Member spotlight: 2 list-growth tactics that prioritize quality over volume
In our first conversation in the BFCM Strategy Exchange, community members shared advice and chatted about list growth ahead of peak-send season. As part of the series, I am spotlighting the top contributions in the threads. First round goes to
Two of my favourite list growth tactics right now are built for lead quality over volume, so they might not bring in the biggest numbers, but the subscribers you get tend to be more engaged.
1. An SMS pop-up for people already on your email list
Set up a pop-up that only shows to email subscribers who haven't opted in to SMS yet. You can do this by targeting the form to people in a segment of email subscribers who aren't SMS subscribers. Inboxes get really crowded in Q4, so building your SMS list before BFCM gives you a second way to reach people when it matters most.
If you add a small incentive for opting in, it can also bring in an extra order: you get a purchase now, plus a new SMS subscriber you can reach through peak season.
2. Social auto-replies on Instagram
This is one of Klaviyo's newer features, and it's FREE on every Klaviyo email plan. You ask your followers to DM or comment a keyword (on a post, a reel, or a story), and Klaviyo automatically sends them a DM asking for their email and/or phone number. Once they opt in, they're added to Klaviyo and can go into a welcome flow built just for your Instagram audience.
It's quick to set up once your Instagram Business account is connected, and it's a great way to turn people who already like your content into subscribers you can actually reach.
Honourable mention: giveaways 🎉
Giveaways cast a much wider net, and when the prize is your own product, they tend to attract people who actually want what you sell. I'd still keep a close eye on anyone who comes in this way. Tag them with a source (a profile property, or a segment based on the form they signed up through), and if they haven't opened or clicked after a set period, suppress them. That keeps your list healthy heading into your busiest sending season.
Bonus: A/B test your pop-ups!!!
You don't need a full redesign to see results. Small changes can move your opt-in rate:
- Swap the image. A lifestyle shot of someone using the product might beat a product close-up (or it might not, which is why you test 😂).
- Try shorter copy against longer copy.
- Test the headline or the offer framing.
Change one thing at a time so you know what made the difference, and give each test enough traffic before you call a winner. Don't assume your current pop-up is working as well as it could be. Keep challenging your control with new variations.
Looking forward to stealing some ideas from this thread 👀
Read the rest of the advice in the original thread and contribute to the next round in the Peer Pulse category.