THE EMAIL GROWTH SHOW EPISODE 150

Today, we’re going to tackle some of the biggest myths around email marketing. These are the kind of myths that might have you second-guessing your strategies or even holding back from going all-in with email marketing. But trust me, by the end of this episode, you’ll see that these myths are just that – myths. And I’m here to clear them up and make sure you know the truth behind it all!

If you want to listen to this episode in full, press play below:

Myth #1: You Need Social Media to Grow Your Email List & Be Successful Online

Now, I get it. Social media is everywhere, and it feels like everyone’s saying you need to be on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok – whatever’s trending – to build your email list, or even more broadly than that, your business. But here’s the thing: while social media can be a helpful tool, it’s not the end-all, be-all.

In fact, it’s not even close.

Let’s talk about some of the benefits of not relying on social media to grow your email list or your business.

• First, there’s the freedom from algorithms. When you build your email list without social media, you’re not at the mercy of constantly changing algorithms that decide whether or not your content gets seen. One day you might reach thousands of people, and the next, just a handful. It’s unpredictable and can be incredibly frustrating & stressful. But with email, you’re in control. When you hit send, you know your message is going straight to your subscribers’ inboxes. There’s no middleman deciding who gets to see your content and when.

• Second, it reduces the pressure & overwhelm. Let’s be honest, social media can be overwhelming. The need to constantly post, engage, and keep up with trends can be exhausting, especially if you’re a busy entrepreneur, or like many of us, mothers in business. By focusing on email list growth strategies that don’t rely on social media, you can reclaim your time and energy. You can spend more time creating meaningful content, building relationships, and actually enjoying your business- and life, rather than feeling chained to your phone or computer.

• Third, it fosters deeper, more meaningful connections. When someone joins your email list, they’re inviting you into their personal space, their inbox. This creates an opportunity for a deeper connection than what’s often possible on social media. Your emails aren’t competing with a feed full of distractions; they’re a direct line to your ideal client, your perfect person, allowing for more personalised and impactful communication and relationship.

• And finally, it’s about sustainability. Social media platforms come and go, but your email list is something you own. It’s a sustainable asset that grows over time, giving you a solid foundation for your business. You’re not building your business on rented land; you’re creating a valuable resource that belongs entirely to you.

So, if you’ve been stressing about needing to be everywhere on social media, take a deep breath and remember: there are plenty of other ways to grow your email list and business. If you haven’t tuned in yet to the last episode on this very podcast, Episode 149, I shared my visibility framework and all the options we have to grow our email lists, without paid ads or social media – and there is a lot!

So… let’s consider this Myth. Busted.

Myth #2: You Must Offer a Free Resource To Get New Subscribers

Moving on to Myth #2: ‘You must offer a free resource – or a freebie – to get subscribers.

This one’s pretty common, and I’ve even fallen into this trap myself. The idea is that you have to give something away for free, a guide, a checklist, a mini-course, to get people to sign up for your email list. I remember thinking that this was the only way when I first started my photography business – I created an amazing wedding photography guide for couples, posted it on my website – and waited a long time, I’m talking years, and never really got much interest. Maybe you can relate?

Then you think, perhaps it’s the ‘wrong’ resource, so you create something else… and soon, you’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time creating resources that you aren’t even sure about anymore – and feeling more confused and overwhelmed than ever. If you were to take one look at my Canva graveyard of unfinished designs & haphazard resources, you’d realise I’m speaking from experience.

Now most of the time – and what most coaches won’t tell you – is the reason that these freebie’s aren’t effective is actually because you just don’t have the traffic on your website to get the signups to your email list. You don’t need to create anymore of them.

So back to the myth, free resources – when you have traffic coming to your website can be super effective, but they aren’t the only way to build your email list. I actually have a training all about no freebie list building inside my membership, The Email Growth Club, because sometimes, when someone joins that doesn’t have a free resource created yet… I don’t want them to spend the next month building something. I want them to start growing their list straight away. We’re all about taking action and seeing fast results in there.

When it comes to growing your email list, what really matters is providing value – and opportunities for your ideal clients to join your list. You can do this through exclusive content, like behind-the-scenes insights or first access to new products. Maybe it’s a weekly email that delivers so much value that people can’t wait to get in on it. Or perhaps it’s the promise of being part of a community or getting insider tips that aren’t available anywhere else.

