Grow Your Subscribers from 0-1000+ Organically

You’ve got a newsletter, the content is going out regularly, and you’ve managed to get some eyeballs on it too - greatt!!

But now you’re stuck there and don’t know how to reach more people.

You have tried telling your friends, asking them to share on their network, and posting about it on your social media - but it didn’t work!

So you thought of running boosts and ads on social media for your newsletter. But that is:

• A. Initial cash burn, especially when it’s not in your budget.

• B. Once the payment stops, so does the flow of subscribers.

You are just about to give up…and then you come across this piece.

Because today we’re gonna look at a 7-step framework that, if you do it right, will attract at least 1,000+ subscribers!

Sure, organic growth takes time and effort. But it’s a long-term game.

Organic growth focuses on attracting and retaining subscribers who are genuinely interested in your content.

This translates to a more sustainable and cost-effective subscriber base in the long run.

Not only this, but when subscribers find your newsletter valuable enough to join your list organically, they are more likely to become loyal followers, open your emails consistently, and even advocate for your brand by recommending your newsletter to others.

Crafting an Irresistible Newsletter:

5 years ago, if you asked for your consumer’s email id, it was fairly easier because it was a new concept and it often had a lead magnet as an incentive.

Today, that is not enough.

Today, inboxes are overflowing.

Today, you need to be and do different.

Here’s how:

• Unique Content: 
  Don't be a me-too newsletter.
  Offer fresh perspectives, insights, or content your audience can't find elsewhere.
  Your experiences (professional or personal) are the major source where you will find your unique stories and voice.

• Solve Problems & Offer Solutions: 
  Identify the specific challenges your target audience faces and tailor your content to address them.
  And if a competitor is already doing this (a high chance that they probably are), find gaps.
  What do they don’t do that you can?
  That’s your USP.

For instance, check out the newsletter of Tim Ferris:

Turn Your Website & Blog Visitors into Subscribers

Multiple Touchpoints: 

Place clear and enticing signup forms in high-visibility areas on your website and blog. This could include:

• Homepage Pop-up (with caution): 
  Well-designed pop-ups can convert visitors into leads at a rate of 4.01%. However, intrusive pop-ups can annoy visitors and backfire.

• Sidebar Opt-in Form: 
  A sidebar signup form is a non-intrusive way to capture attention throughout your website.

• Website Footer: 
  The footer is another good spot for a signup form, as many visitors scroll all the way down a page.

• Blog Post Endings: 
  Include a clear call to action (CTA) at the end of your blog posts, asking readers to subscribe to your newsletter.

For instance, Growth In Reverse utilizes all of these strategies to ensure that the reader can subscribe to the newsletter at multiple points.

The Lead Magnet Incentive: 

The average conversion rates through lead magnets are between 5.2% and 24.2% 🤯
People are more likely to subscribe if they receive something valuable in return. For instance:

• E-books: 
  Create downloadable e-books packed with valuable information relevant to your audience's interests.

• Checklists & Templates: 
  Offer downloadable checklists or templates that help your audience solve specific problems.

• Webinars or Online Courses: 
  Offer access to a free webinar or the first module of an online course in exchange for email addresses.

For instance, every blog of HubSpot has a free resource that the audience can get if they share their email address with the company.

Social Media for Newsletter Growth:

• Social Media Snippets & Previews: 
  Showcase the value of your newsletter on Social Media.
  For instance, if your newsletter dives into travel hacking tips, you could share a social media post with the topic "Travel the world for less!"

• Calls to Action (CTAs): 
  Make it easy for social media followers to subscribe.
  Include clear CTAs within your posts, such as "Subscribe now for more travel hacks!"

• Experiment with Formats:
  Use text, video, and image options available to you and find new ways of repurposing your newsletter content with a CTA to subscribe.

Remember, social media is all about engagement. Talk to your audience genuinely and they’ll connect and tag along!

For instance, Justin Welsch strategically promotes his newsletter on platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram.

Content - the Heartbeat of a Thriving Newsletter:

⚠️ A little disclaimer here:
None of the strategies given here will work if your content sucks.

Even if you do manage to attract some subscribers, they probably won’t stay for long if you are not giving them what they need and how they need it.

• Content Calendar for Consistency: 
  A well-defined content calendar that outlines topics, formats, and publishing schedules will streamline your content creation process.

• Keep Experimenting: 
  Newsletters are the only place where you can get statistical and immediate feedback from your audience - you tweak your content accordingly.

Welcome & Onboarding:

74% of users expect to receive a welcome email immediately after subscribing to an email list.

And they are 4x more likely to open a welcome email than any others.

So, a well-crafted welcome email sequence is important to retain them.

It can help to both boost engagement and reduce unsubscribe rates. Here’s what to do:

• Personalized Welcome: 
  A generic "welcome aboard" email just won't cut it.
  Personalize your welcome email with your voice and tone.
  Keep it crisp but enough for readers to come back for more.

• Lead Magnet: 
  If you have created a lead magnet, this is where you will give it to your audience.

• Recent Posts: 
  While they are here, ask them to check out your 1-3 previous/best issues.

Most welcome emails are crisp and to the point so your reader gets a bird’s eye view of what to expect.

⚠️P.S. Always ask them to do 2 things in every welcome email so that the algorithm knows they want to receive your newsletter:

• Move the email to their primary inbox if it landed in spam or promotions.

• Reply to the email with any keyword so that you can have conversations with them.

For instance, I love the welcome email of Smart Nonsense. Here is a snippet of it:

Engagement is Key:

Here are some effective strategies to boost make your subscribers eagerly await your next email:

• Conversational & Friendly Tone: 
  This makes your content more relatable and fosters a sense of connection with your readers.
  Imagine you're chatting with a friend, not lecturing a room full of strangers.

• Interactive Content Sparks: 
  Use interactive elements like polls, quizzes, or surveys in your emails.
  This not only boosts engagement but also provides valuable insights into your audience's preferences and pain points, allowing you to tailor future content accordingly.

This would help to keep churn (unsubscribes) at bay and build a loyal subscriber base.

For instance, Alex Cattoni’s newsletter is written engagingly with gifs, images, and clear CTAs.

Referral Programs:

Referral programs tap into the natural human desire to share things we find valuable with our friends and network.

Your existing subscribers become brand ambassadors, spreading the word about your newsletter and attracting new, similar, and engaged audiences.

Offer enticing rewards for subscribers who refer friends to your newsletter. These could include:

• Discounts:
  Provide a discount code for both the referring subscriber and their friend upon successful signup.

• Bonus Content: 
  Offer exclusive content (e.g., e-books, webinars) to both the referrer and their friend.

• Early Access: 
  Grant early access to upcoming content or promotions for successful referrals.

Make it easy for subscribers to share your newsletter with their network with clear and prominent social media sharing buttons.

This will help in organically expanding your reach and attracting new, qualified subscribers.

For instance, you can incentivize a certain number of referrals in exchange for a reward/resource that your audience would like.

And that was all for today!

Remember, organic growth is a marathon and not a sprint.

If you’ve made it till here, congratulations and get working 🎉

P.S. If you are stuck with your newsletter growth at any point, reply to this and I can help you out! 📈