Before building my email list, I was stuck as a blogger. After nearly five years of hard work and creating content each week, here’s what I had to show for it:
How to build Email List
• I was not making any money
• I still had less than 1,000 views in a month
• No real plans to make a living as a content creator
Then, I decided that I needed to build an email list. I have made this my #1 priority.
In about six months, I had gained over 16,000+ new email subscribers and learned how to build an email list.
Over the next few years, that number grew to over 120,000+ customers, which laid the groundwork for the ultimate 6-figure business — “in all non-advertising-related revenue.
Once I had my initial email list, I was able to leverage it to make my first non-advertising-related $1,000 in 30 days, then my first $5,000 a few months later. It helped in countless ways, namely:
• I was able to build a solid foundation of readers that continued to grow
• I became a thought leader in my industry
• I got featured in world class publications
• I got a book deal
Building an emacan seem like a pipe dream to many website owners, especially if you are just struggling to make ends meet and make ends meet. In this article, you will learn how easy it is to build an email list, all the techniques involved, and how to start monetizing your list.
Step One: Find an Email Software
There are countless email software that help you manage, track and send emails to your followers. Mailchimp is probably the most popular (although there are thousands of content creators who use other tools like ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, etc.). Still, you don’t need much when you’re just starting out, and most platforms offer a free version.
Your email software must perform three essential functions:
• Send email manually
• Send automatic email sequence
• Tag/Group Subscriber
The real money of an email list lies in automation, sending relevant information to new and grouped customers that applies directly to them.
As you’ll see below, you can eventually start sending each new customer an “indoctrination sequence” that tells them your story, what you are about, and any relevant articles/products you might consider. .
Step Two: Build a Landing Page and a Call-to-Action
Most email software tools give you the ability to integrate this into your website, usually via a popup, an in-line form, or an actual landing page dedicated to collecting emails.
The best way to build an email list quickly is to drive all your traffic to it. Make joining your email list your number one call to action (CTA) for anyone visiting your site. In the future, you can change this to diversify your income (you can ask readers to buy products, download eBooks, watch your videos, etc.). For now, ask people to join that list!
All you need is a simple CTA line and a place for readers to enter their email. You should note that almost no reader would want to give you their email for free – ‘you must offer them something valuable. “Free access to your Sunday newspaper” usually doesn’t cut it; You need to give them something really attractive. This may include:
• A discount for your services
• A pdf/video
• A special training
• A chapter in your ebook
Make sign-ups for your readers unintentional, and place that call-to-action prominently in your content.
Step Three: Create an Indigenous Sequence
Your most popular “leads” are going to be the customers who just picked up your email list.
These are people who have just decided they want to know more about you, and are eager to hear your story and message, even potentially buying a product on the spot.
Russell Brunson, founder of ClickFunnels and Multi-Million Dollar Marketer, recommends that you create an automated “soap opera sequence” for each new customer.
It’s designed to tell a story full of ups and downs and drama to your readers, inspiring them to learn more about you over the next five to seven days:
Here’s a simple summary of each day’s email:
Day 1: Sets the Stage
This email paints a picture of where you were at a time when things were really tough.
Before you knew what you were doing, and dealing with all the problems that came with beginning.
Day 2: High Drama + Backstory
This email describes the biggest problem you were facing, the issue that will eventually help you figure out what your mission will be.
Talk about the “wall” you hit, and how you were desperate and searching for answers.
Day 3: Epiphany + “The One Thing”
This email reveals your biggest feeling about your message, the eye-opening truth that helped you realize why you want to build your website and help people.
What is that “one thing” that you feel you need to do?
Day 4: Hidden Benefits
This email explains all the side-effects and unexpected benefits of a commitment to your goal.
What were you able to do that you couldn’t before? What new luxuries can you experience?
Day 5: Urgency + CTA
This email is a great debate to talk about your initial product/service you want to sell.
It’s a simple, viable way to get your readers to buy a small offer after hearing the story of your soap opera.
There is an old marketing adage, “Facts tell, stories sell.” If you can engage your audience with a powerful, proven story, they are more likely to consume your content consistently, return to your site, and help you earn more income.
What to do with your first 500 subscribers
Building an email list takes time, but it is one of the best investments website owners can make.
Fluctuations in ad revenue, never-ending SEO updates, and unpredictable market changes can make generating consistent monthly income impossible for most website owners.
But an email list will always be there, and you can count on it for more predictable, reliable income each month.
Once you’ve created your soap opera sequence for new customers, you should focus on nurturing your current email list.
Keep in mind, at first not everyone will buy your products or read your content.
But if you show your readers that you are committed to sending them useful, entertaining, and useful content, they are much more likely to convert from casual audiences to true fans, which will increase your total income every month.
One universal truth of email marketing: Most emails smell bad. This is why the high open rate for most marketing emails is only 25-30%.
I’ve consistently been able to get average open rates around 40-45%, and that’s because I stayed as far away as possible from those spammy, vague, sales emails cluttering everyone’s inboxes.
In short? Focus on helping people. It’s not about you, it’s about them. Serve your readers. Best-selling author Donald Miller once said:
“The day you stop losing sleep over business and start losing sleep over your customer’s life, the day your business will grow.”
You can earn decent income from general content and average advertising revenue.
But if you want serious income, the kind of income that can change the lives of you and your family, you have to consistently create quality content and make your readers feel that you are the whole reason to help them.
