9 Reasons Every Blogger Regrets Not Starting an Email List Sooner

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One of the number one regrets bloggers voice over and over? Not starting their email list sooner.

I mean if I had a dime for every time a blogger has said they wish they’d started their email list sooner I’d be a billionaire! 😉

My number one regret?

You guessed it.

Not starting an email list sooner.

I knew it was important. I was convinced it was important. And I still waited years to start one. 🤦🏻‍♀️

You too?

Maybe you have the same hang ups I did?

I waited to start an email list because

I wasn’t sure what to say
I didn’t want the time commitment
I was struggling with creating a lead magnet
It felt complicated

I understand starting an email list can feel intimidating. Because I’ve been there too. However, not growing your email list A.S.A.P. is a HUGE mistake! Email marketing is an essential tool for growth, traffic and connecting with your readers.

9 Reasons Every Blogger Regrets Not Starting an Email List Sooner

Why build an email list

There’s a whole list of reasons you need an email list. To begin with it’s an amazing opportunity to connect on a deeper more personal level with your audience.

You own your email list, unlike social media, which means you have full control over it. It gives you the ability to build trust and loyalty.

It’s an important marketing tool, helps drive traffic to your site and make sales.

9 Reasons This Blogger Regrets Not Starting an Email List Sooner

Below are my top nine reasons why you should begin building an email list right away. Let’s dive in!

1. I could’ve connected deeper with my audience sooner

Your email list is where you show up in person. And you have a direct line to your audience. Do you know how freakin awesome AND valuable that is?

I underestimated the value of having a direct line to my audience because your email list is where you get personal.

Your email list is where you can share even more than what you share on your blog or social media.

Email is more intimate and gives you the opportunity to serve on a deeper level.

2. I underestimated the value of having access to my audience

You’ve heard the horror stories of people losing access to their social media accounts and therefore losing access to their audience.

If I lost access to all my social media platforms I’d still have my email list. I was tired of being at the mercy of social media and algorithms. Having a list means I can reach out to my audience whenever I want or need to.

It also means that when social media goes down for the day or I lose access to a social media platform I still have access to my audience!

And since I “own” my email list no one can take it away from me. Unlike a social media account that can get suddenly taken away from you.

3. I didn’t understand the power of email marketing

Having an email list means being able to reach your audience directly with offers. Email is one of the best places to share your own offers and affiliate offers.

Which means if you have offers to get in front of your audience you should be growing an email list.

In an article on email marketing stats, hubspot’s research shows that “there are 4 billion daily email users.” and “74% of Baby Boomers think email is the most personal channel to communicate with brands.”

In a 2021 report by hubspot, “77% of companies have seen more engagement with email marketing over the past 12 months.” and “46% of smartphone users prefer to receive communications from businesses via email.”

4. Not having an email list means leaving money on the table

By not having an email list I was losing out on a powerful money making marketing tool. Believe it or not even with the rise in social media, email marketing is still one of the top marketing performers, right alongside social media and websites.

On average a consumer needs to see an offer 7 times before they’ll purchase. And they are more likely to purchase from someone they trust. Email marketing and social media marketing partnered together can be a power combination to building trust.

5. I was confused by setting up an email list

Starting and growing an email list meant mastering an email marketing platform. The email service platforms, however, are amazing at guiding you through how to use their service successfully. All the platforms I’ve used have helpful articles and videos that walk you through how to use them.

And while it can seem complicated and confusing at the end of the day an email list can be simplified to getting people to sign up and sending them emails.

6. I had no idea what to create for a lead magnet opt in

I made creating an opt in lead magnet (freebie) way too difficult. I kept trying to think of some earth shattering, irresistible freebie.

Then I realized I simply needed to share something useful.

When I created my Free Canva Templates for Pinterest I created them from templates I had already designed for myself. By providing something of value I use for myself I was able to share that value with my audience in exchange for their emails!

7. I doubted that anyone would want to hear from me

I lacked the confidence in myself to write captivating email that my subscribers would want to read.

Every day I waited to start an email list was a day I lost out on connecting with my audience and going deeper with them.

I honestly doubted that people would want to hear what I had to say.

I was approaching an email list from the wrong angle. Instead of worrying about what people would think I started to write from a place meant to help.

Now when I write my emails I write from a place a service. If they are valuable I hope people will stay subscribed because I’m serving them! If they aren’t hitting the mark for everyone it’s okay if people unsubscribe.

8. It’s a future investment

Building an email list takes time. Much like driving traffic to your blog or website, you have to drive people to your email list.

When you are ready to serve an email list, whether that be in providing inspirational messages or industry related tips to niche specific products, launches, courses or services you’ll need a list in place.

Starting a list now is an investment for later.

9. I thought email marketing was outdated

With the rise of social media, many of us have been under the wrong impression that email marketing is dead. In a 2022 post by Optinmonster, statistics show that, “99% of email users check their email every day, some as much as 20 times a day” and “58% of users check their email before they check out social media or the news.”

Email marketing isn’t going anywhere and the best place to reach people is still via email!

How to start your email list in five easy steps:

When it comes to starting an email list don’t over complicate it. When first starting out a few simple steps is all it will take to begin!

1. Choose an email marketing platform

First you’ll want to choose an email marketing platform. There a lots to choose from, which we’ll cover a little later in this post, and most platforms offer a free version or introductory free trial.

