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Why Email Marketing Still Works in 2025
Email might feel “old-school” compared to TikTok, Instagram, or whatever new app is trending, but it’s still one of the highest ROI marketing channels available. In fact, studies show that for every $1 spent on email, businesses can earn an average of $36 in return. That’s hard to ignore in 2025.
Here’s why email continues to beat other platforms:
- Direct access to your audience: You don’t have to fight algorithms, your message lands right in their inbox.
- Ownership: Unlike social media, you own your list. Nobody can shut down your account overnight and take your subscribers.
- Personalization: Emails can be tailored by name, interest, or behavior. This makes them feel more personal and trustworthy.
- Higher engagement: People check their inbox daily — often multiple times — meaning your message gets more visibility than a social post lost in the feed.
If you’ve been relying only on social media, you’re missing out on a channel that can bring consistent results. Think of email as the “engine room” that powers your content marketing strategy and ties together all your efforts across platforms.
Many small business owners hesitate because they think email is complicated or expensive. But with tools like Mailchimp, you can start free, build your list gradually, and grow without stress. The key is to start simple and scale later.
Pro tip: Pairing your email strategy with a social media content calendar ensures your campaigns stay consistent across channels.
What Is Mailchimp (And Why Beginners Love It)?
Mailchimp is one of the most beginner-friendly email marketing platforms in the world. Think of it as your digital assistant that helps you collect email subscribers, design campaigns, and send messages automatically without needing to know a single line of code.
Here’s why it’s so popular with small businesses and first-time marketers:
- Free plan for beginners: Start with up to 500 contacts and send 1,000 emails a month at no cost.
- Drag-and-drop editor: Build beautiful, mobile-friendly emails in minutes, no design skills required.
- Automation included: Even on the free plan, you can send welcome emails, follow-ups, and reminders automatically.
- Built-in analytics: See who opened, clicked, and engaged with your campaigns (just like checking Google Analytics for websites).
For beginners, Mailchimp takes away the overwhelm. Instead of juggling multiple apps, you get one simple platform to manage your list, send campaigns, and track results.
Even better, Mailchimp integrates easily with social platforms and websites.
For example, you can add a signup form to your blog, embed it on landing pages, or even connect it with Facebook ads. If you’ve been working on video marketing or social media, Mailchimp helps you capture leads directly from those efforts.
Quick tip: Don’t overcomplicate things in the beginning. Your first win with Mailchimp is simply collecting emails and sending one clear, valuable message a week.
Step 1 — Sign Up for a Free Mailchimp Account
To start email marketing, you’ll need a free Mailchimp account. The process is simple and takes less than 10 minutes. Best of all, the free plan is more than enough to get started, allowing up to 500 subscribers and 1,000 monthly emails.
How to Create Your Account:
- Visit Mailchimp Sign Up.
- Enter your email, username, and password.
- Check your inbox and confirm your email address.
- Provide basic details about your business (or yourself if you’re just starting out).
- Add a physical mailing address (this is legally required for all email marketing platforms). A P.O. Box is fine.
Pro Tips:
- Use a professional email address like
[email protected]. It builds trust and helps your emails avoid the spam folder.
- If you don’t have a domain email yet, start with Gmail but upgrade to a branded email later for credibility.
- Keep your Mailchimp login safe. You’ll be using it frequently as you build campaigns and grow your list.
Once your account is ready, you’ll land on the dashboard. From here, you can start setting up your audience (email list).
📌 Related: If you haven’t already, check out How to Generate Leads for Your Business, because growing your email list starts with lead generation.
Step 2: Set Up Your Audience (Email List)
Your audience is the heart of your email marketing. In Mailchimp, the audience is simply your subscriber list, the people who have given you permission to send them emails. Every Mailchimp account starts with one default audience.
How to Review or Set Up Your Audience:
- Log in to Mailchimp and go to Audience in the dashboard.
- Click Audience Settings → Audience Name and Defaults.
- Fill in:
- Sender Name → Use your personal or brand name (what subscribers see in their inbox).
- Sender Email → Use a professional email if possible (e.g.,
[email protected]). - Reminder Message → Something like: “You’re receiving this email because you signed up on our website for free tips.”
- Save your settings.
Why This Is Important:
- It builds trust and transparency, subscribers know why they’re hearing from you.
- It keeps you legally compliant with email marketing laws like GDPR and CAN-SPAM.
- It improves deliverability, fewer emails ending up in spam folders.
Pro Tips:
- Don’t mix personal contacts with business contacts. Keep this list clean and professional.
- As you grow, segment your audience (e.g., customers, leads, VIP clients). This improves personalization and sales.
- Start small. Even 50 engaged subscribers are better than 5,000 who don’t care.
Once your audience is ready, the next step is to build a signup form so people can join your list.
📌 Related: Learn How to Fix Client Tracking in 15 Minutes, it will help you stay organized as your email list grows.
Step 3: Build a Signup Form That Gets Subscribers
Now that your audience is set up, it’s time to give people a way to join your list. Mailchimp makes this simple with several signup form options.
