A lot of the freelancers and solo business owners I know are fully aware of the importance of email, but they just have yet to wrap their head around it all, so they’ve yet to taste that email marketing success. Knowing what we “should be” doing is altogether different than the actual DOING. Amirite?!

They oftentimes have a much easier time focusing on social media. And I suppose that just seems more natural because they like to use it personally, or maybe it’s a keeping up with the Joneses thing. But the irony is that email marketing is almost always more effective than social media.

It definitely takes some time and effort, but the benefits are tremendous. If you’re ready to get serious with your email strategy, here are a few things to try.

1. Develop a great editorial calendar.

When it comes to basically all things marketing, consistency is important. In the case of email marketing, your focus should be on building a relationship with your reader. Having a plan in place for what you’re going to write about removes the guesswork. And the freakout “What do I write about, I need to get this thing out, ahh!” moments go away.

2. Opt-ins everywhere.

Ok, maybe not overwhelmingly everywhere. But get those opt-ins on your website, in multiples places. The sidebar, header, or footer, or at the bottom of your blog posts are all good locations.

3. Work on those opt-in headlines.

I just said to put them everywhere, so let’s make sure they come along with a good headline. The generic “join my free newsletter” doesn’t really cut it anymore. [are you inspired by that?]  Be a little more descriptive about what they’ll actually be receiving from you, or what the benefit of receiving your emails will be.

4. Create a solid lead magnet.

This is probably the fastest way to start growing your list. Offer a freebie in exchange for that coveted email address. From discounts to information, a good lead magnet that brings some value will make it hard to resist.

5. Put some time into your welcome email.

You’ve just got them on your list, woohoo! The welcome email is your first chance to wow them. A generic confirmation isn’t the best first impression you can make. If you can make that first email memorable, they’ll be that much more likely to open others in the future.

If you want to learn more about email marketing, grab my Electrified Email Ebook.