A Healthy Ride to Wealth


How to Build Your Own Email List: A Beginner’s Guide

Last weekend’s temporary TikTok ban in the U.S. was a stark reminder of how vulnerable we are when we depend solely on external platforms. For affiliate marketers, this disruption underscores the risk of losing access to the audiences we rely on for growth, revenue, and connections.

Thinking about how I could protect my business from this kind of uncertainty, I decided to diversify my social media activities instead of relying entirely on TikTok.

While exploring alternatives, I came across an interesting article on SocialMediaToday that discussed Meta’s new initiative, the Breakthrough Bonus program. This program offers incentives for creators to produce engaging content and attract audiences on Meta’s platforms, making it a promising avenue for those looking to broaden their reach and reduce dependence on any single platform.

Exploring platforms like Instagram and Facebook Reels, which are similar to TikTok, can be a smart move to secure my time investments. However, there’s something even more crucial that you need to understand.

Growing on social media is just one piece of the puzzle.

The real purpose for me to building a presence on social media is to drive traffic back to my own space, where I can capture leads and build assets that I truly own.

When starting your online affiliate journey, one of the smartest decisions you can make is to create your own email list.

Why? Because an email list is the foundation of owning your audience and achieving long-term success.

Let’s dive into why this matters and how you can get started today.


Why Having Your Own Audience Matters 📢

The truth is, depending solely on external platforms put your business at risk.

By contrast, building and owning an email list provides a dependable way to safeguard and maintain these valuable relationships.

Overnight, millions of creators faced the possibility of losing their audiences and the connections they had spent months, even years, building. Although TikTok was eventually restored, the incident highlighted a valuable lesson: we don’t own the audiences we grow on social media platforms. ⚡️⛅️

The reality is, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube hold all the control. Algorithm changes, policy updates, or sudden bans can leave you disconnected from the followers you’ve worked so hard to gain. This is why building an email list is crucial.

An email list is your own slice of the internet – a direct line to your audience that no platform can take away from you.

Benefits of an Email List:

  • Ownership: Unlike social media followers, your email contacts belong to you.
  • Direct Communication: Reach your audience without relying on algorithms.
  • Higher Engagement: Emails are personal, and readers are more likely to take action when they feel directly addressed.
  • Sales Opportunities: Email marketing consistently delivers one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) in digital marketing.

But building an email list is just the beginning. To truly benefit, you need to nurture your audience. For example, you could create an on-boarding email series that introduces your story, offers free resources, and gradually builds up to presenting your affiliate offers.

Regularly sending helpful tips or sharing personal anecdotes can also strengthen the connection with your subscribers. This means providing value through regular, meaningful communication.

Share tips, insights, and stories that resonate with their goals and challenges. The more trust you build, the more likely they are to engage with your offers. Read also my post : “Mastering Email Marketing: Follow-Up Strategies That Add Value to Your Audience”.


How to Build Your Email List from Scratch🚀

Now that you understand the importance of an email list, let’s dive into how to create one. Don’t worry if you’re starting from zero; this step-by-step guide will help you get started. Refer to “Preparing My Business For Lead Ads Campaigns” for details on how I implemented this guide in my Business.

Step 1: Choose an Email Marketing Platform

You’ll need a reliable tool to collect and manage email addresses. Some beginner-friendly options include:

  • Mailchimp: Great for getting started with free plans available.
  • ConvertKit: Specifically designed for creators and affiliate marketers.
  • GetResponse: Offers automation features that grow with your needs.
  • Builderall: Designed also for affiliate marketers, offer email automation and resources.

Sign up for an account, and explore the platform’s features to familiarize yourself with the tools available. 🔧

One important tool you definitively want to use is the one that allows you to download and backup all your leads on your computer, in a safe place. This is an important task to perform regularly because again, these platforms store your contacts on their servers and if, for whatever reason, they decide to close your account, you are going to lose all your contacts. So please take this advice seriously and make a regular backup of your entire email list.

Note that the platform I’m using is called Affiliate System which is own by InternetProfits ltd. Unfortunately for now, this platform is not yet available to the general public so I can’t promote it here. Rumors says that it could be out somewhere in 2025. Stay tuned.

Step 2: Create a Lead Magnet

People won’t hand over their email address without a good reason. A lead magnet is an incentive you offer in exchange for their email. For example, if you’re just starting in affiliate marketing, you could create a simple guide titled “Top 5 Affiliate Marketing Mistakes to Avoid” or a checklist to help beginners choose a profitable niche. Here are some ideas:

  • A free eBook or guide related to your niche.
  • A checklist or cheat sheet to solve a common problem.
  • Access to a free webinar or mini-course.
  • Exclusive tips or insider secrets.

