It came up in my mastermind group… one of the members was thinking about the possiblity of starting his own email list.
He wondered out loud…
“Why would anyone open an email from me when there’s a gazillion other lists out there to sign up for?”
I burbled out a stream of incoherent gibberish. But in between the spluttering and hand waving…
They could just make out something like…
“The key thing that’s going to help people open your emails is the RELATIONSHIP you have with them.”
This relationship starts with the opt-in form. Helping them clearly see the benefits of what you’re offering, so they choose to subscribe.
Then there’s…
Showing up. Engaging them with entertainment. Being helpful.
Just doing these simple things (not easy, but simple)… is the raw material of long-lasting relationships
Then we got into talking about starting a list for real.
My approach might not be orthodox. But there’s some method to the madness. (I think!)
Here’s more-or-less what I told him (with a few other useful bits tossed in for good measure)…
If I was in your shoes (my shoes going back three years, that is)…
I’d forget about my website.
And just start with my opt-in form and email list.
Then go find people to join my audience.
Now, one way that’s not a fast list-growth strategy, but creates MORE engaged subscribers, is…
You can jump on social media, and get to know new people from groups that are related to your business.
And after a while say, “Hey, did you know? I’ve got an email list! Here’s what it’s about…”
Then if they’re interested and sign up… you’ve got a fairly warm relationship with them already.
So they’re more likely to be engaged with your emails.
(Provided those emails are NOT boooor-ring!)
Although this way is slow-going… it’s great for kick-starting your email list with 20+ QUALITY subscribers.
That’s basically how I started my list. I was just talking to people on LinkedIn. And inviting them.
The reason I suggest this way to start with is… it’s simple.
And it can help you build confidence with email, without getting too complex by diving into faster-growth strategies, like collaborations.
But after you’ve got started… you definitely need to pick up the pace. And get subscribers faster.
The cool thing?
Every email you write is a new piece of content for your business!
You can begin repurposing it. Like massaging your emails into articles.
Post them on social media. Maybe as LinkedIn articles. Substack posts. Wherever people who are intersted in your topic may lurk.
Always with a link to your opt-in page. 😉
This starts creating a flow of leads to your list. One that requires less energy than personally inviting everyone.
And why no website to start with?
The main reason is… the relationship aspect of email is SO MUCH MORE valuable. And worth focusing energy on.
With an email list you’ve made a promise that you’ll email a certain number of times a week. And they’ll get emails about a topic that interests them.
When you show up and fulfil these promises… you build trust.
Plus… email allows a two way relationship. Subscribers can respond. And interact.
While a website is a one-way street.
Starting out with an email list… keeping it simple… with the work doable for you… is a mighty fine option IMO.
That’s how I’d do it.