When I prepared myself to create an e -mail list from scratch to new Marketingideas.comI didn’t have a product. No price page. No polished brand. Only one one -line and a waiting list.
Within a few weeks, this waiting list had grown to hundreds of people, and this list became the basis for everything that followed. Since then I have helped others to create e -mail lists with uncomplicated, repeatable tactics from scratch to newly based on paid advertisements or massive audiences.
Creating an e -mail list offers you something that most platforms cannot do: a direct, permanent relationship with the people who want to hear from you. No algorithms. No middlemen.
In this post I will go through E -mail marketing Strategies that worked best for me and how you can use you to expand your own list, even if you start from scratch.
Table of contents
Qualities of a great e -mail list (when creating the ground up)
Before we jump into tactics, we set the foundation. Not all e -mail lists are created immediately. In my experience, a bad list (low commitment, no targeting, high spam complaints) is worse than no list at all. Here is what makes a list valuable:
1. People asked to be there.
If you take a thing away, let it be: never buy a list. Every subscriber should have explicitly rejected. This is not just a legal thing. It is a matter of trust. If someone has not asked them, they will probably not open their e -mails and he will definitely not buy anything from them.
2. E -mails are valid and up -to -date.
I carry out regular clean -up work to remove brute, invalid addresses and zombie subscribers. Tools like No one or Bouncer Can help, but only the openings/click on data in your E -Mail platform is a solid start. A smaller, clean list exceeds a bloated.
3. You have the right audience (which is actually committed).
If I share growth tips and half of my list only take care of crypto memes, I failed. Your subscribers should want what they offer. This means that you know exactly who you are talking to and concentrate your content.
But relevance alone is not enough. I would rather have 1,000 people who open, click and answers than 10,000 who don’t. Commitment is important – not only for the availability, but also for dynamics. If your audience is both your content and actively involved, you will receive answers, stocks and recommendations without asking.
The sweet spot? When someone sees her e -mail and thinks: “That is exactly what I needed” and then acts on it. Then you know that you have the right people on your list.
Pro tip: I send new subscribers via e -mail if I can (more on that later). If you use a tool like lifting spots Free e -mail tracking softwareIt is easy to recognize your most committed subscribers, which helps you prioritize who you can first follow.
4. You can easily segment it.
At some point you would like to send various messages according to topics, company size, place, whatever different groups. It is difficult to do if everything you have collected is an e -mail address. Even one or two additional data points (such as industry or role) are wide.
5. It grows constantly (with built -in quality control).
A good list of connections. I would like to strive for a monthly growth of 3 to 5%, be it from new lead magnets, social posts or guest appearances. The key is that one or two sources always drive traffic to a registration.
But here is the counterintuitive part: it is easy to record growth. I know that sounds backwards, but listen to me. If someone can go on a click, it creates trust and improves your list quality. You just want really interested subscribers anyway.
If someone doesn’t want to hear from them, that’s okay. Better to lose contact than to mark them as a spam or ignore their e -mails forever. A smaller, committed list always exceeds a bloated, uninteresting.
So yes, they grow aggressively, but keep the starting door open. The people who remain are those who want to be there.
As soon as you know what makes a list valuable, the question becomes: How do you build one? Here are the exact tactics that I used to grow lists from nothing to thousands of committed subscribers.
How to create an e -mail list from scratch to new
When I started to create my e -mail list from scratch, I had no product, no newsletter or even a lead magnet. Just a few things I had learned on the hard tour and a feeling that others may find them useful. You don’t need a polished setup to get started. Some of the most effective tactics for listing are surprisingly low.
These are the exact tactics I used to grow lists from nothing to thousands of highly committed subscribers.
1. Create an email list from scratch with a waiting list (even before the start).
One of the simplest ways that I have expanded an e -mail list from scratch is the start of a waiting list before I had a finished product. Regardless of whether it is a product introduction, a course, a service or an event, you only need a simple target page with a convincing line:
“The earlier you participate, the earlier you get access.”
