23 Quick Ways to Grow Your Email List

Get 23 proven list-building tactics you can use today.

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Hosting your own summit

Establishing authority and growing your list rapidly can be achieved by hosting a summit.

Collaborate with experts, have them promote the event, and you collect the registrations.

Takeaway:
  • Borrow credibility from established experts.
  • Grow your list with engaged attendees.
  • Offer valuable content to attract sign-ups.

Create an attractive affiliate program

Leveraging others' networks can boost sales. An affiliate program incentivizes others to promote your products.

Offer commissions to affiliates who bring in paying customers.

Takeaway:
  • Design a competitive commission structure.
  • Provide affiliates with promotional materials.
  • Expand your reach with minimal upfront cost.

Join paid memberships

Networking in paid communities targets engaged prospects.

By joining memberships where your ideal customers are, you can build relationships and introduce your offerings.

Takeaway:
  • Invest in communities your audience values.
  • Contribute genuinely to discussions.
  • Build trust before promoting your lead magnet.

Use Instagram organically

Leveraging social media expands your reach. Organic Instagram content like Reels can attract followers.

Engage users with valuable content and guide them to your lead magnet via DMs.

Takeaway:
  • Create engaging content to attract your target audience.
  • Use call-to-actions to direct followers to your lead magnet.
  • Automate responses using tools like ManyChat.

Viral contests

Creating buzz can accelerate list growth. A viral contest encourages participants to share your offer.

Offer an enticing reward for referrals to motivate sharing.

Takeaway:
  • Design a compelling incentive for sharing.
  • Use platforms to manage referrals and prevent abuse.
  • Can significantly increase subscribers quickly.

Lead magnet swaps

Collaborating with peers can expand your reach. A lead magnet swap involves promoting each other's free offers.

You introduce your audience to valuable resources while gaining access to new subscribers.

Takeaway:
  • Partner with complementary businesses.
  • Provide mutual value without financial exchange.
  • Ensure your audiences are aligned for best results.

Sponsor Facebook groups

Sponsoring online communities can drive targeted traffic.

Paying to have your lead magnet featured in a group's pinned post or banner can be very effective.

Takeaway:
  • Find groups where your ideal customers hang out.
  • Negotiate sponsorship deals directly with group admins.
  • Visibility in active groups can yield high-quality leads.

Participate in summits

Summits can rapidly increase your exposure. By speaking at summits, you tap into combined audiences.

As a speaker among others, you can present to a wider audience and share your lead magnet.

Takeaway:
  • Leverage collective promotion efforts of all speakers.
  • Provide compelling content to attract attendees.
  • Ensure your lead magnet is relevant and valuable.

Guest training in paid programs

Accessing targeted audiences can boost your email list. Offering guest training in others' paid programs allows you to present to invested individuals.

Approach program owners and offer valuable training, then share your lead magnet.

Takeaway:
  • Engage with an audience already paying for solutions.
  • Provide actionable value to entice sign-ups.
  • Collaborate with non-competing programs.

Guest speaking on podcasts

Expanding your reach is essential for email marketers. Guest speaking on other people's podcasts lets you showcase your expertise to a new audience.

By providing value and mentioning your lead magnet, you can attract new subscribers.

Takeaway:
  • Guest appearances build credibility and audience trust.
  • Always mention an easy-to-spell URL for your lead magnet.
  • Start with smaller podcasts to gain experience.

Episode Info:

Title:
23 Ways to Build Your List in Just 12 Minutes
Episode Link:
Keywords:
email list,growth strategies,lead generation
Episode Air Date:
May 28, 2025

Podcast info:

Show Name:
The Email Marketing Show
Author:
Email Marketing Heroes
Owner:
Email Marketing Heroes
Category:
Business, Marketing

More summaries from this podcast:

Fixing Failing Emails That Don’t Convert

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How can specific numbers increase credibility in emails?
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Why should you avoid implying effort in your emails?
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How to sell your free content by emphasizing effort and benefits?
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How to craft benefit-focused bullet points in emails?
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Why avoid multiple calls to action in one email?
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GDPR Email Tips: 7 Steps To Compliance

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What is the essence of GDPR for email marketers?
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Why should you avoid syncing all customer data with every system?
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Can you still do cold email outreach under GDPR?
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How to ensure compliance when using AI tools with subscriber data?
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Why is it important to remove disengaged subscribers?
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