Email continues to dominate when it comes to generating solid leads, but social media currently gets more attention. Why not employ both to work together to create an unstoppable lead generating, content spreading machine? Find out 5 ways to make it work!

Don’t Forget Those Icons
The first method is really a no brainer at this point. Most people have long been doing this, but for those new to the game....include social icons linking to your social pages in your emails. The people on your email list are clearly interested in your company and what you have to say, so why not encourage them to get more on a daily basis.

Motivate your readers to friend or follow for special offers, exclusive content, or first to know sales. Being able to see your content in a more visually enticing or appealing layout on a network that they’re already familiar with can be enough to get them to follow you.

Reinforce the Connection
Sometimes the icons are not enough. Some businesses have found that adding a tagline underneath the icons reading “connect with us socially” or “follow us” clues more of their subscribers in to liking or following their pages. Adding these suggestions just gives readers a little extra push.

Use Social for Email
Let’s flip it around a bit. Utilize your social sites to promote your weekly or biweekly or monthly emails. Throw in some pitches for your email list in your latest blog article, pin your newsletters, etc. Some of your followers may want lengthier and more in depth information/studies/content that can be better conveyed through email. Facebook allows you to add in an email signup app in order to capture more email signups off of your Facebook page. This is a great way of advertising to your followers that you have additional content and can deliver it directly to their inbox.

Contests
Use contests and incentives, like this twitter ad did below to drive more traffic and motivate fans/followers to help you promote. Implementing contests on your page that require emails are a genius way to rake in email subscribers (make sure you disclose they’re being added to your list serve). Also, tell contestants to check one of your sites for the post signifying the start of your competition. This way they’ll need to follow you to get the head start with your fans.

Incentives
Generate a coupon that can be shared and passed on to friends. Motivate your followers to share via social sites by providing them with a coupon/discount per share. It’ll be used over and over and provide a much wider reach for your company.

Offer incentives for your subscribers to like/follow/share. A good group one to promote is if your company reaches (put your # here) followers/fans/etc. on your social page by a specific time and day than everyone will receive 10% or however much percent off of their purchase for a specified time.

That was probably confusing because there is so much up for discretion there. Let’s give an example. Something like... If BannerView.com reaches 1,000 Facebook likes by 10PM Friday November 8th everyone will receive 15% their month of December membership. Michael Justin Films offered a good incentive that was worth the extra publicity for the company below.

If you’re concerned about monetary give aways or loss in revenues, think outside of the box as to what to give away. Incentivibe, which I spoke about in growing your email list offers a low cost option for giving away premium items. It doesn’t even have to be monetary or a product or service. State that if you reach your goal of followers you or your company’s owners will do something crazy on film, like baconsports.com did. It could also be an offer of extra exposure.

For instance, the email subscriber that shares this email the most or generates the most click throughs will receive a spotlight interview in our next email newsletter. This would be a great incentive for a small business owner looking for more publicity on a small budget.

There are many things to do to marry your social sites to your email promotions. It may involve making little tweaks, or even thinking outside of the box, but overall the marriage between the two entities is meant to be. Social media and email have been destined for one another to bring you extra exposure.