The key is to make sure that whatever you’re offering aligns with what your audience wants and needs. For example, if I decided to go all in on digital bundles to grow my email list, I would need a digital product, but it would be one that I usually sell, but I am happy to provide to the bundle for free as my contribution. New subscribers could then come into my world through the collaboration. Or let’s say you were wanting to go all in on Pinterest – perhaps you have a blog and have a multitude of pins created for each blog post that you pin on Pinterest and strategically on the blog post, you have an opt in to join your email list to get first access to blog posts just like the one they’re reading before anyone else – or maybe it’s a bonus call with you when they first join. No freebie required.

So… you don’t always need a traditional free resource. Sometimes, just being you, sharing your expertise and connecting on a personal level, with an intentional no freebie list building strategy is enough to get your ideal client to join your email family.

Another myth. Busted.

Myth #3: Email Marketing is Outdated & Ineffective

This one always makes me smile because it’s just so far from the truth. Email marketing is anything but outdated. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal.

Why? Because email is direct. It’s personal. And it’s yours.

Unlike social media, where you’re at the mercy of algorithms and constantly changing rules, your email list is something you own. When someone joins your list, they’re giving you permission to show up in their inbox, and that’s a big deal. They’re not scrolling past your content; they’re opening your emails because they want to hear from you. I honestly imagine my subscribers sometimes sitting in a room, with their hands raised, saying “Kylie, please send me that email. I want to hear from you!” Weird to imagine. Perhaps. But it helped me big time when I used to worry about annoying them or hitting that send button.

Look you know I’m a fan but the numbers back it up. Email marketing consistently delivers higher conversion rates than social media. When people are ready to buy, they turn to their inboxes, not their Instagram feeds – unless it’s midnight and they can’t sleep – we’re all guilty of those purchases aren’t we! Email is where the real connections happen, where trust is built, and where sales are made.

So, if you’ve heard that email marketing is a thing of the past, think again. It’s more relevant now than ever, especially as people crave real, meaningful connections in an increasingly noisy online world – full of highlight reels and fake positivity and income claims. Honestly, if I see another Instagram post sharing that this is the secret to making 10k months and you can do it too, I think I’ll throw my phone at the wall. I’m not even being dramatic. Well, maybe a little but you get my point.

So again – myth busted.

Okay, let’s recap the myths we’ve busted today:

• Myth #1: You need social media to grow your email list. Not true. There are so many other effective strategies like collaborations and SEO-driven content that will do this for you.
  
• Myth #2: You must offer a freebie to get subscribers. Once again, nope! Value-driven content and authentic connections can be just as powerful.
  
• Myth #3: Email marketing is outdated and ineffective. Far from it—email is where the magic happens, with higher engagement and conversion rates than social media.

I want you to take a moment to think about how these myths might have been holding you back. What could you do differently now that you know the truth? Maybe it’s time to rethink your strategy, focus on what truly works for you, and let go of the pressure to follow outdated advice.

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to The Email Growth Show so you don’t miss any future episodes and if you’re looking for more support, consider joining The Email Growth Club. With over 250 incredible women just like you, it’s the most supportive community you’ll find on the internet – all focused on community, collaboration and growing that email list without paid ads or social. We’d love to have you!

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Full Transcript

Kylie Kelly [00:00:00]:
Hello and welcome back to The Email Growth Show. I’m your host, Kylie Kelly. And today we’re going to be tackling some of the biggest myths around email marketing. These are the kind of myths that might have you second guessing or even holding back from going all in with email marketing. But trust me, by the end of this episode, you’ll see that these myths are just that. Myths. And I’m here to clear them up and make sure you know the truth behind it all. So grab your coffee, get cozy and let’s dive in.

Kylie Kelly [00:00:31]:
Are you a female business owner frustrated with battling the algorithm and looking for growth strategies that don’t involve awkwardly pointing or dancing online or throwing cash at paid ads? Welcome to The Email Growth Show. I’m your host Kylie Kelly, visibility and email marketing strategist. I grew my email list from 0 to almost 10,000 subscribers in less than 2 years and the same is possible for you too. Are you ready to build your email list and start making more money in your online business? Let’s head into today’s episode. Myth number 1. You need social media to grow your email list and be successful online. Now I get it. Social media is everywhere and it feels like everyone is saying you need to be on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, whatever’s trending to build your email list or even more broadly than that, your business.

