How To Build an Email List with Instagram and ScoreApp

Instagram has become the place to share photos, with video viewership no slouch either. Because of that, it’s a great way to promote audience engagement, but that’s not the only thing the Meta platform is good for. Businesses who know their stuff can also get email subscribers from Instagram. With a little help from ScoreApp, naturally. 

Instagram has over 21 billion active users, and 62.4% of those people regularly research businesses on the platform before purchasing. It’s not just about posting pictures of breakfast pancakes anymore. With that in mind, it makes total sense to use Instagram to increase email subscribers.

So, the question is, how to build an email list on Instagram? The good news is, we have the answer: use smart lead magnets, optimized bios, and interactive and engaging content alongside ScoreApp’s automation tools.

Follow the steps below and start to use Instagram to increase email subscribers.

Step-by-step: How to build an email list with Instagram

To maximize your success, you’re going to have to follow a few Instagram email sign-up strategies. Take it slow, be thorough, and you’ll have a reliable Instagram lead generation process in no time at all. 

1. Optimize your Instagram bio for email sign-ups

Your Instagram bio is prime real estate. It’s the first thing any visitor to your profile is likely to read, so put it to good use. Instead of defining your brand and values, use the space to promote email sign-ups by linking to a lead magnet landing page. 

Directing users to your lead magnet rather than your homepage gives a direct path of action. Make it even stronger by pairing a landing page built with ScoreApp, with a clear-cut call to action (CTA).

Your bio CTA could look like:

• Follow the link to get your free guide
• Take the quiz and find out your result
• Join the mailing list for exclusive tips and deals 

You can also use Linktree and similar link-grouping tools if there are multiple sites you want to promote. That said, we’d still recommend keeping it simple and bigging up your lead magnet if you’re going to use Instagram to increase email subscribers

2. Turn Instagram stories into lead generation machines

When it comes to Instagram lead generation, the power of stories should not be overlooked. Promote your freebies, quizzes, and other lead magnets with link stickers and an engaging piece of copy to draw leads in.

Think along the lines of:

• A poll, where the obvious right answer (‘yes’) leads to a DM with a download/sign-up link.
• A Q&A sticker, where interested viewers can respond to get the same link.
• Swiping (if your business is eligible) or tapping a sticker to head to a landing page.
• Open offer for DMs to get a resource link.

Pro tip: The best-performing stories can also be saved as highlights to keep the lead generation machine rolling on for as long as you want. 

3. Use Instagram posts and reels to drive email sign-ups

If you have followers on Instagram, then you have warm leads. They’re following you. They’re engaged. The next step to get email subscribers from Instagram is to make them aware of your email list and the benefits to them. 

Posts and reels can both be used to promote freebies and lead magnets frequently. As far as Instagram email sign-up strategies go, grid posts are the more limited of the two. You can tell people to DM you, point them toward your bio, or automate a response to comments or likes, but that’s about it. 

You can do the same with reels, as well as encouraging swipes and hitting inbuilt links to remove a step and streamline the process. However you approach reels and posts, end with a strong CTA that tells people what you want them to do, what they’ll get in return, and how it will benefit them.

4. Run a quiz-based lead magnet

We love a quiz here at ScoreApp. It’s kind of our thing. Luckily, we’re not the only ones.

Audiences respond well to a lead magnet that gives them something to do. In fact, quizzes can generate up to 3x more engagement than links and other static lead magnets. 

ScoreApp’s quiz builder lets you create an engaging, interesting quiz in moments. Once you’ve decided what it should be about (and how it can help segment your email list), it’s simply a matter of promoting it across Insta’s content tools. If the space is free, you can also put a link to your quiz in your bio. 

5. Promote an exclusive Instagram-only freebie

Who doesn’t like a free gift just for showing up? When it comes to Instagram lead generation, it’s a perfect, low-key way of bringing in email sign-ups. 

All you have to do is come up with a suitable freebie (webinar attendance, an ebook, or PDF report you can generate with ScoreApp), and promote it on the grid and in stories. You can even automate a DM to anyone who follows the page.

Just make sure you hammer home the point that it’s only for Instagram followers. If you miss that, you’ll lose the sense of exclusivity—the impetus that drives it. 

6. Leverage Instagram Live and IGTV for email sign-ups

Instagram Live and IGTV can be put to work in a similar vein to mini-courses or webinars, with short, value-based training sessions on specific topics. 

Covering relevant pain points will bring in viewers, and at the end you can offer further content for free as part of your email list. It can be useful to get attendees to comment for a link via DM so you can keep track of leads and use Instagram to increase email subscribers.

7. Run a giveaway that requires email sign-ups

Giveaways are always tempting, especially if the prize is industry-relevant and can solve a particular pain point. Or save money, for that matter. 

That’s why giveaways are such a strong engagement tool, and lead to so many new email subscriptions. 

Here’s what you need to do:

• Offer a high-value prize that addresses an issue or improves a metric.
• Put entry behind a sign-up form.
• Promote the giveaway across reels, stories, and posts to maximize reach. Always direct viewers to a link using stickers or old-fashioned directions (‘head to the link in our bio to enter!’).

8. Use Instagram DMs to convert engaged followers

Okay, so your followers are inherently engaged and warm to you—that’s good. But not every follower is going to make your life (and Instagram lead generation process) easy by clicking the link in your bio. It’s time to get proactive.

Every time someone engages with your content, whether they like or comment, send them a personal DM with a link to your lead magnet. Promote the benefits of the lead magnet, such as the personalized results of a personality profile quiz, and they’re more likely to hand over their email address.

It’s one of the quick and easy Instagram email sign-up strategies. Even better, it can be automated to free up your team and hit the maximum number of leads. 

9. Convert Instagram comments into subscribers

If you can get people to comment on your posts, you can get them to subscribe to your email list. 

You can send any commenter an automated DM as a matter of course, or you can put out specific ‘comment to subscribe’ posts that have an extra level of buy-in. 

Some examples might be:

• Comment ‘YES’ to get our free guide.
• Tell us why you want in on the latest webinar and we’ll DM you the link.
• Drop an emoji to take our personality quiz.

Once they’ve commented, send a link their way via DM.

How ScoreApp simplifies Instagram lead generation

We’ve been fairly subtle about it throughout this blog post, but ScoreApp makes Instagram lead generation simpler and more effective in a few key ways. 

For the avoidance of doubt, here are the tools that ScoreApp gives you to boost Instagram email sign-up strategies:

• Use quizzes and assessments that engage leads, open up conversations, and give them an incentive to sign up to your email list to view the results. 
• Create mini-courses and surveys that offer valuable, personalized content leads will snap up the chance to sign up for. 
• Leverage automated follow-ups to send email sequences based on quiz results and nurture warm leads toward converting.
• Generate landing pages for high-converting Instagram opt-ins that hit the mark quickly and effectively.

Instagram email sign-up strategies, powered by ScoreApp

Instagram is a fantastic way to engage with leads, but it takes a more specific strategy to turn followers and commenters into email subscribers. 

Smart use of bio links, giveaways, broadcasts, and DMs is key. With all that in place, you can roll out a successful strategy and bulk out your email list with high-quality leads. By adding ScoreApp into the mix, you can create attention-grabbing lead magnets with ease. Get started with customizable templates, and follow up effortlessly with automation. It’s a match made in email and social media marketing heaven. 

Even better, ScoreApp is free to try. Start building your email list with ScoreApp and Instagram today.