How To Grow Your Email List Fast [17 Tips!]

Discover how to grow your email list fast with these 17 simple tips. Learn how to attract and keep more subscribers, from lead magnets to social media tactics.

Approximate read time: 10.5 minutes

Did you know email marketing returns $36 for every dollar spent?

That's an insane return on investment (ROI). And it's one of the biggest reasons to build a strong email list.

Let's face it, though. Growing that list isn't always easy. That's why you're reading this post. But whether you're starting from scratch or want to boost an existing list, we'll walk through the practice steps to grow your email list fast.

Let's get into it.

17 tips to grow your email list fast

1. Create valuable lead magnets

People love getting free stuff.

That's why lead magnets are one of the best ways to grow your email list. People are more likely to share their email addresses when they get something useful in return.

A lead magnet (if you're unsure) is a free resource that solves a problem or offers value to your audience. There are plenty of lead generation plugins to help with this.

But a few examples include:

• eBooks or guides: Give a detailed resource on a topic your audience cares about, like “10 Ways to Improve Your Website’s SEO.”
• Checklists: Simple, actionable lists like a "Blog Post Checklist" or "Packing Checklist for Travelers" work well for quick wins.
• Templates: Offer useful templates, like a social media calendar or budget tracker, to save your audience time and effort.
• Cheat sheets: Quick-reference guides (e.g., “Beginner’s Photography Cheat Sheet”) that summarize key information in an easy-to-digest way.
• Free trials or samples: If you have a product or service, offering a free trial or sample encourages sign-ups from people interested in trying before they buy.

A good lead magnet is something website visitors find so useful they can't help but sign up for an email list.

2. Use exit-intent popups

Exit-intent popups are a smart way to capture visitors who are about to leave your website.

These popups trigger when someone moves their mouse toward the exit button, giving you one last opportunity to grab them before they go.

To make these popups effective, offer something valuable at the last moment. Discounts, free resources, or special offers are great choices. Keep the message clear and simple, with a strong call to action button (CTA) that encourages visitors to subscribe.

For example, you might offer “10% off your first order” or “Free guide on boosting your website traffic.”

Exit-intent popups are less intrusive than regular ones since they only show when a visitor plans to leave. When used correctly, they can help you turn abandoned visitors into email subscribers (and hopefully potential customers) without being disruptive.

If you want to learn more, check out our guide on creating a popup form!

3. Host webinars or live workshops

By offering valuable, interactive content, you bring in highly engaged leads interested in your target audience.

To attend, people typically give their email address when they sign up. This gives you a direct way to grow your email list organically while handing out useful information. Focus on a topic that resonates with your audience, like industry trends, how-to guides, or problem-solving sessions. For example, if you're a digital marketer, a live workshop on “How to Boost Your SEO in 30 Days” could pull in interested subscribers.

After the webinar and visitors join your email list, you can continue connecting with attendees through follow-up emails. As you build an engaged email list, offer additional resources or invite them to future events.

This turns your live sessions into a long-term opportunity instead of a short-term one.

4. Offer exclusive discounts or coupons

People love a good deal, and a special offer can be the nudge they need to join a mailing list.

For example, you can offer “10% off your first purchase” or “Sign up for our newsletter and get a free shipping code.” Make it clear that this offer is only available to email signups. This creates a sense of exclusivity and urgency.

This strategy works especially well for eCommerce sites, but service-based businesses can also use it.

The key is to make the offer valuable enough for people to sign up for your email newsletter. Remember the $36 for every dollar spent we mentioned? This is a great opportunity to get that value.

5. Add a signup form to key pages

If visitors don't know you have an email list, they can't join the subscribers' list.

And one way to help them see it is by putting a signup form on all your key pages. Sure, your homepage is a great start. But think of all the traffic that never visits your homepage.

Some great places to include it are:

• High-traffic pages: Blog posts, feature pages, etc. Anywhere that you're getting a lot of traffic.
• Product pages: This is a great time to offer that discount code we discussed. Combining a product page with a discount code is an excellent way to build your email list.
• Landing pages: Create specific landing pages for your products or mailing list. Pages with a single purpose like this do extremely well by cutting out the noise and focusing on one goal for the visitor.

