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things you've said or thought if you don't have an email list.



Here's a handful of things I've been told or asked in the last month alone about email lists and email newsletters...


  1. Don't I need like at least a half decent list of people to start the list?

  2. I don't have time to do another form of content. I'm already trying to keep up with social media!

  3. I wouldn't know what to put in one, I feel like I don't have anything to say.

  4. I don't have one because I hate the email sequence that you get when you sign up to one.

  5. How do you do them so that they look professional?


Have you thought or even said any of these things before? I definitely have.


Fair to say, there's some HUGE misconceptions about having an email list and sending out an email newsletter so right here, right now I'm setting the record straight and breaking down all the hurdles that you've been letting get in your way to really engaging with your ideal audience.




Do I need a half decent list of people who have subscribed before I start an email list.

This answer might surprise you but NO, you actually don't. Yes, you need a person before you can send out your email newsletter but ONLY ONE! What you really need is to simply let people know you're starting an email newsletter and give them the link to subscribe to that. This can be done by simply sending an email if you've already got a data base of previous clients or by posting the link on social media channels. If you've got new clients or customers, you want to make sure you're giving them the chance to opt in as well. And, if you can, offer your audience something in exchange for their details like a small discount or a free, well anything. People like free things like Donkey likes waffles.

Word of Warning: You cannot send promotional emails or marketing material to people without their permission. Just because you have a database of clients doesn't mean you have their permission to promote anything to them, so you do need to send them an initial email to let them know that they can opt in to it.


I don't have time to do another form of content. I'm already trying to keep up with social media!

We're not about making more work or reinventing the wheel here. You don't actually need to create fresh content for every edition. Your newsletter is the best place to share an update, promote an offer and highlight a recent blog, social post or job/customer. It's also the best place to re-share content from the archives, and to share content before you send it out into the big wide world (we call that the VIP treatment, and lets be honest, no one hated being the first to know of something super cool or helpful). If you create a super simple structure, creating an email list can be the quickest marketing activity and the most profitable!


I wouldn't know what to put in one, I feel like I don't have anything to say.

If you run a business, you have something of value to offer others, or you simply wouldn't be in business. So let's take that value and serve it up like Nonna's cooking. Let me give you an example.


You're a hair dresser and you're thinking, why would anyone want an email from their hairdresser? Well I'm about to tell you why. Let's say your email routinely features

  • Client makeover of the month

  • Answering a product question e.g. what should I look for when choosing a shampoo? (and you could absolutely highlight a product that you sell in salon here)

  • Styling tip for X length hair

  • Booking offer

In just one email, you've helped Gwen who's tired of her current style find a style that she loves AND a stylist who can do it for her. You've helped Maria decide what shampoo she really needs because her supermarket buy is destroying her hair. You've given Elizabeth the perfect quick up do style for a wedding this weekend AND you've filled in that colour spot cos good ol' Agitha is overdue for a cut and a full, all over colour because #greyisnotsilver. That's 3 bookings from one email out and a whole lot of value for everyone else who read it. Get the gist?

If you know something, you've got value to deliver, so deliver it loud and proud!



I don't have one because I hate the consequential email sequence that you get when you sign up to one.

Same! I absolutely detest the onslaught of emails that you get when you sign up for an email. So my advice is this. Don't have a sequence. When people sign up they get what they've signed up for and then your routine email newsletter and that is it. As I would tell my son, just don't do to others what you don't want done to you.


How do you do them so that they look professional? Before I answer this question I want to ask you one thing - what makes an email stand out to you? Earlier this week I got an email from a lady who facilitated the infant massage classes that I attended with my little man. It was to let me know that in 2025, she's starting an email newsletter and that as one of her past clients I've been added to her list (there was very clear directions as to how I could opt out which is a legal requirement). What stood out to me was that it wasn't a pretty, formatted email that looked like she'd maybe had someone do it for her. It was simple, very clear and full of great tips for connecting with my little one. Don't be so quick to let pretty, professional or perfect stop you from starting! But if you want a platform that can help with the formatting and managing your contact list then give something free a try like Mail Chimp. It's super easy and you can just drop in the images that you want and write in text where you want it. The trick is to KEEP IT SIMPLE!


Truthfully, I could go on and on and on about email lists and why they're so good for your business but today's goal is to just get you to start so I want to give you an action that you can take right now.


What is a frequently asked question that you get in business? It can literally be anything. Now I want you to take 10-15 minutes and write down what your answer is to this question. There you have your first email newsletter.

If you've gotten this far and you want some next steps, send me an email or slide into my DM's on any of my socials and I can give you the next steps. (I don't charge for this, I'm just here to help).


If you can see the value in an email list and you want to get one going but you'd rather someone do it for you then you can click right here to book in a quick chat because this stuff is my jam and I'm so ready to help you feel more in control of your marketing and make more money!


Until next week!

Cheers

Ri

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