In this week's episode, we're tackling a popular question: “How would you build your email list if you were starting all over again?” 

It’s something I’ve been asked countless times at events and on panels, and I’ve actually had to do it myself a few times over the years. So, let’s dive into the strategies I’d use today.

Want to get more sales from your email marketing?

Before we get started with today’s episode, we’ve put a little something together for you.

It's really cool and it's FREE (yes, it's cool and free – we're nice like that). We all know that subject lines are important to get right and are a leading measure of your open and click rates – but writing them can be a challenge.

That's why Kennedy has spent months training an AI to write powerful subject lines that is beating top copywriters' subject lines 80% of the time in A/B tests – and you can get access to it here.

Viral Contests: My First Go-To Strategy

The first email list I ever built was for magicians, back when I was a performing mentalist. 

I used a viral contest, and this method still works like magic (pun intended!). I offered a free magic trick (my lead magnet) to fellow magicians on niche forums, like the one I frequented.

The secret strategy? I included a referral link for every subscriber. 

If they got three friends to join, they’d get another exclusive trick for free. This simple viral sharing mechanism helped me grow my list from zero to over 8,000 subscribers in no time. The key here was that I knew exactly where my audience was hanging out and gave them something they couldn’t resist sharing.

Summits: The Power of Collaboration

The second thing I would do is host an online summit.

I’ve used this strategy in multiple niches (including our own INBOX event) and the idea is simple: gather influencers or experts in your field, get them to speak at your event, and have them promote the summit to their audience. Each new person who registers for the summit builds your list. It’s a win-win since you get the exposure and they get to look like heroes to their audience by being part of a valuable event.

Even if you’re not just starting out, summits are a great way to build massive spikes in subscribers.

Borrowing Audiences: Speak in Front of Established Communities

My third tip is something I’ve done hundreds of times – find communities or groups that already contain your ideal audience and get yourself invited to speak.

Whether it’s a membership site, a paid community, or a Facebook group, offering free value through a webinar or training session allows you to borrow the host’s credibility and get in front of a warm audience. This method works especially well when you keep it simple: no big sales pitch, just solid content and a lead magnet.

The audience is more likely to join your email list because you’ve been endorsed by someone they already trust. And, thanks to that relationship, they’re far more likely to convert.

Bonus Tip: Flexibility with Offers

Here’s a nugget I learned from my friend Natalie Ellis, founder of Boss Babe.

Not every community will let you speak without offering something for sale. Some want a commission from any offer you make to their audience. The solution? Offer two options: one where you provide pure value with a lead magnet, and one where you make an offer, sharing a commission with the host. That way, you’re covered no matter what.

Closing Thoughts

Ultimately, the key to building an email list from scratch lies in leveraging other people’s audiences, being helpful, and offering something worth sharing. Whether through viral contests, summits, or speaking engagements, focus on being where your audience already hangs out.

Subject line of the week

This week’s subject line is: “What’s That Smell?”

It played off curiosity – we don’t know if it’s a good or bad smell, and that uncertainty draws people in.

(Fun fact: it was about me trying to recall the name of a particular aftershave!)

Resources

FREE list to improve your email marketing

If you want to write better emails, come up with better content, and move your readers to click and buy, here's how. We put together this list of our Top 10 most highly recommended books that will improve all areas of your email marketing (including some underground treasures that we happened upon, which have been game-changing for us). Grab your FREE list here. 

Join our FREE Facebook group

If you want to chat about how you can maximise the value of your email list and make more money from every subscriber, we can help! We know your business is different, so come and hang out in our FREE Facebook group, the Email Marketing Show Community for Course Creators and Coaches. We share a lot of training and resources, and you can talk about what you're up to.

Try ResponseSuite for $1

This week's episode is sponsored by ResponseSuite.com, the survey quiz and application form tool that we created specifically for small businesses like you to integrate with your marketing systems to segment your subscribers and make more sales. Try it out for 14 days for just $1.

Join The Email Hero Blueprint

Want more? Let's say you're a course creator, membership site owner, coach, author, or expert and want to learn about the ethical psychology-based email marketing that turns 60-80% more of your newsletter subscribers into customers (within 60 days).

If that's you, then The Email Hero Blueprint is for you.

This is hands down the most predictable, plug-and-play way to double your earnings per email subscriber. It allows you to generate a consistent sales flow without launching another product, service, or offer. Best news yet? You won't have to rely on copywriting, slimy persuasion, NLP, or ‘better' subject lines.

Subscribe and review The Email Marketing Show podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode (all about creating an automated customer journey and using email marketing automation in your business) and love the show, we'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving us a review of the show on your favourite podcast player. 

Not only does it let us know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps us to keep creating the most useful episodes so more awesome people like you can discover the podcast. 

And please do tell us! If you don't spend time on email marketing, what do you really fill your working days with? We'd love to know!