Visitors already engage with your content on these pages, so this is the perfect opportunity to encourage them to sign up. Keep the form simple, asking only for essential information like name and email, and use a clear call-to-action (CTA) like “Get Exclusive Tips” or “Subscribe for Updates.”

But it's more than just putting it on the page and expecting people to sign up.

Where you place your form is equally important. Place it in more visible areas for visitors to sign up. Some tools show heatmaps to help determine the best CTA or form placement (like Hotjar). Formidable Forms has a User Flow plugin to track a visitor's path to a form.

MonsterInsights also connects with Google Analytics to give you some great data to help decide. So, these types of tools may be worth looking into.

Try Formidable Forms User Flow Feature!

6. Use social proof (testimonials, reviews)

Social proof is a powerful tool.

Not only for email list growth (though it is excellent for that, too). People naturally trust actual reviews from real people.

And they're more likely to subscribe when others benefit from your content. Highlighting testimonials or positive reviews about your newsletter or services builds trust and makes signing up feel like an obvious choice.

For example, include a short quote from a satisfied subscriber about how helpful your emails are, or showcase how many people are already on your list with something like, “Join 10,000+ subscribers who receive weekly marketing tips!”

If someone's got something good to say about you, spread the word!

7. Run a contest or giveaway

Just like people love discounts, they also love the chance to win something. In exchange for entering, they’ll gladly give their email addresses.

To run an effective contest, pick a prize relevant to your audience.

For example, if you’re in the fitness space, you could offer free workout gear or a personal training session. You want to bring in the right kind of subscribers genuinely interested in your brand.

But don't stop there. Promote the contest on social media, through ads, and your website to maximize reach. Once the contest ends, follow up with all participants. This keeps them engaged with additional offers or content.

8. Guest blog with a CTA

Guest blogging is a great way to tap into new audiences.

It's a great way to build your email list, reach new people who have yet to learn about you, and possibly get backlinks.

Always include a strong call-to-action (CTA) within the post to make the most of guest blogging. Your CTA can invite readers to download a free resource or sign up for your newsletter. Ensure it’s relevant to your writing content and valuable to the audience.

For example:

• Link to a free guide: "Want more tips? Download my free guide on boosting your SEO in 30 days."
• Encourage sign-ups for exclusive content: "Subscribe to my newsletter for exclusive strategies delivered to your inbox."

By guest blogging with a targeted CTA, you attract new subscribers while sharing your expertise with a broader audience.

9. Use social media

If your target audience spends a lot of time on social media, there's no better way to reach them.

By sharing valuable content and offering exclusive perks, you can encourage your followers to subscribe. Here are a few ways to use social media for list growth:

• Promote lead magnets: Share posts about your free eBooks, checklists, or webinars with a link to your signup form.
• Run ads: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ads directly target your ideal audience with a clear call to action to subscribe.
• Tease gated content: Share snippets of what subscribers get, like early access to products, special discounts, or exclusive insights.
• Add signup links to your bio: Make it easy by placing a direct link to your email signup form in your social media profiles.

The key is consistency. And by consistently promoting your email list on social media, you can reach a wider audience and turn engaged followers into loyal subscribers.

10. Include a signup option in your email signature

Your email signature is an overlooked area when promoting an email list.

Adding a brief call-to-action (CTA) in your signature lets you invite people to subscribe whenever you email clients, colleagues, or new contacts.

For example, a line like “Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly tips and updates” with a link to your signup form can work wonders. It’s a low-effort way to passively grow your list without being too forward.

And since you’re already emailing regularly, this subtle approach lets you promote your list naturally, reaching people who might not otherwise think to subscribe.

11. Use quizzes as lead generators

People enjoy discovering more about themselves, whether it’s their fitness level, business strategy, or favorite type of travel.

By creating a quiz, you engage users while collecting their email in exchange for personalized results.