Kylie Kelly [00:01:20]:
But here’s the thing. While social media can be a helpful tool, it’s not the end all be all. In fact, it’s not even close. Let’s talk about some of the benefits of not relying on social media. First, there’s the freedom from algorithms. You’re not at the mercy of constantly changing algorithms that decide whether or not your content gets seen. One day you might reach thousands of people and the next just a handful. It’s crazy to me when I look at my Instagram analytics when I do share a story.

Kylie Kelly [00:01:47]:
I have 4,500 followers and I’m lucky to get 50 views. It’s unpredictable and can be incredibly frustrating and stressful. But with email, you’re in control. When you hit send, you know your message is going straight to your subscribers inbox. There’s no middleman deciding who gets to see your content and when. Secondly, it reduces the pressure and overwhelm. Let’s be honest, social media can be overwhelming. The need to constantly post, engage, and keep up with trends can be exhausting, especially if you’re a busy entrepreneur or, like many of us, mothers in business.

Kylie Kelly [00:02:18]:
By focusing on email as growth strategies that don’t rely on social, you can reclaim your time and energy. You can spend more time creating meaningful content, building relationships, and actually enjoying your business and life rather than feeling chained to your phone or computer. That is a pretty big benefit, right? Another benefit of not relying on social to grow your email list for your business is that it actually fosters deeper, more meaningful connections. When someone joins your email list, they’re inviting you into their personal space, their inbox. This creates an opportunity for a deeper connection that’s often not possible on social media. Your emails aren’t competing with a feed full of distractions. They’re a direct line to your ideal client, your perfect person, allowing you to communicate in a more personalized way. Right? To build a relationship that’s actually impactful.

Kylie Kelly [00:03:06]:
And lastly, it’s about sustainability. Social media platforms come and go but your email list is something that you own. It’s It’s a sustainable asset that grows over time, giving you a solid foundation for your business. You’re not building your business on rented land. You’re creating a valuable resource that belongs entirely to you. So if you’ve been stressing about needing to be everywhere on social, take a deep breath and remember there are plenty of other ways to grow your email list and business. If you haven’t tuned in yet to the last episode on this very podcast, episode 149, I shared my visibility framework and all the options we have to grow our email lists. Without paid ads or social media, there is a lot to choose from.

Kylie Kelly [00:03:45]:
So let’s consider this myth busted. I don’t know if you guys ever watched Mythbusters. Maybe I’m showing my age now. I loved at the end when they busted those myths. So that’s the vibe that we are going to do this with. So let’s move on to myth number 2. You must offer a free resource to get new subscribers. This one’s pretty common and I’ve even fallen into this trap myself.

Kylie Kelly [00:04:05]:
The idea is that you have to give something away for free. A guide, a checklist, a mini course to get people to sign up for your email list. I remember thinking that this was the only way when I first started my photography business. I created an amazing wedding photography guide for couples, posted it on my website and waited a long time. I’m talking years and never really got much interest. Maybe you can relate to that. Then you think perhaps it’s the wrong resource. Right? So you create something else and soon you’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time creating resources that you aren’t even sure about anymore and feeling more confused and overwhelmed than ever.

Kylie Kelly [00:04:39]:
If you were to take one look at my Canva graveyard of unfinished designs and haphazard resources, you’d realize I’m speaking from experience. Now most of the time, and what most coaches won’t tell you, is the reason that these freebies aren’t effective is actually because you just don’t have the traffic on your website to get the sign ups to your list. It makes sense. Right? But if they told you that, they couldn’t sell you the next program that they just started that has the secret that you need to know to grow your business. Spoiler. There is no secret. But let’s save that discussion for a future episode before I get off track. So free resources when you have traffic coming to your website can be super effective.

Kylie Kelly [00:05:15]:
But they aren’t the only way to build your list. I actually have a training all about no freebie list building inside my membership, the Email Growth Club, because sometimes when someone joins it doesn’t have a free resource created yet, I don’t want them to spend the next month building something. I want them to start growing their list straight away. We’re all about taking action and seeing fast results in there. So when it comes to growing your email list, what really matters is providing value and opportunities for your ideal clients to join your world. You can do this through exclusive content like behind the scenes insights or first access to new products. Maybe it’s a weekly email that delivers so much value that they can’t wait to get in on it. Or perhaps it’s the promise of being part of a community or getting insider tips that aren’t available anywhere else? The key is to make sure that whatever you’re offering aligns with what your audience wants and needs.

