Why I Grew My Email List from 16 Subs to 1,000+ and I’m Still Not Happy About It
Okay, folks. Gather ‘round. Let me tell you a little story about how I somehow went from a cozy group of 16 email subscribers to a whopping 1,000+ in one quarter —and why that’s actually a problem.
I know, I know. You’re probably thinking, “Wait, you grew your audience by one thousand people, and you’re upset? Are you out of your mind?”
But hear me out.
It’s not the numbers that matter. It’s the right numbers.
And let’s just say my 1000+ new email pals are a little… off-brand. Like, super off-brand. Not exactly the type of folks who are gonna drop everything and sign up for my social media management services. They’re not interested in hiring me.
They’re more likely to hit “unsubscribe” the second they realize I don’t offer webinars about SEO (spoiler alert: I don’t). And that, my friends, is what’s got me in a bit of a funk.
The Numbers Game: Quantity Over Quality? Not Quite.
Here’s how it happened:
I got a little too excited about growing my list. I followed every "grow your email list" strategy out there, from freebies to lead magnets that had people flocking to my sign-up form like moths to a flame.
Before I knew it, my audience was growing faster than my caffeine consumption after a 9PM espresso shot. But as the numbers climbed, I started to notice a glaring issue: these 1000 new subscribers were definitely not the right fit.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a big audience. But the wrong audience? Not so much.
These 1000 people aren’t the type to hit me up for social media consulting or social content creation. They aren’t the ones who care about the things I’m passionate about. And here’s the kicker: I’m probably not going to convert them. They’re not going to hire me. And I can’t keep pretending they’re going to.
So What Am I Gonna Do About It?
Here’s the plan.
First, I’m going to dial back the number of email blasts I send. Because if you’re not the right fit, no matter how many times you see my name in your inbox, we’re not going to connect. So I’m cutting the frequency and focusing on quality over quantity. If you’re on my list, I want you to actually want to be there.
Second, I’m switching up the content. I’m moving away from generalized “digital marketing tips” that will appeal to anyone with an email address, and diving deeper into content that speaks to the exact businesses I want to work with: food & drink brands, luxury fragrance lines, and funky small businesses that need social media help. This will be a lot more valuable to my audience and much more likely to lead to real conversions.
In short, it’s time to clean house. I’m trimming the fat (sorry, not sorry) and focusing on attracting the right people who are genuinely interested in the services I offer.
The Takeaway: It’s All About the Right Fit
So what’s the big lesson here?
The number of subscribers doesn’t matter if they’re not your target audience. What really matters is having a small group of engaged people who are ready to hire you, support your business, and rave about your work to everyone they know.
This process of growing my list and realizing it wasn’t the right crowd has been a massive learning lesson. And guess what? I’m grateful for it! It’s a reminder that bigger isn’t always better. Sometimes, it’s better to have 16 subscribers who actually care than 600 who... well, don’t.
So, if you’re reading this, and you’re part of my new email crowd, stick around. Things are about to get real interesting. And for those of you who are a little less thrilled by my antics, well, maybe it’s time to say goodbye. No hard feelings.
Cheers to finding the right audience, and here’s to the next phase of this wild ride. 🥂