How to Create a Signup Form in Mailchimp:
- Go to Audience → Signup Forms.
- Choose one of the following:
- Embedded Form → Best if you already have a website.
- Pop-Up Form → Grabs attention, but use carefully (don’t annoy visitors).
- Landing Page → Perfect if you don’t have a website yet.
- Customize the form:
- Keep it short: only ask for Name + Email.
- Update the button text to something clear and benefit-driven like “Get Free Tips” or “Send Me the Guide”.
- Match your brand colors and style.
- Copy the embed code or link and place it where your audience will see it (homepage, blog sidebar, or social media bio).
Boost Signups With a Freebie (Lead Magnet)
People rarely join a list just to “get updates.” Offer a small freebie that gives quick value. Examples:
- A checklist (e.g., “10 Mistakes to Avoid in Email Marketing”)
- A mini-guide or cheatsheet
- A discount code for products/services
- Access to an exclusive video tutorial
Psychology Tip:
Always make the signup feel like an exchange of value. Instead of asking, “Join my newsletter,” frame it as: “Get [benefit] for free when you subscribe.”
Pro Tips:
- Place your signup form in multiple places: website footer, blog sidebar, after posts, and in social bios.
- Test different headlines (e.g., “Want weekly tips?” vs. “Grow your business faster, free tips here”).
- Less is more → don’t ask for phone numbers or too much info at first.
📌 Related: See how to generate leads organically signup forms are just one piece of the strategy.
➡ Up next: Step 4: Create and Send Your First Campaign
Step 4: Create and Send Your First Campaign
Now for the fun part: sending your first real email with Mailchimp. This is where your subscribers finally hear from you, so keep it simple, valuable, and human.
How to Create a Campaign in Mailchimp:
- In your dashboard, go to Campaigns → Create Campaign → Email.
- Select Regular for a one-time email.
- Give your campaign a name (this is for your reference only — subscribers won’t see it).
- Set the details:
- To: Choose your audience list.
- From: Confirm your sender name and email (a professional email like [email protected] builds trust).
- Subject Line: Keep it clear and curiosity-driven. Example: “3 Quick Tips to Improve Your Marketing Today”.
- Preview Text: Add a short teaser that shows under the subject in inboxes.
Design Your Email:
- Use Mailchimp’s pre-made templates or drag-and-drop editor.
- Stick to a clear headline, short paragraph, one image, and a single call-to-action (CTA).
- Keep it mobile-friendly: short sentences, large buttons, and plenty of white space.
- Make your CTA button stand out. e.g., “Download Your Free Guide” or “Watch the Video”.
What to Write in Your First Email:
You don’t need to overthink the content. A short, helpful message works best:
- Introduce yourself (or your business).
- Deliver value (a tip, a story, or the promised freebie).
- End with a simple action step (reply, click, or download).
Send or Schedule:
Once your email is ready:
- Click Send Now to deliver immediately.
- Or use Schedule to send later (e.g., when your audience is most active).
Tips for Beginners:
- Test your email on mobile before sending, more than 60% of emails are opened on phones.
- Don’t stuff too many links, one clear CTA works best.
- Be consistent. Sending once a week is better than blasting randomly.
- Use conversational language. Write like you’re talking to one person, not a crowd.
Related: Learn why strategy beats random content when growing your business online.
➡ Up next: Step 5: Automate a Welcome Email (Even on Free Plan)
Step 5: Automate a Welcome Email (Even on Free Plan)
When someone subscribes to your list, they expect an instant confirmation or a friendly welcome. This is where automation saves you time. Instead of manually replying, Mailchimp can send a pre-written welcome email automatically, even on the free plan.
Why a Welcome Email Is Important:
- ✔ Sets the tone for your relationship with subscribers.
- ✔ Confirms their signup worked (so they don’t forget they joined).
- ✔ Builds trust right away by thanking them and delivering value instantly.
- ✔ Increases engagement, welcome emails get 4x more opens than regular campaigns.
How to Set Up a Welcome Email in Mailchimp:
- Go to Automations → Customer Journeys in your Mailchimp dashboard.
- Click Create Journey.
- Choose the trigger: “Contact signs up for audience.”
- Add an action → Send Email.
- Design your welcome message:
- Start with a warm greeting (“Welcome aboard! 🎉”).
- Introduce your brand and how you’ll help them.
- Deliver any promised freebie (checklist, guide, discount).
- Set expectations, how often you’ll email and what value they’ll get.
What to Include in Your First Automated Email:
Your welcome email doesn’t need to be long, just friendly, clear, and useful.
Try including:
- A thank-you note (shows appreciation).
- A quick intro: who you are and what you do.
- A link to the freebie or resource they signed up for.
- A call-to-action (e.g., follow you on Instagram, reply with their biggest challenge).
Professional Tips for a Better Welcome Sequence:
- Segment new subscribers: if they signed up for a “video guide,” send them video-related content first.
- Personalize with names, Mailchimp lets you add merge tags like “Hi *|FNAME|*”.
