How I Nearly Doubled My Email List in Two Months: 5 Game-Changing Strategies
In just two months, my email list grew from 20,000 to 38,000 subscribers—an increase that transformed my business’s reach and potential ten fold. If you’re running a small business, one of the most powerful tools at your disposal is your email list.
It’s more than just a collection of names and email addresses - it’s a direct line to your most engaged customers without being at the hands of an algorithm when you market your business on social media.
An effective email list supports not just direct sales but also builds long-term relationships and brand loyalty. Here’s how I achieved this growth and how you can replicate these results for your business.
Strategy One: Create a High-Value Time-Sensitive Freebie
The first step in my strategy was to create a high-value freebie, the kind of offer that’s so good, people would typically pay for it. But here’s the catch—it was time-sensitive. This wasn’t just any freebie that could be claimed at any time; it was directly tied to seasonal events like holidays or back-to-school periods.
I created a 2024 content calendar which included a live workshop, a downloadable guide, and a Canva template. All of which I gave away for free at the beginning of the year. This freebie was such a huge value to my audience!
Why does this work? Urgency. If your freebie is only relevant for a short period, people are more likely to act immediately. No one wants to miss out, especially when the next opportunity might be a year away. For instance, a tax season checklist in March or a holiday planning guide in October catches your audience at the perfect moment when they need it most.
Strategy Two: Promote Your Freebie Like a Paid Product
Next, I treated the promotion of this freebie as if it were a paid product. This meant creating daily content, particularly Reels, to spread the word on Instagram. The key here was not just to jump on the latest content trends but to be straightforward and clear about the offer.
I mixed trendy content with direct calls to action, such as simple, bold statements like "Download our free guide now!" This approach helped to ensure that the message was clear and that that people were enticed to grab the free offer!
Strategy Three: The "Black Story" Strategy
One of the most effective strategies I used was what I call the "Black Story" strategy. This involves posting a story on Instagram that's just a plain black screen with white text explaining the benefit of the freebie. This simplicity made it stand out against the more visually busy stories, drawing more attention and clicks.
Here’s why it works: contrast and simplicity. In a sea of colorful and dynamic stories, a stark black screen with a simple message catches the eye. It breaks the pattern of what viewers expect, making them pause and pay attention—exactly what you need when promoting something important.
Strategy Four: Use Manychat Automations
Automation was a game changer. I used Manychat to send a direct message to anyone who commented on our posts with a specific trigger word. This automation skips the traditional "link in bio" step, placing the desired link right in their DMs.
This strategy is effective because it reduces the steps a user must take to reach your content, which significantly increases conversion rates. The easier you make it for someone to access your freebie, the more likely they are to do so.
Strategy Five: Enhance Performance with Paid Ads
Lastly, once I saw how well the freebie was performing organically, I leveraged it with paid ads on Facebook and Instagram. Using the same Reels that were successful organically, I targeted a broader audience to increase reach and conversions.
Combining organic strategies with paid advertisements can amplify your results. It allows you to reach beyond your current followers and tap into a new audience that might be interested in what you offer.
How to Increase Your Email Subscribers
These five strategies nearly doubled my email list in just two months, demonstrating the power of creative marketing, unique strategies, and a bit of automation. By offering something of real value, making it urgent, promoting it effectively, simplifying the access, and expanding reach through ads, you can see tremendous growth in your subscriber base.
Remember, the effectiveness of these strategies can vary based on your audience and niche, but the principles of urgency, value, and ease of access are universally applicable. Ready to turbocharge your email marketing efforts? Start implementing these tactics today and watch your email list—and your business—grow exponentially.
Manu Muraro is the founder of Your Social Team, an Instagram strategy and templates business that helps ethical brands with a sense of humor grow their organic engagement and sales using Instagram.
Your Social Team also offers Your Template Club, a Canva template subscription to help social media managers and busy business owners get more results and save time.
Born and raised in Brazil, Manu moved to the U.S. in 2000, right out of college, to work for Cartoon Network, where she made an award-winning career in creative for 15 years.
Manu started Your Social Team in 2017 and has worked with brands like Teacheable, Brit+Co, James Beard Foundation, Open Table before shifting focus to women founded small businesses and social media professionals.