Emails

Start a Business
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Topic summary

A store owner (toughasiron.store) asks how to begin email marketing without an existing subscriber list.

Initial responses:

  • One user misunderstands the question, suggesting email template resources (reallygoodemails.com) rather than list-building strategies.

Practical list-building strategies provided:

  • Lead magnets: Offer discounts, guides, or exclusive content in exchange for email signups
  • Signup forms: Add pop-ups and embedded forms on high-traffic pages (homepage, footer, checkout)
  • Social media promotion: Drive followers to signup forms via Instagram/Facebook
  • Contests and giveaways: Require email addresses for entry using tools like Gleam.io or Rafflecopter
  • Cross-promotions: Partner with complementary businesses
  • Paid advertising: Use Facebook ads to drive traffic to signup forms

Recommended tools:

  • Shopify Email, Mailchimp, and Klaviyo for form creation and campaign management

Key warnings:

  • Avoid purchasing email lists—they contain outdated contacts and risk spam flags
  • Focus on organic, permission-based growth

The discussion remains open with offers for additional assistance. One response includes HTML code demonstrating a sample signup form design.

Summarized with AI on November 2. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

How do you start email marketing without any emails to start out with? Can you get emails to start email marketing? I want to start advertising for my store toughasiron.store and one of the suggestions was email marketing.

2

Hello there Jackson @Jackson21 Luckily for you, there are actually websites where you can get a lot of free useful sales or e-commerce email templates that you can start off with for your email marketing. One of them is reallygoodemails.com

Give it a look and search for the kind of email templates you are looking for and you can use them as the foundation for kicking off your marketing campaign.

3

Yes

4

Sure, I would very much like that.

5

Ok, I sent you a message through toughasironco@gmail.com.

6

Hi @Jackson21

To start email marketing without an email list, you follow these steps:

  1. Create Lead Magnets: Offer valuable content or incentives (like discounts or guides) to encourage visitors to subscribe.

  2. Use Signup Forms: Incorporate email signup forms on your website, especially on high-traffic pages.

  3. Leverage Social Media: Promote your email signup on platforms like Instagram or Facebook.

  4. Run Contests or Giveaways: Encourage entries by requiring an email address.

  5. Network: Partner with other businesses for cross-promotions and share their email lists, if they agree.

  6. Utilize Paid Ads: Consider running ads (like Facebook ads) to drive traffic to your signup forms.

Once you have collected emails, you can begin your email marketing campaigns!

I hope it helps.

Liz

7

Hi @Jackson21

Starting email marketing when you don’t have an email list yet might feel tricky, but don’t worry—it’s totally doable! Let me walk you through the process with some straightforward steps.

1. Add Email Signup Forms to Your Website- Use a pop-up or embedded form on your store (like on the homepage, footer, or checkout page). Make it super easy for visitors to sign up by offering a clear incentive.

Example: “Sign up and get 10% off your first order!”

  • Shopify has built-in apps like Shopify Email or third-party ones like Mailchimp and Klaviyo that make it easy to add forms.

2. Offer Value in Exchange for Emails- People won’t just hand over their email addresses without a reason. You can offer:

  • Discounts or coupon codes
  • Free shipping
  • Exclusive content (like fitness tips, guides, or anything relevant to your store’s niche)
  • A chance to join a VIP club or rewards program

3. Leverage Social Media- Promote your email list through your social platforms. Create posts or ads that talk about the benefits of joining (e.g., sneak peeks, special offers). Include a link to your signup form.

4. Run a Giveaway or Contest- This is an amazing way to build an email list quickly. For example:

“Enter your email for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Tough As Iron!”

  • Just make sure you use tools like Gleam.io or Rafflecopter to make it easy to track entries.

5. Collaborate with Influencers or Other Brands- Partner with influencers or complementary brands in your niche. They can help promote your signup offer to their audience, which brings more visibility and potential subscribers to your list.

6. Focus on Quality Over Quantity- It’s better to have a small, engaged email list than a massive list of uninterested people. Make sure you’re targeting those who are genuinely interested in your products.

7. Avoid Buying Email Lists- I know it’s tempting, but buying email lists can backfire. It’s usually full of outdated or irrelevant contacts, and it might get you flagged for spam. Stick to growing your list organically.

Here’s a little visual of how your email form could look on your website:

Join the Tough As Iron Community!

Sign up for exclusive deals, product launches, and more.

Subscribe

Once you’ve started building your list, make sure your emails are engaging and relevant. You don’t need to overcomplicate things—just focus on connecting with your audience and offering value.

If you need any other assistance, I am willing to help.
Best regards,
Daisy