Building an email subscriber list for your Shopify store is one of the most powerful strategies to drive sales, boost customer engagement, and grow your business. A well-curated email list allows you to connect with your customers, promote products, and build loyalty. This guide will walk you through simple and creative steps to effectively build your Shopify email subscriber list.
1. Add an Email Sign-up Form to Your Store
One of the easiest ways to start collecting email subscribers is by adding a sign-up form to your Shopify store. It allows visitors to sign up for your newsletter, receive updates, or get special offers.
Steps to Add a Sign-Up Form:
- Choose a Sign-Up Form App: Browse the Shopify App Store to find a form-building app like Privy or Klaviyo.
- Design Your Form: Make sure the form looks good and matches your store’s design. Keep it simple—ask for their email and maybe a name.
- Place It Strategically: Add the sign-up form in visible places like the homepage, footer, or blog section.
2. Use Pop-Ups to Capture Attention
Pop-ups are effective for capturing visitors’ attention while they’re browsing. A well-timed pop-up can encourage visitors to subscribe to your email list in exchange for discounts or exclusive content.
Tips for Effective Pop-Ups:
- Timing: Show the pop-up after a visitor spends some time on your site, like 15-30 seconds.
- Offer Incentives: Give them a reason to sign up. A 10% discount on their first order works great.
- Make It Easy to Close: Always give visitors the option to close the pop-up without frustration.
3. Offer a Special Incentive for New Subscribers
People love deals. Offering a special incentive like a discount, free shipping, or a downloadable guide can encourage visitors to sign up for your email list.
Ideas for Incentives:
- Discount Codes: Offer 10% or 15% off their first purchase when they join your email list.
- Free Shipping: Offer free shipping as a welcome gift for subscribing.
- Exclusive Content: Give access to exclusive content, such as styling guides or product tips.
4. Run a Social Media Campaign to Promote Sign-Ups
Your social media followers can be a great source of email subscribers. Promote your email list on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter to encourage sign-ups.
How to Promote on Social Media:
- Post Regularly: Share posts that highlight the benefits of joining your email list, like exclusive discounts or sneak peeks.
- Add Links to Your Bio: Use your Instagram or Twitter bio to link directly to your email sign-up page.
- Use Stories and Ads: Instagram stories or Facebook ads can be a great way to promote your email list to a larger audience.
5. Create a Landing Page for Email Sign-Ups
A landing page is a dedicated webpage with the sole purpose of encouraging visitors to subscribe to your email list. These pages are great for promoting specific offers, events, or exclusive deals.
Steps to Create a Landing Page:
- Choose a Landing Page Builder: Shopify offers apps like Shogun or PageFly that help you create landing pages.
- Offer a Clear Incentive: Make sure visitors understand what they get when they sign up—like an exclusive discount or free product samples.
- Keep It Simple: Don’t overwhelm visitors with too much information. Just focus on the offer and the sign-up form.
6. Collect Emails During Checkout
Your checkout process is a prime opportunity to ask for emails. Since customers are already entering their information, it’s easy to add an option to subscribe to your list.
How to Collect Emails at Checkout:
- Enable Email Subscription Checkbox: Shopify allows you to add a checkbox during checkout to let customers opt into your email list.
- Keep It Clear: Make sure customers know they’re subscribing to receive updates and special offers.
- Offer an Incentive: Sweeten the deal by offering a small discount on their next purchase if they subscribe during checkout.
7. Add an Email Sign-Up Option to Your Blog
If your Shopify store has a blog, it’s a great place to encourage readers to subscribe to your email list. People who are interested in your content are likely to want more updates from you.
Tips for Adding a Sign-Up Form to Your Blog:
- Include Forms in Blog Posts: Add sign-up forms at the end of each blog post to capture emails from interested readers.
- Use a Sidebar Sign-Up Form: A form in the sidebar of your blog makes it easy for readers to subscribe while they’re browsing your content.
- Create Gated Content: Offer exclusive content like guides or tutorials that readers can access only by signing up for your email list.
8. Run a Giveaway or Contest
Running a giveaway or contest is a fun way to grow your email subscriber list quickly. People love free stuff, and they’re often willing to exchange their email for a chance to win.
How to Run a Giveaway:
- Choose a Prize: Offer something your target audience will love, like one of your best-selling products.
- Set the Rules: Make signing up for your email list a requirement to enter the giveaway.
- Promote It: Share the giveaway on your social media channels, blog, and Shopify store.
9. Add an Email Sign-Up Link to Your Email Signature
Even small efforts can have big results. Adding a link to your email sign-up page in your email signature is a subtle way to encourage subscribers.
How to Add It:
- Include a Simple Call to Action: Something like “Sign up for our newsletter and get 10% off!” works well.
- Use a Hyperlink: Make sure the text is clickable and leads to your sign-up page.
10. Partner with Influencers or Collaborate with Other Brands
Collaborating with influencers or complementary brands can help you reach new audiences and grow your email list.
How to Collaborate:
- Influencer Partnerships: Partner with influencers to promote your email list in exchange for products or commission.
- Brand Collaborations: Work with other brands to cross-promote email sign-ups. You could offer a joint giveaway or special promotion.
11. Encourage Referrals
Word of mouth is a powerful tool. Encourage your current subscribers to refer their friends and family to sign up for your email list.
How to Encourage Referrals:
- Offer Rewards: Provide incentives like discounts or free products when subscribers refer others who sign up.
- Create a Simple Referral System: Use a referral program app, such as ReferralCandy, to make it easy for people to refer others.
12. Optimize for Mobile Devices
More people than ever are using mobile devices to browse and shop. Ensure your sign-up forms and pop-ups are mobile-friendly to capture those users.
Tips for Mobile Optimization:
- Use Mobile-Responsive Forms: Ensure your forms look good and work well on mobile devices.
- Keep It Simple: Don’t ask for too much information. A simple email field works best on mobile.
- Test on Different Devices: Make sure to test your forms on different phones and tablets to ensure they work properly.
13. Use Exit-Intent Pop-Ups
Exit-intent pop-ups detect when a visitor is about to leave your website and show them a last-minute offer or invitation to subscribe to your email list.
How to Use Exit-Intent Pop-Ups:
- Offer a Discount: Show a special offer or discount when visitors are about to leave.
- Keep It Concise: Since visitors are about to leave, keep your message brief and to the point.
14. Promote Your Email List on Your Packaging
If you’re shipping products, use your packaging to promote your email list. Include flyers or printed inserts that encourage customers to sign up.
Ideas for Promoting with Packaging:
- Add a Call to Action: Include a flyer that says, “Sign up for our newsletter and get 10% off your next purchase.”
- Use QR Codes: Make it easy for customers to sign up by scanning a QR code with their phone.
15. Test and Optimize Your Sign-Up Forms
Finally, always test your sign-up forms to see what works best for your audience. Try different designs, messaging, and incentives to see what leads to the most sign-ups.
How to Test and Optimize:
- A/B Test Different Forms: Try different versions of your sign-up forms to see which one performs better.
- Monitor Sign-Up Rates: Keep an eye on how many people are signing up. If numbers are low, try tweaking the form design or offer.
- Refine Your Messaging: Experiment with different calls to action to see what resonates with your audience.
Conclusion
Building your Shopify email subscriber list takes time and effort, but it’s well worth it. By implementing these strategies—whether adding sign-up forms, offering incentives, or running giveaways—you can start growing your list today. Once your list is established, you’ll have a direct way to reach customers, increase sales, and build brand loyalty.