Email List Basics: Why You Need One and How to Start From Zero

Mandy S.
3 days ago
3 min read

Social media is rented space—email is an asset. Learn how to start collecting emails, create a simple welcome sequence, and stay compliant with privacy laws.

Social media might be where the party’s at, but email is where the deals get done. Building an email list is one of the most overlooked yet high-leverage actions a new business or creator can take. Unlike social platforms—where the algorithm decides if your content sees the light of day—email gives you a direct, uninterrupted line to your audience.

Why Email Lists Still Matter

If you're wondering whether email still has a pulse, consider this: email marketing has an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent, according to data from Litmus. That's not a typo. It outperforms SEO, social media, and paid ads in most verticals.

📊 Here's the breakdown:

Channel	ROI per $1 Spent
Email Marketing	$36
SEO	$22
Paid Search Ads	$17
Display Ads	$4

And while you may have 10,000 Instagram followers, good luck reaching more than 5% of them organically. Email, by contrast, boasts an average open rate of 21.33% across all industries, according to Mailchimp. That’s like getting invited into someone’s inbox with coffee in hand.

Where Do You Begin?

Step 1: Choose Your Email Service Provider (ESP)

Start with a free platform like Mailchimp, MailerLite, or ConvertKit—these offer drag-and-drop email builders, basic automation, and easy compliance tools. For startups aiming to scale fast, providers like ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo offer deeper segmentation and analytics.

Step 2: Create a Lead Magnet

No one gives away their email for free anymore. Offer something valuable in exchange. This could be a simple checklist, a discount code, or an exclusive video. Need inspiration? Check out this example from Backlinko where a single downloadable SEO checklist has driven thousands of leads.

Step 3: Build Your Landing Page

Use a tool like Carrd or ConvertKit’s free landing page builder to quickly spin up a signup page. Make it mobile-friendly, punchy, and focused. The fewer the form fields, the better. Email and first name is often plenty.

Step 4: Write a Welcome Sequence

Your first email is where the magic happens. Set expectations. Introduce your brand voice. Say thanks. A simple 3–5 email welcome series can build trust and increase engagement by up to 33%, per Campaign Monitor.

Here's a simple framework:

Email 1: “Welcome + Freebie/Offer”
Email 2: “Our Story or Mission”
Email 3: “Most Popular Content or Products”
Email 4: “How We Can Help You Further”

Step 5: Stay Compliant

Don’t mess this part up. Make sure you’re GDPR and CAN-SPAM compliant. That means clear opt-in consent, easy unsubscribe links, and a physical mailing address in your footer. Here's a guide from FTC.gov to keep you on the right side of the law.

In 2023, 91% of U.S. consumers said they are more likely to shop with companies that respect their data privacy, according to a Cisco Consumer Privacy Survey.

Email isn’t dead—it’s just been drowned out by louder, flashier platforms. But if you’re building a real business, you want a real asset. Email is yours. Your list. Your rules. No dancing for algorithms required.

As Seth Godin put it: “Permission is the privilege (not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal, and relevant messages to people who actually want to get them.”

So go ahead—start that list. One email at a time.