“What’s the number one thing that every business owner needs to prioritise today with their marketing?”

This was a question that I was recently asked and as a business owner myself I instantly resonated with it. 

Running a business is challenging and so often we juggle being the Jack-of-all-Trades just to get things done. Regardless of what stage of business you are at, it can be so difficult knowing what to prioritise when it comes to marketing your business. 

And that is why I have the perfect answer for you!

The number one thing every business owner needs to do today

The number one thing that every business owner needs to do is build an email list. 

Your email list is one of the very few places, other than your website, that you own on the internet.

Unfortunately, you do not own your audience on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and many others, instead this space is rented real estate.

Meaning that it could quite literally disappear tomorrow leaving an incredibly problematic situation for those out there who have built their businesses through socials and rely heavily on these platforms to generate revenue. 

To put it simply, accounts get hacked all the time, algorithms change regularly, and the social media landscape shifts quickly.

But your email list is the number one thing that you have complete control over.

Email marketing is also something that can give you direct access to your audience, which is something that you don’t get on social media.

Did you know that when you share a piece of content on socials, only a small percentage of your followers/subscribers will actually see it?

Whereas, when you send an email, you can be certain that it is going to reach your audience.

If you’re still not convinced that building an email list is the number one thing you need to do today, then let me quickly share with you some very convincing statistics below: 

• By the end of this year, the number of email users worldwide is expected to reach 4.3 billion. This number is set to grow to 4.6 billion by 2025, that’s more than half of the world’s population (Statista, 2021).
• In addition to this, 98% of email users say that they check their inbox everyday, with some up to 20 times per day. 
• And 59% of users say that marketing emails influence their purchasing decisions. 

So if you haven’t picked up on it already… Every business owner needs an email list!

If you are just getting started in business and are worried that you don’t have anything to sell yet? 

Don’t let that hold you back, you can still build a list!

Email marketing isn’t just about selling. 

It is also a great way to connect with your growing audience and serve them with valuable content that will help to build trust with your brand. And if you do a good job of this, then it means that you will have an engaged group of people to directly promote your products and services to when the day comes.

Much like Instagram, it is not the size of the email list that matters or if the you have a small audience, but rather how engaged the subscribers are. 

For example, I have an email list that is on the smaller side (around 1500 subscribers) and is largely representative of my ideal client. My email subscribers are incredibly engaged with the content that I put out as my average open rate on an email is typically anywhere between 40-50%. So I know that when I send an email roughly 700ish people will open it and hopefully read it if the content is compelling enough.

Over the past 12 months, this list has been used alongside an organic content strategy (with my Instagram and podcast, NakedChats) to help me generate six figures in my business.

Would I like a bigger list? Absolutely!

Because theoretically, if I can grow my email list and maintain good engagement then that will lead to a more profitable business, and I get to help and positively impact more people.

But at the same time, 1500 subscribers is nothing to turn your nose up at because even the smallest of lists, when built with intention and nurtured strategically, can bring money into your business. 

Not sure how to get started?

Now that you know what the number one thing every business owner needs to do, you might be unsure how to get started?

Simply, the first step in building an email list is to pick an email marketing platform.

This is a program that you can use to create and send automated emails to those that have subscribed to be a part of your list. Choosing to invest in a platform, rather than using gmails or outlook, will enable you to track the emails that you send and access key performance metrics such as open rates and click-through rates. 

Most email marketing platforms will offer a free starter plan, however, once you hit a certain number of subscribers (usually between 500-1000 people), you have to start paying per subscriber. This means that the bigger your list, the more money you have to pay. 

The platform that I’d recommend to anyone getting started with email marketing is Flodesk because it is great for small businesses and is so user-friendly. They even have so many beautifully designed and professional-looking email templates that you can pick from. 

Flodesk also offers a free 30-day trial which is a great amount of time for you to jump on the platform and explore everything that it has to offer. 

So, if you decide that the platform is a good fit for you and your business (like I did with mine), then click here to get a nice little discount of 50% off your first year with them (working out to be $19/month, so affordable!)

If you are someone with a bigger business and already have an existing email list, then why not look at taking things up a notch with the email marketing platform, Active Campaign, that I recommend you check out. It is a more comprehensive platform that allows for more intricate email automation triggers but is still relatively easy to navigate. 

Their template selection is definitely nowhere near as large or aesthetically pleasing as the ones you’ll find at Flodesk, but if you are needing more advanced features then it’s a good option. Active Campaign starts at $49/month for up to 500 subscribers and then the price increases as your list grows. 

Another good option is the more advanced platform, ConvertKit, which starts at $25/month for 1000 subscribers and then the price increases again as the list grows. 

The take home message?

The number one thing every business owner needs is an email list. 

Even if you have nothing to sell or only have a small audience, don’t let that deter you from utilising email marketing in your business.

It’s so easy to start, decide on an email marketing platform that fits you and your business, create an account and begin building direct connections with your audience on a platform that you can control.

Interested in learning more about how email marketing can help you scale your business?

I teach this and so much more in Markerita, where you will learn the exact ingredients you need to build a modern-marketing system that converts your *dream clients* like a breeze and sets your business up for success in a way that feels good to you.