This post contains affiliate links that generate a commission for the author, at no cost to you. Read my disclosure for more info.
You Need An Email List
Have you started your online business yet? Great!
I’m so excited for you! Your online business will change your life!
Here’s another question:
Do you have a way of capturing your readers’ information and turning them into a raving audience? You know, the people who are the most likely to buy your products?
If you don’t, you should.
No matter what anyone says, you NEED an email list. You needed one in 2006, you needed one in 2012, and you need one in 2019.
Not only that, but you need one from the start.
Do not pass go. Get on that right now.
Why?
Read on!
Your Email List: Everyone Has An Email Address
If you use a computer, there’s a chance you have an email address. My grandma has an email address. She doesn’t like using a computer and hates having a smartphone, but she has an email address. My almost-90-year-old grandfather has an email address. I’ve had an email address since I was 12. My nieces, who are both under the age of 8, they have email addresses.
According to a 2018 Radicati Group study, there were more than 3.8 billion email users before the start of 2019.
For comparison, there are 1.74 billion mobile active users on Facebook.
That’s more than twice as many email users than there are Facebook users.
Convinced yet?
And here’s another nugget: when someone signs up for your email list, they’re consenting to have you email them. They’re saying, “Hey, I want your emails coming to my inbox. My private, personal inbox.”
It may not sound like a lot, when all it is, is a few numbers and letters attached to an @somedomaminhere.com, but that’s really something HUGE to offer you. It means someone is inviting YOU into their life.
Your Email List: It’s Is Yours And Yours Alone
Remember that your email list is a thing that you own.
You don’t own your Twitter following, your Facebook fans, your Pinterest followers, your Instagram followers, or whatever other platform people are hanging around in these days. And one day, one of those platforms might just disappear. Poof. Gone. And your access to all those people following you? Also gone.
But your email list? That you own. In fact, it’s something you pay to maintain. It is one of the greatest investments into your side hustle. And no one can take it from you.
All the people who choose to be in your email list are there because they want to know more about YOU. They want to know how you can help them, they want to know what you have to teach them.
Your Email List: You Audience Is Most Likely To See Your Content
Along with not owning your platforms, you don’t have control of who sees your content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. The mythical secret algorithms control that.
The perfect example is what happened a couple years ago on Facebook. Originally, it was incredibly easy to grow your following there, be it through pages or in groups. If you decided to follow a page, then you would see that page’s content, I’d say about 90% of the time.
Unfortunately, it’s not like that anymore.
Because one day, Facebook changed its algorithm. In a snap not unlike what Thanos pulled in Infinity War, people went from seeing 90% of a page or group’s content to seeing MAYBE 10%. It was pretty much overnight.
And people flipped out.
On the other hand, if someone decides to join your email list, they’re saying, “Hey, I want to see your stuff.” All you have to do is send an email. And that’s that.
Your Email List: People Check Their Email First
When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you do?
Before I changed up my morning routine, and especially back when I was still working in sports, the very first thing I would do after my alarm went off was check my email.
Now, I save that for after my morning journaling, meditation, and yoga, but my morning routine is another story I’ll cover later. I will say that you should totally take some me-time first thing in the morning before looking at your phone, but for today I’ll leave it at that.
It’s still one of the first things that I do, and it’s one of the first things most people do.
That’s why, when I send an email to my list, I make sure it goes out as close to first thing in the morning as possible. Now, there are a lot of different philosophies on when you should send emails to your list, but I found that that’s what works for me.
This way, when my audience wakes up (or is going through their morning routine if they’re an early riser) then they’re going to see my email.
Your Email List: You Can Foster Engagement
Your email list is one of the best ways to get to know your audience. Sure, you can get a ton of quality interaction out of Facebook and Instagram comments, but your email list is that place where you can engage with all your readers.
Run short on ideas for blog content ideas? Well, first of all, sign up for my free email course, Content Explosion, where I walk you through planning 12 months of content in just one day.
But if you’re still short on blog post ideas, send an email to your list and ask them what they want to know. It makes them feel like they’re part of the action, a part of building the content that you provide. That helps build the trust factor between you and your audience. They KNOW that you’re here to serve them. You’re here to teach them what you know, and show them that you know what they’re looking for.
Your email list is also where you can give them a glimpse behind the scenes of what’s going on in your business. You can give them sneak peeks into upcoming projects, events, courses. Give your list the opportunity to give you input, let them show you what they need from you.
