How to Build an Email List Without a Website

Want to build an email list without a website?

It’s possible.

With a landing page, a signup form, and an email marketing platform like Mailchimp and ConverKit, you can build an email list without a website.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to start building an audience for your business, even before having a website.

Frequently asked questions

What You’ll Need to Build an Email List Without a Website

To use the steps in this guide to build an email list without a website, You need a couple of things:

• An Optin Form: The form to collect your subscribers’ emails when they land on your landing page to get their freebie.
• A Lead Magnet: A gated and irresistible freebie that your audience can not help but exchange their email for. Ebooks, webinars, checklists, reports, tutorials, etc. You can learn more about lead magnet here.
• A Landing Page: The page your audience will be redirected to after clicking your link via any channel you use to promote it.
• Email marketing platform: Every list-building campaign needs email marketing tools. Today, these tools always come with everything you need.

How to build an email list without a website step by step

• Step 1: Build Your Landing Page
• Step 2: Add Your Lead Magnet
• Step 3: Promote Your Landing Page Offer

Convertkit is not the only email marketing tool you can use to set up an email campaign without a website.

It’s just a lot of people’s favorite because of its intuitive frontend editor and vast library landing page template.

With a free Convertkit account, you can build a landing page, create your signup form, and manage up to 300 subscribers.

You only have to select a paid plan when you need it.

Another reason why the platform stands out is that it’s beginner-friendly.

Thanks to its intuitive dashboard.

You can create an account and start using it right away.

No learning curve.

Convertkit has a lot of templates to make your job easier.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anything about design.

You will find a template that works for you, then select and customize, Simple.

You’ll see how easy it is now.

Step 1: Build Your Landing Page

Here’s how to do it.

Sign in if you already have a ConvertKit account.

Or quickly create one.

It’s easy.

On your ConvertKit dashboard, select Grow from the navigation menu and Click on Landing Pages & Forms.

On the next screen, click on Create a landing page.

ConvertKit will show you many landing page templates.

You can preview any template you like before selecting.

You can also customize further using the frontend editor.

In this example, we’ll select a landing page template with a lead magnet and opt-in form.

This is the ConvertKit landing page editor page where you can customize the color, font, logo, and any part of the page to look more brandy.

Play around until you are satisfied with the look of your landing page.

Then proceed to add your lead magnet.

Step 2: Add Your Lead Magnet

On the editor page, click the Setting button at the top right.

A new window will pop up.

Select Incentive.

Under After confirming redirect to Select Download.

Click Choose a file to upload your lead magnet.

Wait for the upload to complete, then click the Save button

So when anyone fills out your signup form, the file will start downloading automatically.

They will also receive a confirmation email to confirm their subscription to your mailing list.

If you want to redirect to a link, you’ll use the URL option.

So when subscribers opt-in, they’ll be redirected to the tutorial, webinar, or any other resources you are using as your lead magnet.

You can also modify the content of the confirmation email to make it more personal and appealing.

If you want to use a custom domain for your landing page, Go to Domain Name, select Custom Domain, and enter the Page URL.

Click on Add to continue.

If you have a paid plan, you can use the SEO & Analytics option on the Settings window to optimize your page for search engines.

You can also connect to Google Analytics to measure the performance of your page.

Once you are done with all the settings and you are sure your landing page is great to go live, click the publish button at the top of the editor page.

You’ll see your landing page link.

Copy and save it for when you are ready to promote.

The link you’ll have might look very awkward.

Don’t worry, you can use the link shortener tool to give it a less awkward and more branded appeal.

After using a link shortener, confirm that the shortened link redirect to your landing page.

Now, your landing page is live and ready to collect emails.

The next step is to start promoting and generating traffic organically or paid to your landing page.

Step 3: Promote Your Landing Page Offer

Since you don’t have a website, how do you get your landing page in front of people?

If you can think a little bit outside the box, you’ll find ways to get eyeballs on your landing page and drive subscribers to your list.

Here are 6 out-of-the-box ways:

1. Get published in huge publications with millions of monthly visitors. Add a link to your landing page in the bio
2. Create a YouTube channel. Publish quality content and promote your landing page in your video.
3. Put your landing page in your social media profile. When people engage with your content and check your profile, they might be interested in your offer.
4. If you have a Facebook page or huge followership on any social channel, promote your link to your followers.
5. If you have a few bucks to shed, you can try paid advertising on Google and Social media.
6. Publish a super useful blog post in Mu&lmedium. Add your link within the content or put it in your bio.

You are not restricted to any of these methods, select those you think can work for you and use them simultaneously to turbocharge your campaign.

More Helpful Email Marketing Tutorials:

• How to Use Mailchimp: Getting started with Mailchimp? Learn the fundamentals of using Mailchimp as a beginner. This tutorial will guide you in creating your first email campaign.
• How to Create a Business Email:Need a business email but are not sure how to create one. You won’t need another guide after this.
• How to Write an Introduction Email: Your email intro is as important as the body.  Learn how to write a compelling intro for your email in a few easy steps.

Wrapping Up

There you have it! The steps needed to an email list without a website.

This approach is the easiest you’ll find on the internet.

Instead of using a separate landing page builder and email marketing platform, going through the trouble of designing your sign-up form, and setting up an email responder, ConvertKit packs everything in one place.

Other ConvertKit alternatives you can try include Mailchimp, GetResponse, and ConstantContact.

We’ll love to know if this tutorial solves your problem.

Drop us a line in the comments section.