Starting and growing an email list for your Etsy business is one of the best marketing decisions you can make. Email is a cost effective form of marketing that is easy to do and increases your return customer rate. But there are some important do’s and don’ts when it comes to email. Learn how to get an email list from your Etsy customers with both pre- and post-purchase opt-ins in this article.
Pre-Purchase Opt-Ins
Getting buyers to opt-in to your email list prior to purchasing from you is one of the most effective methods for growing your list. If you’re getting consistent traffic on Etsy, you can automate this easily and your email list will grow without a lot of work.
Set up a landing page and include the link in your Etsy listings. You’ll want to offer your buyers something in exchange for giving you their email address.
The most common opt-in offer is a coupon for a buyer’s first purchase. You can also have buyers opt-in to receive a freebie, challenge, checklist, or as a giveaway entry. Remember that email addresses are very valuable to your buyers and make sure your opt-in is something they will really love.
Post-Purchase Opt-Ins
You have plenty of options to remind buyers to join your email list after they make a purchase as well. I highly recommend Craftkit to automate this process. This service will send automated emails to your buyer after a purchase that give them the option of joining your email list. You’ll want to include a lot of value in the messages going out by including care instructions, tips for using your product, or other relevant information.
What to avoid
There are two things you’ll want to avoid when it comes to collecting email addresses from your Etsy customers. First, you can’t use email addresses from your Etsy orders without a specific opt-in. When Etsy customers purchase from you, they are signing up for Etsy’s email list, not yours. You need a seperate opt-in other than buyers just making a purchase. It’s not just against Etsy rules to use buyer email addresses without permission, it’s illegal.
Second, you’ll want to avoid sending an email with your website or another platform linked immediately when buyers opt-in. Sending buyers to purchase on your website after opting in to your list is fee avoidance if that buyer found you on Etsy. Etsy does check for this occasionally, so you will want to be careful to follow this rule. Make sure the automated email that buyers receive after opting in directs buyers back to Etsy for any purchase they will be making immediately.