That’s it. No incentives, no E -Book, no “free guide”, just a feeling of early access. Then shamelessly connect the waiting list shamelessly everywhere, such as gigs, social contributions, networking events and even DMS. The goal is 500–700 registrations before you start something.
It doesn’t matter what you start. The waiting list offers you a lead and an e -mail list that you actually have. This is exactly how I grown my first 700 subscribers before the start Marketing idea.com.
Select something this week you are working on and throw a simple target page. You will be surprised how many people want early access.
2. Send a personal “Heads-Up” email to your network.
One of the fastest options for building an early momentum is to send 50-100 friends or colleagues with a quick personal note by e -mail:
- Hey, I am working on a new (project/product/service) that I think that you find it useful because (specific reason). Should I add you to the list and keep you up to date?
This type of personal touch converts 10 times better than a cold explosion. It is casual, human and gives people a context before they ask for something.
And bonus: People who join their list early are often the most committed. You will open your e -mails, answer and sometimes even pass them on to others. This type of energy is difficult to fake and is super helpful if you still find out things.
3. Create a lead magnet that solves an urgent problem.
I saw how many lead magnets fall flat when people try to expand their e -mail list, usually because they try to do too much. I learned that in the hard way after creating a 50-page “Ultimate Guide” that nobody downloaded. It turns out that people want solutions and no dissertations.
A better approach is to concentrate on a specific problem that your audience tries to actively solve. For example:
- An email template for salary negotiations for workers
- A “starter package” of input requests for someone who starts a newsletter
- A decision -making flow diagram for founders who choose between two tools
The best performance I have seen are easy to use quickly and feel done by someone who gets it. And with Vibe coding toolsThey are easy to create. Start with a problem that you repeatedly solve in conversations and transform this into a simple template or checklist.
I usually have the lead magnets behind a simple form, just an e -mail field, maybe a first name. Then I apply everywhere: in social bios, in blog post -ctas, in community forums, even in answers to relevant questions about X or Reddit. The key not only creates a great resource. It puts it in front of the people who need it.
4. Just start, then you will become more intelligent with progressive profil creation.
Most marketers ask too much -e -mail, name, company, roll, industry, favorite -pizza -topping. This is a quick way to kill conversions.
I like to keep things light at the beginning. For lead magnets, I usually only ask about an e -mail. That brings people into the door. Then I gradually have an additional context, a practice that is referred to as progressive profilering.
This is how it can look:
- Step 1: Just ask for an e -mail to access the free resource.
- Step 2: Ask on the page to confirm the download for the size of the company.
- Step 3: On a follow-up email, ask you to tell you more or offer a 2-question survey to your greatest challenge.
The benefit? They lower the entry barrier, but still collect the Intel that you have to seize and personalize. And since these input requests are made after someone has already shown interest, the completion rates are much higher.
It also feels of course. You don’t learn everything about someone in five minutes. Why should an e -mail registration be different?
5. Publish a voluntary content per month.
When creating an e -mail list from scratch, I try to publish something every month that makes people think: “Wow, I have to share that.” It could be a case study with real numbers, a contrary attitude, a step-by-step tutorial or just my best advice from the trenches. Sometimes it is behind the scenes or fast industry observations that I post on LinkedIn or X posts.
For example, I shared the results of a super simple A/B test and only added a blurred screenshot behind our registration form. That’s it. No unusual design, not a long explaner.
This post was shared like crazy because it was so simple and yet effective. The trick is to ensure that the content is alone. Then close a clear CTA like: “Further tips such as this in my newsletter: (insert URL)”
You don’t need an elaborate funnel. Just share something helpful and give people a simple next step if you want more.
One more thing: If you have difficulty finding out what to write about, seek where people already ask questions such as Reddit, Slack groups, X -Threads. Then answer one of them with more depth than any other.
