Instagram is not just for posting selfies, it can help increase your email list for your small business! Email marketing is a very effective way to get your business’s content out in a matter of seconds to a large group of people at the same time. Today, social media is a critical aspect in your digital marketing mix towards growing your business. Among other reasons to consistently use social media is that you can acquire leads via obtaining email addresses. Below we’ve listed the top 5 ways to grow your email list with Instagram for your small business.
1. Setting the Direct Contact Option as an Email
When you are setting up an Instagram account for your small business, it is important to set up the profile as an Instagram business account. An Instagram business account allows you to use an email as the direct contact option. This allows followers to send messages to your company directly and can easily increase your email contact list without bothering followers. When customers email your company for a question, comment or concern, you can save their email and add it to your email contact list.
2. Promote Your Newsletter or Blog
Promoting your newsletter on Instagram is a great way to get more exposure to your company. Even though Instagram has a character limit and does not allow live links in posts, you can have a live link in the bio that directs to the newsletter or blog and a sign-up option. When Instagram followers sign up to receive your newsletter or updates to your blog, they are more likely to be actually interested in your company! Instagram followers will have to sign up for your newsletter or blog via email, which is a way that discreetly increases your email contact list.
3. Use Stickers in Your Stories
Instagram stories have become one of the biggest trends in the past three years. People spend 2x more time watching the short-lived content than scrolling through posts because they are afraid to miss out! Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours. Instagram has a bunch of tools and stickers you can use in your story. An example of a sticker is called the “question sticker”. This allows your company to ask your followers for their email within your story and they can reply directly back. This is a simple way to increase your email contact list. Sometimes the simplest way is just to ask!
4. Invite Followers to Join Loyalty Programs
No matter the size of your business, it is important to always find creative ways to reengage existing customers and reach out to potential new ones. Loyalty programs can have special benefits to customers and also allows you to give a “thank you” to your followers for following you instead of the leading competition. For example, your business can create an ad on Instagram that promotes a 30% savings if you sign up for your loyalty program. To join the loyalty program, followers need to provide their email. This is another simple way to discreetly grow your email contact list while customers feel like they benefit from the experience.
5. Create and Promote Сontests
Running contests can help generate leads, but how can it help increase your email contact list? For your followers to enter the contest, he/she would have to be a member of your business’s loyalty program. If they are not a member, they would need to become a member by entering their email. For example, On Instagram, your business can promote an ad that offers an exclusive prize, but to enter a chance to win, they must be a member. This is another discrete way to collect emails while customers gain some sort of benefit from the experience.
It is very important for every small business to learn how social media platforms can help grow your email list. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out…We’re always happy to help!
Danielle Foley, Owner
Foley Marketing Advisors
dfoley@foleymarketingadvisors.com