If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect time” to start your email list, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth — you don’t need thousands of followers, a huge budget, or fancy tech to build a list that actually grows your business. In this episode of Her Faith at Work, I’m sharing 10 proven, beginner-friendly ways to grow your email list so you can connect with the right people and turn subscribers into customers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why email marketing beats social media for real business growth
• 10 simple, actionable ways to start growing your email list today
• How to overcome common list-building fears and roadblocks
• Where to find your first subscribers without paying for ads

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why email lists matter more than ever for small businesses

03:15 – The myth of “waiting until you’re ready”

05:00 – 10 proven ways to grow your email list

17:30 – How to get past tech overwhelm

19:00 – Free checklist to help you take action today

Key Takeaways:

• You own your email list — no algorithm can take it away
• Start small and focus on serving the people you already reach
• Consistency is more important than perfection in list building

Your Next Steps:

Grab the free checklist, 10 Ways to Grow Your Email List Without Tech Stress, at jantouchberry.com/checklist and start growing your list today.

Resources Mentioned:

Flodesk

BDOW - coupon code - JTPROMO

Episode 59: Kingdom Collaborations with Kristin Dronchi

Business Basics Collab

No List? No Problem. Here’s How to Start (and Grow) One That Converts

[Opening Hook – 0:00–0:45]

Hey friend — welcome back to the podcast. Today I want to talk about your email list. (I may or may not have gotten an eye roll just now). I get it. Been there and in some ways am still there. But if you’ve been telling yourself you’ll start an email list “someday,” when you have more followers, more time, or more clarity… I’m here to tell you — today is your day. So let’s dive in!

[Welcome + Context – 0:45–2:00]

Hey Hey. Welcome back to Her Faith at work where we blend kingdom strategy and solid business know-how for Christian entrepreneurs who are building a business that actually works — without losing sight of the One who called them.

I am so glad you chose to click on the podcast today! Seriously – thank you! If this is your first time allowing me into your ear buds – welcome. If you’ve been around for a bit – I would LOVE it if you would take a moment and share the podcast with someone else you think will get some value from it. That honestly is the best way to help the podcast grow. And I sincerely appreciate your help!

Today, we’re talking about your email list. Yup – the one you know you should start or be paying more attention to. And yes, I’m talking that to the woman who feels like tech hates her, who’s convinced nobody will sign up, and who’s still side-eyeing the idea of writing emails at all.

I feel you!

I started mine on a wing and a prayer — and half the people that signed up were my besties. My first freebie was a hot mess, my subject lines were just tragic, and my list was slow-growing. But I’ve learned a thing or twenty over the years and I am going to break down exactly how to start and grow an email list that converts — no massive following required, no tech degree necessary. Plus, I’ve got a free checklist for you so you don’t have to try to scribble all of this down, especially if you’re driving.

[Why Email Matters – 2:00–4:00]

Let’s start with why.

Email engagement rates beat social media every day of the week, and it’s where you can have actual conversations and build relationships.

Faith tie-in: Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise small beginnings.” Your first 10 subscribers matter just as much as your first thousand, because it’s about stewardship — taking care of what God’s entrusted to you so He can multiply it.

And guess what? If you never have an email list that goes to thousands of people, you’d better make sure you are caring for and serving the ones God gives you.

He orders our steps, we are obedient to follow his leading and the outcome belongs to him!

So, here’s your permission slip to start small, start messy, and start today. Just start! I’m going to give you Ten practical ways to grow your list. Are you ready?

1. Choose Your Platform – Keep it simple. Flodesk is my go-to because it’s visually beautiful, affordable, and user-friendly. MailerLite is another good option. It’s a bit less expensive but I do find it harder to navigate. But think of your platform as your home base for conversations with your people.

Example: When I switched from a clunky platform (which shall remain nameless) to Flodesk, my stress level dropped, and I actually looked forward to writing emails.

You don’t need to have the fanciest tools, just the right ones for where you are now.

2. Create a Quick-Win Lead Magnet – Solve one problem your ideal client is Googling right now. Just one! No 42-page eBook necessary. Think checklists, templates, or mini-trainings that you already have recorded.

Example: I am getting ready to create a new lead magnet quiz using my podcast put into playlists.

Just keep in mind that you want to serve people first. Think of your freebie as a seed — you plant value, then God grows the connection.