6. Personally come into contact with every new subscriber (at least for the first 1,000).
If someone comes to your list, don’t just let the confirmation -e mail speak. For my first 1,000 subscribers, I sent a short note within 24 hours, thanked them and asked what they worked on or where they needed help.
It was not a campaign or automation. It was just a real news from me.
This simple gesture led to honest conversations, advice appearances, loyal readers and more than a few recommendations. People don’t just remember when they treat them like a person.
It doesn’t scaled forever, but when you are just starting, there is nothing over your personal connection.
Even if my list has grown, I kept the same energy in my welcome e -mails. I can no longer answer every new subscriber personally, but I make sure that you have an immediate value and feel that you have something real and not just in another newsletter.
Instead of a boring “Thank you for subscribing!” Message, I send new subscribers directly into the good things. This means real marketing tactics that you can use immediately, and the feeling of being part of a community of people who actually get it.
7. Make your pop-ups helpful (not annoying).
I used to think that pop-ups were annoying by default. But when I started to trigger them on the basis of the behavior, they felt much less intrusive. In some cases they even helped.
The offer is everything. “Subscribe to updates” will not reduce it. But something like “Do you want the exact checklist that I have used to get 1,000 subscribers? Grab here”
Here are some formats that I have seen:
- Popups from the exit This is correct because someone wants to leave the tab
- Scrolling triggered popups This appears as soon as a reader hits a certain point in the post office
- Content -upgrades It feels like a natural next step after reading
The gamification application
Well, it will be interesting here. At first I was skeptical. A spin-to-win-wheel felt like something I would see on an e-commerce website that sold telephone cases. But then I looked at the data: 13.23% conversion rateCompared to 3–5% for standard popups.
So I tested it.
I put it up after someone was on my website for 100 seconds, enough time to signal real interest. Instead of a boring CTA “Registration for updates”, they were allowed to turn for something valuable: a 15-minute consultation, a swipe file or a deposits behind the scenes.
It not only increased the conversions, but also felt the entire registration experience, which felt more funny and unforgettable.
These gamified versions are best suited for consumer brands or SaaS tools with free plans, but I even saw how developers used them effectively for newsletters. If you want to try, like tools like Optin monster And Wheelio Just make setup.
The key with every pop-up: If you keep your prices really helpful, let it feel like a bonus (no trick) and never interrupt the experience. It should feel like a natural next step, regardless of whether it is a simple overlay or a spinning wheel.
8. Adjust your CTAs to what people actually read.
Generic CTAs convert like generic advice: bad. I have tested this over and over again and the results are obvious. If your CTA corresponds to the content. Someone has already read, the conversion rates jump.
When someone reads a blog post about e -mail marketing, show him a CTA that says: “I want the exact template with which I received 1,000 e -mail registrations? Snap here.” This message is far more relevant than a generic newsletter.
I saw how personalized CTAs exceed the basics of long shot. Drift Kings Media found that personalized CTAs convert 202% better. In my experience of tracks.
This statistics held on to me, so I started to keep my setup just intended.
I don’t rethink this part. First of all, I check which pages usually get the greatest traffic in GA4. That gives me a solid starting point.
Then I ask myself: Why is someone on this page primarily? Are you looking for an instruction? Compare tools? This context shapes what type of CTA makes sense.
Sometimes I optimize the heading or swap in a more relevant offer. In other cases, I become a little more fancier and triggered something based on the behavior, as if someone scrolls down most of the part or visits the page more than once. Drift Kings Medias intelligent content And Optimonk Both come useful there.
9. Create E -Mail subscribers through free workshops and demos.
I created some of my best e -mail lists on the back of a simple, free workshop. Most marketers rethink this. You do not need a webinar series with custom ads and paid displays. You only need a good idea and a calendar link.
No fluff, no hard sale. Just something really useful that solves a problem for the right audience.
Even if only 20% of the participants convert, these subscribers are a high intention. They already spent time with them, learned from them and saw the value they bring with them. This type of commitment is much more worth than a cold e -mail address.
