5 REASONS TO START AN EMAIL LIST (LIKE, YESTERDAY)

I get it. The peer pressure of Instagram influencers in your industry telling you to start an email list is probably getting pretty old. But…hear me out.

Underestimating the benefits of starting an email list is already keeping so many business owners and marketers out of the game. While other people are investing just a few hours each week into an incredibly lucrative email strategy, you’re probably spending those very same hours wondering how you can increase traffic to your site and bring in new business. So how about a little trade.

As cheesy as it sounds (trust me, I know), investing in an email list will allow you to swap your stress for success. So instead of procrastinating any longer, read through this short blog post to feel more confident in your decision to get started and collect a few helpful strategies along the way.

But before we dive in…

What Exactly Is an Email List?

An email list (sometimes referred to as a newsletter) is merely a list of emails that you’ve collected through your site (or an opt-in form, sales page, etc.). You’ve likely done this yourself when signing up to receive discounts, opting into someone else’s newsletter, or making a purchase.

Once you’ve collected information, you can use this list of emails to send messages (newsletters) that include announcements, promotions, or updates to an engaged audience who have chosen to allow you to take up space in their inbox (what a GIFT, we don’t take this for granted).

Did you know…there are over 5.6 billion email accounts worldwide.

Email isn’t dead. And there’s never been a better time to incorporate email campaigns into your marketing strategy, here’s why:

1. Email Marketing ROI WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

Email marketing offers the highest ROI when it comes to marketing outreach. In fact, it can be twice as profitable as other marketing initiatives. According to Constant Contact, email marketing has a return on investment (ROI) of $36 for every $1 spent. This is especially true because most email marketing services have a relatively accessible price point. I use Flodesk, for example, which costs me just $19/month and allows me to send high quality newsletters to my small-but-mighty email list.

(Want to save 50% on your Flodesk subscription? Click here.)

These ROI stats prove that email has never really lost its charm. People love to receive personable emails from brands they love, especially when they provide them with value (like a discount code, free information, resources, etc.). 

2.  Easily Connect with On-The-Go Audiences

Adventurous audiences are often on-the-go. And while the outdoorsy individuals (or any audience, for that matter) you’re targeting might not always have time to scroll social media or browse through your site on a desktop, they often find time to check their emails and keep up with their favorite brands.

People can go days without checking their social media. Some even participate in cleanses where they delete apps like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. But studies show that 91% of consumers check their email at least once a day (Source: Entrepreneur).

3. Nurture Warm Leads WITH EASE

If they’ve signed up to receive messages from you in their inbox, they’re probably already crushing on you. And by that I mean they have a clear interest in hearing what you have to say, receiving information from you on a regular basis, or keeping up with you/your brand in general. This means they’re more likely to listen to read what you have to say and engage with your messages.

From here, you can implement strategies that turn readers into purchasers, or one-time customers into repeat business. You can invest in forming relationships with your email list and tailor email campaigns accordingly in order to make them feel seen, heard, and recognized. Ultimately, nurturing your email list will result in more loyal subscribers and engaged customers.

4. Get Visitors to Come back (AGAIN AND AGAIN)

If you pay attention to your Google Analytics, you might notice that more than 70% of people leaving your website never return. This is an average across most websites.

These visitors are still important. Out of all websites on the internet, they landed on and took the time to visit yours. By creating an easy-to-subscribe email list, you can capture interested visitors who may forget about you between now and the next time they need what you offer.

You can leverage an email list to lessen the chances of missing out on a casual web surfer aka potential lead or a customer. With the right approach to email marketing, you can make sure their first visit wasn’t their last.

5. Email IS MORE PERSONAL than social media

Isn’t it thrilling to receive emails that include information tailored directly to you? Whether it contains your name, an item that you left in your cart, or relevant information about your location, industry, or interests, it feels good to know someone is paying attention to you.

Email marketing campaigns can achieve an impressive level of personalization (made even easier by using the right tools) in order to truly connect with your audience. You’ll have them wondering, “can they read my mind?”

This connection between you and your consumer increases the chances that they’ll trust you, shop with you, and return to you when they need what you offer.

Ready to get started?

Building an email list is vital for your business. If you’re finally (albeit reluctantly) convinced that it’s time to get started, here’s what I’d recommend:

• Choose an email service provider (ESP). Like I mentioned above, I use Flodesk because they’re easy-to-use, allow me to create workflows (aka automated campaigns), and have stunning designs. Shop around to find a service that works for YOU and your business.

• Read up on email campaign strategies and tips. I like HubSpot Academy’s selection of email marketing courses. I also love Flodesk University, since it offers insights that apply directly to my ESP.

• Announce your email list to your communities. Take some time to prepare content that announces the launch of your newsletter. You can promote your newsletter on social media, add an opt-in form to your website, and let contacts or previous customers know where they can sign up.

• Create campaigns that align with your initiatives. As the seasons change, so do your offerings. But instead of slapping emails together every time there’s something new to share, decide upon a schedule for sending and commit to pre-planning your campaigns. This will ensure they cover everything you want to share and will allow you to work towards an end goal (more sign-ups, more purchases, better-informed customers, and beyond).

You can get as fancy with your email marketing as you want (or can handle). If that means a monthly newsletter of updates that follows the same format each month, great! Or maybe it looks like optimized campaigns that are automated to send your audiences targeted messages based on their clicks within your emails.

No matter how technical you decide to get, you’re incorporating more touch points into your marketing strategy and increasing engagement among your audience. That’s a win.