3. Optimize Your Social Bios – Every bio, every platform, should point to your freebie. Not the homepage of your website or even your facebook group And just pick ONE freebie to point people to in your bio. To many options is to many options. People already have decision fatigue – don’t add to it. Make the invitation clear. If you were hosting a dinner, you wouldn’t hide the door. I know linktree is a thing… but imagine if you had one amazing lead magnet to get people on your list and then could speak directly to the other offers you have through email instead of hoping they click on something in your Linktree. See what I mean?

4. Show Up in Communities – Be present where your ideal clients hang out — Facebook groups, masterminds, online forums. Add value first, share your opt-in only when relevant and if it is within the community guidelines.

Jesus met people where they were. I figure that’s a pretty good model to have. Go where the conversations are already happening. Build relationships and then share.

5. Leverage Podcast Swaps – Guest on podcasts with similar audiences, or invite someone to yours and swap promotions. Co-marketing is a big deal. You will hear me talking about it a lot in the future. Partnerships can be Kingdom connections — God often works through relationships. If you want to learn more about that – I did an amazing episode with Kristin Dronchi a while back. I will link it in the show notes or you can go back and listen to episode 59. But there are some great groups in Facebook to get on other podcasts. I highly recommend.

6. Offer Subscriber-Only Content – Give your list something they can’t get on social. Old trainings you’ve done or content you’ve created can be repurposed into something super valuable for your lead magnet. Go back and look through all your old content – I think you might be surprised at the treasure trove you have without having to churn out something new.

7. Collaborate with Complementary Businesses – Partner with someone whose audience overlaps yours but doesn’t compete.

My friend Melissa Hughes and I do this a lot. She is an amazing coach for speakers and she owns a social media agency. Y’all know I have zero interest in teaching social media – but Melissa loves it! So, I teach her people techy things and she teaches all the social stuff.  The Body of Christ is designed for collaboration, not competition.

8. Network Intentionally – This one is probably the hardest for me as an introvert. But I am trying to get better at it. So, whether at a conference, Bible study, or coffee shop meetup, be ready with a simple, non-salesy way to share your freebie.

When I go to conferences, I share my freebie through a QR code I have on the lock screen of my phone. Super easy! You just need to think ahead and be prepared.

9. Upgrade Your Website Opt-In – Your opt-in shouldn’t be hidden in your footer. Put it front and center, above the fold, with a clear headline and button or even better than that – have a pop-up with a freebie on multiple pages of your site that fit the content of that page. I use a platform called BDOW for this. And while I don’t have this strategy fully optimized yet – it is something I am actively working on! If you want more info about BDOW and a discount – check the show notes or go to JanTouchberry.com/bdow (just like it sounds… BDOW

10. Talk About It. A Lot. – People rarely act the first time they hear something. Keep inviting them. Do a little experiment… promote ONE lead magnet in almost every piece of content for a month — and I bet your list growth curve is a steady climb.

Consistency builds trust. And trust me when I say you need to talk about it till you’re sick of it and then talk about it some more.

Now… I know what some of you are thinking

• “I’m not techy.” → Pick a platform that feels like drag-and-drop, not NASA training.

• “Nobody will sign up.” → Focus on serving your people, not impressing the masses. Get Niched.

• “I don’t know what to send.” → Start with a welcome email and one helpful tip a week. It does not have to be hard.

Start by asking the Holy Spirit to help you brainstorm some freebie ideas. He is a way better brainstorm partner than ChatGPT. Then just start with what’s in your hand. Offer it up in obedience. The growth? Again… That’s His department.

So there’s your 10 ways to grow your list without tech stress. Grab the free checklist I made for you — the link is in the show notes. Imagine how much easier this will feel when you have all ten tips in one place…

And if you’re ready to skip the trial-and-error and build your list and your first funnel the right way, come join me inside the Business Basics Collab. We’ll get it done together. The collab is 4 months long and you can hop in any time. We cover the 4 basic things I believe every business needs to grow and thrive. Learning to use AI well as a tool, email marketing, lead generation and marketing. I am recording this in August and this month just happens to be all about getting your email marketing dialed in. So let’s do it together, shall we? You can find all the info at JanTouchberry.com/collab.

Because here’s the truth: your list can be the most powerful tool and the most valuable asset in your business — but only if you start it. Like… Today.

Have a great week y’all!