An email marketing platform is email software that allows you to keep a contact list of subscribers and email to them. It tracks subscribers, unsubscribes, email opens, link clicks and tons of helpful analytics to help you market effectively.

2. Create a lead magnet

A lead magnet is a freebie you give a subscriber when they opt in to your email list. The key to a good lead magnet is providing value to your subscriber. When your freebie meets a need people will sign up to your list to receive it.

Here are several lead magnet ideas you can create:

Checklists
Cheat sheets
Templates
Ebooks
Workbooks
Pdf guides
Spreadsheets
Printables
Reports
Stock Photos
Recipes
Swipe files
Audio recordings
Video guides

You can easily create one in Canva using one of their templates!

3. Set up an Opt In form

An opt in form is how people sign up to your email list. Use your email marketing platform to create your form.

If you have a website you can place your form on your site. If you don’t have a website you can create a landing page with your email marketing platform to house your form.

Then simply link to the landing page from your social media profiles.

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4. Write a welcome and nurture sequence

I also recommend starting with a paid account right off the bat. While I’m all for saving money there is one key feature you’ll want a paid version of an email marketing platform for. An automated email sequence.

Automated sequence emails are useful for delivering an automated series of emails like an initial welcome sequence (also known as a nurture sequence), challenges, or topic specific series. The beauty of sequences is that they are triggered, meaning you do not have to manually manage them.

For example you can have a sequence in place when someone joins your email list, when they purchase a product or even they get added to a tag or segment of your list.

Of course you can start off with the free version of a platform or try an introductory free trial. This will allow you to learn the platform and get a feel for it in the beginning.

However, having an automated nurture sequence is an essential component of a healthy and thriving email list. Which is why I recommend going with a paid version.

Here’s why:

The moment a subscriber joins your email list is the best possible moment for you to nurture that relationship. By signing up they’ve expressed a level of interest in what you have to offer. With a nurture email sequence you have the opportunity to nurture a brand new relationship with your subscriber.

Image if you subscribed to an email list, snagged your freebie and then randomly got an email three months later. Do you even remember signing up for that freebie or who this person is? Probably not.

Instead, you subscribed to an email list, snagged your freebie and were treated to a week’s worth or intentional emails written to connect with you. That’s the power of a nurture sequence.

Which one of these two scenarios makes you more invested and interested in a relationship?

A nurture sequence is a one time opportunity to lay that groundwork with a subscriber. Groundwork that could be the difference between an unsubscribe and a loyal follower.

5. Promote your list

Lastly you’ll want to promote your list! Here are some ideas to promote your list:

Share about your freebie and opt in on social media. Include the link to the opt in sign up in your social media profiles.
Write a blog post related to your lead magnet and imbed the opt in form in the post.
Create a series of pin images and pin the link to your opt in form on Pinterest.
Share a paragraph about your lead magnet and link to the opt in on LinkedIn.
Ask your followers to help you grow your list and invite others.
Partner up with another blogger, influencer, or entrepreneur in your niche and share an invite to each others lead magnet or list.
Ad a QR code to your business card with a link to your opt in form.
Include a social media share button on your freebie thank you page.
Embed a signup form at the bottom of your blog posts.
Use a pop up signup form on your website.

What you’ll need to start an email list:

Email marketing platform
A lead magnet
Email address
Physical Address
Website if you have one

What Email marketing platform should I use?

The email marketing platform you use will depend on your needs. There are tons out there! Here are my top three recommendations for you when it comes to choosing an email service provider.

Before deciding on a platform consider the following. What do you plan to do with your email list? Will you be writing single emails, email series automations, building a sales funnel?

1. ConvertKit

ConvertKit offers a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers. Paid plans are based on a sliding scale by subscribers, so for 300 subscribers you can start out as low as $9 a month.

ConvertKit provides landing pages, sign up forms, and link pages, an intuitive email editor and powerful sales funnels. You can also sell digital products and subscriptions directly through the platform.

Automate your sales funnel to send content to subscribers automatically, getting them prepped to make a purchase.

2. Flodesk

Flodesk offers a free 30 day trial. What I love about Flodesk is that you pay a $38 monthly flat fee. Unlike other providers there are no subscriber limitations or email send limitations.

While the $38 monthly fee may seem high when you are first starting out, it will save you tons of money once you pass the 1000 subscriber mark.

They are leading the market with their beautiful designs. The platform is one of the easiest ones I’ve ever used and in my opinion incredibly user friendly.

Flodesk gives you all the features available in the free 30 day trial so you can really get a feel for the platform!

Get 50% off when you join by using my referral link.

3. MailChimp

MailChimp offers a free plan with up to 2000 contacts, verses when you switch to paid plan and subscriber count goes down to 500.

On a free plan you can send one automated email when people first sign up. You can schedule and send emails to current subscribers on a free plan, but if you want to sign up new subscribers to an email series you’ll need a paid plan for automated email series.

Use a professional email address

If you don’t have a domain, I recommend creating an isolated gmail email that is different than your personal email. Otherwise your subscribers are going to receive emails from your personal email.

A physical address is required

Unfortunately by law you are required to list an address in the footer of all your emails. To avoid listing your home address you can list a P.O. Box or sign up for a virtual box that you can list. But it must be a legal address of yours.

Link your website

If you have a website and email linked to your domain you will want to link it to your email platform. This way your emails will be sent with your email address, which is much more professional than a personal email.

To sum up email marketing is an essential tool for growth, traffic and connecting with your readers.

Ready to start your email list?

xoxo Naomi