How to get more people to sign up for your magazine while staying in line with the GDPR
Since the GDPR went into effect in 2018, any business or professional that deals personal information about users has had to change how they collect and manage contacts.
Contrary to what many people think, GDPR has improved the standard and effects of work, especially for people who do direct marketing. How come? Because of two simple facts:
- A plan based on a database built in full compliance with the GDPR is much more successful because the people who sign up are much more likely to be interested.
- At the heart of the regulation is protecting the consumer, so by letting people know about this, the brand’s reputation can be improved.
What are the most important rules to follow to get users that are in line with GDPR?
Before we talk about ways to get more people while still following the GDPR, it’s important to know what the basic rules are for doing so.
First, the contact form should never have areas that are already filled out, and it should always have a link to your site’s privacy policy. This way, people can see how their information will be used. Before you can use a user’s personal information for marketing reasons, they must have checked the right box to agree to receive your messages.
But that’s not all: the person’s information can only be used after the double opt-in process is done. What is it made up of?
The user gets a double opt-in email after they fill out the form and hit the box that says they agree to the privacy terms. You can link this extra proof to a list membership stream on your platform. The user must confirm their email address in order to sign up for the service.
After that, you can start sending your messages.
Last but not least, after a person has signed up for your list, they should be able to change, update, or remove the information they gave you.
Now that you know the main rules for getting contacts, here are some tips on how to get more people to sign up for your email in a way that is compliant with GDPR.
Add a form to your website for people to sign up.
The first and easiest way to get more people to sign up for your magazine is to put a form to do so on your site and on the pages that get the most traffic. Another good idea is to put it in the bottom of your website so that more of your contacts will sign up and it doesn’t get in the way of browsing.
Adding pop-ups to your site can help draw attention to the business side of it. In fact, pop-ups can be used to collect email addresses in exchange for subscribing to your company magazine, letting people know about your commercial services, offering a deal in exchange for an email contact, or letting people know about items related to your business.
One tip is to have a form that pops up when your site loads or at the end of a story.
Use an email marketing platform.
Email marketing software is a must if you want to get contacts from your users, keep track of them, and use them. These platforms can help you comply with the relevant GDPR regulations and can improve vastly your subscription success rate. Mailchimp is a good platform to start.
Propose good content.
Offering useful material, also known as “lead magnets,” to people who visit your site is a very smart move.
Free ebooks, guides, and workshops are all examples of this kind of material. They urge users to sign up, leave their contact information, and help you get more people to sign up for your email. Offering discount codes is another way to get people to sign up. The goal is not only to get their contact information, but also to get them to buy your goods or services.
Use social media and ADS to your advantage.
Sharing email material with your social group is another way to get more people to sign up for your newsletter. Show them that you can also be reached through other ways.
You can make a separate list for them so you can send them information that is more relevant to them.
Set up a social or Google ADS ad to reach more people who may not know who you are yet. You can put a link to a landing page with a form to sign up for your magazine and a list of the benefits they’ll get from it in the call to action.
