How to Build your Email List without Facebook Ads

You know how important it is to build a mailing list. The people on your email list have asked you to stay in contact—given you permission to email them on a regular basis. However, do you also know how to establish a direct connection with your readers on social media—without paying for Facebook ads? If not, it’s time to learn.

The obvious place to promote your list-building activities is via an opt-in button or form on your website, but that’s not the most effective place. Although your website is your content hub, the biggest hurdle you face is finding an effective way to drive visitors to your site. Instead of trying to get your potential reader to come to you, go to them.

With over 2.45 billion Facebook users, you have a higher chance of building a fan base on this social network than on your website. So let’s look at the ways you can leverage Facebook to encourage your Facebook fans, as well as other Facebook users, to join your email list.

Integrate Your Facebook Page with Your Email List

Mailing list services, like Mailchimp, have features that allow you to add a sign-up form to your Facebook Fan or Business page. Here are the integration instructions for three common email marketing services:

Integrate Mailchimp and Facebook:

https://mailchimp.com/help/add-or-remove-a-signup-form-on-your-facebook-page/

Integrate Mailerlite and Facebook:      

https://www.mailerlite.com/integrations/facebook

Integrate Aweber and Facebook:

https://www.aweber.com/integrations/social-media/facebook/index.htm

If you use a different mailing list company, access your account and search for Facebook integration in that companies search engine. Then follow the steps to tie the two accounts together. Once your accounts are linked, any sign-ups you receive via Facebook will be added to your mailing list.

Post occasional reminders on your Facebook timeline about the free content you provide when people sign up. Facebook users are more likely to sign up if your form is part of your Facebook page. Plus, with the Facebook integration, they’re not required to click away to a website or landing page.

Add a Call to Action Button in Facebook

It’s simple to add a call to action button to your Facebook business page.

1. Click + Add a Button, which is located below your page’s cover photo.
2. Select a button from the drop-down menu, and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Click Finish.

There are multiple call-to-action buttons available on Facebook. To build your mailing list, add the sign-up call-to-action nested under the Contact You option.

You need to add a destination URL as part of the setup process, so it’s best to add a direct link to your sign-up form. You can get this URL from your email marketing service as well; there should be one assigned to your sign-up form.

Now when fans visit your Facebook page, they won’t be able to miss the big blue sign up button at the top of your page.

Using Facebook Live

Did you know that Facebook Live streams get watched three times longer than regular videos on Facebook? If you haven’t already experimented with this free streaming service, 2020 is the time to give it a try.

A live stream is a personal way to showcase your expertise. For example, if your lead magnet is an ebook or excerpt, you can feature content excerpts and provide some additional insights or detail, depending on the topic.

It’s essential to be as approachable as possible and illustrate the value you offer for signing up for your mailing list. During your live stream, remind your audience to sign up to your mailing list by directing them to your call to action button or your Facebook sign up form. You can also add a written reminder in the post itself.

During your broadcast, encourage your fans to interact with your content using likes, shares, and comments. They’re more inclined to share your video and interact with you while you’re live.

You can encourage this behavior by running a giveaway and randomly selecting a viewer who likes or shares your video. You can ask them to pose questions, and you pick the best or most thoughtful (or even funny) one as the winner. The goal is to drive interaction, choose a winner, and then encourage all the non-winners to sign up to your email list to collect a runner’s up prize.

For example, you could offer a full-length ebook book to the winner, and excerpts of PDF downloads as the consolation prize. Or announce that you’re running another content giveaway to subscribers of your email list.

Don’t expect a single live stream event to garner amazing results. You need to broadcast consistently to build momentum. It’s also important to promote your Live events across your other social media networks, like Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube and your website or blog.

Using Facebook Groups and Communities

In addition to leveraging your own fanbase to build your mailing list, you can expand your reach by becoming an active member of a relevant Facebook group or community. This long term approach can lead to some quality leads.

Find groups in your niche that hold self-promotion days, and use this opportunity to showcase your books or services. Don’t forget the concept to give before you take. Make sure you become an active member of the community before you try to solicit contacts to visit your business page or join your mailing list. Respond to questions, offer advice, and become a valued member of the community.

Making the Most of Your Opt-In Sequence

Lastly, add a Facebook share button to your opt-in and welcome sequence to encourage readers to share your free content offer on their own timeline. This is an ideal way to reach an audience outside of your own business or fan page sphere.

Experts say, “Spend money on Facebook to get your content seen and direct people to your website or landing pages.” Yet, you can see that there are other…free…ways to accomplish this. Not only that, without spending a dime on ads, you can grow your mailing list effectively while tapping into the power of Facebook.

Have you used Facebook to build your mailing list? Let me know what technique has proved most successful for you. And if you found this article useful, please share it across your network.

About the Author

Jay Artale abandoned her corporate career to become a digital nomad and full-time writer. She’s an avid blogger and a nonfiction author helping travel writers and travel bloggers achieve their self-publishing goals. Join her at Birds of a Feather Press where she shares tips, advice, and inspiration to writers with an independent spirit.

Photo courtesy of mayrum