I wrote a blog post last year about the 3 simple ways to grow your mailing list. While those steps are effective, I recently discovered a superb tactic, and I want to share it with you today. But before we dive in, let’s have a quick recap about why an email list matters:
- Email stays the same. It doesn’t rely on algorithms, unlike SEO. This means you’ll be able to reach your audience regardless of the place and time.
- About 2.5 billion people have email addresses. Expect this number to increase now that we’re constantly connected to our mobile devices.
- Email is personal and affordable. You can tailor your message to your audience’s interests. And you only have to pay a low monthly subscription depending on your email marketing service provider.
Okay, so what’s the ULTIMATE solution to growing a massive, massive list in less time? Create an online contest or giveaway. That’s it.
In this post, you’ll learn why contests or giveaways build a huge audience and how you can get started. Even a solopreneur like you can do it so don’t worry.
Why a Contest or Giveaway? The Reason It Works
Contests and giveaways are forms of online competition, like playing a game. They work so well because they capitalize on a psychological phenomenon called FOMO – “the fear of missing out.”
FOMO has been present since the beginning of time but is becoming more rampant, more intense than ever. In this millennial generation, anything is almost within reach, thanks to the internet. Thanks to social media.
Millennials share their latest achievements, parties they go to, celebs they follow. Getting these things out in the open creates feelings of discontentment among others. We want to experience the same things. We don’t want to miss out on the fun.
Online competitions, when shared, sparks more sharing. Ask your audience to sign-up for your mailing list and share your campaign with their friends to get a chance to win your prize.
What is the Difference Between a Contest and Giveaway?
Here’s how to differentiate between the two:
Contests
- Contests tend to offer a bigger prize that’s given to one to three winners.
- Contests have more complex mechanics – they require more steps in order to win.
- Contests run for a specific period of time.
Giveaways
- Giveaways offer smaller prizes but to many. Everybody has more chances of winning.
- Giveaways require simpler and shorter steps to win. For example, ask your audience to get 3 of their friends to sign-up for your email list and they win an ebook or pillow.
- Giveaways last longer – even forever – until you’re satisfied with the size of your email list.
Tips to Run an Online Contest or Giveaway
1. Pick a contest software to run your campaign.
There are tons of tools and applications that let you set-up exciting campaigns. Pick something that allows you to create a landing page, put up sign-up forms, and can be integrated into your website or social media. Options include Rafflecopter, Shortstack, and Gleam.
2. Decide on the best prize.
A common mistake that solopreneurs make is that they pick any prize as long as it’s attractive. This often results in generating the wrong type of audience. Hone in on your ideal audience to know their interests and pain points. What do most buyers in your niche want? For example, in the women’s fitness niche, people will want a workout shirt or activity tracker – not a teddy bear.
3. Keep track of the results.
There’s a ton of useful insights to gain when the contest or giveaway ends. How many subscribers did you get? What were the social media sites that brought in the most audiences? Ask yourself these questions. Check what aspects you can improve on next time.
Now that you know why contests and giveaways work and tips to run them, are you ready to start one? Good luck on building that huge email list. Let me in on the results.
