Living in the digital era, where more and more people become victims of data breaches, modern users are cautious about sharing their email addresses. In fact, 733 million email addresses were stolen in 2019.
Building email lists is getting harder, and businesses are now looking for new list-building strategies.
Since people spend a considerable amount of time on social media, integrating social media with email marketing is a great way to collect emails from engaged followers and fans.
As a photo-sharing app, Instagram may not seem like the most obvious platform for growing your email list. However, there are many reasons to use it for this purpose.
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Why Grow Your Email List with Instagram?
If you are unsure whether Instagram is the right platform for list building, here are three main reasons brands should use it:
The audience is large and active: In 2018, Instagram reached one billion monthly active users. Today, it remains one of the fastest-growing platforms with a highly engaged user base.
Users want to communicate with brands in-app: The average Instagram user spends 53 minutes per day on the platform, and 90% follow at least one business..
Instagram has features for email collection: With over 25 million business accounts, Instagram provides features like clickable links, lead generation ads, and contact buttons that make email list growth easier.
Simply put, Instagram is a perfect platform to grow your email list
Let’s explore seven ways to do it effectively.
7 Ways on How to Grow Your Email List with Instagram
If email marketing is part of your digital strategy, turning followers into subscribers is key. Instagram users already engage actively with brands, making it an ideal space for list-building.
#1. Tell about your Email List in the Bio
Your Instagram bio is the first thing visitors see. Since users have a short attention span, use this space wisely. You have 150 characters and one clickable link, so use them to encourage sign-ups.
You can:
1. Add a direct link to your sign-up page.
2. Use clear CTAs in your bio (e.g., “Join our newsletter for weekly tips”)
3. Include emojis to draw visual attention since 65% of people are visual learners
Source: Instagram
Source: Instagram
#2. Show the Benefits of Being On Your List
Brands like Kai Collective and Bruichladdich Distillery use Instagram posts to highlight subscriber-only benefits such as giveaways or early access. Even small gains—like 30 new subscribers per month—can justify running subscriber-only promotions.
For example, offer:
Premium access to content & brand information
Exclusive discounts and offers
Giveaways for subscribers
Free shipping and returns
Brands like Kai Collective and Bruichladdich Distillery use Instagram posts to highlight subscriber-only benefits such as giveaways or early access. Even small gains—like 30 new subscribers per month—can justify running subscriber-only promotion.
Source: Instagram
Source: Instagram
#3. Ask Followers to Join Your Email List
Sometimes the simplest approach works best. Directly ask your followers to join your email list using CTAs in your captions, bio, or stories. Combine this with an easy sign-up method such as a landing page link in your bio.
Source: Instagram
#4. Team Up with Instagram Influencers
With ad fatigue on the rise, 70% of people now trust influencer recommendations more than traditional brand ads.
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Partnering with niche influencers helps expand reach and build trust. Use influencer search tools to find creators whose audiences align with your brand. When contacting them, stand out by emailing instead of relying solely on DMs, and include your email signature and social links for credibility
Source: Instagram
#5. Run an Instagram Giveaway
Giveaways remain one of the fastest ways to grow your email list on Instagram. People love free stuff, so make “joining your email list” one of the entry requirements.Promote your giveaway effectively, as engagement drives visibility in Instagram’s algorithm. The more comments and likes your giveaway receives, the more participants it attracts.
Source: Instagram
#6. Promote Lead Magnets
Since users are hesitant to share their emails, offer something valuable in exchange—a lead magnet..
A lead magnet is a free resource offered in exchange for a user’s email address. Promote your lead magnets through posts, reels, or stories.
Source: Instagram
Examples of effective lead magnets include:
Brand freebies and free samples
Case studies and reports
Digital downloads
Coupons and discounts
Webinars and online courses
#7. Include Clickable Story Links
Stories create urgency, and with over 500 million daily users, they’re an excellent list-building tool. You can promote your email list and include a clickable link so viewers can subscribe instantly.
If your account is not verified or under 10k followers, collaborate with influencers who have link-sharing privileges to expand your reach.
Source: Instagram
Conclusion
Instagram has evolved from a photo-sharing app into a powerful marketing tool. With its business-friendly features, it offers countless ways to grow your email list—from CTAs in posts to clickable story links.
If you want to take your efforts further, consider using SendX, a platform designed to help capture emails and nurture leads through automated email marketing.
Email remains the preferred communication channel for customers, so start leveraging Instagram today to grow your list and drive your business forward.
FAQs
1. Why should I grow my email list with Instagram?
There are three main reasons:
The audience is large and active.
Users want to connect with brands directly in-app.
Instagram has multiple email collection features.
2. WWhat features does Instagram have for collecting emails?
Instagram offers clickable links, lead generation ads, and contact buttons to help businesses capture emails easily
3.How can I ask my Instagram followers to join my email list?
Use clear CTAs in captions, bios, or stories to guide followers on what to do and how to do it. Pair them with an easy sign-up link or landing page
