You know when you visit a new site and suddenly a banner pops up and it’s asking you to sign up for their newsletter?
9 times out of 10 this would annoy you because you JUST got there.
This strategy, however, when done correctly can make a difference. See, as I mentioned earlier, you would probably get annoyed because you did not have the chance to browse through the site and see if you’re interested in what they’re offering.
Imagine you're at a party, and as soon as you walk in the door, someone you've never met before starts asking for your phone number. It's a bit awkward, right? You haven't even had a chance to see if you want to talk to them yet.
As a marketer, it's like being the host of that party. You want people to join in and have a good time, but you don't want to push them into something before they're ready.
So, instead of bombarding visitors with a request to sign up for your newsletter the moment they arrive on your website, give them a chance to look around first. Allow them to familiarize themselves with your content and offerings.
Apart from this, there are other steps you can take to improve your signup rates and we’ve listed them below! Just keep scrolling!
Work On Your Placement
Placement matters!
To nail down the perfect placement for your form page, it's essential to understand the typical options provided by most form builders:
The classic popup form: This is the familiar and often-used popup that appears on top of the page content.
The inline subscription form: This form blends into a page's content, appearing as a natural part of the text or layout.
The floating bar form: Positioned at either the top or bottom of the page, this form stays visible as visitors scroll through the content.
The sticky form: This form remains fixed on the screen, following the visitor as they scroll up or down the page.
The full-page form: This form covers the entire page, providing a focused and immersive signup experience for visitors.
TAKE NOTE: When using a pop-up form, make sure there's a clear 'x' or 'exit' button visible. Users should have the option to opt-out if they wish. It might seem like a small detail, but I've encountered websites that overlook this, and it can be quite frustrating, sometimes prompting me to leave the site altogether.
Keep Forms Simple and Easy To Fill Out
Pop-up forms should be quick and straightforward. People don't have the patience to spend a lot of time filling them out.
For us, we try to keep it as simple as possible. We only ask for their email address as you can see above. If they're using an iPhone, it's even easier because it fills that in automatically, skipping an extra step.
You could also ask for their name to personalize your newsletters, but that's optional.
If you really (keyword: really) need it for your marketing, you can ask for their location or interests. But if not, skip that step to keep things quick!
We recommend sticking to just asking for their name and email.
Design your form using a clean layout that focuses attention on what's important. Make sure it’s easy to read and not too complicated.
Add some color to make your Call-to-Action (CTA) stand out. A pop of color can help grab attention and make it clear what action you want visitors to take.
Timing Is Key
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, you don’t want to chase subscribers away by popping up too soon! So, when should actually pop up?
Instead of popping up in the beginning, you can try waiting until they're about to leave, and then show the popup - that's called exit-intent.
Timing your pop-ups well makes people more likely to click on them. So, if you want more people to sign up for your newsletter, you need to wait for the right moment and then hit them with an irresistible offer.
First, figure out how long people usually stick around on your site. Then, think about what you're offering and how long it takes for people to get interested.
You can use tools like Google Analytics to track these things. And remember, finding the perfect timing might take some trial and error, so don't worry if it takes a few tries to get it right.
I recently visited the Search Engine Journal website and noticed something interesting. They waited a few minutes before showing me a form asking me to take action. I liked that approach because it gave me time to explore their site and decide if I was interested in what they had to offer.
Give Them a Reason To Sign Up
You've probably noticed that these days, people are quite picky about giving out their email addresses. They think twice before sharing their personal data with a third-party site.
Sure, having an attractive form is a good start, but to really seal the deal, you have to offer them an incentive.
Think about it like this: people are more likely to sign up if they're getting something valuable out of it, like a special discount or a freebie.
So, if you're looking to ramp up those signups, take some time to figure out what's really valuable to your audience. Then, offer it to them in exchange for their email address. It's a win-win situation – they get what they need from you, and you get a new subscriber!
For example, MAC had this form pop up, and as you can see, they’re giving me a 10% discount on my first purchase if I sign up for their newsletter. Plus I get notified of new product launches and offers! As a fan of MAC products, this was too amazing for me to resist!
Test Out Different Versions To See What Works Best
Do you think you've figured out how to get more people to sign up for your newsletter? Not quite sure?
Give A/B Testing a shot! It's a method that can help you improve how well your sign-up process works. Try comparing two versions of something to see which one works better.
For instance, you can try out different versions of your copy to see which gets more people to sign up. And don't forget about where you put your sign-up form on your website – you can test different spots to see which one gets more clicks.
Your CTAs are super important too. Instead of using boring predictable ones, try to come up with catchy phrases that make people want to click. Then, run an A/B test to see which CTA works best.
For example, rather than simply saying "Sign up for our newsletter," focus on the value proposition. Instead, try something like "Get notified about our latest offers!"
Those interested in buying will most likely sign up, anticipating the best deal for the product they're interested in.
PRO TIP: We suggest testing out one format at a time to know which one is the real winner. Maybe test out copy variations first then form placement. Testing too many formats at once can confuse you.
Final Words
To wrap up, growing your newsletter audience takes multiple strategies and trying out different tricks. From where you place your sign-up form to what you offer in return, each step matters.
Go ahead and give the steps mentioned above a try. With a bit of experimentation and creativity, you'll see those sign-up numbers grow in no time!
SO, WHERE DO YOU FIND THIS PARTNER?
Well, aren’t we glad you asked! We at DigiCom are obsessive data-driven marketers pulling from multi-disciplinary strategies to unlock scale. We buy media across all platforms and placements and provide creative solutions alongside content creation, and conversion rate optimizations. We pride ourselves on your successes and will stop at nothing to help you grow.
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