Bonus tip: After the workshop, send the recording and only slide to participants who have joined your list. This adds exclusivity and drives more opt-ins after the event.
10. Guest post or appear in podcasts.
When I started to create my e -mail list from scratch, I didn’t have a big list. But I knew how to write and I had a few strong opinions. So I set up a handful of newsletters and blogs in my room, and a guest post brought over 400 subscribers in a week.
The trick? Go where your audience is already hanging around.
If you write for a blog or a newsletter, add a Byline as follows: “Tom Orbach writes Marketingideas.com, a free newsletter for marketers who hate fluff. Get it here.”
If you are in a podcast, ask the host to include your login link in the show notes. Say something like “If you liked this conversation, I open such things every few weeks. Link is in the notes.”
And when you are just starting, Pitch makers are just one or two steps in front of you. They are usually more open to cooperation, and their audience will probably connect to where they are.
A solid appearance of guest can bring in 200 to 500 subscribers. Just like Lenny Rachitsky – author of the wildly popular product and growth newsletters, Lenny’s newsletter – Famously built his list. That’s how I grown mine too.
11. Grow your e -mail list by adding added value in comments.
If you do not have time to consistently create content, commenting on the contributions of other people can still build up visibility and expand your list. Most marketers overlook this tactic, but it works.
Take Ben Tossell, creator of Bens bitesA daily newsletter that covers the latest in AI. Consistent early replied to tweets Via Ki tools with a line: “Shout this in the newsletter of tomorrow!”
It was simple, uncomplicated and frequently enough what people noticed. When he responded to a tweet of Google’s CEO, he got almost 26,000 views and led to hundreds of new subscribers.
You don’t have to copy Benn’s exact approach, but I saw results only after:
- Clarification of a point or adding a useful status
- Share of a relevant link (if it really helps)
- Deleting a short statistics or a short lesson
Select a few people who are already following your audience and consistently comment on. This is not to be promoted, but adding something useful. Your answers should let people think: “Who is that?” That is the beginning of consciousness.
12. Ask at the cash register, but make it optional.
If you sell something online, your checkout flow is a gold mine for qualified e -mail registrations.
I have a simple check box with the inscription: “Yes, I would like to get updates and offers.”
I always have it deactivated by default and clearly explain what subscribers are preserved. No small print and no surprises.
In my experience, these subscribers often exceed others in the openings and click. You have already done a purchase or have shown a serious intention of what makes you the most valuable people on your list.
13. Use your existing networks (even the little ones).
You do not need a massive supporter to create your list. I learned that early. Sometimes their best subscribers come from the connections they already have.
If you have a small followers on Twitter, LinkedIn or somewhere else, mention your list there. Not intrusive, but casual: “Start of a weekly e -mail with marketing knowledge that does not make it in social. Write me a DM if you want.”
And here is something that most people overlook: their e -mail signature. I have added a simple line to my (“PS: I send weekly marketing breakdowns to 2,000 people. Start here: (link)”) and dozens of subscribers from everyday workers are brought in.
You are already talking to people you know and trust them. Give them an easy way to get more of what they share.
14. Create the target pages for every important topic that you treat.
I wish I wish I had done earlier: Instead of sending all of my data traffic to a generic registration page, I started creating certain targets for various topics that I write about.
When I have a guest post about e -mail marketing, I send people to a target page especially via e -mail tips. When I talk about the content strategy in a podcast, there is another side. Everyone speaks directly to what they brought there.
Drift Kings Media found that companies see a bump of 55% of leads when they go from 10 to 15 landing pages. It makes sense. If someone has found it through a specific topic, they would like to know that they continue to talk about this topic.
It is like having different conversations with different people instead of giving everyone the same pitch. Much more personal, much more effective.
15. Transform your best subscribers into recruiters.
As soon as you have a few hundred committed subscribers, some of them will love what you send enough to share it. Why don’t you make it easier for you?
