How to Build an Email List with FloDesk and Squarespace
If you’ve been thinking about starting your email list but you’re not sure what all is involved with the behind-the-scenes tech connecting FloDesk and Squarespace, then this blog post is for you!
FloDesk is one of the easiest email marketing platforms to use and they have a ton of super simple tutorials on their website, but this post will take it a step further and teach you how to actually build an email funnel with freebies to entice your ideal audience to subscribe to your email list and stay in your online world!
As a web designer and SEO consultant, I know a thing or two about getting people to your website. But if you don’t have a way to connect with them on a platform you control, you are potentially missing out on sales for your business. Working with my clients and for my own business, I have explored various tools and platforms to streamline this process.
In this blog post, we'll talk through the importance of having an email list for your business, how to create a compelling freebie as well as email opt-in examples, the pros and cons of using FloDesk and how to integrate our email marketing with Squarespace, and insights into other email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, MailerLite, and Squarespace. We'll also guide you through setting up an efficient email delivery workflow and promoting your freebie across different platforms.
Why You Need an Email List For Marketing Your Business
Before we dive into the technicalities, let's establish why building an email list is crucial for small businesses.
You “Own” Your Audience
In an era dominated by social media, having a direct line to your audience becomes invaluable. If social media platforms were to face downtime or algorithm changes, having an email list ensures that you still "own" your audience and can communicate with them directly.
Can you imagine having to grow your Instagram following from scratch? Getting potential customers onto a platform you control, like your email list, ensures you have access to market to them if your social media accounts go down.
Deeper Connection with Your Email Subscribers
An email list provides an opportunity to connect with your audience on a deeper level. By consistently delivering valuable content, you build trust and credibility, fostering a relationship that goes beyond the fleeting interactions on social media.
Email allows you to get more personal with your audience about things you may not feel as comfortable sharing on social media.
Not to mention, emailing your audience can encourage a two-way conversation when you ask for feedback and share your story.
Track Your Analytics
Additionally, email marketing allows you to track analytics, providing valuable insights into your audience's preferences and behavior, which can be leveraged for targeted marketing campaigns.
How to Create an Email Opt-in
Creating a freebie that people can download once they opt-in to be a part of your email list is a great way to encourage people to subscribe. You want to provide a resource that is valuable to your audience and solves a problem or provides a quick win for them! If successful, your audience will then view you as a trusted resources and will be more likely to continue on your email journey with you.
Examples of Freebies For Email Marketing
Crafting a visually appealing and relevant freebie is your chance to showcase your skills and expertise. Some examples of email opt-in freebies you can offer include:
Cheat Sheet or Checklist
I’ve got a great example of a checklist for business owners who want to make sure their blog posts are optimized for SEO.
Resource List
Think: a list of your favorite business books or time-saving tools you couldn’t live without
Workbooks or Journal Prompt
This can get a potential customer reflecting and prepared to start working with you
Discount or Coupon Code
This is popular among restaurants and e-commerce businesses and encourages people to shop or purchase from you
Printables, Templates, and Swipe Files
These are a great offer because they will save your customer time and energy having to revinvent the wheel!
Playlist
Have a favorite Spotify playlist you love to listen to while you work? Send it to your fans so they can join in on the fun!
Email Course or Challenge
A great example is my 5-Day Optimize Your Site SEO Challenge, designed for business owners who want to learn the basics of on-page SEO with quick and easy to understand tutorials
You can see, the options are endless! Get creative and don’t forget to give your subscriber value without giving away all of your intellectual property, of course.
bEST EMAIL MARKETING SERVICE FOR SQUARESPACE
Selecting the right email platform is a critical decision in your journey to build an email list. In my experience, FloDesk has emerged as a powerful and user-friendly option.
FloDesk is great about making regular updates and recently even added a check-out option for those who don’t want to set-up a fancy online store or sales page.
However, let's explore the pros and cons to give you a comprehensive understanding.
Pros and Cons of FloDesk
Benefits of FloDesk
FloDesk boasts a sleek and intuitive interface, making it easy for beginners to navigate. The platform offers customizable templates, automation features, and an impressive visual editor, allowing you to create eye-catching emails effortlessly.
The flat-rate pricing model, regardless of the size of your list, is a significant advantage for those looking to scale without increasing costs. Other platforms like Kajabi, MailChimp, and ConvertKit charge you a monthly subscription based on the number of subscribers you have, which can add up quickly!
