ENTREPRENEURS

The #1 Thing I Wish I Would Have Done Years Ago

Jenna Kutcher 

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November 2, 2016

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Everyday my inbox fills with eager dreamers who are excited to be starting businesses, chasing dreams, pursuing passions. And every single day I get asked for guidance and there’s always one piece of advice that I just want to shout from the rooftops – one I simply ignored for far too long and seriously regret. We’ve all seen those catchy posters #noregrets and all that good stuff, but here’s the thing, the beauty of being an entrepreneur is learning lessons and this is one I learned the hard way (because I waited far too long.)

The #1 thing I wish I would have done for my business years ago?

Grow an email list.

I remember the first time I hired a business coach. In fact, it was only a year ago. I remember being so proud of my tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and Facebook but when he asked me this question, I stopped in my tracks. He said, “What would happen if social media disappeared tomorrow? How would you get in touch with all of those people?

Silence was my response. My pride told me to say, “Well, I don’t think Facebook is going anywhere,” but when I started to think about it, he was right. I had hustled so hard to grow a following but I was leaving the fate of that following in the hands of the platforms I was using. A few more months of feet dragging lead me to finally start an email list.

Why does every business need an email list?

So why should you have an email list? Well, there are a million reasons… the first? With an email list you can contact people at the drop of a hat. You can share sales, promotions, education, announcements, even closings. Email is a far more intimate way to reach people on a personal level. While social media can feel like you’re shouting from the rooftops to a general audience, email is way to personally reach out to people and serve them well. While growing a following on social media is important, I think growing your email list is even more important. Why? Because email marketing can be your voice, your terms, your timing. You don’t have to worry about algorithms or alienating people from your message.

What the heck would I send to my list?

Regardless of if you are a brick and mortar or a service provider, having an email list can change the game for you. What do you do when you have a big holiday promotion? Or a special? What happens if you need to get in touch with your clientele in case of an emergency? How do you stay in touch (and front of mind) with clients, past or present? I remember when I started my list, I wondered what would I share? Why would people want to join it? The truth is, I never run out of ideas, whether its words of encouragement, information about our course launches, updates on what’s happening in our lives… the list goes on.

Email lists foster a community.

One of the biggest benefits I’ve witnessed first hand in growing my email list, is that it fosters a community like nothing else. Every single week when I send an email out to my list, my inbox floods with responses. (Seriously, hundreds of replies each week!) I used to devote my entire Monday to emailing my list and then responding to the hundreds of people reaching out… yeah, it’s crazy. There is something so intimate about a delivery into your inbox that will always trump a blog post or a share on social media. Email is one of the best ways to grow the “know, like, trust” factor with your audience that is so important in running a profitable business.

Start today, please, listen to me.

If I could go back in time, I would have started an email list long before I focused on growing my following on any social media platform. These days I care more about an active email list than Instagram followers because I know that my email list directly drives profits and relationships in my business. It isn’t scary, in fact, it’s pretty easy to start. Get started today and I’ll keep sharing tips on how to grow, use, and foster your community through email in the upcoming weeks!

I created a quickstart, email list guide! It will walk you through the 3 easy steps to starting an email list! 

Snag your free email kickstart guide here! 

 

 

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A small town Minnesota photographer, podcaster, educator and puppy rescuer, my happiest days are spent behind my computer screen sharing my secrets with the world. I'm glad you're here.

I’m an expert at online marketing, a nerd when it comes to the numbers, and my obsession is teaching others how to make a living doing what they love (without it taking over their life). 

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