Your social media audience is unreliable! Wait! Don’t shoot the messenger. Let me explain! Relying on your social media audience as a crochet designer is risky business practice! Algorithms are always changing, making it very challenging for any designer to reach their entire audience! And at any given moment, all social media platforms could cease to exist or have a major glitch…meaning you lose every follower who clicked that “follow” button. I have a surefire approach that can help you connect with your entire audience! It’s called an email list!
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It’s not that your social media audience is unreliable as much as the platforms themselves. The platforms are always changing their policies and algorithms, making it incredibly difficult for people like you and me to keep up with the best practices. We’re always running the race and never getting ahead. Social media can be a great tool for communication and engagement with your audience but not necessarily for sales.
Many businesses use social media as a marketing tool, but it can be tricky to measure the real impact of a campaign. This is because the numbers can be manipulated, making it hard to know if the effort is really paying off. Social Media is definitely a double-edged sword, and if we’re not careful, we could find ourselves on the wrong side of the blade.
Let me be clear. I’m not saying that you should get off social media. I’m saying that it should never be your only source of marketing your business and connecting with your audience. Besides the ever-changing algorithm that we can never keep up with, the whole point of these platforms is to keep us on them. They don’t want your audience to click on that link in your bio that leads to your website or your ETSY page.
If you publish a post instructing your audience to leave the app to follow a link, the social media gods will penalize you by reducing your visibility to your audience. It’s a sad fact, and that’s why you need an email list.
What is an Email List?
An email list is a compilation of email addresses that you have gathered from individuals who have shown interest in your business. They desire to remain connected with you and updated on the latest happenings in your business. These are the people who will become loyal customers and they’re going to support your business. This email list is your VIPs. They’re the community your business will serve.
Why do I need an Email List?
Regardless of whether you’re a multi-million-dollar company or a micro business, you need an email list! I’m assuming, since you’re reading this article, that you would fall under micro business. Welcome to the club! You still need an email list. Unlike social media, having an email list allows you full control over your audience. You get to be seen every single time they open an email. Every tester call, every pattern release, every business update, and every blog post will be seen by your email list. It also keeps you super close to your customers! This intimate and more focused channel of communication will reach the people who truly care about what you and what your business has to offer.
How do I start an Email List?
To start an email list, you have to collect email addresses from your ideal customers. Not sure who your ideal customer is? This article will help you! Once you know who your ideal customer is, then do research on which email platform you want to use to send your newsletters. Here’s a short list of some of the platforms I’ve researched:
When I first started to build my email list, I used Mailchimp. I have switched platforms and now use Mailerlite. I can’t give you any advice on other platforms since I haven’t tried them out, but Mailchimp and Mailerlite are both easy to use.
If you have 500 or fewer subscribers, Mailchimp offers an excellent free plan.! Just keep in mind that it has a few limitations. With the free plan, you can send up to 1,000 emails and make use of pre-built templates, forms, and landing pages. Aside from the free option, there are three other plan choices. Each plan has its own price and unique perks.
Mailerlite also has a free plan, but the subscriber limit is 1,000. When you sign up for the free plan, you’ll be able to send up to 12,000 emails every month. Plus, you can create sign-up forms, pop-ups, and even up to 10 landing pages. And as an added bonus, you’ll also be able to build your own website.
Mailchimp certainly had its benefits, and the platform taught me a lot about building and designing newsletters. It was certainly a good starting point for my new crochet business. However, as my business grew and my knowledge of email marketing increased, I knew it was time to switch to a different platform. I love Mailerlite. There are so many more benefits and tools I can use. Not to mention, It’s cheaper than Mailchimp!
How do I find Email Subscribers?
Anywhere! Once you’ve chosen your favorite email platform, you can create a sign-up form that matches your branding. Additionally, you have the option to create a landing page to collect email addresses. A landing page can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire, similar to a webpage. You can share your sign-up form or landing page link on all your online profiles, such as your social media, Ravelry, and Pinterest profiles. Additionally, including the link in your crochet patterns and blog can also help. It is important to take advantage of every opportunity to add the link and encourage sign-ups.
What kind of emails do I send my Email Subscribers?
I’m glad you asked! I know that social media content creation is tough enough, and I want to ensure that writing emails for your followers doesn’t add to your load. That’s why I’ve compiled a year’s worth of email topics that will help you communicate with your audience! Sign-up below to get your FREE Resource!
Do you already have an email sign-up link? Share it in the comments below!
