1. Existing customers
Existing customers are the resources of cross-border e-commerce enterprises. It is not only expensive and time-consuming for enterprises to find new customers, but also they have to win trust. For enterprises, existing customers reduce the development cost.
2. Website visitors
Building a potential customer list through a form on the website is the most powerful means to build a mailing list. There are three main strategies to encourage visitors to voluntarily join the mailing list: invite consumers to subscribe to newsletters; provide free, copyright-free consultation; and ask visitors to recommend the website to friends and colleagues.
Cross-border e-commerce enterprises can use many methods to interact with website visitors: provide shopping coupons to visitors, create newsletters, and provide discount information regularly. In return, enterprises can usually ask for visitors’ E-mail addresses. Therefore, enterprises should give appropriate reasons to attract visitors to leave email information so as to keep in touch with them and send them new product or service information.
3. Advertising
Whether using online or offline advertising, you must leave an E-mail address to encourage consumers to contact the business through E-mail, because the goal is to collect the E-mail addresses of customers and potential customers into your own mailing list. In this way, after establishing a reliable list of customers and potential customers that can be contacted through E-mail, the business can introduce the latest products or services to customers by sending e-mails.
4. Recommendation by friends
When a potential customer contacts the business to request a free report or a small gift, ask to recommend the report or small gift to a friend they think may be interested. When a recommended person joins, send a personalized email to explain to them: the business was recommended by a friend (give a name), and the friend requested the business to send it. To ensure that they do not mind adding them to the mailing list, you can add the following message at the end of the email: “To confirm that this email has been sent to the recipient, please reply to this email” to make sure that the report or gift has been sent to the correct address and the promise to (friend’s name) has been fulfilled. If the recipient does not respond to the email, then, in order not to cause resentment, assume that they are not interested in the information in the future and do not continue to send them emails.
5. Renting an E-mail address list
Renting an E-mail address may cost a lot, but if the mailing list is very suitable for the target audience, it is worth it. The price of each E-mail address will vary depending on the number of emails required by the merchant, the target positioning method and the method of collecting names. The price of each address is between $0.05 and $0.4. It is recommended to test the response status with a small list first, or use the services provided by one of the E-mail direct mail service providers attached later.
E-mail direct mail service is to send emails to a group of target audiences who voluntarily join the list. You should confirm that the company providing the service has indeed sent the information to the target audience who voluntarily join the list, and before paying any fees, confirm that the names on the list are the most likely potential customers.
6. Direct response emails
Cross-border e-commerce companies use emails to tell customers about their order status, or give extra rewards to customers who respond to emails to add customers and potential customers to the email address list.
7. Membership organizations
Consumers who work together for a common purpose are the best potential customers. If potential customers belong to the same association, network, alumni association, club, school or organization, or a group formed because of some common interests or reasons, then use the news or announcements of the membership organization to promote special offers to members, and provide them with discounts on products or services to obtain the members’ email address list.