Your Email List: It’s There For You When You Need A Cash Injection
For those of you who have monetized, or are just getting ready to monetize, this is going to be big.
When it all shakes out, the value is estimated to be at about $1.00 per email. Naturally, if you have a large list, that means high value.
Now, I’m not saying that the only thing you should be doing is bombarding your email list with sales emails. That’s the fastest way to make people run to the unsubscribe button. But if you’re looking to launch a digital course, sell an ebook, or offer one-on-one coaching, a majority of those buyers WILL come from your list. Your list will have a much higher conversion rate than selling on any other platform.
That’s where you can take advantage, offer discounts to really encourage your subscribers to become buyers.
Your Email List: Start Immediately
One of the biggest mistakes many bloggers and side hustlers make is that they didn’t start growing their email list as soon as they started. As I started my side hustle journey, I have lost count of how many big-time established bloggers—you know, the ones who are making full-time to multi-million dollar incomes—have talked about how much they regret not starting their email lists sooner.
In fact, you can (and should) start growing your email list BEFORE you launch your side hustle.
All you need is a way to capture emails (think Convertkit, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign, etc). Share it out to friends and family, put it out to your social media accounts that you’re creating something new and awesome, and that if they want to follow along, they should subscribe.
It really can be that simple.
Your Email List: Ready To Invest In The Best?
Now, I will go much deeper into this in next week’s post, but if you want to start things off on the right foot with your email list, and have the cash to invest, then I highly recommend starting off with an email service provider like Convertkit. With Convertkit, you can create a form in minutes, along with email sequences and automations.
I originally started off on Mailchimp, because it was free, but with free comes…less. I go deeper into the nine reasons why I made the switch, which you can read here. You can sign up for the You Can Do It Too Newsletter, and you’ll get an email with insider tips and tricks and weekly action steps to take your side hustle to the next level.
If you’re interested in trying Convertkit on for size, they are offering a free, 14-day trial for new users (that’s my affiliate link). I will be honest, I was sold after day one. In fact, I wish I had made the investment (you get 12 months for the price of 10 if you pay annually and have under 1,000 subscribers) right off the bat.
If you already have an email list, Convertkit can help you import your list, and it’s seamless. They also have a handy checklist that walks you exactly through the steps you need to take to create your first form, first automation, first sequence. It all takes minutes, and they offer detailed video tutorials to walk you through each and every step.
Your Email List: But First, You Need A Website
Don’t forget to get hosting (plus a free domain) for as little as $3.95/month through Siteground. You can read why I choose Siteground to host my websites in my post, 6 Reasons I Host My Side Hustle On Siteground (And You Should Too).
Pin It For Later!
I totally did not want to deal with this. It was because I was avoiding technology and mostly because I hate emails. Send me a PM on FB! I finally got in the game. Not everyone feels like I do.
Yeah, it can definitely be intimidating, but there is a ton of value in having an email list, especially one that grows on its own and brings you traffic and subscribers without having to work too hard at it. This is all about working smarter, not harder!
Ugg email list another thing I’m overwhelmed about…Thank goodness I like this stuff! Lol great read!
It can be overwhelming, but once you get things up and running, it should be pretty seamless!
So important to any business! With people answering their phone less and less, email is becoming the best way to reach people.
Exactly!
Perfect timing! I’ve been putting off working on my email list because there’s always something else to do. This is a great reminder for how important it is! Thanks!
It’s SO important! One of the best things you can do for your side hustle is focus on growing your email list!
I only recently sent out my first email, and I’ve had my blog for over a year! I’m really trying to do as much as I can now, to make up for the lost time
Congratulations! There is no better time to start than right now! You’ve got this!
Yes. The email list is so overlooked. We are so concentrated on social media following that we tend to forget about our email list. Thank you for the article.
Happy to share! There are so many more returns from email lists than there are from social media, even if the numbers on the outside tend not to reflect that!
Yup! You hit the nail on the head!
Thank you!
I’ve heard about how important email lists are, and I have one, but what do you send in your emails? I have like 16 people on my list so far, but I haven’t sent out any emails because I literally have no idea what to put in one. Also, everyone on my email list is close friends and family. How do you get other people to sign up?
