{"id":264,"date":"2021-11-30T07:23:53","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T07:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gumbamail.com\/blog\/?p=264"},"modified":"2021-11-30T07:23:53","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T07:23:53","slug":"email-marketing-database","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gumbamail.com\/blog\/email-marketing-database\/","title":{"rendered":"How Businesses Can Build an Email Marketing Database on a $0 Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Want to capture new leads? You might want to start an email list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to building a strong sales funnel<\/a>, email is one of the most lucrative marketing channels you can use. Here’s why: With email, you can streamline your marketing efforts to target the individual, rather than simply sending your messages out to the masses (as with a blog post or social media caption). In fact, research shows that marketers who started sending segmented email campaigns<\/a> saw a whopping 760% increase in revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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But here’s the catch: You can’t send a targeted email unless you have the data to create <\/em>that segment in the first place. To capture, store, and segment prospect data, you need to build an email marketing database. Below, we show you how to easily build an email database in five simple steps, choose the best email provider for your business, and devise a marketing strategy to grow your list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Steps to Build an Email Database on Any Budget <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Email<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Building an email marketing database may be easier than you think. You don’t need an expensive email service<\/a> or a full content department \u2014 instead, you need the right marketing tools to collect and store subscriber data and a strategy to grow your list (discussed in the next section).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we’ll explore how any small business can create an email marketing<\/a> database \u2014 even with a $0 budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Download the Gumbamail Plugin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gumbamail is a marketing solution that sends mass email campaigns with your existing Gmail account. Plus, it makes it easy to create a new marketing list, allowing you to pull contact information from your existing Google contacts, .CSV file upload, or a Google Sheet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To start, download the free extension<\/a> then follow the prompts to connect to your Gmail account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Collect <\/strong>Contact Information<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you build your first list, you’ll need to pull contact information from existing subscribers. These individuals could be housed in your CRM service provider, on social media (such as LinkedIn<\/a>), or within your online store (such as Shopify<\/a> or WooCommerce<\/a>). Export these individuals as a .CSV file and store them on your hard drive to prepare to upload them into Gumbamail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: At minimum, you should have a first name and email address associated with every subscriber on your list. However, you are welcome to collect any data that can help you better segment, target, or ultimately convert your customers (such as birth date, geographical location, preferred language, or past purchases). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Create Your First <\/strong>Email List<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Gumbamail<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

To create your first list, log into your Gmail account. Near the top navigation, you’ll see the Gumbamail logo \u2014 click this, and the Gumbamail side bar will appear on the right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Click “Lists” under shortcuts, then click \u201cNew List.\u201d <\/li>
  2. Name your list, click “Create,” and your list will appear underneath “My Lists.” <\/li>
  3. Click your newly created list, then click the CSV file dropdown. Select whether you want to import contacts from Google Sheets, a .CSV file, or your existing Google Contacts. Upload the file.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    4. Gain Subscribers’ Consent <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The FTC (Federal Trade Commission)<\/a> has strict laws in place to ensure companies don’t simply spam their email lists. Therefore, before you email anyone, <\/em>you need to ensure you have their written consent to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you have never emailed someone before and do not have their written consent, send them an opt-in email. This email can simply state, “Hello, I know your time and inbox are valuable. We will be sending monthly newsletters discussing [topic]. If you wish to unsubscribe, please do so through the link listed below.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Note: Even after you have their consent, the CAN-SPAM Act clearly states that all digital marketing campaigns must have a clear unsubscribe link, and you must honor all opt-out requests within 10 business days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. Send Your First Campaign <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"Email<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    To send your first campaign to your contacts, simply do the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Click “Campaigns” in the Gumbamail right sidebar. Then click “New Campaign.”<\/li>
    2. Give your campaign a name (for internal purposes only), and write your subject line.<\/li>
    3. Choose your recipients, by selecting the list that you created in step #3. <\/li>
    4. Choose your email template, and add your own branding, logo, and message. <\/li>
    5. Send your campaign or schedule it for later. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      5 Ways to Grow Your <\/strong>Email Marketing Database<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"Gumbamail<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      An email list isn’t meant to be a static database \u2014 instead, it’s meant to grow and evolve with your business. Therefore, after you create your first campaign<\/a>, you should design a strategy to continue to scale your list. Below, we share a few tips to collect new subscribers, and (hopefully) new customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Add an <\/strong>Opt-In<\/strong> Form to Your Website <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      One of the easiest ways to collect new subscribers is to add an opt-in form to your website. Be sure to place your form in several places so it can be found by visitors, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n