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You didn’t start your business to become a full-time content creator. But if you’re reading this, that might be exactly what it feels like lately.
I know because I’ve been there. I remember exactly what it felt like to work long hours and still feel like I was spinning my wheels, piecing my business together with tutorials, templates, and hope.
Here’s what I’ve learned after helping over 25,000 entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses: Your business should serve you, not the other way around.
And in 2025, email marketing is one of the few strategies that continues to deliver high ROI, consistent engagement, and direct connection with your audience, even while social media algorithms, trends, and platforms shift like sand beneath your feet.
The Number One Mistake I See Entrepreneurs Making
Back in the early days, I poured my heart into crafting an amazing freebie, only to post about it once, hear crickets, and then move on. Sound familiar?
That’s like writing a book, putting it on a shelf in your closet, and hoping someone finds it. We’ve all done it.
If you want your email list to grow, you have to actively, creatively, and consistently promote your opt-in. Make it part of your content strategy. Weave it into your podcast outro, your social captions, your blog posts, your Pinterest pins.
If they never opt in, they never get to experience the value you created for them.
It’s not enough to create something valuable. You have to make it findable. And if you’re stuck thinking your freebie doesn’t work, remember: promotion is often the missing piece.
Why Do Entrepreneurs Still Need an Email List in 2025?
Here are the five biggest reasons I’m doubling down on email marketing this year, and why you should too.
1. Email Creates Real Connection (Not Just Followers)
Here’s the thing about social media: a follow doesn’t mean much. Someone can double-tap your post while scrolling through 100 others. But subscribing to an email list? That’s intentional. They’re saying “I want to hear from you.”
Unlike that split-second scroll past your Instagram post, email lets you have real conversations. You can use someone’s name, speak directly to their struggles, and make them feel like you wrote just to them.
With over 60% of emails opened on phones, your message reaches people in their most personal space… not in a crowded feed competing for attention.
A follower scrolls past. A subscriber leans in.
Want help brainstorming what to send? Start Your Email List Here: High-Converting Opt-In Ideas That Actually Work
2. How Does Email Outperform Social Media?
Let me paint a picture I’ve witnessed too many times: It’s launch day. You’ve been building excitement for weeks. Then Instagram goes down. Or your posts get zero engagement despite months of growing your organic reach.
I’ve watched entrepreneurs panic when the platforms they don’t own fail them on the most important days.
Here’s what social media won’t tell you: organic reach hovers around 5-10% of your followers (source). That means if you have 1,000 followers, maybe 50-100 people actually see your posts. Meanwhile, algorithms are designed to entertain and distract… not to help you convert your audience.
With email, 100% of your subscribers get the chance to see what you send. You’re not building on rented land anymore.
Want help brainstorming what to send? Start Your Email List Here: High-Converting Opt-In Ideas That Actually Work
3. What Makes Email Segmentation So Powerful?
You know that feeling of posting something and wondering if anyone actually cares? That’s because you’re trying to speak to everyone at once.
Email segmentation lets you whisper exactly what someone needs to hear instead of shouting to a crowded room. You can group people by where they are in their journey, what they’ve bought, or what keeps them up at night.
Smart segmentation looks like:
- New subscribers get your welcome series and story
- Engaged readers receive your premium content first
- Past customers hear about advanced programs
- Window shoppers get gentle nudges with success stories
On social media, you’re throwing spaghetti at the wall. With email, you’re serving exactly what someone ordered.
Need help turning your audience into subscribers? How to Convert Your Instagram Followers Into Email Subscribers
4. Your Email List Can’t Be Taken Away
This keeps me up at night: so many brilliant entrepreneurs are building their entire business on platforms they don’t control.
What happens if Instagram disappears tomorrow? If your account gets hacked? If you get shadowbanned right before your biggest launch?
I’ve seen accounts with thousands of followers vanish overnight… taking their entire customer base with them. All those relationships, gone. All that work, erased.
Your email list is different. You own it. No algorithm can hide your messages. No platform can delete your connections.
No hack can steal your ability to reach the people who said yes to you.
5. Does Email Marketing Actually Make Money in 2025?
Let’s talk numbers that matter to your bank account: email marketing delivers an average ROI of $36-42 for every dollar spent (source). That’s not just better than social media… it’s better than almost every other marketing method.
But here’s why those numbers exist: People don’t open emails casually. They open them with intention. They’re ready to read, learn, and yes… buy.
The proof:
- Email open rates: 21-25% vs. 5-10% social reach
- Email subscribers are 3x more likely to purchase
- One email can generate more revenue than weeks of social posts
Social media entertains. Email converts.
RELATED: How to Make Your Email List Work Harder So You Don’t Have To
How to Start Your List Today
The Truth About Email Marketing Tech
I know you might be thinking, “Jenna, this sounds great, but I barely have time to post on Instagram. How am I supposed to add email to the mix?”
Here’s what I wish someone had told me: You don’t need to be a tech genius. You don’t need fancy automations on day one. You don’t need to know code.