The most important thing is that you provide value with what you send. Instead of just sending an update when you have a new post, you want to send them things that will (hopefully) get them to engage with you. Behind the scenes information. Helpful tips and tricks. Fun stuff about you and how it relates to your niche. As for growing your list, it’s best to create an opt-in to encourage sign-ups. If you would like to talk more about figuring out an awesome opt-in, we can do a free, 30-minute chat on zoom, you can sign up here: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
Thanks for the great tips!! I appreciate the input!
Thank you!
Yes, absolutely agree!! A list is a must, it took me maybe a half a day to get everything running in sympatico. Now all I have to do is write the email and schedule it to go out, no really that’s what I need to do! lol Thank you 🙂
Yes! That’s exactly what you have to do! Just keep engaging and growing your list and put effort into it, and it’ll grow and lead you to some great things!
I need to work on my subscriber list… it needs to become my focus. Thank you for posting this.
Absolutely! Keep getting word about your side hustle out there and provide value value value! The audience will come!
All great advice and the reason why I started one immediately.
Yes! It’s so important! Keep up on it and you’ll see some amazing returns!
I’m constantly working on my list!
That’s awesome! Keep it up!
I really fought this one too. I didn’t want this to be such an important part of blogging, but I took the advice and did it anyway. I still only have 30 or so subscribers, but that’s better than none!
It really is important, and as you continue to engage with and grow your list, it’ll turn into one of your greatest assets! 30 is WAY better than nothing. Everyone starts somewhere!
I am convinced that getting an email list and subscribers who are dedicated to your blog or business is very important to make progress.
Yep! 100%
A good email list is very important. I have to start working on mine. Thanks for the great tips!
Happy to share! Your email list will be one of your greatest assets in your business!
Loved your post and yes… an email list is crucial and I am always working to build mine and help it to grow 🙂 Thank you for the handy info. Much appreciated.
Happy to share! Keep it up!
This is such a tough one. I tried for 6 months to follow all the ideas for building an email list and it just didn’t work. 50 emails over 6 months and many of those weren’t genuine ones. It ended up being too much money for me to keep working at it so I am trying it without and see if I can’t bring the money in another way. When I want to try building my email list again I’ll try a few of these ideas and see if they work next time.
I’m going to really encourage you to start on it sooner, rather than later. If you’re not ready to invest money into it, you don’t have to. You can go with the free option from Mailerlite or Mailchimp, and all you have to do is create a simple newsletter type opt-in form. Tell your audience something along the lines of, “Hey, for more insights, tips and tricks, I will be sending out a value-packed newsletter every week, and you should sign up.” To start, it might feel like you’re emailing out to the void, but those emails will be the foundation to the success of your business! Good luck, and if you have any more questions about email lists, we can do a free, 30-minute zoom call and you are more than welcome to pick my brain: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
My email list is so important to me – like you say, It’s the audience that resonates most with me. It’s a great way to reach people
Exactly! It’s one of the few places you are guaranteed to reach your WHOLE audience! So valuable!
I honestly don’t do a lot with my email list now except let them know when a new article is live. Someday though.
Don’t overthink it! Engage with them too. Ask them what they want to know from you. What questions they have. What they like more and want to see more of. It may feel like shouting to the void, but when you frame an email like you are sending it to one person, not just a bunch of nameless, faceless email addresses, the people getting your emails do see that and do react positively to it.
These are helpful information! I will consider starting it.
Happy to share! If you have any questions about setting up your email list, feel free to schedule a free 30-minute call with me. You’re more than welcome to pick my brain! https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
These are great tips. I think the email list is overlooked at first. I know I definitely need to grow mine!
They’re not easy to grow, but once they are established and growing on their own, they become an AMAZING asset!
I have an email list, I just haven’t done much with it. I think now’s the Time to get more going.
Absolutely! No better time than now! If you have any questions about email list growth, engaging with your list, or anything else list-related, you can sign up for a free, 30-minute call with me and pick my brain: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
I so needed this push. I have everything set up…and yet sending out regular emails is low on my priority list. I had on my to do list today “Work on email list and SEND an email”. Your post was perfectly timed. Im signing up for your creating content course as well.
It’s SO important to be there with your list and to be there consistently! It doesn’t even have to be much. Just ask them what they want to know, what the like from you and want to see more of. It may seem like you’re shouting to the void, but when you frame it like you’re sending an email to just one person, not a bunch of nameless email addresses, those people see that genuine interaction. If you want to pick my brain about email lists and engagement, feel free to sign up for a free, 30-minute call with me: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
Thanks for your wonderful insightful post on email lists. I have to admit I have not focused on growing my list for awhile now, specially with my new side hustle. I got to prioritize that too!
