MY TOP MARKETING TOOL 😳 | Email Marketing for Etsy Sellers (how to build your email list from ZERO)

About this video

Kate Hayes argues an email list is the most effective marketing channel for an Etsy seller — she credits leaning into email with skyrocketing her revenue — because a list is owned: an Etsy shop can be shut down and social accounts are subject to algorithms and suspension, but subscribers can always be contacted directly. She cautions it is not a day-one necessity, but should start as early as practical. Because Etsy does not let sellers automatically collect buyers’ addresses, the list must be built off-platform with voluntary sign-ups, in six steps. One, create a lead magnet — a free incentive for an email address, since a bare ‘sign up for my newsletter’ no longer works: for product businesses, a coupon, discount or free-shipping code usable immediately, or a downloadable PDF guide, checklist or cheat sheet related to the product. Two, choose a landing page plus email service provider — she recommends a platform that does both so page, form and list integrate, naming ConvertKit as her favorite. Three, build the simple one-page landing page asking only for first name and email, set up automatic delivery of the freebie (an automated email, or a confirmation page carrying the download or discount code), and optionally buy a custom domain (she mentions GoDaddy) redirecting to the page for a short, memorable URL. Four, promote the freebie everywhere, leading with the benefit (‘grab 15% off your next purchase’) rather than the newsletter: the Etsy shop announcement, About section, every listing description, and a listing photo slot showing the freebie with a note to see the description for the non-clickable link; also thank-you notes and social media. Five, set up an automated welcome sequence of three or four emails spaced over the first days (e.g. days one, three, five and seven) to onboard subscribers without manual follow-up. Six, email regularly on a consistent weekly or bi-weekly cadence, mixing educational content, product announcements, promotions, behind-the-scenes material and personal stories rather than only selling, building the know-like-trust factor that makes promotional emails convert.

Key takeaways

• An email list is owned media: unlike an Etsy shop or social accounts, it cannot be shut down or algorithmically hidden, and every send reaches subscribers’ inboxes.
• Etsy does not allow automatically adding buyers to a list, so sellers must attract voluntary sign-ups off-platform with a lead magnet — typically an immediately usable discount/free-shipping code or a relevant downloadable guide or checklist.
• Use one integrated platform for the landing page and email service (she uses ConvertKit), keep the form to first name and email, automate freebie delivery, and consider a custom redirect domain for a shareable URL.
• Promote the freebie’s benefit, not the newsletter, in the Etsy shop announcement, About section, every listing description and a listing photo slot, plus thank-you notes and social media.
• Set up an automated welcome sequence (e.g., emails on days 1, 3, 5 and 7), then email on a consistent weekly or bi-weekly cadence mixing value, stories and product news so promotional emails land with an engaged list.

Episode details: published May 30, 2023 · 14:04 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Kate Hayes’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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