6-Step Process to Build an Engaged Email List
Email marketing is the superpower that we all have if we use it strategically. According to Statista, there are 3.9 billion of email users as of 2019, and this figure is set to grow to 4.3 billion of users by 2023. Just put in the perspective it’s half of the world’s population. Additionally, 99% of consumers check their email every day, and it is the preferred way to receive updates from the brands (Hubspot).
Now that we know why we should focus on email marketing, let’s dive in how to build that engaged email list for your real estate business where:
your contacts open up your emails and newsletters on consistent basis
when the time comes to selling, buying or renting - they become your customers
1. Define Your Email List Building Goals
It sounds very simple, but any successful plan starts with goal setting. Define how many subscribers you would like to add to your mailing list weekly or monthly.
2. Organize Your Current Contacts
Where do you store your contacts? Is that your contact book in your phone? Is that your personal email contact book? The first step here would be to export all your contacts from all these sources into an Excel Spreadsheet and start organizing them to make sure you have the most recent email address for each contact and their first & last name.
3. Segment Your Contact List
According to Campaign Monitor 2019, email marketers who used segmented campaigns see a 760% increase in revenue. What does that mean to you? After you have your contacts organized, you need to segment them into different groups such as potential buyers, potential sellers, renters, friends & family, etc. The more segmented you can make your list - the more relevant emails you can send them. That will result in more conversions and potential revenue for you.
4. Find Email Service Provider (ESP) That Works Best For You and Your Business
Not all email service providers are created equal. A few key things to look for when you are choosing an email provider will be:
Personalization of email (including your contact’s name in the email automatically)
User-friendly with an excellent customer service
Responsive drag & drop email templates
Great analytics and tracking of your email open rates, click-throughs, unsubscribes, etc.
Number of contacts allowed
Last but not least - price
One of my favorite email service providers is Flodesk. On the contrary to Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Constant Contacts, Flodesk doesn’t penalize you for growing your list. It offers one monthly price for unlimited subscribers in addition to beautiful templates, drag & drop email builder, and an ability to segment your list and create an opt-in form! You can grab 50% off your subscription with my affiliate link here.
5. Create an Irresistible Lead Magnet For Your Ideal Customer
A lead magnet is a piece of content such as a guide / checklist / cheatsheet that your ideal customer would want. For example, if your goal is to attract sellers - your lead magnet could be “Seller’s Guide to Selling Their Home in a Record Time For a Record Price.”
After you write content for your lead magnet, you can use DIY easy to use and beautiful templates on Canva to design your guide / checklist / cheatsheet.
6. Create a Stand-Alone Opt-In Landing Page for Your Lead Magnet
For people to subscribe to your mailing list, it’s important to create a separate opt-in landing page where your potential subscribers cannot wander away and start exploring your website before they opt-in to your mailing list and receive that guide / checklist / cheatsheet.
On a separate note, follow CAN-SPAM Act that establishes requirements for commercial messages in the USA. If your contacts are located in other countries, make sure to follow that country’s commercial email regulations.
I hope this helps. Stay inspired and have fun building your engaged email list!
XOXO,
Anastasiia
P.S. Join our private Facebook Support Group “Marketing Tips for Real Estate Agents” to meet and network with like-minded real estate agents!
Some links mentioned in the article above are affiliate links, which means I may get a small commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you. Most of the time, the link gives you a discount as well. I only share about companies that I truly believe in.