Have you been putting off starting your email list? Or maybe you signed up for a platform, but haven’t taken the leap to start gaining subscribers and sending emails. The truth is, email marketing is one of the most important strategies for businesses big and small when it comes to communicating with customers and selling your offers.

Social media gets all the attention these days, but studies show that email beats out all other forms of online marketing when it comes to ROI. Pretty crazy, right?

No matter what has been holding you back in the past, we believe everyone can succeed at email marketing and use it to grow their business. It’s time to get off the sidelines and start your email list NOW with these three easy steps. Let’s go!

Step 1: Pick a Provider

First things first, you need to pick an email service provider to manage your email marketing. There are many email marketing service providers out there to choose from - several of them completely free! Two that we recommend when you are just starting out are MailChimp and Flodesk. MailChimp is great to begin with because it is completely free for up to 2,000 subscribers. They also have a ton of free tutorials, perfect for beginners.

Another provider we love is Flodesk, which is relatively new to the email scene but has quickly become a fan favorite with its beautifully designed templates and easy automations. It comes in at $38/mo, with a free 30-day trial to get started.

To start, we suggest researching 2-4 platforms and then pick the one that fits best with your business and the type of emails you plan to send. This can feel like a big commitment - but don't worry! You can always change providers down the road if you aren't loving the functionality or your business needs change.

Let's make this happen and pick your provider TODAY! Sign up for your account and check step #1 off of your to-do list.

Step 2: Create an Opt-in Form

Okay, you have your provider, and now it's time to give your audience a way to sign up for your email list. The key here is to make it as easy as possible for people to join your list.

One way is to create an opt-in form on your website. Most providers have easy-to-use templates that you can set up and then embed in your website. Integrations vary based on what type of website you have, so this will require a little research on your end to see how your email marketing provider is set up. You may need to ask your website developer for a little help too.

If you don't have a website or figuring out how to embed your form feels overwhelming, don't worry! Instead of an embedded opt-in form, create a landing page through your email service. This will be a standalone web page that you can direct people to in order to sign up. It's a perfect option for sharing on social media, in your email signature, and by adding a link on your website.

When creating your sign-up form it's important to consider a few key elements.

• Look & Feel - Make sure to incorporate your brand colors, logo, brand photos, and brand fonts (if applicable) into your sign-up form. Everything you create for your email marketing should match the rest of your branding.

• The Promise - What will subscribers get when they sign up for your list? Make sure this text is clear and concise (1 sentence max!) with a captivating headline. Please, please DO NOT simply say "sign up for my list". It’s important to be engaging here, but keep it short and sweet!

Step 3: Start Building Your List

This can feel like the hardest step of all, but just remember that everyone has to start somewhere, and I promise that the 0 on your list is going to grow to 10, 20, and even 100 in no time!

So how can you start adding to your list? It's simple: start with what you have. Although it can be tempting to add everyone you know to your email list, there are actually laws against this which require consumer permission for email marketing. You can, however, reach out to people you know and offer them the chance to sign up!

Start by reaching out personally to friends, family, and past clients - anyone who would be interested in receiving email content from you. Make sure to let them know what will be included in these emails (i.e. The Promise from your opt-in) and why you would love to have them join the list.

You should also share your sign-up form on any other marketing channels that you have. Create a post on Facebook and Instagram with a link to your sign-up form. Add it to blog posts, your website footer, and even your email signature! You can even build a link into your current interactions with customers. The more places you share your sign-up, the more likely you are to get new subscribers.

Need more ideas? Download our checklist for 10 easy ways to add subscribers to your email list.

There you have it! Everything you need to start your email list TODAY. If you've completed all three of these steps and are ready to take your email to next level, read our post on the number one way to grow your email list with a freebie.

You've got this, Trailblazer!