How to Build an Email List

An email list is a powerful tool for small businesses of all kinds. If you plan to sell your product or service, you will want to build an email list to create a database of interested clients who you can reach easily.

What is an Email List?

An email list is a database of subscribers that have shown interest in your product or service through self-subscribing or exchanging their email address for information.

Why Do I Need an Email List?

An email list gives you a platform to get in direct contact with your ideal clients. This is a powerful sales tool when you’re ready to launch a product or service or simply provide updates. Email lists also serve as a security tool. If your social media account got hacked, how would you continue to reach clients? An email list is a great insurance plan to ensure you can always stay in touch with your business followers.

How to Build an Email List

Here is the exact process I used to start my email list!

1. Create an account with an email marketing service

Create an account with an email marketing service like MailChimp or Flodesk. I use Flodesk and absolutely love it. It’s super easy to use, and their email design templates are beautiful. It does have a monthly cost, but it’s worth it for the ease of use and design if you’re serious about building and using email marketing! Use my Flodesk referral link to get 50% off your subscription!

2. Create a basic opt-in form

Create a basic opt-in form in your email marketing platform. An opt-in form is simple. Just ask for their first name and email address. Then, embed this form in your website as a part of your footer or a pop-up. Mine sits as the footer on my home page. This form is great for people who are eager about your business. They will subscribe without much encouragement because they already know they want to hear from you!

3. Create a freebie

Next, you want to create something that will entice your target audience! While some website visitors will just freely hand over their email, others will need more convincing. A freebie is a piece of content that your ideal client would find useful or helpful. Think of something that your clients would want so much that they would hand over their email address in exchange. A freebie can be as simple as a discount code or something more in-depth like an educational resource.

If you create an educational resource as a freebie, use something like Canva to build it and export it as a PDF. My biggest advice? Don’t let this step hold you up! Since you’re giving this information away as a freebie, it should be valuable, but not a huge undertaking. You want to give enough away for free that your clients think it’s worth exchanging their email for it, but you don’t have to reveal all of your secrets!

4. Create a landing page in your email marketing tool

In your email marketing platform, create a landing page for your freebie. On the landing page, include some sales copy that describes the freebie and the value it provides. This is where you can convince potential clients to download your freebie in exchange for their email address. Once they enter their name and email, the person will be automatically added to your email list.

Then, set up your landing page so that the client gets access to the freebie as soon as they submit their name and email. You can have the Submit button redirect immediately to the freebie or trigger it to send the freebie to their inbox.

5. Market your freebie to start collecting emails

Market your freebie on social media and on your website. You can add a banner or pop-up for your freebie on your website to get visibility ongoing and continually grow your list.

6. Keep in touch with your subscribers

Now that you have started to build your email list, use it! I see so many entrepreneurs build an email list but they never actually send anything to subscribers! I like to do monthly emails to my subscribers. This cadence feels like enough to keep me front of mind for my potential clients, but not too much where they get annoyed and unsubscribe.

How to Use an Email List

Need ideas on what to send to your email subscribers? Here are a few ideas!

• Send out and link to a recent blog post
• Notify subscribers about an upcoming sale or deal
• Provide helpful tips related to your area of expertise
• Share a recent business win or positive testimonial

I like to use the idea of “serve, serve, sell” when it comes to my email list. Create a process of serving your email subscribers with helpful, free information so they create a habit of opening your emails. However, don’t be afraid to also pitch your product or service and sell when the time is right! Find a balance of providing amazing value while also promoting your business.

Want an example or more email marketing tips? Subscribe to my email list for further inspiration!