Email marketing is still one of the best ways for B2B businesses to connect with prospects and turn them into leads. However, before you can hit “send” on your next campaign, you need a solid email list. So, the big question is: should you build your email list organically or buy one ready-made?
Both options have their pros and cons, and the right choice really depends on your business goals, available resources, and long-term plans. In this blog, we break down the key differences between building and buying an email list.
Going organic Building your list organically means collecting emails from people who are already interested in your business. There are a variety of ways to do this, such as through website sign-ups, webinars and lead magnets (this is where you offer something valuable in exchange for contact information, such as an eBook, white paper or industry report). It’s all about attracting people who genuinely want to hear from you.
The benefits of building an email list
1. Higher Engagement and Better Deliverability - Since the people on your list have willingly signed up to receive comms from you, they are more likely to engage with your emails, leading to higher open and click-through rates.
2. Compliance with Email Regulations - Organically built lists may be more likely to comply with regulations like GDPR (due to data processing regulations), reducing legal risks associated with data privacy and marketing.
3. Stronger Customer Relationships - A list of engaged subscribers who genuinely want to hear from you fosters trust and helps build long-term customer relationships.
4. Data Quality - Organically acquired contacts can offer more up-to-date, accurate information, making your marketing efforts more efficient and effective from the get-go.
The challenges of building an email list
1. Time-Consuming - Growing an email list takes time, investment and effort, requiring continuous content marketing and lead generation strategies.
2. Slower Initial Results - If you need to generate leads quickly, building a list organically may not provide the speed required for immediate outreach.
3. Ongoing Effort and Resources - Businesses must invest in creating engaging and relevant content, effective landing pages, and lead magnets to attract subscribers and gather data, which can take up more time and resources.
Ready-made lists Buying an email list involves purchasing contact details from a reputable third-party provider. These lists are often categorised by industry, job title, company size, and other demographics.
The benefits of buying an email list
1. Instant Access to a Large Audience - Buying an email list allows businesses to reach thousands of contacts instantly, providing quick access to potential leads.
2. Faster Lead Generation - If you need immediate outreach for a product launch or sales push, a purchased list can speed up the process.
3. Scalability - Purchased lists can provide businesses with a larger pool of prospects, which can be beneficial when expanding your business and audience.
The challenges of buying an email list
1. Risk of Spam Complaints and Blacklisting - Sending unsolicited emails can result in spam complaints, potentially damaging your sender reputation and causing your domain to be blacklisted. This is why working with a compliant, trusted provider will ensure that your emails reach interested recipients, helping protect your sender reputation.
2. Legal and Compliance Risks - While B2B marketing has different requirements and regulations than B2C marketing, there are still regulations that must be met. By purchasing and using email lists that do not meet compliance standards, you automatically put your business at risk. Before partnering with a list provider, check their credentials to make sure they are fully compliant.
3. Data Quality - Purchased lists often contain outdated or incorrect information, leading to high bounce rates and wasted marketing efforts. Purchasing your list from a reputable provider will ensure you are using clean, accurate, and up-to-date data, so you can avoid these issues and run more effective and efficient marketing campaigns.
Which approach is best for your business?
When it comes to email marketing, the decision to build or buy an email list comes down to your business goals and how quickly you need to see results.
· Building your list is great for long-term engagement, trust, and compliance but it takes time.
· Buying an email list can offer immediate outreach and quick results, saving you time. However, be sure to purchase your list from a reputable provider that delivers high-quality, accurate data and can prove they are fully compliant with all relevant regulations.
For many businesses, using a combination of buying and building email lists can offer a comprehensive solution; by starting with buying a well-vetted list for initial outreach and to jumpstart your marketing efforts, you can then focus on converting those contacts into an organic, permission-based list that become well targeted and highly engaged leads. At Acquirz, we offer premium, compliant email lists to ensure you are reaching the right people while staying within legal boundaries. For fast, effective, and compliant outreach, our accurate, unrivalled business data lists enable your business to reach key decision-makers at scale. To fill your pipeline with high-quality new prospects, contact us here: https://acquirz.co.uk/contact