If I had to grow my email list from scratch…
Here are 4 steps you can follow to start your business and grow your email list - from scratch.
How do you get started?
What email platform do you use?
What should you say in your emails?
How often do you send emails?
You got questions, I have answers, keep reading.
Growing your email list from scratch in 2025 is the #1 best business move you can make to grow your personal brand (or really any business for that matter).
Yep, with A.I. everything de-humanizing how we interact with businesses and brands both locally and online… people are crying out for some real human connection and service.
And email is the PERFECT place to build long term relationships, establish trust, and show up as a real freaking human being looking to make a meaningful difference with your work.
As a 20-year entrepreneur I have launched several businesses including a chiropractic clinic, kids process art studio, direct sales business to top position and beyond, and now in 2025 I am shifting gears into a mentorship role helping you turn your passion into profits through smart strategy and creative copy.
If I’m honest - the most fun part of building a new business is getting started.
I like to call it the ‘honeymoon phase’.
The ideas are rolling, the passion is red hot, and you become a complete information junkie trying to make sure you are on trend as you strut your stuff down the internet runway.
But… your emotions are also making you blind to risk and delirious with optimism.
It’s seriously important to have a solid plan of action that keeps you from falling into every rabbit hole or sand trap along the way.
Before I dive in and answer your burning email marketing questions let me show you why email marketing is STILL the #1 way to communicate with your audience, stand out from the crowd, and bring home the bacon.
Here are some Email Marketing Statistics you should know in 2025:
As of 2025, almost 4.5 billion people use email around the globe, and by 2027 this number is expected to surpass 4.8 billion (OptinMonster)
4 out of 5 marketers say that they would rather give up social media marketing than email marketing (Luisa Zhou)
Email marketing has an overall ROI of 4,200% (Luisa Zhou)
When a company personalizes emails, it can increase revenue by up to 760% (Techjury)
So if you are looking for the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to starting and building your business – email is hands down the FIRST place to start.
Let me show you how…
Here are 4 Steps for Starting Your Business and Growing Your Email List - from scratch.
Start with creating a content plan.
That’s right - I’m the woman who loves a good plan of action, and let me tell you – it is a non-negotiable when it comes to getting any business started. Otherwise, you will feel like you are throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks.
To create a content plan, you first need to establish your unique selling proposition for your main service or offer…
Who are you serving?
What problem are you solving for them?
Why would they buy from you over someone else - i.e.what makes your product/offer unique - what is the hook (the way you will capture attention and stand out from the crowd)?
Once you know what makes your product unique and you have a strong hook you can start to engineer your content plan.
What are some larger topics or ideas that relate to the main topic of your product. Try to shoot for 4-6 larger topics (frequently known as content pillars).
Then – brainstorm topic titles with a strong hook that capture attention and point to your product as a solution to your customer’s problem.
Ultimately, this content will be pushed out to your paid and organic marketing channels.
Below is a quick content plan visual to help you see the bigger picture.
Don’t get too stuck here trying to come up with 5 pillars. If you have 3 great pillars then just go with it. You can always shift and add down the road.
(The most important part of this first step is understanding your USP and having a strong hook. If you need help with understanding hooks stay tuned for this upcoming class “Stop the scroll - 7 hooks to grab attention” where you will learn 7 types of hooks that will spark engagement and boost sales - for only $7)
Here is an example:
2. Create a lead magnet
Create a lead magnet in canva or google docs that can be delivered through an email provider. I use Flodesk because it’s affordable, simple, and very intuitive. Check this out if you want a 2-week free trial and 50% off your first year.
There are a ton of options for lead magnets including a coupon, offering some free product, checklists, masterclass, quiz, guide, ebook, email challenge etc.
(A little insider secret - The good and bad news about marketing – it’s one giant experiment. At some point you need to be willing to guess and test, pause and pivot. So don’t overthink it - just pick one and let’s move forward)
A typical lead magnet should convert at 5-15%. The more you know your customer, their pain points, desires, and values… the better lead magnet you can deliver - and the higher quality lead you will find.
Now - go back to your content plan - make sure you lead magnet makes sense with your product or service.
You are not just looking for warm bodies, you are looking to attract customers that share your values and need your services.
Your lead magnet should also build desire for more and open the door for next steps.
Your workflow should look a little like this:
Create Lead Magnet in Canva - Create Landing Page Form in Flodesk - Create Workflow in Flodesk to deliver Lead Magnet.
Try creating multiple landing page forms for the same lead magnet (inline, full page, and pop-up) to capture leads in your blogs, social media, ads, and website.
3. Create an indoctrination email sequence.
Inquiring minds want to know… what is this business all about.
Just think about the last sitcom you watched. They frequently zoom out and show a picture of the outside of the house. We all know they aren’t filming inside this house… but it sets the stage for the story.
Your indoctrination sequence should do just that - set the stage for the bigger picture of your business. It’s a powerful technique - especially for personal brands and online business owners who don’t have the benefit of a brick and mortar storefront experience.
My favorite question to ask a coaching client - “how do you want your customer to feel when they encounter your business?”
Think of this feeling as you write your email sequences, blogs, & website copy - people will remember how you made them feel far longer than anything you might say or do.
Ultimately, there are no hard and fast rules about your welcome sequence. It can be 1 email or 44 emails.
I usually advise three emails over the course of three days.
The first is to set the stage and share your brand mission. The second is to invite them into your world and be a part of a shared value system. The third is to mobilize them to take action, to move away from their pain and towards a solution - to start their hero’s journey where you are their mentor.
4. Don’t ghost your new friends
So… you have laid the ground work to attract and serve your ideal customer.
You’ve worked hard to understand who you serve, and what makes your product/service/offer unique. You created a lead magnet, built an email workflow to deliver the lead magnet, and you have written a welcome sequence…
First of all - congrats! This is no easy task.
If you have ever watched a construction crew build a house… you know that the groundwork and foundation take a LONG time. Then suddenly the rest of the house goes up laser fast.
A business is just like that house.
So much of the beginning process is unseen by the consumer and often catches new business owners by surprise. You often get bogged down with a pretty intense learning curve that slows down every step, mixed with a serious case of analysis by paralysis.
This is why so many people never get past the beginner stages - the honeymoon phase is over, funds run low, inspiration fades, and reality sets in.
A smart strategy (mixed with some creative copy) is the key to continuing to move forward and build a business that allows you to make a meaningful difference with your work.
This is what you get in the Alchemy Brand Creator Club - your new favorite creative copy studio that helps you start and grow your personal brand.
So don’t ghost your new friends - instead dive deeper with them in a special way that only email can do.
Need help writing better emails?
Check out this FREE CLASS - Easy Emails: How to write emails people actually want to read.
Alright I hope you found this helpful!
Leave a comment below if you want me to deep dive on any of these tips!
From one entrepreneurial nerd to another -
Onward and upward!
Jill
