Why do I need an email list? A lot of small business owners really aren’t sure why they’d want one. Well, I’m here to tell you that no matter your products or service, business can be better with an email list.
I’m sure you’ve signed up for email lists online, right? You’ve found someone interesting online and signed up for their newsletters. Or you’ve found a checklist that you know will help in your business. So, to get that newsletter or checklist, you “paid” with your email address.
Let’s look into how your small business can get the most out of an email list. But first let’s be clear on what an email list is…
What is an email list?
An email list is simply a set of email addresses that people have shared with you. Sometimes in return for a discount code or a short guide or maybe just for the pleasure of hearing from you.
Your email list is usually hosted by an email service like MailerLite or MailChimp (there are lots of others but I’ve used these 2).
What will an email list do for my business?
Email lists, first and foremost, give you a way to connect with people already interested in your business. By signing up for your emails, you know they already want to talk to you.
You can use your email list to send emails about:
- New products and services
- Sales
- The in-depth details about a product or service
- Exciting news in your industry
- Changes in regulations
Emails are a great opportunity to build relationships with customers. People are more likely to do business with someone they know, like and trust. A well-written, engaging email go a long ways in making that happen.
An email landing in someone’s inbox gives them a direct connection right back to you. They can reply to the email with any questions or to respond to something in your email. It’s a great way to start a conversation and learn what your customers are interested in.
According to an article on HubSpot, for every $1 spent on emails, a business can potentially earn $38. Not bad payback, is it?
According to that same HubSpot article, 3.9 billion people used email daily in 2019. You can be sure your customers were in that number! Compare that to the number of Facebook users – 1.4 billion and Twitter with 100 million. There are a few more email users…
One of the best things about email lists is that you own them. Social media followers belong to the social media channel. If Facebook all of a sudden decides to block your account, you lose contact with those followers. With an email list, you always have a way to stay in touch.
How do I get started with an email list?
Step 1
Create an account with an email marketing service.
There are lots to choose from and many of them have free trials or are free until you reach a certain number of “subscribers”.
I use MailLite but lots of people I know like MailChimp. Whichever service you choose, take some time to learn about all the things you can do – it’ll pay off in the end.
Step 2
Add a form or page to your website where people can share their email addresses.
This can be a simple popup form or an entire landing page. If you have something to offer in return – called a “lead magnet” – that helps give value for that email address.
Step 3
Write an email to welcome new subscribers to your email list.
Most email marketing services offer an “automation” feature. You can add the email once and set it to be sent to anyone who signs up for your list.
Then what?
Once you have subscribers on your list and have welcomed them into your business family, it’s time for some fun.
Email your list regularly to keep them up-to-date on what’s going on in your business.
And don’t forget the personal connection. It’s okay to talk about your family, dogs, non-business life. It will make your email readers feel like you’re a real person… which, of course, you are!
So, have I answered the question “Why do I need an email list?”? There are some pretty compelling reasons, aren’t there? And it’s not all that difficult to get started.
With a relatively small effort, you can have a personal conversation with each of the people on your email list as often as you’d like. Are you ready to give it a try? See if you can make that $38 for every $1 spent?
I’d love to hear all about your email list adventures! Comment below or email me at amanda@pinktoadstudio.com.
