Expanding your e-mail marketing is a great way to grow your business. For me expand means to actually start! But how the heck do I do that? Turns out after some research and brainstorming there are lots of ways. Here are 5 to get you (and me) started:

1.) When selling in person, ask for e-mail addresses! This one seems so simple but do you really do it? I usually don't. Having a clipboard and pen sitting on your sales table does not cut it – the idea is to ask for an e-mail address. Consider a monthly give-a-way to boost interest.

2.) After a customer has purchased from you on your website, direct them to a page with an e-mail sign-up form. They’ve just had a terrific ordering experience, so surely they’ll want to hear from you via e-mail with special offers.

3.) Tap into all your contacts. Export a list of personal friends and business colleagues who know you from your Outlook, Gmail, AOL and Yahoo accounts. Send these people an e-mail, personally asking them to join your list. Include a link to your opt-in form. Be sure to let them know in the e-mail why they want to join your list: discounts, coupons or information exclusive to them.

4.) Grow your list with Twitter, Facebook and other social sites. Think of these sites as a boost for your e-mail program. When you create your newsletter or e-mail, post a link to it. Then you can let everyone know you’ve published your latest e-mail and remind them to sign up for your e-mail list if they haven’t already.

5.) Include a registration form on your site. With this you can gather addresses on your website, blog and social sites. Consider having multiple forms to track where people are signing up.

Have tips of your own you want to share? Let us know by leaving a comment. Oh and don’t forget to sign up for The {NewNew} e-mail list so you can stay up to date on current markets we will be at, our shows and other events and special promotions.