Let’s begin with a quiet truth

If you’re building a service-based business outside of your 9–5 job, you’ve probably heard the advice: “You need an email list. Get your first 100 subscribers fast.“ And you know what? That’s not wrong.
But it’s also not the full story.

Coz you know when you’re working a full time job, running a household, and building a business in the margins with limited time and energy—you don’t need another thing screaming for your attention. You need clarity. Simplicity. A system that works in 20-minute pockets.

• A system that’s simple to follow
• A way to connect that feels genuine—not gimmicky
• And a strategy that works even when you’re not online

And if you’ve been told that email marketing is only for “real” business owners with funnels, freebies, and thousands of followers… I want to gently challenge that. You don’t need any of that to start.

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My Story

When I built my first welcome sequence, I didn’t have a funnel or strategy or audience. I had an idea, something helpful to say. I wanted to build something slow and real. And, to tell you the truth, I started with 5 subscribers. One of them was me.

This post isn’t a hype guide. It’s a map—for side-hustling professionals who want to build connection over clicks and confidence over chaos. Just a warm, clear path to your first 100 subscribers—built by someone (hi, me) who started her business in the margins of a long clinical career.

Let’s begin.

Why Even Start an Email List with So Few Followers?

Because your email list is the one space that’s algorithm-proof. You can disappear from social for a week and still show up in inboxes. You can write to your people—not everyone, not no one. Just the right ones.

You don’t need thousands. You need trust. And trust builds slowly—email by email, week by week.

Why 100 Subscribers Matter More Than You Think

On social media, most people chase the 1,000 mark. Or the next viral reel. But the truth is—on emails, your first 100 people are everything. They’re the ones who are curious, early, ready to learn and grow with you.

If nurtured well, those 100 can become:

• Your first clients
• Your first product buyers
• Your biggest referrers

But it all begins with the right kind of list-building.
Let me show you how I built mine (and how you can start building yours this week).

Step 1: Know Who You’re Writing To (Even If You’re Not Sure Yet)

Most people wait to define their niche until they “figure it out.” But you’ll learn faster by showing up before it’s perfect.

Think of the one person you’d love to help through your services. Is it the corporate employee who’s tired of meetings and wants to launch her coaching offer? The creative who designs templates at night and wants to sell them?

Now imagine her checking her inbox on her lunch break. What would you say to her? Write that email. She’s your person. Others like her will come.

Step 2: Anchor your email list to a real problem and Set Up a Freebie

No one joins a list for “updates.” They join because they have a problem—and you offer a helpful shortcut that actually feels natural.

So instead of: “Sign up for tips and news”

Try: “Get 5 fill-in-the-blank email templates so you never have to write from scratch again.”

You need to:

• Pick one pain point your audience Googles at 9pm
• Create a free resource (a lead magnet) that solves just that

Not 10 things. One thing. Clearly.

My lead magnet? A free Welcome Email Sales Funnel Pack—because most beginners struggle with what to send after people subscribe. You don’t need a 20-page ebook. You need one small win.

Yours can be:

• A checklist
• A one-page fill-in-the-blank template
• A swipe file
• A mini-Notion board
• A 3-email mini training.
• A swipe file.

Keep it light, useful, and specific. Think about your ideal subscriber and ask: What’s something I could give them that saves time, reduces confusion, or gives clarity—today?

Your freebie doesn’t have to prove your value. It just has to be useful. One tiny transformation.

Step 3: Create a Home for Your List—Your Blog

No, you don’t need a full-blown website. But yes, you do need a space where your audience can find your value. This is where your blog works for you.

Write 1 post per week that:

• Solves one small problem
• Mentions your freebie naturally inside the post
• Leads to your opt-in form

Example post:

5 Emails to Send Your List When You Think No One’s Reading
CTA: Get my free email starter pack here

Every blog post becomes a subscriber gateway. You don’t need to be a copywriter—you just need to be clear and helpful. That’s what builds trust.

Step 4: If not a blog, then Use One Page, One Form, One Platform

There’s no need to build a funnel empire. One simple landing page will do. Choose a platform like ConvertKit, Flodesk, or MailerLite—ones that don’t overwhelm you. I use CovertKit or Kit as it is known as now.

• Create a freebie opt-in
• Write one sentence about what they’ll get
• Add one form
• Set up your welcome sequence (3–5 emails)

That’s it. Keep it clean, simple, skimmable.