Yes! It’s so important! If you would like to talk email list growth and engagement, or any questions you have about lists, feel free to register for a free, 30-minute call and you can pick my brain! https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
Yeah, I need to get on this as well. I did a free trial with another service and I got 3 subscribers, lol. I have a question if you start with under 1,000 emails do you “lock in” the price if you reach over 1,000 or will it automatically convert to the next tier pricing?
Email lists are not easy to grow, but the returns are SO great. Depending on which service you choose, it may be different. With the one I have, Convertkit, I pay the same amount per month until I have more than 1,000 subscribers, and then it will automatically start billing the next tier. If you have any questions about email list growth or engagement, feel free to sign up for a free, 30-minute Zoom call and you can pick my brain: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
Great post – starting an email list is the smartest move – bar none!
yes! It’s so important! It’s not easy but I know there will be some pretty epic returns not very far down the line!
This is such a great person! Email lists are really important! Great tips here!
Thank you! It’s not easy to build an email list, but it’s SO important!
Great tips! I have an e-mail list but it has been so hard for me to grow it.
It’s definitely a labor of love, but it is SO worth it! If you want to pick my brain about email lists, feel free to sign up for a free, 30-minute zoom call with me! https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
I didn’t know this is so important! Thank you more giving more information about it. Gotta start my own for my business!
Happy to help! If you’d like to talk more about email lists and where to go from here, feel free to sign up for a free, 30-minute zoom call with me: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
We’ve been working on growing our email list. I find it so hard to get our followers engaged though. I’ve been using the free MailChimp version and contemplating going to the paid verison or using ConvertKit as I’ve heard other big bloggers using it. I’ll be interested in reading your post about why you made the switch!!
Engagement is very important, but you’re right, it’s really not easy. I am very excited to share my post on moving from Mailchimp to Convertkit. I think it’s totally worth the changeover! Coming Thursday!
Email lists are a great way to engage with your audience. They also help you test messaging and garner interest in content and offerings.
Exactly! You can do so much more engagement-wise with an email list. It’s so important!
I need to put more effort into my email subcriber list. I have been avoiding this for so long. I guess that’s why I haven’t seen much growth.
It definitely starts off as an uphill battle, and it’s not easy, but it’s SO worth it and critical to success. If you want to talk email lists and how to really engage with your audience, hop on to a free Zoom call with me and pick my brain: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
I needed to see this. I am starting over, and focusing on rebranding my blog.
Happy to share! Good luck with the rebranding! It’s going to go great!
This is such a great reminder to me. I need to push for my email address. I work hard on gaining social engagement and followers, but I don’t goal my email list. Need to do this!
You’ll see SO many returns when you work on engaging your list. You got this! If you want to talk email lists and engagement, feel free to hop on a free Zoom call with me: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
Thanks for this info! I have my email list set up and have some subscribers but I haven’t done much with it. I need to prioritize that for sure!!
Happy to share! Email lists are such an important foundation to any successful side hustle. If you want to talk email lists and engagement, feel free to sign up for a free, 30-minute zoom call with me! https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision/02-12-2019
i learned a lot from your post! i really need to allot more time to grow my email list!! thanks so much!
i need to spend more time to grow my email list then!!!! thanks for the ideas!!!
Continuously working to build that email list!
Yep! 100%
This is an area where I need growth. Still trying to learn the in’s and out’s of this business. Thanks for the tips!
Your email list is going to be one of your greatest assets! If you want to talk email lists and your vision for your side hustle, let’s talk on a free, 30-minute Zoom call: https://calendly.com/questfor47/sidehustlevision
I am a total newbie to blogging and I have definitely been putting off all this “email list” business. I see how important it is though. Thank you for sharing. I’m definitely going to check out your next post for more details.
It’s critical! If you ever want to pick my brain about email lists, let me know! Happy to help!
So many people don’t realize the importance of email lists! This was a great post and a great way to get everyone on top of things!
Thank you thank you! Email lists are the foundation to any successful blog or side hustle. No matter what, they’re mandatory!
I have an area for people to join my email list but I always wonder how to promote it better and make it more appealing to others!
It’s all about value-added incentive! Come up with a really awesome, valuable free product like a checklist or email course or workbook. That’ll hook your audience and encourage them to join your list!