- Don’t oversell right away, focus on value before pitching products.
Related Resources for Growing Engagement:
- Learn how to generate leads organically and feed them into your email list.
- See how WhatsApp Business features can complement your email marketing.
- Understand why content strategy beats random posting.
➡ Up next: Tips to Grow Your Email List Faster
Tips to Grow Your Email List Faster
Building an email list isn’t about luck, it’s about strategy. The more intentional you are about placing signup opportunities in front of people, the faster your audience will grow. Here’s how to do it without feeling spammy:
1. Add Sign-Up Links Everywhere
- Put the form link in your Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn bios.
- Add it to your WhatsApp Business greeting or away messages (see this WhatsApp Business guide).
- Include it in your email signature so every message promotes your list.
2. Use Lead Magnets (Freebies That Convert)
People rarely give out their email for nothing. Offer them a small, high-value resource in return, like:
- A free checklist or cheat sheet.
- A short video tutorial (recorded with Loom).
- A discount code or limited-time offer.
Example: “Join 500+ small business owners getting weekly marketing tips + my free Canva content calendar template.” (Related: Free Social Media Content Calendar Templates).
3. Embed Forms Inside Your Content
If you run a blog, don’t just rely on a sidebar form. Place sign-up boxes:
- At the end of blog posts (when readers already trust you).
- Inside high-performing posts (e.g., guides, tutorials).
- As an exit popup (before they leave the page).
This works great if your site teaches digital product creation or lead generation strategies.
4. Leverage Social Proof
Numbers build trust. If you already have subscribers, highlight them:
- “Join 1,200+ entrepreneurs growing smarter with weekly tips.”
- “Don’t miss out, 300 others downloaded this guide last week.”
5. Collaborate With Other Creators
- Swap freebies or guest posts with businesses in your niche.
- Run joint webinars and both share the signup list (with permission).
- Promote each other’s resources to widen your reach.
Professional Growth Tip:
Consistency beats one-time efforts. Treat your list like a garden: water it regularly with valuable content. Over time, a small trickle of subscribers daily turns into thousands of loyal readers.
Related Resources to Grow Faster:
➡ Up next: Common Mistakes to Avoid in Email Marketing
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Email Marketing
Email marketing works, but only if you avoid the traps that frustrate subscribers and kill your results. Here are the biggest beginner mistakes (and how to fix them):
1. Perfection Paralysis
Waiting until your design, copy, or brand feels “perfect” is the fastest way to delay results. Your first email doesn’t need to look like Apple’s. It just needs to be clear, helpful, and consistent.
Instead of waiting, launch something simple. You can always refine later. (Related: Run a lean, profitable online business with free tools).
2. Bad Subject Lines
If your subject line is spammy or unclear, people won’t open your email.
Examples to avoid:
- “READ THIS NOW!!!”
- “Make $$$ fast with this hack”
- Overly vague: “Update”
Instead, write subject lines that are clear + curiosity-driven. Example: “3 mistakes killing your website traffic (and how to fix them)”. (Related: Why your website isn’t showing on Google).
3. Sending Too Often (Or Not Enough)
Flooding inboxes daily = unsubscribes. Ghosting your list for months = they forget who you are. Balance is key. For beginners, once a week is perfect.
4. Ignoring Mobile Optimization
Over 60% of emails are opened on phones. If your text is tiny or buttons are impossible to click, you lose readers. Always send a test email to your phone before hitting “Send.”
5. Using “No-Reply” Emails
Nothing feels colder than receiving an email from [email protected]. Your audience should feel like they can respond. Use an address like [email protected] or [email protected].
6. Pricing & Monetization Mistakes
Some beginners try to sell right away, while others never sell at all. The key is balance: deliver consistent value first, then make an offer that feels natural. (Related: Best pricing models for online business growth).
7. Failing to Build an Email List Properly
Buying email lists = low engagement + spam complaints. Instead, focus on organic growth through freebies, signup forms, and lead magnets. (Related: How to generate leads for your business (organic methods)).
Professional Tip:
Think of your email list as a relationship, not a broadcast. Every email should either educate, inspire, or invite action, not just sell.
➡ Up next: Recap Checklist for Beginners
Recap Checklist for Beginners
If you’re just starting with email marketing, here’s a quick checklist you can follow today to launch your first campaign successfully:
- Create a free Mailchimp account (up to 500 contacts on the free plan)
- Set up your audience with proper sender details and legal footer info
- Design a simple signup form (embedded, pop-up, or landing page)
- Offer a freebie (guide, checklist, or discount) to encourage signups
- Send your first campaign with a clear subject line and mobile-friendly design
- Automate a welcome email so every new subscriber feels acknowledged instantly
- Promote your signup form on social media, your website, or blog posts
- Track results: open rates, clicks, and unsubscribes and improve with each campaign
With these steps, you’ll not only grow your email list but also build trust and consistency with your audience the foundation of long-term business growth.
👉 Next, you may want to read: How to Build a Digital Product and Sell It with No Code or The Best Guide to Creating a Successful Content Marketing Strategy.
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