You probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you that I went from zero to twenty thousand plus email subscribers in my very first year of business without spending a cent on ads.  

But it’s true, and today I want to share the steps I took to make the impossible a reality so you can apply them in your own business. 

When you’re just starting out in business, testing and flexibility are key. You need to be able to try out different ideas, receive genuine feedback, and apply what you’ve learned—all without setting fire to your budget. This is precisely where an email list becomes your greatest ally.

Now I know those initial subscribers are the hardest to secure, and it can be difficult to figure out the right strategy. So here’s what worked for me:

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Step One: Leveraging my Network

Believe it or not, my initial email subscribers came from my personal contacts. Yes, it might sound slightly cheeky, but it got my list rolling with about 100 initial subscribers. I was upfront about it—I told them exactly what I was doing and gave them an easy way to opt out.

From there, I asked if they would be willing to share my content with five friends, my list quickly swelled to around 200 subscribers. So don’t underestimate the power of your existing network. You definitely know people who would benterested in what you’ve got to say, and will help you grow your reach – all you have to do is ask! 

Step Two: Guest Blogging & Podcasting

After this first burst of subscribers, I found myself stagnating so I had to adjust my tactic. As a journalist, I’d had many brands reach out to me for help expanding their reach, and it worked! So why couldn’t it work for me? I started “guest-blogging”, creating content for other people so I could tap into their audience.

Now blogging isn’t as much of a thing these day, but podcasts are a great modern-day equivalent. They might even be more effective! Being a guest on people’s podcasts who have a similar audience to your own, is a great way to connect with more people who will appreciate your work. 

Step Three: Joint Ventures and Collaboration

My biggest breakthrough came with my first joint venture – when I was approached to participate in a massive online giveaway. We pooled resources to create an enticing prize and everyone promoted it to their respective lists. Harnessing the power of combined audiences, I was able to grow my subscriber list by more than 10,000 in one fell swoop. 

Yes, the partnerships took effort, but the results were bigger than I could have imagined. 

With these three steps, and not a single dollar spent on ads, I was able to amass over 20,000 subscribers in my first year. So if you’re beginning your journey, don’t fall for the belief that you have to pay to be successful. You can build your audience from scratch, all it takes is hard work, dedication and collaboration! 

For those eager to dive deeper into this topic, I’ve compiled a comprehensive guide packed with insights from my 17-year journey in email list building. Head over to our Instagram, @HelloFunnels, and send us a DM with “20K” for your free guide. 

If you require assistance with the creation, automation, or scaling of your online course, we invite you to join Empire.