A mailing list is one of the most important tools an internet marketer has. It offers the opportunity for ongoing contact with customers and prospective customers. But it’s about much more than just getting sales. A mailing list allows marketers to connect with their audience and earn their trust.
In order to get the best results from your mailing list, it’s important to form a bond with your subscribers. This will make them look forward to seeing your mailings in your inbox, increasing open and response rates. It will also make them more comfortable giving you their business. Here are ten ways that you can create a deeper bond with your subscribers.
#1: Ask What You Can Do for Them
If you want to know what your subscribers want, the best thing you can do is ask. Asking readers for suggestions for future mailings
lets them know that their needs are important to you. And when they respond, it gives you the information you need to create more relevant and targeted campaigns. It’s truly a win-win situation.
#2: Take Questions
Another way to get your subscribers more involved is to ask them to send in their questions. You can answer them in future mailings to benefit not only the sender, but all of your subscribers.
As a bonus, the questions that readers send in could give you ideas for blog posts or information products.
#3: Invite them to Connect through Social Media
Social media makes it possible for marketers to connect with their audiences in ways that once were not possible. So why not promote your social media pages through your newsletter? It will give subscribers a new way to receive information about your products and services and to interact with you.
#4: Continue the Discussion on Your Blog
One of the shortcomings of an email list is that it doesn’t offer much opportunity for discussion with your audience. How can you overcome this? By directing readers to your blog. Send them an excerpt or a brief synopsis of your latest post along with a link where they can read and comment. By replying to their comments, you can strengthen your bond even more.
#5: Link to Your YouTube Videos
YouTube videos are excellent marketing tools. You can use them to put a face to your marketing campaigns and make yourself more accessible. Sharing them with your subscribers gives them something to connect with beyond their inboxes.
#6: Incorporate Their Comments into Your Newsletter
When you pay attention to your audience, you are rewarded with increased loyalty. Using their comments in your newsletter lets 
them know that you are listening. If a subscriber emails you directly, it’s a good idea to get his permission before including his comments in one of your mailings.
Comments found on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are generally fair game, but letting the commenter know your intentions gives you an additional opportunity for interaction and conveys respect.
#7: Invite Them to a Subscribers-only Webinar
Exclusive events are great for creating a deeper bond with subscribers. One of the easiest and least expensive ways to hold such an event is to have a webinar. A webinar allows you to present information via audio and video and allows the opportunity for participants to ask questions and make comments. Having a subscribers-only webinar can also help you get new subscribers if you send the word out via social media or your blog.
#8: Offer Exclusive Discounts
Want to increase your sales and make your subscribers feel special at the same time? Offer them an exclusive discount on your
products or services.
You could even encourage interaction by taking a vote on which product they would like to receive an exclusive discount on.
Whenever you give your subscriber preferential treatment, you win in creating a stronger bond with them.
#9: Make Personalized Offers
Another way to increase sales while keeping your subscribers happy is to send them personalized offers. For instance, you could ask for their birthday or birth month and send them a special offer in honor of their special day.
Or you could send offers for discounts on new products to customers who have purchased complementary products in the past. Such offers let subscribers know how much you value them.
#10: Run a Survey
Some subscribers simply aren’t interested in interacting with marketers on a personal level, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t want
to know that they value their opinions.
A good way to engage these subscribers is to take a survey. This allows them to share their opinions, ideas and concerns anonymously if they so desire. You get valuable feedback that you might not have otherwise received, and they get the assurance that you want to keep them happy.
Bonding with your subscribers requires some time and effort, but it is well worth it. It will go a long way toward ensuring that they stay subscribed, and when it comes time to make a purchase they will have no qualms about doing so.