that keyword to a number that we’ll give you. You can promote this at events, in your radio advertisements, or any other time you come across someone who is not already on your list. (For more detailed information, check out this quick tutorial.)

2. They can scan a QR code. QR codes are everywhere these days, and you can even use them to grow your list now with Constant Contact’s Scan-to-Join feature. Scan-to-Join allows you to create a simple barcode that, when scanned by a smart phone, takes your customers, clients, members, and supporters to a mobile friendly Join My Mailing List page, where they can add themselves to your lists. You can put this code on flyers, business cards, print advertisements, or other printed materials. (For some great tips on using Scan-to-Join, download this quick handout.)

Remember: Asking people if they’re on your mailing list also gives you the chance to ask if they’re connected to you on social media. Mobile apps make it very easy for people to start following their favorite businesses, organizations, or people on Twitter, and to “Like” a Facebook Page too.

Growing your mailing list is something you should always be doing. By letting your customers, clients, members, and supporters join with their mobile phones, they can sign up anywhere, at any time.

Are you using mobile technologies to grow your email list? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/constantcontact.

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Gina Watkins is a leading expert on e-marketing for small business – and has a real passion for helping businesses to succeed. Her ongoing series of dynamic lectures are filled with real-world examples, humor and results-driven wisdom garnered from more than two decades of sales, business development and marketing experience. In addition to owning her own business, she is an award-winning direct marketer, has been featured on WUSA Channel 9’s Mind Over Money show, Dr. Gayle Carson’s Women In Business radio show, Morgan State’s Briefcase Radio program, and in numerous other media. In her role as Constant Contact Regional Development Director, she’s presented to more than ten thousand seminar attendees about the keys to success with easy, affordable, highly effective technology tools that grow trusted business relationships.

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