Email, when used properly, is still a good way to increase your sales and profits. A single email sent to a list of people who have asked to be on your mailing list can bring in business immediately, either through your online shopping cart, or through phone calls or email inquiries about services you provide. If you have a bricks and mortar store or restaurant, email can help more people find their way to your shop - particularly if you include a money-saving coupon in the email.

The more targeted prospects you have on your email list, the more business you'll see from each email, of course.

Targeted customers means people who have asked to be on your mailing list. It doesn't mean email addresses you glommed off of all the business cards you picked up at last week's trade show or business meeting.

Getting people to sign up for your mailings isn't rocket science. In fact, it's pretty easy if you think about it. Here are just a few suggestions off the top of my head.

1. Have an email signup form on every page of your website. Make it prominent on the page. If it's buried on the bottom of one page on your site, few will see it.
2. Consider using a popup on your site to improve email signups. Yes, you hate popups. Yes, popup blockers block a lot of popups. And YES popups - especially the kind that use DHTML - do work. They can double or triple your email signups.
3. If you are a retailer with a bricks and mortar store ask customers if they'd like to receive special offers in email. Have forms available or some other mechanism to immediately capture their email address.
4. Produce an informational newsletter that appeals to your customers and prospects. Put a copy of it on your website or archive it at the email delivery service you use. Then promote the newsletter through social media sites you participate in and your Facebook page.
5. Print up one issue and mail it the traditional way, being sure to include a prominent ad telling readers how to get the newsletter delivered to them regularly in email.
6. Hand out your printed newsletter at your booth at local trade shows. Encourage visitors to take an extra copy to hand out to others who might be interested in your tips.
7. Have an email signup form at your tradeshow booth so people can sign up on the spot to get your mailings.
8. Have the back side of your business card with the words "Subscribe to our free newsletter," followed by the URL to your site.
9. Include a flier promoting your free newsletter or promotional mailings in every package you ship, or in every bag you pack in your retail store.

Take a few minutes to think about your business and all the ways you get in front of customers and prospects, and you'll come up with even more ways to get your customers to ask to be on your mailing list.

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