If you have a business or blog, you probably rely heavily on social media to generate traffic, customers, and sales. That’s why you might spend a big chunk of your time on growing your Instagram following, outsmarting Facebook’s algorithm, and pumping out a ton of tweets on Twitter. As a result, you might not spend much time trying to build an email list—a list of people who have signed up to receive emails related to your business.
Building an email list may not seem as exciting or sexy as getting likes and comments on social media. But it’s actually a lot more important. Why? Keep reading below to find out my top 8 reasons why you need to build an email list for your biz or blog.
Having a hard time getting new subscribers for your email list? Learn my 4-step formula for building your email list like a pro.
Download the free email list builder cheat sheet.
1. You own and control it
You don’t own your Instagram or Facebook account. So if your account gets hacked or shut down, you could lose access to all of your followers in the blink of an eye. Also, if an algorithm change tanks your reach or a policy change prevents you from using a platform the way you used to, there may not be much you can do about it. In sum, Instagram could decide to flip a switch one day, and it could change everything for your biz or blog in a very bad way.
In comparison, your email list is your property. As long as you keep a copy of it backed up, you’ll always be able to use it to communicate with your subscribers. You’ll also be able to control exactly what your messages look like.
In short, when you take the time to build an email list, you put yourself in control of your business’s or blog’s growth.
Related: How to use Pinterest to grow your email list + free Pinterest profile cheat sheet
2. Email subscribers are more likely to become your clients or customers
Your email subscribers are more likely to be genuinely interested in your biz or blog. After all, they had to actively sign up for your list to end up on it. In comparison, the people who see your social media posts may not even follow you. That’s why every dollar spent on email has an average return on investment of $38. Email is also almost 40x better at acquiring new customers than Facebook and Twitter!
Your email subscribers are more likely than your social media followers to buy your products or book your services. So it’s definitely worth your time to build an email list.
3. Email lets you communicate directly with your subscribers
When you build an email list, you get to communicate directly with your subscribers. Your messages land right in their inbox rather than in an app they may or may not frequently check. And unless your emails get flagged as spam, you know they’ll get delivered to your recipients. You don’t have to conquer an algorithm just to have your messages shown to your audience.
Related: The 7 most effective email subject lines + 63 free templates
Having a hard time getting new subscribers for your email list? Learn my 4-step formula for building your email list like a pro.
Download the free email list builder cheat sheet.
4. Email is more personal
When you build an email list, you can also communicate with your audience in a more personal way. In particular, you can write and design your emails in ways that make them feel like messages that were written just for your recipients. You can even personalize your marketing emails by greeting your subscribers by name. This helps you build a relationship with your subscribers and develop trust.
5. You can make emails more relevant and effective
On social media, you can’t control who sees a particular post. For example, if you own a bakery, you can’t show posts about gluten-free baked goods only to people interested in gluten-free baking and posts about vegan baked goods only to people interested in vegan baking.
In comparison, with an email list, you can separate your subscribers into groups based on their needs or interests (also called “segmentation”). This allows you to selectively create and send messages and special offers that are uniquely relevant to each group. And what happens when emails are more relevant to recipients? They’re more likely to open, click, and convert. So when you build an email list, you make it possible to communicate more effectively with different subgroups of your audience.
Related: 10 expert tips for writing marketing emails that convert + 63 email subject line templates
6. Email makes private communication easier
If someone wants to ask a question or provide input related to one of your social media posts, they have to share their thoughts in a publicly visible comment. It’s true that they can send you a private message on the platform. But to do this, they’ll have to navigate to a different part of the platform and include enough contextual information in their message so that you’ll know which post they’re talking about.
In comparison, when you build an email list and use it to communicate with your subscribers, it’s easy for them to share their thoughts related to a particular email. If they want to ask a question or share a suggestion, all they have to do is hit “reply.”
7. Email gives you a reliable way to deliver key info
Need to give your clients a heads up about an upcoming vacation? Want to share information about your in-store launch party next month? Email is a reliable way to communicate all the details. Your audience may not check your website or blog frequently, but most of them probably check their email every day. So when you build an email list, you give your biz or blog an easy way to share important announcements and updates.
Related: How Pinterest increased my email subscribers by 1018% + free Pinterest profile cheat sheet
8. Email helps you share time-sensitive info
Most people check their email several times throughout the day. So not only are your subscribers likely to see your message in their inbox, but they also have a good shot at seeing it soon after you send it. This can be particularly useful if you want to share time-sensitive information (for example, a last-minute instructor change at your yoga studio or a warning that enrollment in your online course closes today at midnight).
Build an email list to grow your biz or blog
Social media may help you expose your brand to new faces, share daily updates, and drive traffic to your website or blog. But when you build an email list, you create a communication and sales channel for your biz or blog that’s entirely within your control.
You can communicate directly with your subscribers, send messages that are targeted to their interests, and even personalize your communication. Most importantly, however, you don’t have to worry about hackers or algorithm changes, and you can also take advantage of high conversion rates.
So what are you waiting for? Start building your email list today to take your biz or blog to the next level!
Having a hard time getting new subscribers for your email list? Learn my 4-step formula for building your email list like a pro.
Download the free email list builder cheat sheet.