Step 5: Use Pinterest as Your List’s Delivery System

While Instagram is fun, Pinterest is functional. It’s a search engine—your content gets indexed. It doesn’t expire in 24 hours. And the best part is it doesn’t need you online all the time.

Here’s what I do weekly:

1. Take my blog post
2. Turn it into 3–5 pins with bold, searchable titles
3. Schedule those in advance (Tailwind or Pinterest itself)

Each pin links directly to my blog post (and indirectly, my freebie). Over time, Pinterest becomes your business assistant—driving subscribers passively. You don’t need ads. You need one blog/landing page, one freebie, and consistent pins.

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Step 6: Write Emails That Feel Like Letters—Not Lectures

Let’s be honest—this is where most beginners panic. “What do I even send to 5 subscribers?” Here’s the secret: you write like it’s a one-on-one check-in.

Start with these 5-sections:

1. Welcome + what to expect
2. Your story + why you help
3. Quick win (tip, tool, or template)
4. Behind-the-scenes of your business (you can add this in the second mail)
5. A soft offer or invitation to reply

You’re not selling in every email. You’re building trust. And the more human your emails feel, the more your subscribers will stay.

Step 7: Nurture Your List With These 5 Types of Emails

You don’t need daily newsletters or fancy formatting. Here’s a 5-email rotation I recommend for side-hustlers (you’ve seen it in my other post too, but now it’s part of the bigger picture)

1. Quick Tip Email
   Something simple that makes life easier—Canva template, scheduling tip, browser hack.
2. “This Didn’t Work” Email
   Share a failure, what you learned, and what you did next. Trust-building gold.
3. Behind-the-Scenes Email
   Show how you batch content, plan your blog, or organize your week.
4. Resource Roundup Email
   3–5 tools, posts, or ideas you’ve loved this month. Add a short why for each.
5. Reader Check-In Email
   Ask what they’re working on. What’s confusing them. Let them hit reply.

More on this in detail in my next post.

Pro Tip: Even if you only have 5 subscribers, treat it like a room of people who showed up just to hear from you.

Step 8: Get Your First 100 in 20 Minutes a Week

You don’t need a loud launch. You need a clear reminder. Promote softly, but consistently. Here’s what you can do in just 20 minutes per week to grow slowly but steadily.

• Add your opt-in link to your Instagram bio and Pinterest profile
• Mention your freebie in your blog post CTA each week
• Share 1–2 posts a week that lead back to your opt-in (Reels, carousels, Pins)
• End your newsletter with: “Forward this to someone growing their business on weekends”
• DM new followers: “Hey, I made this free email pack if you’re building your business onthe side. Want the link?”
• Occasionally in IG stories, as a reminder

Pro Tip: Create a 9-slide carousel or highlight on Instagram that says: “Start Here → Free Welcome Templates to Build Your List.” Let it sit there. Let it do its job quietly.
You don’t need to be aggressive. Just consistent.

Weekly Plan to Reach Your First 100

This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing one small thing each week.

1. Week 1

• Finalize your lead magnet
• Create 1 opt-in form on your site
• Write your welcome email

2. Week 2

• Publish your first blog post
• Add opt-in CTA to it
• Create 3 Pinterest pins

3. Week 3

• Add freebie to your link-in-bio
• Post carousel about the freebie
• Send second email (your story)

4. Week 4

• Create a second blog post
• Share on Pinterest
• Send a quick tip email to your list

By the end of Month 1: You’ll have a working system, a warm list, and your first 30–50 subscribers. From there, it only grows.

What This Looks Like for Me

I don’t have a team.
I batch content on Sundays.
And yes—I still write emails late at night.

But I show up.

Because I know what this email list has done for me:

• Clients who found me through a pin
• Sales from a tiny list of 120 people
• People who feel connected—not sold to

And that came from doing one thing well.

Closing Thoughts: Tiny Lists, Big Trust

You’re not late. You’re not behind. The truth is you’re just starting differently—more intentionally.
You Don’t Need 10,000 Followers.

You need:

• A clear freebie
• A simple blog system
• A quiet way to repurpose
• And the heart to write with care

And while it may look like the world is chasing vanity metrics, you’re choosing something slower. Smarter. More sustainable.

An inbox full of real people who said: Yes, I want to hear from you. That’s not small. That’s everything.
Start now. Grow slow. And trust that the right people will stay.

MY TOP POSTS

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