Shelley Niehaus, an email marketing expert with 20 years in the service industry, shares her insights on building your first email list and reaching those 500 subscribers. She highlights the surprising value of unsubscribes and what to do in the crucial moments after a sign-up. Shelley breaks down how to craft effective email sequences without stress and emphasizes authenticity in your communications. Plus, she addresses common concerns like launching without a product and re-engaging a stagnant list, providing a clear roadmap to email marketing success.
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insights INSIGHT
Email Is The Sales Link
Email marketing bridges the gap between content and actual sales by turning social media followers into engaged customers.
Owning your email list lets you control communication and build intimate customer relationships off "rented land" like social media.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Start Fast: Pick Platform & Lead Magnet
Start building your email list by picking a platform quickly, spending only 60 minutes to decide and not overthinking it.
Then create a lead magnet that solves a quick, specific problem to attract your first subscribers.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Align Lead Magnet With Goals
Align your lead magnet with your business goals; it should be an "appetizer" that leads into your main offer.
Avoid giveaways unrelated to your product, as they attract unqualified leads only seeking freebies.
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Is email one of those things that continue to slip through your
fingers???? How do we build our list!?
We’ll today you are in luck!
We were on the same boat! unsure how to take that crucial step from
social media to email marketing.
Today I sit down with email marketing expert Shelly Niehaus to uncover
the secrets of growing your first email list and reaching those coveted
500 subscribers.
#GoldenBoulders you don’t want to miss (they blew my mind):
-The surprising value of unsubscribes (and why you should embrace them)
-What to do in the critical 15-30 minutes after someone joins your list
-How to craft an effective email sequence without overwhelming yourself
-The one thing that will set you apart in your first emails and hook
your reader.
We also tackle common concerns like "What if I don't have a product
ready?" and "How do I re-engage a dormant list?" Shelly crushes it by
providing a roadmap for email marketing success.
Enjoy!
Timestamped Overview:
[00:00] Why Shelly’s email magic is so needed
[02:30] The missing link between your content and your sales: email
[05:00] The wake-up call: “Why isn’t anyone buying?” → answer = your list
[07:00] Step 1: Pick a platform (and don’t overthink it!)
[09:30] Step 2: Solve one quick problem → lead magnet = your “appetizer”
[13:00] What makes a good lead magnet vs. what gets ignored
[16:00] Should you use a freebie… or send them straight to your newsletter?
[18:30] How to make lead magnet delivery feel personal and powerful
[22:00] Why “starting messy” beats being perfect — always
[25:00] That awkward moment when you ghosted your list — and how to fix it
[28:30] Rethinking unsubscribes: why they’re actually a win
[32:00] Email like a human: sending DMs, Looms, or voice notes to build trust
[37:00] Build WITH your people: what to ask your audience before your next offer
Content Is Profit 
