4 Reasons Your Business Needs an Email List

If you’re anything like me, you might be resistant to email marketing because it seems too “salesly” for your business. You don’t think you need to do it and frankly you’re just not interested.

If you can relate, let me share something that will change your mind. The quote below is from the initial inquiry of a client I’m currently working with on her branding, website, and marketing material:

“I'm honestly not that sure how I found your site, but I signed up for your free DIY branding guide, and...I ended up on your mailing list! Clear proof that your digital marketing strategies are working :)” 

Need I say more?

It’s important to mention that I’m two years into building my list and this particular inquiry came after a few months of being really consistent with my weekly emails. Without consistency your email marketing efforts will fall flat, but if you put in the time it will pay off!

So if you’re ready to start building your list, you’re in the right place! Over the next few weeks I will be covering what I call "Email Marketing 101" to include the following:

• Setting Up Mailchimp
• Creating a Lead Magnet
• Setting Up a Welcome Sequence
• Putting Opt-in’s on Your Website
• Promoting Your Freebie
• What To Send To Your List

If you'd like to be the first to receive this content sign up for my list right here and it will come straight to your inbox.

Before We Get Started

Why Email Marketing?

Here are the top reasons you need to start a list:

1. To stay in touch with visitors to your website. Once they leave your site they may never return. Getting their email on your list is the only way you can ensure that the conversation continues.
2. To get people to know, like, and trust you (the rule of 7). People are not going to hire you the first time they come in contact with you. The marketing rule of seven says it takes that many times of contact before someone will be ready to buy from you. Getting them on your list and utilizing a welcome sequence helps you hit those seven times really quickly.
3. To show your expertise. By providing valuable content to your audience on a regular basis they will see that you are knowledgeable and experienced in your field. This will help boost that trust factor.
4. To serve your audience. Showing your audience that you’re willing to serve them even when you’re not being paid is a great way to build trust. It also creates a reciprocity mindset, making your audience more inclined to buy from you because you have already given them so much.

Questions From You

Is it okay to send shared content to your email list, instead of writing your own content each time?

To answer this, let’s filter it through the purpose of having an email list that I mentioned above. If we want our audience to get to know, like, and trust us the best way we can do that is by writing our own content and showing our expertise.

In that sense, sharing content that isn’t your own is self-defeating. It’s not “wrong” per se (as long as you credit the source), but ultimately it’s not the best way to build the type of audience that is going to serve your business well.

If you don’t have time to write high-quality content it may be better than nothing…BUT you don’t want to rely on that on too often. So it's best to get in the habit of creating and sharing your own content each time.

Have questions about email marketing? Post them in the comments and I'll be sure to answer them in an upcoming post!