In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, we dive into one of the most critical strategies for growing a successful blog: building your email list. Starting with the four essential words every digital marketer knows — Grow Your Email List — we explore why this is so important and how to get started, even if you're new to email marketing.

1. Why Build an Email List?

   • It helps you connect directly with your audience and ensures your posts reach them beyond social media algorithms.

2. Getting Started with Email Marketing:

   • Use a service like Mailchimp (free accounts are a great place to start).
   • Keep your sign-up forms simple — just ask for an email address and a name.

3. Techniques for Growing Your List:

   • Embed a sign-up form on your website’s homepage.
   • Use a pop-up form to boost visibility (it works, even if you personally dislike pop-ups).

4. Lead Magnets:

   • Offer a free resource (like an eBook, video, or PDF) to encourage sign-ups.
   • Tailor this resource to your audience’s interests to maximize engagement.

5. Ethical Practices:

   • Always get permission before adding someone to your list.
   • Avoid purchasing email lists or adding people without consent — this aligns with integrity, especially as Christian bloggers.

The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of starting an email list as soon as possible, even if growth is slow. Building a list ensures a solid foundation for future engagement and success.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where we’ll discuss how to engage with your audience once your email list is up and running!

You can find my embedded form on this page: https://www.stephenjbedard.com/start-here/