When I first heard “build an email list,” I rolled my eyes a bit.
I barely had a website.
I wasn’t selling anything serious.
And honestly? I wasn’t sure why anyone would give me their email.
But I figured, what the heck—let’s try. Now that I’ve grown a small but solid list of people who actually want to hear from me (and even reply sometimes), I thought I’d share what worked. And what didn’t?
🧬 Why I Even Bothered
I didn’t plan on starting an email list.
But I noticed this pattern: social media posts were getting buried, even if they were good. And when I tried messaging people directly, it felt spammy. But with email, it felt different.
If someone signed up, it meant they actually wanted to hear from me.
And I could talk to them without fighting an algorithm.
That was enough reason for me to give it a shot.
🛠 What I Used (And Why I Kept It Basic)
I tried a few platforms. Most were overwhelming. I landed on MailerLite, mostly because
- It was free up to 1,000 subscribers
- Didn’t require tech skills
- Looked clean and simple
If you’re just starting out, don’t overthink this. Use whatever tool feels least confusing.
✍️ What I Wrote on the Signup Form
This part slowed me down more than I expected.
What do you even say to convince someone to sign up?
Eventually, I kept it simple:
“Get honest updates and helpful stuff I’m learning along the way. No spam, just real stuff. Unsubscribe anytime.” That line wasn’t clever, but it worked.
People signed up. Probably because it didn’t sound like marketing.
📍 Where I Shared the Link
I didn’t run ads or do anything fancy. I just
- Added it to my Instagram bio
- Linked it at the end of blog posts
- Pinned it in a WhatsApp group once or twice
- Mentioned it in a few DMs or comments when it felt right
No tricks. Just putting it where people already saw me.
🏱 When I Added a Freebie (and Why It Helped)
About a month in, I made a simple freebie—a one-page checklist I whipped up in Canva.
It was based on something I kept repeating to people in chats.
So I thought, why not just turn that into a mini download?
That tiny freebie boosted my signups big time.
People love quick wins—especially when it feels useful, not salesy.
📤 The First Email I Ever Sent (and How Nervous I Was)
I still remember it. I wrote a short, kind of awkward email and stared at the “Send” button for 10 minutes. Eventually, I clicked. It said something like
“Hey! Thanks for joining—I’m still figuring this out, but I’ll share stuff I think might actually help. Nothing spammy. Just real stuff from the trenches.”
A few people replied.
Some even said “thanks.”
That moment made it real for me. I wasn’t shouting into the void. I was talking to actual humans.
💨 What Totally Flopped
Here’s what I tried that didn’t work:
- Writing like a copywriter—when I tried to sound smart, it came off weird
- Over-designing the freebie—I wasted time making it “perfect” when a plain PDF was fine
- Waiting for 100 subscribers before emailing—bad move. Emailing early builds connection.
📊 What Worked (and Still Does)
Here’s what really helped my list grow:
- Telling people about it—literally saying, “Hey, I’ve got a list if you want in.”
- Sharing tips that solve real problems — People forward useful emails
- Being myself—casual tone, small stories, and never pretending to be an expert
Some weeks, I got 1 signup. Other weeks, 5. That adds up over time.
📟 If I Had to Start Over From Scratch, I’d Do This:
- Pick a free email tool (MailerLite, ConvertKit, whatever)
- Write one honest line for the signup form
- Add the link wherever people already see me
- Create a quick freebie—nothing fancy, just useful
- Send one email. Just say hi and share something real
- Repeat once a week (or when I have something worth sharing)
No pressure. No “funnels.” Just starting.
🙌 What Surprised Me Most
This part caught me off guard:
- People actually read emails.
- Not all of them. Not everyone.
- But way more than I expected.
- And some reply—even just to say, “Thanks, this helped.”
- Which is more than I ever got on most social posts.
- It feels like talking, not broadcasting.
🧠 Final Thought
If you’ve been putting this off because you feel too small, too early, or not “ready,” I get it. I felt the same.
- But you don’t need a huge audience.
- You don’t need a fancy website.
- And you don’t need to sound like a brand.
- You just need to start.
People connect with people. Not polished newsletters. Not perfect templates. Just… you.