How to Build Relationships With Your Email Subscribers

In my last article, I talked about why building an email list is about more than just collecting names and email addresses. It's about building relationships.

But that brings up a question.

How do you actually build a relationship with someone through email?

After all, you may never have met these people face to face. Some of them may live hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

So where do you begin?

1. Start by Keeping Your Word

When someone joins your list, they usually do so because you offered them something or promised to share information they were interested in.

Deliver what you promised.

If you offered a free report, make sure they receive it. If they signed up to learn about a particular subject, give them information related to that subject.

It sounds simple, but trust often begins with keeping small promises.

2. Give Them Something Useful

Every email doesn't have to contain an offer or a sales pitch.

Share something you've learned. Explain how to solve a problem. Pass along a useful tip or an idea they might not have considered.

You don't have to know everything, either. Sometimes sharing your own experience can help someone who is just getting started.

The important thing is to give people a reason to look forward to hearing from you.

3. Write to People, Not Just Email Addresses

It's easy to think of a mailing list as a collection of names in an autoresponder.

But there's a real person behind every address.

Try writing your emails the way you would talk to someone if they were sitting across the table from you.

You don't have to sound like a big company or a marketing expert. Be yourself, explain things clearly, and let your personality come through.

People don't always connect with the person who knows the most. Sometimes they connect with the person who explains things in a way they understand.

4. Be Consistent

You don't have to email your subscribers every day to build a relationship.

What matters is finding a schedule you can maintain and giving people a reason to keep hearing from you.

If you disappear for months and suddenly show up with a string of promotions, don't be surprised if people have forgotten who you are.

A little consistency goes a long way.

5. Don't Be Afraid to Ask for a Response

Email doesn't have to be a one-way conversation.

Ask a question. Invite readers to share their thoughts. Encourage them to reply if they have a question of their own.

Not everyone will respond, and that's perfectly fine. But some will, and those conversations can help you understand the people on your list a little better.

Remember, you're not just trying to get someone to open an email or click a link. You're giving them a chance to connect with you.

Think Long Term

Building relationships takes time.

Some subscribers may become regular readers. Others may occasionally open an email when the subject interests them. Some may eventually buy something you recommend.

You can't control every outcome, but you can control how you treat the people who have trusted you with their email addresses.

Give them useful information. Keep your promises. Be consistent. Treat them with respect.

Do those things over time, and you have a better chance of building a list that is worth having.

Because in the end, a good email list isn't just about how many people you reach. It's about the trust you build with the people who are there.