Best way to convert a scraped email list of local businesses?

[Bonita Brakus]

I want to start a newsletter aimed at local businesses, and looking to build a clean list for LESS than the $2-5 per subscriber I'd pay from FB ads.

My initial goal is 1k subscribers, so my budget on Facebook would be upwards of $2k. I know that scraped lists don't convert well but wondering if would still work out cheaper if I can scrape a huge list and get some small percentage to opt in to my newsletter.

Local population is 230k. Anyone have experience converting mass emails to a clean list?

I guess the problem is if the conversion rate is super low like 2%, there would not even be enough businesses in the town to reach my goal.

Some ideas I had:
1 - Offer some freebie if they subscribe?
2 - Send x5 newsletters to the whole scraped list using a burner domain, then switch everyone that opened all 5?
3 - Promise free advertising space if they subscribe?
4 - Figure out if there's a way to partner with someone with an existing list?

Would I be fighting a losing battle here, or is there a way to make it work?

 

[Florence Frami]

Scraped lists are like playing the lottery... it’s a shot in the dark without knowing if people are interested.

Collaborate with influencers, even on a small scale, and make it easy for people to see the value right upfront.

That’s what drives real conversions.