How do you get people to sign up for your list?

Brands want you to sign up for their mailing list. This gives them many opportunities to lure you back.

But consumers can be reluctant to share their email with a brand. So brands offer many types of incentives to get you to sign up. Our engine has seen brands test multiple variations.

We see brands test questions like:

Should you offer a discount to get someone to sign up for your email list?
How big should the discount be?
Should you express it as a percent off (20% off)?
Should you express it as a fixed amount ($20 off)?
Should you offer free shipping?
Should there be a minimum purchase to get a reward?
Should you offer a gift?

We've also seen companies test a fun hybrid of all the above: a mystery offer.

In theory, a mystery reward has a lot going for it. It can be fun to play a game and get rewarded. Plus, the reward could be large. Mystery prizes also deliver a variable reward which psychological studies show motivate behavior (think Las Vegas).

On the flip side, they could also be annoying. You have to jump through hoops to get a reward. You might feel like you are getting manipulated.

‍So, do mystery offers work?

‍Our engine has detected many 'mystery offer' tests over the years. We like this one from Glossier.