Hey, it's Chase and Jimmy here.

Your pop-up isn't converting like it used to, is it?

You're not alone. Shoppers have built up immunity to the same old "Sign up for 10% off!" banner that's been on every site since 2019.

The good news is there are smarter, more effective ways to grow your list that actually get people excited to hand over their email.

This morning, we're breaking down 5 fresh approaches that capture high-intent subscribers without feeling invasive.

Also inside:

✔️ Two days in Austin that could compress six months of growth
✔️ Your retention shouldn’t depend on the calendar
✔️ Quick clips: This week's top news in eCom

Let’s dive in.

Two days in Austin that could compress six months of growth

Commerce Roundtable hits Austin on April 20–21 with two fast, high-impact days built for operators who want real action, not recycled slides.

You’ll share space with 350+ founders, marketers, agencies, and SaaS leaders while learning from 15 operator-led keynotes. Plus, enjoy rooftop hangs, candid after-hours conversations, and the famous $220,000 in on-stage giveaways.

Brands save $100 off your ticket with code BRAND100 and grab your seat before this sells out!

→ Register today

Smarter ways to grow your email list without relying on pop-ups

Let’s be honest, growing an email list isn’t as easy as it used to be.

Ads are more expensive. Attention spans are shorter. And people are far more intentional about who they give access to their inbox. Signing up for emails now feels like a choice, not a reflex.

The brands still growing strong lists aren’t forcing it. They’re creating moments where opting in actually makes sense.

Here are five ways to do exactly that.

1. Build an interactive quiz that gives before it asks

Quizzes work because they flip the value exchange.

Instead of leading with a form, you lead with guidance. The email capture becomes a natural next step after someone’s already invested a little time and received something useful.

The real advantage here isn’t just the signup rate. It’s the quality of the data. Quizzes let you collect preferences, needs, and intent at the point of signup, which makes every email after that more relevant.

Pro tip: Don’t wait until email three to personalize. Use quiz responses immediately in your welcome flow so subscribers feel seen from day one.

2. Turn loyalty programs into opt-in and engagement engines

Loyalty programs aren’t really about getting new emails. They’re about getting better ones.

Most loyal customers are already subscribed, but a loyalty program gives you a reason to deepen that relationship. It creates a clear value add for staying opted in, sharing preferences, and engaging more consistently across email and SMS.

When done well, loyalty programs shift email from “brand updates” to something customers actively pay attention to. Points, perks, early access, and progress tracking all give subscribers a reason to open, click, and stick around beyond the first purchase.

Instead of feeling like another marketing channel, your emails become part of the experience of earning and unlocking rewards.

Pro tip: Reward participation and progress, not just signups. Points for engagement, reviews, referrals, or profile completion often drive more long-term value than a one-time discount ever will.

3. Offer a signup incentive that matches intent

Signup incentives still work when they’re thoughtful.

The mistake most brands make is defaulting to the biggest discount possible. What actually converts better is an incentive that matches where the shopper is in their journey.

That might mean:

• A modest first-order discount

• Free shipping at a decision-heavy moment

• Early access to launches or limited inventory

The goal isn’t to bribe. It’s to make the exchange feel fair.

Pro tip: Timing matters more than value. Exit-intent and scroll-based triggers often outperform instant pop-ups because the shopper has already shown interest.

4. Use back-in-stock alerts to capture high-intent subscribers

When something is sold out, interest hasn’t disappeared. It’s concentrated.

Back-in-stock alerts are one of the cleanest ways to grow your list because the intent is explicit. The shopper is telling you exactly what they want and when they want to hear from you.

According to Omnisend’s benchmark data, back-in-stock emails are among the highest-converting automation messages, driving multiple times the conversion rate of standard campaign emails. That’s because these subscribers aren’t browsing. They’re waiting.

That makes this segment especially valuable when you follow up with intention instead of treating the alert like a single transactional send.

Pro tip: Don’t treat back-in-stock emails as one-and-done. Follow up with complementary products, bundles, or a heads-up about limited inventory. When intent is this high, relevance matters more than urgency.

5. Turn packaging into a signup moment

Unboxing is one of the most overlooked list growth opportunities.

Your customer is engaged, curious, and already has positive momentum with your brand. A simple prompt to scan and sign up feels natural in that moment.

QR codes work well when the payoff is clear and immediate, like a future discount or exclusive access.

Pro tip: Send QR traffic to a dedicated landing page so you can tag those subscribers properly and tailor follow-up messaging based on how they joined.

The takeaway: make joining feel worth it

List growth doesn’t have to be loud, pushy, or expensive.

When you meet people where they already are and offer something genuinely useful, opting in feels like a good decision instead of a chore.

Grow your list by earning attention, not demanding it. The subscribers you attract that way are the ones who actually stick around.

Quick recap: five smarter ways to grow your list

• Use quizzes to personalize from the first touch

• Leverage loyalty programs to deepen engagement

• Offer incentives that align with intent

• Capture demand with back-in-stock alerts

• Turn packaging into an opt-in opportunity

Your retention shouldn’t depend on the calendar

If your email strategy changes based on the next launch, sale, or slow week, retention ends up reactive instead of intentional.

The Year-Round Retention Email Series walks through how to plan emails around customer behavior across the entire year; what to send, when to send it, and why it earns a spot in the inbox. Less scrambling. Clearer decisions. More consistent revenue.

👉 Get the full series

Quick Clips:

• Once Upon a Farm heads to Wall Street: The kid-focused food brand filed for IPO under the ticker “OFRM,” with plans to raise capital for debt, equipment, and expansion. With $226M in sales and 22K retail doors, Once Upon a Farm is also eyeing growth through functional SKUs and 15K cooler placements.

• Cawston Press goes non-alc with Loah acquisition: UK soda brand Cawston Press is expanding beyond soft drinks by acquiring Loah, a fruit-forward non-alcoholic beer maker. The move taps into year-round moderation trends and gives Cawston a foothold in a fast-growing category that sits between soda and booze.

• Tom Holland’s Bero raises more funding: Bero just closed a fresh investment round from BetterCo Holdings and Imaginary Ventures, aiming to 3x revenue in 2026. With plans to scale distribution and on-premise sales, the brand wants to be more than a celebrity startup; it’s chasing category leadership and profitability.

• Consumers stayed small in 2025, but tax refunds could change that: BofA data shows shoppers prioritized small-ticket purchases and secondhand goods last year. But with 2026 tax refunds expected to be up to 18% higher, spending could rebound (at least temporarily) if the labor market holds.

• Dry January is no longer a trend: Beverage founders are treating Dry January as a lens for long-term strategy. Consumers are looking for drinks that support mood and social connection, not just alcohol substitutes. Expect to see more functional beverages designed around real-life occasions, not abstinence.

Annnnd that’s a wrap for this edition! 

Thanks for hanging with Chase and me. Always a pleasure to have you here.

If you found this newsletter helpful (or even just a little fun), don’t keep it to yourself! Share ecomemailmarketer.com with your favorite DTC marketer. Let’s get them on board so they don’t miss next week’s drops.

Remember: Do shit you love.

🤘 Jimmy Kim & Chase Dimond

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