Kylie Kelly [00:06:01]:
For example, if I decided to go all in on digital bundles to grow my email list, I would need a digital product but it would be one that I usually sell. But I’m happy to provide the bundle for free as my contribution. New subscribers could then come into my world through the collaboration. No freebie required. Or let’s say you’re wanting to go all in on Pinterest. Perhaps you have a blog and a multitude of pins created for each blog post that you pin on Pinterest and strategically on the blog post, you have an opt in to join your email list to get first access to blog posts just like the one they’re reading before anyone else. Or maybe it’s a bonus call with you when they first join. Both of these ways no freebie is required so you don’t always need a traditional free resource.

Kylie Kelly [00:06:41]:
Sometimes just being you sharing your expertise and connecting on a personal level with an intentional no freebie list building strategy is enough to get your ideal client to join your email family. So another myth? Busted. Myth number 3. Email marketing is outdated and effective. Let’s talk about this. This one always makes me smile because it’s just so far from the truth. Email marketing is anything but outdated. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal.

Kylie Kelly [00:07:09]:
Why? Because email is direct, it’s personal, and it’s yours. Unlike social where you’re at the mercy of algorithms and constantly changing rules, your email list is something that you own. When someone joins your list, they’re giving you permission to show up in their inbox and that’s a big deal. They’re not scrolling past your content. They’re opening your emails because they want to hear from you. I honestly imagine my subscribers sometimes sitting in a room with their hands raised saying, Kylie, please send me that email. I want to hear from you. Weird to imagine, perhaps.

Kylie Kelly [00:07:38]:
But it helped me big time when I used to worry about annoying them or hitting that send button. And look. You know I’m a fan of email but the numbers back it up. Email marketing consistently delivers high conversion rates in social media. When people are ready to buy they turn to their inboxes, not their Instagram feeds. Unless it’s midnight and they can’t sleep, we’re all guilty of those purchases, aren’t we? Email is where the real connections happen, where trust is built and where sales are made. So if you’ve heard that email marketing is a thing of the past, think again. It’s more relevant now than ever especially as people crave real meaningful connections in an increasingly noisy online world full of highlight reels and fake positivity and income claims.

Kylie Kelly [00:08:18]:
Honestly, if I see another Instagram post sharing that this is a secret to making 10 k months and you can do it too, I think I’ll throw my phone at the wall. I’m not even being dramatic. Well, maybe a little but you get my point. So again, email is where real connection happens, where trust is built and where sales are made. So again, myth number 3. Email marketing is outdated and ineffective. Busted. So let’s recap the myths that we have cleared up today.

Kylie Kelly [00:08:44]:
Myth number 1. You need social media to grow your email list. Not true. There are so many other effective strategies like collaborations and SEO driven content that will do this for you. Myth number 2. You must offer a freebie to get subscribers. Once again, nope. Value driven content and authentic connections can be just as powerful and there are no freebie list building strategies that you can take advantage of as well.

Kylie Kelly [00:09:07]:
Myth number 3. Email marketing is outdated and ineffective. Far from it. Email is where the magic happens with higher engagement and conversion rates in social media. I want you to take a moment to think about how these myths might be holding you back. What could you do differently now that you know the truth? Maybe it’s time to rethink your strategy, focus on what truly works for you, what feels good for you, what lights you up, what gets you excited and let go of the pressure to follow outdated advice. Now before we wrap on up, I just want to say thank you for tuning in today. I love having these conversations with you and I hope you’re feeling empowered to take your email marketing to the next level.

Kylie Kelly [00:09:42]:
If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to The Email Growth Show so you don’t miss any future episodes. And if you’re looking for more support, consider joining The Email Growth Club. With over 250 incredible women just like you in this membership, it’s the most supportive community you’ll find on the Internet. All focused on community collaboration and growing that email list without paid ads or social. And we would love to have you. Alright. That is it for today. I’m so glad that you were here with me.

Kylie Kelly [00:10:07]:
Until next time, keep growing, keep connecting and remember email marketing is your secret weapon. Take care and I’ll catch you in the next episode. Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of The Email Growth Show. I hope you found valuable insights into the next steps you can take to grow your email list and boost your business without relying on social media or paid ads. If you enjoy this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show and share it with others. Your feedback helps me reach more female entrepreneurs just like you who are ready to say goodbye to social media and leverage email marketing to grow their business and make a bigger impact. Thank you so much for listening and I’ll see you in the next episode.