The simplest path forward:
- Choose one platform (Flodesk is my go-to… it’s beautiful and beginner-friendly)
- Create one valuable opt-in (a simple checklist works better than a 50-page guide)
- Add one signup form to your website
- Send one email per week (even if it’s just a few paragraphs)
That’s it. Four steps between you and freedom from the content hamster wheel.
Want to see how I do it? How Flodesk Works and Why You Should Be Using It
My Biggest Lesson That Could Save You Years
In my early days, I thought more was better. I created a new freebie every single week because I was so excited! But here’s what actually happened: I overwhelmed myself and confused my audience.
The truth I learned the hard way: About 10 total opt-ins drive 95% of our leads. When I stopped creating and started optimizing, like better headlines, clearer value propositions, smoother email sequences, everything clicked.
Better to have one thing that works than ten things that don’t.
Start Simple (Really Simple)
Want to know a trend I’m loving right now? Super simplified opt-ins. I’m talking about sending people to a Google Doc with valuable information. No fancy landing pages, no complicated tech.
It’s less about looking perfect and more about delivering true value in exchange for someone’s email. If you’re someone who gets stuck in the design phase, this is your permission to test ideas quickly and see what resonates.
Start messy. Optimize later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The #1 Thing Sabotaging Your Growth
Here’s the biggest mistake I see smart entrepreneurs make: They spend weeks creating an amazing freebie, announce it once to their audience, then move on when it doesn’t immediately take off.
Friends, this is like planting a garden and never watering it.
You need to spend just as much time promoting your opt-in as you did creating it.
Make it your job to find creative ways to put it in front of the right people. Because if they don’t opt in, they’ll never get the value you poured into that freebie.
Keeping Your Emails Out of Spam
“But Jenna, what if my emails go to spam?” I hear this concern a lot, and it’s valid. The good news? Most spam issues come from not following basic best practices… not from lack of technical knowledge.
Your spam-prevention checklist:
- Use a reputable platform (they handle the technical stuff)
- Ask new subscribers to add you to their contacts
- Write subject lines like you’re texting a friend
- Include your real address (it’s required by law anyway)
- Make unsubscribing easy
- Clean out subscribers who haven’t engaged in 6+ months
Deliver consistent value, and people will look forward to your emails, not delete them.
Your Email List Questions Answered
Q: How many email subscribers do I need to make money?
A: You can start generating revenue with as few as 100 engaged subscribers. Focus on building genuine relationships and providing consistent value rather than obsessing over subscriber counts. Quality engagement beats large numbers every time.
Q: What is the best time to send marketing emails?
A: Tuesday through Thursday between 10 AM and 2 PM in your audience’s time zone typically see the highest open rates. However, the best time for YOUR audience might be different. Test different sending times and track your specific results.
Q: How often should I send emails to my list?
A: Start with one email per week and maintain that consistency. Weekly emails keep you top-of-mind without overwhelming subscribers. You can always increase frequency later as you build confidence and have more content to share.
Q: Do I need expensive software to start email marketing?
A: No, many email marketing platforms offer free plans for smaller lists. Platforms like Flodesk provide professional features at beginner-friendly prices. Focus on starting rather than finding the “perfect” tool.
Q: How do I grow my email list fast?
A: Create one valuable opt-in that solves a specific problem for your ideal customer. Promote this lead magnet consistently across all your platforms. The key is promoting your existing opt-in regularly rather than constantly creating new ones.
Q: Why is my email going to spam?
A: Common spam triggers include: using a free email address to send from, writing subject lines in ALL CAPS, including too many exclamation points, or not having subscribers confirm they want your emails. Use a reputable email platform to avoid most technical issues.
Q: What should I write in my first email?
A: Your welcome email should thank subscribers for joining, deliver on what you promised, and tell them what to expect next. Share a bit about yourself and why you’re passionate about helping them. Keep it warm and conversational.
Q: How do I get people to open my emails?
A: Write subject lines that spark curiosity or promise specific value. Personalize when possible using their first name. Send consistently so subscribers recognize your name in their inbox. Most importantly, always deliver on what your subject line promises.
Q: Is email marketing still effective in 2025?
A: Email marketing remains one of the highest ROI marketing channels, generating $36-42 for every dollar spent. While social media reach continues to decline, email gives you direct access to people who chose to hear from you.
Q: What is a good email open rate?
A: Average open rates vary by industry but typically range from 20-25%. However, focus more on engagement and conversions than just open rates. A smaller, highly engaged list often outperforms a large, disengaged one.
Why An Email List Matters More Than Ever in 2025
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start your email list, this is it. You don’t need to live online 24/7 to build a business that works.
You don’t need thousands of subscribers to see results. You don’t need to be a tech wizard or a master copywriter. You just need to start.
Because here’s what I know after helping thousands of entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses: Your audience is already out there. They’re tired of the noise, overwhelmed by the options, and looking for someone who gets it.
That someone could be you. But first, you need a way to reach them when they’re ready to listen.
Ready to Build Your List Without the Overwhelm?
Your business deserves systems that serve while you rest. Let me show you how in my free masterclass: From Zero Subscribers to an Email List That Actually Converts.
Because burnout isn’t a badge of honor. And your dreams deserve better than hope and hustle.
