Offline clients and popup boxes

[5Tool]

A quick question for the offline pros: Do you always use email popup boxes for offline clients or do you use on page email subsciption boxes, or both?

I know some people are turned off to the popup concept.

Any thoughts?

[Droopy Dawg]

Originally Posted by 5Tool

A quick question for the offline pros: Do you always use email popup boxes for offline clients or do you use on page email subsciption boxes, or both?

I know some people are turned off to the popup concept.

Any thoughts?

Yeah popups could turn people off when they initially visit the site... I normally place a subscription box on the sidebar. And of course you can use a popup upon visitors leaving the site.

[Keith Boisvert]

I personally have not once used a pop up box, because after giving the option to the client they prefer to NOT have one.

Not saying they are, or are not effective, but that since the clients themselves do not like them, they do not want them on their site. Just my experiences though.

keith

[5Tool]

Thanks for your replies.

Keith- Do you find that offline clients can build an email list for email marketing with just the subscription box method or do you need a pop up box to really build a good list for them?

That's my only concern.

[Keith Boisvert]

Originally Posted by 5Tool

Thanks for your replies.

Keith- Do you find that offline clients can build an email list for email marketing with just the subscription box method or do you need a pop up box to really build a good list for them?

That's my only concern.

Believe it or not(in my experience) most of their list building success has not come from the website specifically.

I have found that by working with the owner on contests, giveaways etc IN HOUSE that this strategy works.

Meaning, for example, a restaurant wants to build a list. The sign up is on the website, but most people don't want to be bothered to sign up, regardless of pop ups or not. However, they want to increase their list...so we run a contest and giveaway a complete meal for two on a Friday or Saturday night...but in order to qualify, they must sign up for the list, and the winners will be announced via the email. They can run a contest once a month or more often, and anyone on the list is qualified, so it keeps people on the list and keeps encouraging new signups....BUT the biggest promotion of this is done by the waitresses and on receipts. The staff has to push it as well. Meaning, in this example, the waitress, when handing the bill, will say, "Don't forget, if you go to our website at ourname.com and sign up for our mailing list you will be signed up to automatically win a free meal for two, plus any future contest we run."

Of course now, in this example, this restaurant can now email their list once a week on dinner specials and entertainment.

Not sure if this makes sense or not...I tend to ramble on.

keith

[5Tool]

How would that work for other types of businesses though- for example chiropractors or plumbers? I don't know if contests would work for them...

[Keith Boisvert]

Originally Posted by 5Tool

How would that work for other types of businesses though- for example chiropractors or plumbers? I don't know if contests would work for them...

Well, what would their newsletter consist of for content? A chiropractor can send out industry news, health tips, and a plumber could send out winterizing tips, home energy saving tips etc...

So you have to look at their content and figure out how to work that in. Not every biz is set up for contests I agree, but the owners still need to push it in house.(or in the plumbers case "on the job")

But to be honest, there are some niches that are just plain hard to build a list with.

Back to the pop up thing, it takes seconds to test and see which one works best for each application, pop up or no pop up.

keith

[rosetrees]

Don't overlook the option for businesses to give customers visiting their premises a form to fill in. I've just added a dozen clients to an email list today for a client who runs a pub/restaurant.

We have a sign-up box in the sidebar of their website (I had to stand my ground on this one, they didn't want it) and have recently emailed out their first special offer. They are now convinced of the benefits of a list!