In these videos, I show you how to build your email list using a platform that lets you set up an opt-in form with a lead magnet, collect emails, and automate follow-ups with your affiliate offers. While most email platforms don’t allow direct affiliate links, you can create blog articles on your website, share them in your email newsletters, and include affiliate links within your blog content.
My tutorials feature MailChimp, which offers a free plan for up to 500 subscribers but lacks integrations without a paid plan. However, ConvertKit (now KIT) provides better free features and more automation at a lower cost than MailChimp’s paid plans. For this reason, I recommend starting your list with KIT. You can find my affiliate link below:
Create An Email List – MailChimp Overview
The Importance of Collecting Email Addresses for New Businesses
In today’s digital age, one of the most valuable assets for any new business is the ability to directly communicate with potential customers. While social media, ads, and SEO can drive traffic to your website or product pages, collecting email addresses ensures you have a way to nurture relationships, build trust, and convert leads into paying customers. Here’s why collecting email addresses should be a priority for new businesses:
1. Ownership of Your Audience
Social media platforms and other third-party services are excellent for reaching broad audiences, but they don’t belong to you. Algorithm changes or platform shutdowns can drastically reduce your reach overnight. When you collect email addresses, you own that list. You have direct access to your potential customers and don’t need to worry about external changes affecting your ability to communicate with them.
2. Cost-Effective Marketing
Email marketing offers one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) of any digital marketing channel. According to studies, for every $1 spent on email marketing, businesses see an average return of $36. Compare that with the often expensive costs of running ads on Google or Facebook, and it’s clear that emails offer a cost-efficient way to connect with your audience.
Once you’ve built a list, the cost to send emails is minimal. You don’t need to spend additional money each time you want to promote your products, announce new services, or share valuable content. This makes email an ideal marketing channel for businesses just starting out.
3. Personalized and Direct Communication
Email allows you to speak directly to your audience in a personalized way. By segmenting your list based on different factors (such as customer behavior, location, or interests), you can tailor your messages to suit their needs. This level of personalization increases engagement and boosts conversion rates.
People are more likely to open and engage with content that feels relevant to them. Emails give you a chance to deliver the right message at the right time, helping you nurture leads and guide them down the sales funnel.
4. Building Relationships and Trust
Collecting email addresses enables you to stay in touch with potential customers over time, providing them with valuable content, insights, and offers. By consistently delivering helpful and relevant emails, you build trust and position yourself as an authority in your niche.
Trust is a key factor in converting leads into customers, especially for new businesses that are still establishing their reputation. Email marketing allows you to educate, inform, and create a relationship with your audience, making them more likely to choose your brand when they’re ready to make a purchase.
5. Increased Conversions
Your email list consists of people who have already shown interest in your brand by signing up. They’re more likely to engage with your content and, ultimately, convert into customers. Whether it’s through special promotions, limited-time offers, or valuable information that guides them through their purchasing journey, emails are highly effective in driving conversions.
Additionally, email marketing allows you to follow up with people who may not have purchased immediately. Automated email sequences (such as abandoned cart emails or post-purchase upsells) can help recover lost sales and encourage repeat business.
6. Data-Driven Insights
By building an email list, you gain access to valuable data that can help you refine your marketing strategy. Metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates give you insight into what your audience responds to, allowing you to continuously improve your email campaigns.
As you analyze your email performance, you can experiment with different content types, subject lines, or offers to see what works best. This ongoing feedback loop can lead to higher engagement and sales over time.
7. Long-Term Asset
An email list is not just a short-term solution but a long-term business asset. While other marketing channels can fluctuate in effectiveness, an email list grows with your business. As your list expands, so does your ability to reach a larger audience with each campaign.
In essence, building an email list is an investment in the future of your business. The longer you nurture it, the more valuable it becomes.
8. Driving Traffic to Your Website or Store
Emails are an excellent tool for driving repeat traffic to your website. Whether you’re launching a new product, announcing a sale, or releasing a valuable blog post, you can use email to direct your audience exactly where you want them to go. By strategically including calls to action (CTAs) in your emails, you can consistently bring traffic back to your site.
Conclusion
For new businesses, collecting email addresses is not just about growing a list—it’s about building a sustainable foundation for long-term success. By nurturing relationships with potential customers, personalizing your messaging, and driving conversions, email marketing offers unmatched value as a marketing tool. Investing in an email list from the start ensures you have a direct line of communication with your audience, helping you grow your business and strengthen your brand over time.
If you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey, make email collection a key part of your strategy—it’s an asset that will keep paying off for years to come.