How do I get started building an email list?

Building your list is the most important thing to filling your sales pipeline. Most prospects are not ready for what I refer to as "The Big Three”: 

1. Sign Up
2. Call Now
3. Let's Talk Now

Instead, getting the email address and building rapport by sending value and authentic content to their inbox is the magic that sets the table for the sales you are looking for.

Here are the ways I coach my clients to get started with building their email lists:

• Through your CRM or business software: capture your existing customers so that you can market to them. They are the easiest to obtain another sale from.
  
  
• Through your website: This is your home base and your "storefront" of your business online. Most visitors to your website are prospects of varying degrees of interest. Do not let them leave your website without getting their email address.
  
  Provide them with an irresistible offer to capture that email address. Constant Contact plugs right into your website and lets you build static (embedded or inline) forms and pop-up (interactive) forms. These are the critical components needed to begin building your sales funnel with valuable prospects so you can build rapport with them and nurture your relationship.
  
  
• In-person: in your storefront, at events, at trade shows. Capture the email through text-to-join, or a QR code set to open a lead generation landing page with your signup form on it (easily built in Constant Contact in minutes!)
  
  
• Business cards: download the Constant Contact mobile app and use the card scanner to bring business card data right into your list of choice!

What methods have you used to grow your contact lists?