FloDesk also integrates easily with many commonly used business platforms including Interact for making quizzes and ClickFunnels for building out sales and marketing sequences.
On the flip side, some users may find FloDesk's template selection slightly limited compared to other platforms.
Drawbacks of FloDesk
Additionally, while the platform excels in email marketing, its capabilities may be somewhat limited if you require advanced automation sequences. While it may not integrate seamlessly with every platform out there, I have found that most things connect with setting up a quick Zap using Zapier.
Do Squarespace and FloDesk Work Well Together?
Most find that integrating FloDesk with Squarespace is a seamless process.
To embed your opt-in forms on your website, you simply use the “Embed Block” in Squarespace and copy the inline code from FloDesk.
Another option is to link to a Full-Page Opt-In or add your form as a pop-up on your website. Here are links to tutorials for those:
How to Add an Inline Form to Your Squarespace Site Using FloDesk
How to Add an Opt-In Form to Your Squarespace Site - Pop-Up Version
FloDesk vs. MailChimp, MailerLite, Squarespace Email Marketing
Before settling on FloDesk, I explored various other platforms. Mailchimp, with its versatile features, is a popular choice, but it can become costly as your email list grows and I wasn’t able to set up a customer journey without upgrading to one of the middle-tier plans.
MailerLite, on the other hand, offers a free plan for smaller lists and is known for its simplicity, but again, once your list grows beyond a certain capacity, you’ll need to upgrade. I also found the design features to be a bit clunky compared to FloDesk.
The email marketing system used in Squarespace is easy to use, though again, somewhat limited in its capacity to design pretty email campaigns. I am more of a visual person and Squarespace doesn’t offer a way to easily see the workflow you have created on one-page.
Instead, you have to scroll through the sidebar and try to connect the dots on your own. Frustrating. However, if you want an all-in-one system at a reasonable price, Squarespace is not a bad option for those already using Squarespace to host their website.
Setting Up Email Delivery Workflow with FloDesk and Squarespace
Once you've chosen your email platform, the next crucial step is setting up an efficient email delivery workflow. This involves creating a series of automated emails that engage and nurture your subscribers.
With FloDesk, the process is streamlined, allowing you to design visually appealing campaigns and automate your email sequences.
In the first email, you’ll want to deliver the promised freebie, with a brief thank you and explanation of how to use and download the offer,
In the subsequent emails, you can add people to a welcome sequence where they can get to know more about you and your products or services. As you nurture your new subscribers, over time, they will be more likely to want to buy from you. Or they’ll unsubscribe, and that’s okay, too!
Promoting Your Freebie on Other Platforms
To maximize the growth of your email list, it's crucial to promote your freebie across various platforms. Utilize social media channels, create engaging blog content, and leverage other marketing avenues to drive traffic to your opt-in page.
You can post your freebie on your Instagram feed, share about it in stories, and even make a reel that encourages people to want to download your offer. This is a great strategy to do before launching a paid-product because you’ll get people on your email list and nurture them with intentional content leading to your paid offer.
Using Pinterest to Grow Your Email List
My favorite way to promote my freebies is using Pinterest. With Pinterest, you can “set it and forget it” by scheduling pins out weeks and months in advance.
I typically will include a free opt-in on some of my blog posts then create 5-10 pins for that blog post and post them on Pinterest. Pinterest is a great way to bring organic (unpaid) traffic to your website and doesn’t take much time at all.
If you want to learn more about my exact process for using Pinterest to get more website traffic and leads for my business, be sure to check out my RANK with Pinterest SEO mini-course, launching in February.
The moral of the story- don’t be shy talking about your offers and freebies! Cross-promotion between your website, social media accounts, and other online platforms will amplify your reach and attract a diverse audience.
Conclusion
Building an email list remains a cornerstone for effective communication and marketing and is one of the few ways you can make sure you have a consistent audience to market your small business to. Incorporating FloDesk and Squarespace into your strategy can streamline the process and enhance your ability to connect with your audience.
From creating compelling freebies to setting up automated workflows, the journey to a successful email list involves careful planning and execution. By implementing the insights shared in this blog post, you can take a significant step toward building a loyal and engaged audience, ready to connect with your brand on a deeper level.
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