Make sure your lead magnet provides real value and is aligned with your audience’s interests. 🕵️

Step 3: Build a Landing Page

A landing page is where people sign up for your email list. Your email marketing platform will likely offer templates to make this process easy. Include the following elements:

  • A compelling headline: Highlight the value of your lead magnet.
  • A clear description: Explain what they’ll gain by signing up.
  • A simple form: Ask for their name and email address (keep it minimal).
  • A strong call to action (CTA): Use phrases like “Get Started Now” or “Download Your Free Guide.”

Step 4: Drive Traffic to Your Landing Page

Now it’s time to promote your sign-up page. For beginners, it’s a good idea to start with free methods to make the process less intimidating. Here are some ways to drive traffic:

  • Share the link on your social media profiles and posts.
  • Add the link to your Instagram bio or Facebook page.
  • Write blog posts or create YouTube videos related to your lead magnet’s topic.
  • Run paid ads on platforms like Facebook or Google to target your ideal audience.

Step 5: Send a Welcome Email

Once someone signs up, send them a warm welcome email. Use this opportunity to introduce yourself, set expectations for your emails, and deliver the promised lead magnet. Keep it friendly and engaging to start building trust right away.

Step 6: Nurture Your List

Consistency is key. Send regular emails that provide value, such as:

  • Helpful tips or resources.
  • Personal stories that resonate with your audience.
  • Exclusive updates or offers.

The goal is to stay top of mind and build a relationship with your audience over time. Read also “Mastering Email Marketing: Follow-Up Strategies That Add Value to Your Audience” for more details.✉️


Take the First Step Today

Building an email list takes time and effort, but it’s one of the most rewarding investments you can make in your affiliate business. Not only does it offer a direct line to your audience, but it also lays the foundation for greater financial stability and independence in the long run. When you own your audience, you control your future.

If you’re ready to start, choose your email marketing platform, create a lead magnet, and get your first subscriber today.

Need more guidance? InternetProfits has the tools to help you within its programs. Read my post: “Gift Yourself A Future: Start Your Business For Christmas” for more details about the different InternetProfits programs. All you have to do to enroll is to order the Iceberg Effect book, read it, and make a call to ask information without obligation. Also if you want to see a live example of how an email list building funnel works, click here.😜

Your future audience is waiting for you—take the first step now!

To your success,


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Comments

4 Responses to “How to Build Your Own Email List: A Beginner’s Guide”

  1. Robert Klein Avatar

    Salut Martin! I share your initiative to broaden your reach on Meta’s platforms. As a digital creator as we are called, I have just reached level 2 after reading through some creator education.

    I would caution you though because if you establish your email presence on one of the existing platforms that you’ve mentioned, it is in your best interest to regularly capture all the contact information of your subscribers. Often these platforms will come down hard and remove your ability to engage with your subscribers. You never know when the unexpected happens and someone takes your message wrong and complains leading to your detriment. But then again, you would have extra assurances that this would not be very likely to happen using the Affiliate System platform.

    I like how you lay out a six step process to build an email list from scratch.

    1. Martin Lefebvre Avatar

      Hey Robert, thank you very much for your caution note here. I completely forgot to mention it. So I added a paragraph that reminds us the important action to download and store our list of contacts regularly in a safe place, hence following your recommendation.
      Thanks again my friend! 👍

  2. Kate Loving Shenk Avatar

    Hi Martin, this social media dilemma does become the elephant in the room. I just reached 1000 followers on TikTok and hope to be able to join the creator affiliate program at some point in the near future. Ironically, I celebrated by ordering a Chinese meal ha ha

    I should be putting my lead ad up soon and hoping to gain some traction there. The YouTube channel I am developing is doing well too, but it is slow. TikTok is more engaging and I think it’s easier to have a community there on TikTok. Never to give up, we plod on.

  3. Ernie Avatar

    Hi Martin – I could not agree more! I was told early on to build my email list and to nurture it in a way where people would get to know, like and trust me. Reading your blog post reminded me of the necessary importance of an email list. Now I am working on driving traffic to my landing page and then through engagement encouraging action with my future customers. It really is all about engagement and providing value and I am a constant learner and will continue to work on my skills. Thank you for this informative post and have a great week!

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