Let’s be honest, building an email list doesn’t have to be this big complex beast. In fact, for most of us, it can start with a few simple steps using the tools you’ve already got. 

Some of you might already have a CRM system that can send emails. If that’s you, great. You’re halfway there. Maybe you’ve even got some sort of list already. But if not, here’s how you get going. 

Start with the basics. Literally exporting your contacts from Outlook or Gmail. It’s not glamorous, but it works. Just make sure you review those contacts before importing them anywhere. You don’t want to be pinging emails to people who didn’t sign up for it, not just because it’s annoying, but because it can get you in trouble with the Spam Act. Stick to people who actually know you and would be fine hearing from you. 

If you’ve got a client CRM like XPM or Karbon, you might be able to export email addresses straight out of there and into a system that can send out emails. Think about newsletters or webinar invites. Super simple ways to start nurturing your audience.  

Now, a lot of people don’t know this, but apparently there’s a way to download your LinkedIn contacts, names and email addresses. I haven’t done this myself, but if you give it a crack, just remember the same rule applies. Only bring in people who actually know you and wouldn’t find your email out of place. 

Another easy win is to post your subscribe link on social media. Let your network know what you’ve got planned. Something like, “Hey, I’m kicking off a series of webinars soon. Here’s what I’ll be covering. If you’re keen, drop your email and I’ll keep you in the loop.” You’d be surprised how many warm leads you already have in your network just waiting for a nudge. 

There are of course more advanced options out there like pop-ups on your website or running webinars through partnerships where someone else invites their audience, but you don’t need to jump straight to that. 

Start simple. Start where you are. 

And when it comes to tools, don’t stress about needing something expensive. HubSpot, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign — they all let you send newsletters and webinar invites. HubSpot for instance has some pricey plans, but if you’re just sending emails, there’s a light version that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. We use HubSpot and love it, especially as we grow, but I wouldn’t recommend diving in deep from day one. Ease into it. 

So that’s it. Building an email list doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to get done.