I started adding a simple line to my best e -mails: “Do you know someone who finds this useful? Further transfer this in your own way. You can subscribe to yourself here: (Link).”
But here it gets interesting: you can offer something in return. I saw how creators gave their subscribers a month of free, exclusive content or even small rewards for successful recommendations. A newsletter that I follow gives you a 10 -dollar shop gift card for three people who refer you to be subscribed to for a month.
The key is that you ask for help and do not run a pyramid scheme. Your best subscribers want to share their things, simply give you a reason and a simple way to do this.
Best E -Mail -List builders
Now that we have discussed the most effective ways to expand your e -mail list, you will find some tools here that can help in the process. As I have already mentioned, you should only use these tools to create a list of subscribers who have agreed to receive e -mails from you.
1. HubSpot -E -Mail -Tool
The best thing to do is to make e -mail templates, design target pages and CTAs and manage the customer life cycle.
You will be happy to know that there are solutions for the cultivation of your e -mail list without breaking the bank. Drift Kings Media offers both paid and freemium versions of its e -mail tools with which you can start quickly.
Additionally Marketing hub The skills include:
- Landing page creation
- Pop-up and independent CTA form templates
- All-in-one solution
With HUBSPOT you can increase your opening and click-through prices, adjust emails to recipients and segment your list without design or technical help. It is intuitive to use, intuitive design you will master e -mail lists and campaigns like a professional.
2. Mailchimp
The best thing: Designing marketing campaigns for e -mail and target pages that convert.
MailChimp is another option on the market that offers e -mail tools that range from free to paid corporate level. This tool has prefabricated email templates, planning tools and email automation options.
The Premium offers help you to concentrate on your most loyal subscribers and to extract the greatest value.
3. Constant contact
Best for: General E -Mail Management and Building -Lead generation Landing Pages.
Constant contact is referred to as all-in-one digital marketing platform, but offers a decent selection of email tools with which your campaigns can be highlighted and more registrations can be obtained. With this paid service, users can quickly move selected images and template functions to custom emails, use prepared email templates, send automated welcome and abandoned cart emails and analyze results with email tracking.
4. Receive an answer
Best for: Conduct the segmentation based on the user behavior.
You will receive the answer with what you expect from e -mail marketing software with the bonus of the lead -scoring and landing pages built into the platform. However, this platform is not as user -friendly as the others on this list and needs a certain learning curve to use the entire software that it has to offer.
The functions include:
- Contact management
- Automation and planning
- Industry -specific templates
- reporting
- Goal pages and lead assessment
These extended functions are supplied to a premium. So if you want to dive deep into the segmentation, you have to update the free version.
5. Optimonk
Best for: Registration of e -mails, messengers and SMS.
If you want to update your current marketing tactics for a more personal approach that receives leads, you are exactly right at Optimonk. This platform has several integrations, including Drift Kings Media, so that it exists that it will work with its existing CRM.
One of the outstanding functions of this tool is his subscriber recognition tool, with which you can only address popups for visitors who have not yet been subscribed to.
The functions include:
- Recognition of subscribers
- A/B test
- Optimized for mobile devices
- CTA and e -mail templates
The best of everything is that you offer a free option forever so that you can create your list in a budget.
More value, more registrations
You don’t need a million dollar tool or a viral thread to create an email list from scratch. You need consistency, relevance and a real desire to help your audience solve a problem.
That is what drives registrations.
If you offer value, people stay nearby. And if you stay curious, often experiment and from what works (instead of just trends), your list will think faster than you think.
I treat my list like a long -term relationship. No transaction. No funnel. It is a place where trust builds over time, and this trust pays off in several ways than clicks and opening.
Catch small. Be useful. Continue. And remember that your first 100 subscribers are more important than your first 10,000. Treat them like gold and they help you find the rest.
Note from the publisher: This article was originally published in November 2020 and updated for completeness.