Email Lists – do I really have to?!
To just tell you the truth right out of the gate, I did NOT want to start an email list. The title is basically me whining in the past and asking myself this question.
So it’s kind of a big deal that I’m writing this post right now. Do I have to have an email list?
Well it depends.
Are you trying to build an audience?
Do you want to reach people who are interested in you and what you do?
Are you prepared for what happens if instagram, facebook or other social media platforms go down or change the algorithm?
See the thing is, you don’t actually have control of what instagram does. That’s a scary thing to realize, but it’s true. They can decide to change things up whenever they want, and all those followers you built up may move onto the next platform.
This is why an email list is so important.
The lies I told myself about email lists
1. it’s too hard to make even more content
I FEEL that. We have to do instagram, facebook, tiktok, blogs, and now an email list?!?! Well it’s not as hard as you think if you get the right tools. I personally use flodesk, which has saved me A LOT of time, and I honestly wouldn’t be doing an email list unless I had it.
Yes I mean it, I would not have an email list without flodesk. I NEED easy and professionally presented to keep up with everything I have going on, and this is a tool I could sing about.
It has beautiful templates so that you don’t have to start from scratch, with ability to had photos, buttons, links etc.
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- The biggest start up for your email list is the first 3-5 emails that you send out when someone subscribes. Flodesk allows you to space these out and it triggers when someone follows you.
So if someone subscribes, they immediately get my welcome email, then will get one a week for the first 4 weeks packed with things about me, and things I want to share with people interested in Hawaii, photography sessions and/or the business of photography.
ANOTHER POPULAR EMAIL LIST MANAGEMENT SITE: Mailchimp
2. what would I write about?
Well I was really surprised as I started making my emails that it’s not actually THAT much more content. The point of an email list is to let your followers know about content that you were already making. I’m not making stuff JUST for my email list, I was already blogging, and sharing specials or ideas on social media.
Now I’m just taking the content I was already making on my website and social media and letting my followers know about it!
Making content just takes some brainstorming. Take what you’re already doing and sharing on social media and bring it to your email list.
Topics can include:
- introducing yourself
- a helpful tip that’s relevant to your followers
- a link your most visited or new blog post
- an exclusive giveaway
- an update on your life
- words of encouragement
- a special sale or discount code
3. No one cares about me
That’s just frankly not true. Do you know what social media is? It’s a platform for people to follow other people’s daily lives. And we’re obsessed with it. The things we care about the most are other people. You just have to, reach out, connect, and give back value as well.
Just think about some of the unique things in your life, or the communities that you feel a part of because you relate in some way. That may be your talking point.
TIP: It’s a great idea to add some exclusive content only for your followers so that they are getting something special from you.
So there ya have it, why I think having an email list is so important and the 3 excuses you’re probably using as to why you haven’t jumped on it yet! Hope I changed your perspective on it a little bit and can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Thanks for hanging out, and feel free to send me a DM on instagram for a topic you want to hear about next! And you can check out my own email list below to see how it can look ;P
