The psychological torment of *starting* an email list


The Real Deal Digest

Issue No. 6

That subject line! You'll only think I'm joking if:

  • You don't have an email list (yet!)
  • You're an anomaly who has never experienced imposter syndrome in your entire life
  • You don't suffer from perfectionism and/or don't care how you're perceived by others

If you fall under the last two categories... what are you doing here?? (Just kidding, I think you're cool. Also, can I steal some of your mojo?)

Back to the subject line: Starting a newsletter reveals a new layer of vulnerability you didn't know existed inside yourself.

And just like an onion (or ogre), the more layers you peel back, the more you... uh, cry?

If you began your email list and did not experience an external display of tears, there was still (most likely) some level of discomfort at the beginning of your email journey.

As you build your list and decide what you want to share with your subscribers, it can feel daunting. Especially as your list grows. You might ask yourself questions like...

Will I meet their expectations?

Is anything I'm writing actually going to help them?

Will I be found out as a fraud? A sham? A LOSER??

What if everyone unsubscribes because I'm so lame??

What you quickly find out, though, is that when you market your newsletter correctly, you're going to find your people. I hate to say it's that simple, but... it is. 😬

Remember, this is the beauty of email: You aren't forcing anybody to subscribe to your list, you're not randomly showing up in someone's feed, and you don't have to play any algorithm games.

You just write your email, hit send, and... voila! Into the inboxes you go.

Real Talk: I do wish I had started this newsletter at the beginning of 2024, not 3 months ago. I never thought I'd find so much joy (and, uh, trepidation...) in the process.

If you're still on the fence about starting an email list (or you have one but rarely send emails), let me share with you/remind you about the fun parts of writing emails and list building:

🤸🏼‍♀️ Replies from your subscribers. Oh man, there is nothing better than getting a reply from your email. You're always like, "Oh, yay! A human!" It doesn't matter if you've interacted with them before or not. It's fun and I love getting to know my subscribers!

🤸🏼‍♀️ Being the bright spot in someone's day. Honestly, you never know what others are going through. Your email might say the *exact* thing someone needs to hear at just the right time. How cool is it to be part of a positive ripple effect? (Answer: Very.)

🤸🏼‍♀️ Seeing your subscriber numbers go up. Personally, I find this humbling (and shocking) every time I see new subscribers join. It gives me a warm & fuzzy feeling, knowing that someone took a few seconds out of their day to become a part of my li'l corner of the Internet. (There are SO many options out there, ya know?)



🤸🏼‍♀️ Helping others in your niche with real-life lessons or insights. We all have something to offer because no two perspectives are the same. Copy Tip: When you're writing your emails, keep your "one reader" in mind. Who are you specifically writing to? Who do you want your emails to help?


Speaking of which...

I made a new FREE resource for business owners who want to start an email list but don't know where to begin. The 5 Must-Have Emails for Your Welcome Sequence is a quick li'l guide that helps you get your wheels spinning and jumpstart your email journey for 2025.

Gosh, ngl—I hope that link works for you. 'Cause you know what they DON'T tell you about emailing? Learning your way around your service provider is QUITE the process. I can't tell you how many times I've messed up my sequences, links, and even this newsletter since I started. 😬

But oh well. Don't let that scare you. Pobody's nerfect. Life goes on. And so do our days. Happy New Year, by the way. I hope you're excited about what this year will bring. I know I am! I'm rebranding in Q1 with Melanie Watson Design, so we'll be saying goodbye to these random colors I picked out when I just needed to stop overthinking and get going. 😂

What do you have going on this month, Reader? I think speaking and writing out your goals into existence is super important, so if you haven't done that yet, hit reply and tell me what's going on. As I said earlier, I'd love to hear from you!

Until next week!

-Rachael

Copywriter | Messaging Strategist | Your #1 Cheerleader

P.S. If you check out that free guide and you want to make 2025 be the Year of the Email, but you're still like, "WTF Rachael, I'm not writing my own damn emails", then by all means...

Reply back to this email or schedule a chat if you want to meet and explore the idea of me writing them for you. ☺️ I'm working on a new offer that will have introductory pricing. Who knows—it could be the perfect fit for you!


STUFF & THINGS THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE SUBJECT OF THIS EMAIL OR NOT:

🏠

How "Home Alone" Helps You Write Better Emails:

Are your emails feeling "les incompetents"? →

👩🏼‍💻

My New Client Management System, Honeybook:

This is an affiliate link, FYI →

🎶

My Latest Instagram Parody:

Kesha would be proud... I think? →

Connect with me on socials | Check out my podcast ⬇️

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
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The Real Deal Digest

Weekly writing tips and real-life drama uncovered... all to help you make more money without compromising your values or straying away from who you are. DISCLAIMER: If you're a fuddy-duddy, don't sign up for this newsletter. You'll hate it.

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