Social media platforms come and go, algorithm changes happen overnight, and search rankings shift. An email list is the one audience channel that belongs to you regardless of what happens on any external platform. Building one from your website is one of the highest-return activities for any site owner, and it is straightforward to get started.
Here is how to build an email list from your website from the very beginning.
Choose an email marketing platform
You need a platform to collect email addresses, send emails, and manage your subscriber list. Omnisend is a solid option with a generous free tier and straightforward setup that works well for WordPress sites. It includes customizable signup forms, automation workflows, and broadcast emails. Other popular choices include Mailchimp and ConvertKit depending on your needs.
Sign up, create your account, and connect it to your website before setting up any signup forms. Most platforms have a WordPress plugin or simple embed code that makes integration easy.
Starting from $16/month
Get 30% off for the first 3 months with coupon code: MFW
Key Features
Multichannel Marketing Automation: Engage customers through email, SMS, and push notifications within a single platform
Pre-built Automation Workflows: Utilize ready-made workflows like welcome series and cart abandonment to streamline customer engagement.
Advanced Segmentation: Target specific customer groups based on behavior, preferences, and purchase history for personalized campaigns.
Why We Recommend It
Omnisend is tailored for e-commerce businesses seeking to automate and personalize their marketing efforts across multiple channels. Its user-friendly interface and robust features help enhance customer engagement and drive sales.
Pros & Cons
- E-commerce Integration: Seamlessly connects with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce
- Comprehensive Free Plan: Offers a robust free plan with access to most features, suitable for small businesses
- 24/7 Customer Support: Provides round-the-clock assistance, even on the free plan
- Learning Curve: Some users may experience a learning curve when setting up advanced features
- Template Limitations: Limited customization options in sign-up forms and templates
- Occasional Bugs: Some users have reported occasional bugs and challenges with customer support responsiveness
Create a lead magnet
A lead magnet is the free resource you offer visitors in exchange for their email address. It is the single most important factor in how many people sign up. A generic “subscribe to my newsletter” prompt converts poorly. A specific, useful freebie converts much better.
Good lead magnets for website and blog audiences include a checklist related to your most popular topic, a short template or resource list, a beginner's guide to something specific, or a free email course that delivers value over several days. Create it in Canva if it is a designed document, or write it as a simple Google Doc converted to PDF. The most important thing is that it solves a specific problem your visitor has right now.
Add signup forms to your site
Once your lead magnet is ready, set up your signup form. The most important placement is inside your blog posts, particularly at the top and bottom of your most-read content. Visitors who reach the bottom of a post have already found the content valuable, which makes them much more likely to subscribe.
Also add a form to your website's sidebar, footer, and a dedicated landing page you can link to from your social profiles and other promotion channels. Most email platforms provide ready-made form embed codes that drop into WordPress without any technical setup.
Consider an exit-intent pop-up
An exit-intent pop-up appears when a visitor's cursor moves toward closing the browser tab or navigating away. Used with a relevant, specific offer, it consistently captures a portion of visitors who would otherwise leave without subscribing. Most email marketing platforms and dedicated pop-up tools like Sumo offer this feature. Keep the pop-up focused on one clear offer and make the close button easy to find.
Promote your lead magnet consistently
Add a mention of your free resource to your social profiles, link to your signup landing page when you share content publicly, and reference it in any guest posts or appearances you do on other platforms. Every new piece of content you publish is another opportunity to point people toward your list.
Email your list regularly
An email list that never hears from you loses engagement quickly. Set a realistic schedule you can maintain, whether that is once a week or once every two weeks, and stick to it. Each email should deliver something genuinely useful: a new post, a practical tip, a resource, or something relevant to your audience. Consistency builds trust. Trust is what makes an email list a real asset rather than just a contact database.
