The Most Underrated Marketing Tool: Email Lists

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👀 Welcome! I'm Netta 👋🏾, your new favorite marketing coach.

Weekly, I share no-fluff marketing strategies that help small business owners, startups and nonprofits (and their leaders) create revenue-generating brands everyone should know about.

In today’s issue we’re discussing why every business owner should be using email marketing. And, I highlight a few of my favorite email marketing platforms you can use today to begin growing your email list.

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The Most Underrated Marketing Tool

I learned the power of building an email list early in my entrepreneurial journey. I'd spent 3 years growing my own list before I finally got it to a number I could brag about -- 10,000. 

My first company was a B2B service-based diversity consultancy where my team and I helped companies recruit diverse talent. Once my email list hit that sweet spot, I could promote job opportunities at our partner companies, connecting our audience with employers who genuinely valued diversity.

Building a community first and then monetizing it with sponsored opportunities led me to generate multiple six-figures in revenue yearly.

Seeing my own success, whenever small business owners ask me what they should do first o market their business, I always say, “Begin building your email list on day 1.”

In fact, over 4 Billion people around the world use email marketing and it’s still the highest-converting marketing tool. Hubspot states that the return-on-investment (ROI), or essentially the money you’re able to make through email marketing, is $36 for every $1 you spend.

I want to be clear. An email list isn't just a bunch of addresses; it's a group of people genuinely interested in what you offer.

It's a direct line to your audience that isn't controlled by social media algorithms that leave you wondering if anyone sees or cares about your content. Because with email marketing, you get the direct connection with your audience and you are able to build relationships that drive sales on your terms.

Ready to get started? In my blog, I’ve shared the top 3 strategies to begin building your email list.

Tools
Best Email Marketing Platforms for Entrepreneurs

While the best platform for you depends on your specific business needs, goals, and comfort level with different tech tools, I’ve highlighted a few of my favorite email marketing platforms below. Having spent over 8 years running a business, I’ve personally used each of these at some point, and they all have their unique strengths.

Here’s a quick overview of how they stack up against each other: