List Growth 101 – Getting Your First 100 Email Subscribers
You’ve probably heard this a hundred times:
“You need an email list.”
And it’s true—your email list is one of the most valuable parts of your business. Unlike social media, it’s yours. It’s direct. It’s where the real sales happen.
But if you’re starting from zero (or close to it), building that list can feel overwhelming. Where do you find subscribers? What do you send them? How do you even ask people to join?
Let’s break it down. This post is all about how to get your first 100 email subscribers—without paid ads, complicated tech, or cringey tactics.
Step 1: Create Something Worth Signing Up For
Let’s be honest—people don’t hand over their email addresses for nothing. Even if they think your work is beautiful or your story is inspiring, they still need a clear, compelling reason to join your list. That’s where a freebie comes in.
Also called a lead magnet, this is a valuable resource you offer for free in exchange for someone’s email address. Think of it as a small gift—a taste of the value you provide. It should solve a specific problem, answer a common question, or give them something they’ll want to use right away. The goal is to deliver something so helpful or delightful that your new subscriber is already thinking, “If this is what I get for free, imagine what her paid stuff is like!”
If you sell handmade products or patterns, great lead magnets might include:
A free mini pattern or tutorial that shows off your teaching style and aesthetic
A printable checklist or guide to help with planning, shopping, or organizing a project
A discount code or limited-time coupon to encourage a first-time purchase
An email-exclusive mini challenge or tip series, like “5 Days to Finish That WIP”
You don’t need to overthink it—what feels simple to you might be really valuable to someone just starting out.
The most important thing? Make it relevant to what you sell. Your freebie should naturally lead someone toward your paid offer, whether that’s a pattern, a workshop, or a physical product. You don’t want random subscribers—you want the right people, who will see your offer and say, “Yes, that’s exactly what I need.”
Start with one great freebie. Put it in front of people. Make it easy to say yes. That’s your first step toward growing a list of engaged, ready-to-buy subscribers.
Need even more freebie ideas?
Grab my list of 25 Freebie Ideas for Creative or Handmade Businesses and start designing the perfect lead magnet for your audience.
Step 2: Share It (Everywhere)
Once you’ve created your freebie, the last thing you want to do is let it sit there collecting dust. Your lead magnet only works if people see it—so now it’s time to promote it like it matters (because it does!).
This step is all about visibility. Think of your freebie as a doorway into your business. If you only mention it once or tuck it away in a hidden corner of your website, hardly anyone will walk through that door. But if you talk about it consistently, position it clearly, and make it easy to access, it becomes a powerful tool for growing your list with the right people.
Here are some practical ways to share your freebie:
Add a signup form to your homepage, ideally near the top, so it’s one of the first things people see
Include it on product pages or blog posts, especially if the freebie is related to the content they’re already looking at
Put it in your Instagram bio link with a strong, benefits-driven headline like “Get my free mini quilt pattern!”
Post about it on social media regularly, not just once—use images, video, or mockups to show people what they’ll get
Mention it in your blog posts, YouTube videos, or podcast episodes—make it part of your content strategy
Add a pop-up or slide-in on your website that invites visitors to grab your freebie (just make sure it’s mobile-friendly!)
Include it in your Etsy or online shop listings as a bonus for buyers—something like “Get a free mini guide when you join my email list!”
The key here is consistency. Don’t be shy about sharing your freebie multiple times in different ways. You might feel like you’re repeating yourself, but most people need to see something several times before they act on it.
Also, pay close attention to the language you use when promoting it. Instead of saying “Sign up for my newsletter” (which feels vague and a little boring), say what they’ll actually get. For example:
“Want my free quilt label printable?”
“Grab my free crochet pattern for cozy fall evenings”
“Get my 10-step checklist for launching your handmade product”
Always lead with the benefit, not the ask. When people understand the value right away, they’re much more likely to sign up.
Remember, visibility builds momentum. The more eyes you get on your freebie, the faster your list will grow—so share it like you mean it!
Step 3: Invite Your Current Audience
You don’t need a huge following to start growing your email list—you just need to start with the people who already know, like, and trust you. Even if your audience is small right now, that’s okay. Use what you’ve got. Your first few subscribers will often come from your warmest circles—people who already support your work, have bought from you, or simply love what you’re creating.
Here’s how to personally invite them to join your list:
Reach out to past customers: Send a friendly email or DM letting them know you’ve created a new free resource just for your community. If they liked what they bought from you, there’s a good chance they’ll want to see more of what you’re offering.
Example:
“Hey [Name], I just put together a free mini quilt pattern as a thank-you to my community. I thought of you since you bought [Product] a while back. Want me to send it your way?”Post a personal invitation to social media: Go beyond a generic promo and tell the story behind the freebie. Why did you create it? Who is it for? How can it help? People love to support small businesses with heart—so speak from yours.
Example:
“I made this free [guide/pattern/resource] for anyone who’s ever wanted to [insert benefit]. If that’s you, I’d love to send it your way! Just drop your email at the link in my bio.”Ask friends, fellow makers, or family to share: You don’t need to beg—just let them know you’ve created something helpful, and if they know anyone who would benefit, you’d be grateful if they passed it along. A few shares can go a long way.
Mention your list often and with confidence: So many creatives feel weird about promoting their email list. But here’s the truth: your list is where you serve your audience best. It’s where you offer deeper insights, helpful tips, and exclusive goodies. It’s not “just a newsletter”—it’s your inner circle.
The more confident you are about the value you’re offering, the more comfortable others will feel saying yes. People want to support you. They just need to know how. So don’t be afraid to invite them in. This is how you build community—one genuine connection at a time.
Want to make inviting people to your list feel way easier?
Grab my free List of Friendly Messages—a collection of copy-and-paste scripts you can use in DMs, emails, or social posts to promote your freebie and grow your list. Perfect for makers, artists, and creatives who want to keep it personal (not pushy).
Step 4: Keep It Simple (And Consistent)
It’s easy to overthink email marketing—especially when you start Googling and end up deep in a rabbit hole of “perfect funnel strategies,” “automated sequences,” and “conversion hacks.” But here’s the truth: you don’t need any of that to start seeing results. In fact, the best thing you can do in the beginning is to keep it simple and focus on consistency.
What does that look like in real life? It means having just a few core pieces in place:
A valuable freebie that speaks directly to your ideal customer’s interests or problems
A simple welcome sequence (3–4 short, friendly emails) that introduces who you are, delivers value, and gently mentions your offer
A regular email schedule, even if that’s just twice a month, where you share something helpful, inspiring, or personal
That’s it. No fancy funnel software. No complicated automation maps. No daily content grind.
What truly matters is showing up consistently. When your subscribers hear from you on a regular basis—without disappearing for months at a time—they begin to trust you. And that trust? It’s what leads to sales.
Think of it like a friendship. You don’t need to text a friend every day to stay close, but you do need to stay in touch. The same goes for your list. Even a short, thoughtful email every couple of weeks keeps the connection warm and keeps your business top-of-mind.
The best part? You’ll get better as you go. Every email you send teaches you something—what your audience responds to, what content they love, what subject lines get opened. You can always tweak and improve later. But you can’t improve what you haven’t started.
So don’t wait for perfect. Start with simple. Keep showing up. And trust that consistency, more than anything else, will build a business that lasts.
Final Thought: Start Small, Think Big
Reaching your first 100 email subscribers can feel like a slow climb—but it’s also one of the most rewarding milestones in your business journey. These first subscribers aren’t just numbers on a list. They’re real people who are raising their hands and saying, “I see what you’re creating—and I want more.” That’s a big deal.
These early subscribers are your foundation. They’re often the most engaged, most supportive, and most likely to become your first buyers, fans, and cheerleaders. Every time someone joins your list, they’re placing a little bit of trust in you. Your job is to honor that trust with kindness, consistency, and value.
It’s easy to get caught up in vanity metrics—wanting thousands of followers or a huge list overnight. But don’t underestimate the power of starting small and growing with intention. When you focus on serving the people you do have, rather than worrying about who you don’t, you’ll naturally build a community that’s engaged and aligned with what you offer.
So how do you treat those first 100 like gold?
Send thoughtful emails that actually help or inspire them
Share your story and let your personality shine
Offer exclusive tips, sneak peeks, or early access to your products
Ask questions and invite replies to start real conversations
Make them feel like insiders—because they are
And most importantly, believe that big things can come from small beginnings. That little list you’re building today? It could become the core of your future six-figure business. The key is to start, stay consistent, and keep showing up with heart.
You don’t need thousands of subscribers to make sales. You just need the right people—and that starts with showing up for the first 100.
P.S. Don’t forget to grab your free List of Friendly Messages!
If you want help knowing what to say when inviting people to join your list, I’ve got you. This list is packed with short, friendly message templates for DMs, emails, and social posts—made just for creatives like you.
