Why You Need to Build an Email List as a New Blogger

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I hear you, I hear you. No one reads emails anymore! A lot of people may think that email marketing is obsolete, but online business experts say otherwise. This post will explain exactly why you need to build an email list from DAY ONE as a new blogger and why email should be your #1 priority.

What is Email Marketing?

I think the term “email marketing” sounds scammy, which might be why new bloggers tend to stay away from it. After all, no one wants to feel like they are spamming someone’s inbox.

But spamming and scamming are not what email marketing is about at all. At its core, email marketing means building a relationship with your readers. It’s a way for you to provide value to them over time and build trust. Through email, you can easily position yourself as the expert in your niche.

Why is Building an Email List So Important?

Direct Access to Your Readers

Email is honestly like no other tool available to you as a blogger! It is a direct line of open communication between your brand and your audience. No other platform gives you that kind of access!

Think about it.

DM’ing your readers on Instagram would be weird. You can’t Tweet each individual subscriber with a personalized message. Recommending products through Facebook messenger would be frowned upon. But most people are comfortable with getting value-packed emails straight to their inbox!

Email is a communication gold mine.

Your Email List IS Your Business

If everything in your blogging business were to crash and burn tomorrow, you would be okay if you had your email list! It’s happened to many bloggers – their website goes down for days or weeks at a time. Sometimes, bloggers even have to start over from scratch!

But with a strong email list, any blogger can continue building their brand and making sales. The direct line of communication is still open with the people interested in what their blog offers.

Everyone in your email list is a potential client. They are more likely to purchase your affiliate products, enroll in your courses, or buy your eBook than anyone. Some people on your email list will even make multiple purchases from you over time.

The more you think about your email list as your business, the clearer it is to see why you need to build an email list from day one.

Making Sense of Your Brand

As we’ve discussed, email is essential because it provides a direct line of communication between you and your audience. But guess what? It’s not a one-way street.

Powerful email marketing software provides you with priceless information as a blogger. Your email open-rates and click-rates will show you what content performs the best with your readers. It tells you what freebies are most popular and what your readers want more of.

This kind of insight helps you clarify your brand and your message. With email analytics, you can efficiently niche down your content and give your readers the value they want. That’s all building a brand really is – giving people more of what they like.

Not only do email analytics help you solidify your niche, it helps you market products that sell.

The better you know your subscribers, the better you can recommend products, courses, and programs that you know they need. And it doesn’t come across as scammy or weird because you have invested in developing trust through email.

Working with Other Brands

Another reason why you need to build an email list has to do with affiliates and sponsored content. If working with other brands and companies is part of your business strategy, you absolutely need to invest time in growing your email audience.

Pageviews are crucial data, of course, but nothing is more important than your email list. Brands are most interested in your email reach and engagement because they know that email marketing converts the most sales. You can have all the blog traffic and Instagram followers in the world. Still, without email, it will be challenging to get sponsorships!

Several top bloggers make a substantial portion of their income with sponsored posts. Don’t cheat yourself out of potential offers by ignoring your email list!

Returning Readers

Do you struggle with a high bounce rate? Are people reading one post on your blog and then bouncing forever? Decreasing your bounce rate and building community around your brand are strong reasons why you need to build an email list.

Having a small percentage of returning readers is not a good look for a blog. Of course, every blog will have thousands of one-time visitors, but the more you can decrease this number, the better!

Keep your email subscribers updated with your latest content and show them how your content solves their problems. In no time, you can rally a loyal readership who are excited to tune into your newest blog posts.

Funneling your email subscribers into a Facebook group is another method for building a community centered on your blog. Recruiting through email so so much more effective than your sidebar on your blog that promotes your Facebook group.

Email gets your content in front of people who want to engage with it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Building Your Email List

I haven’t launched my blog yet. Should I set up my email opt-ins before I launch?

Absolutely 100%, YES. Launching your blog without beautiful email opt-ins in place prevents you from scoring any potential subscribers. Remember, your blog content exists to start a conversation with your audience. If they have no way to continue the discussion with you, your blogging business misses out.

How do I get people to sign up for my email opt-ins?

These days, it’s easier than ever to make beautiful digital products on Canva to use as your freebies!

Always include a freebie in your email opt-in. And if you can avoid it – don’t use a weekly newsletter as your freebie! No one wants to sign up for more email. New bloggers have very little success in building their email list through a newsletter. Instead, try making a checklist, cheatsheet, eBook, handbook, or challenge. Find a full list of opt-in ideas HERE.