For example, a “Which Harry Potter House Do You Belong In?” quiz can attract potential subscribers if you're in the Harry Potter niche. Once they answer the questions, prompt them to enter their email to receive their results.

To make this effective, the quiz should be entertaining and relevant to your audience’s interests.

Quizzes are a win-win—they provide value and personalization while helping you gather new email subscribers.

12. Encourage referrals

Remember how we said social proof is a powerful tool? Well, word-of-mouth is even stronger.

People are more likely to sign up when they hear about your content from someone they trust. Encourage your existing subscribers to refer friends, family, or colleagues by offering an incentive, like a special discount, exclusive content, or a chance to win a prize.

To make it easy, create a simple referral program.

For example, you can ask subscribers to forward your newsletter to a friend or give them a unique referral link. The easier it is for them to share, the more likely they will do so.

Word-of-mouth referrals lead to highly engaged subscribers with a personal connection to your content.

13. Use gated content

Gated content offers valuable resources that users can access only after they provide their email addresses. This strategy works well for growing your email list, as people are more willing to sign up when they get exclusive content.

Here are some types of gated content you can offer:

• eBooks or whitepapers: In-depth resources that dive into complex topics.
• Exclusive videos: Tutorials, webinars, or behind-the-scenes content.
• Comprehensive guides: Step-by-step instructions or industry insights that provide real value.
• Templates or toolkits: Practical, downloadable resources like checklists, spreadsheets, or design templates.

The key is to ensure the content is valuable enough that visitors feel it’s worth sharing their email.

When done right, gated content can create a win-win situation — subscribers get a useful resource, and you grow your list.

14. Collaborate with influencers or partners

There's more power in a group, right?

Collaborating with someone with an engaged audience, you tap into their followers while building credibility through association.

For example, you could co-host a webinar or event where attendees sign up with their email or feature each other in blog posts, podcasts, or social media content with a call-to-action (CTA) to subscribe.

Another option is running a joint giveaway, where participants sign up for both email lists to enter.

These partnerships help reach a broader but relevant audience while using the trust influencers or partners have built with their followers.

15. Add a call-to-action in blog posts

Your blog posts are a prime opportunity to grow your email list.

If you include a clear call to action (CTA), readers already engaged with your content are more likely to subscribe.

At the end of your posts — or even within the content itself — invite readers to sign up for more tips, updates, or exclusive resources. For example, after a post on digital marketing, you might offer a free downloadable guide in exchange for an email address.

The key is to make the CTA relevant to the content they’ve just read and valuable enough for them to take action.

16. Add a sticky bar or hello bar

A sticky bar (sometimes called a hello bar) is a simple tool to grow your email list.

It’s a slim banner that stays at the top or bottom of your website as visitors scroll, ensuring it’s always visible without taking up too much space. In the image below, OptinMonster gives you the option to choose a sticky/floating bar:

Use this space to promote your email list with a clear and enticing message. For example, a sticky bar could say, “Get weekly tips straight to your inbox — Subscribe now!” with a direct link to your signup form. The constant visibility makes it easy for visitors to sign up, no matter what page they’re on.

Sticky bars are a subtle yet effective way to increase email sign-ups without disrupting the user experience.

17. Offer early access or VIP content

Last up, make subscribers feel special. Give access to new products, features, or content before anyone else creates a sense of exclusivity and reward for being part of your community.

For example, you can invite subscribers to try a new product before its official launch or offer VIP-only content like in-depth tutorials, webinars, or behind-the-scenes insights.

This encourages sign-ups and fosters a stronger connection with your audience.

Ready to grow your email list?

Growing your email list doesn’t have to be complicated.

With the right strategies, like offering valuable lead magnets, using popups, or leveraging social media, you can steadily build a list of engaged subscribers.

The key is to provide value and make it easy for people to sign up.

Try Formidable Forms Pro!

Whether you’re just starting or looking to boost an existing list, these tips can help you attract more subscribers and grow a business. Remember, it’s all about creating genuine connections and delivering content that keeps people returning.

Now’s the time to implement these strategies and watch your email list thrive!

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