Email

Email Marketing 101

9 min read

Why Email Marketing Matters

Email is one of the highest-ROI marketing channels. For every $1 spent on email marketing, the average return is $42. Unlike social media where algorithms control who sees your content, with email you own the relationship with your subscribers.

Building Your Email List

Create a Lead Magnet

A lead magnet is a free resource people get in exchange for their email address. For Worthy & Co., effective lead magnets include:

- Free proposal template + writing guide

- Contract review checklist

- "10 Email Templates for Following Up on Invoices"

- "Freelancer's Legal Document Starter Kit"

The key is making it immediately valuable and relevant to your product.

Where to Collect Emails

- Blog post popups (after someone scrolls 50%)

- Exit-intent popups (when they're about to leave)

- Dedicated landing page for your lead magnet

- Footer signup form on every page

- End of each blog post

Email Drip Campaigns

A drip campaign is a series of automated emails sent to new subscribers over time. Here's an effective sequence for Worthy & Co.:

Day 1: Welcome + Deliver Lead Magnet

- Thank them for subscribing

- Deliver the promised resource

- Set expectations for future emails

Day 3: Educational Content

- Share a helpful blog post

- No product mention yet

Day 5: Social Proof

- Share a case study or testimonial

- Show how others have benefited

Day 7: Soft Product Introduction

- "Here's how we can help you even more"

- Explain your product's value

- Offer a discount code for new subscribers

Day 10: Last Chance

- Final reminder about discount

- Create urgency

Newsletter Best Practices

Keep It Simple

Your newsletter doesn't need fancy design. A simple text-based email often performs better. Use this format:

1. Personal greeting: "Hey [First Name],"

2. One tip: Share one actionable piece of advice

3. One resource: Link to a blog post or tool

4. One CTA: Clear next step (read article, try product, etc.)

5. Sign-off: Keep it friendly and personal

Consistency Over Perfection

It's better to send a simple email every week than to stress about creating the "perfect" newsletter once a month. Pick a schedule (weekly or bi-weekly) and stick to it.

Segment Your List

Not all subscribers are the same. Segment based on:

- Free users vs. paying customers

- Interests (proposals vs. contracts vs. invoices)

- Engagement level (opens emails vs. doesn't)

Send targeted content to each segment for better results.

Email Tools to Use

Free Options:

- Mailchimp (free up to 500 subscribers)

- ConvertKit (free up to 1,000 subscribers)

Paid Options (if you grow):

- ConvertKit ($29/month) - Best for creators

- EmailOctopus ($20/month) - Budget-friendly

- ActiveCampaign ($29/month) - Advanced automation

Measuring Success

Track these metrics:

- Open rate: Percentage who open your emails (aim for 20-30%)

- Click-through rate: Percentage who click links (aim for 2-5%)

- Unsubscribe rate: Should be under 1%

- Conversion rate: Percentage who take desired action

Improve your open rates with better subject lines. Improve click-through rates with clearer CTAs and more valuable content.

Getting Started

1. Choose an email service (start with Mailchimp or ConvertKit free tier)

2. Create your lead magnet

3. Add signup forms to your website

4. Write your welcome email sequence

5. Plan your first newsletter

6. Send consistently

Email marketing is a long-term investment. Your list grows slowly at first, but compounds over time into one of your most valuable assets.

Ready to Put This Into Practice?

Start generating professional documents for your freelance business today.