Why Your Email List Won't Grow (And the Fix)

"Six months. Twelve subscribers. Three are family."

You’re doing everything they told you to. You have a freebie. You mention it in your social media posts. You’ve even put a little sign-up form on your website.

And yet, your email list is a ghost town. A few tumbleweeds roll by now and then, but for the most part, it’s just… quiet. You feel like you’re shouting into the void, and the void isn’t even bothering to echo back.

You think you need to be louder. More aggressive. More… annoying.

You’ve been told that if your list isn’t growing, you’re not promoting it enough. You need more pop-ups. More calls to action. More “Don’t miss out!” urgency.

But the thought of being that person makes your skin crawl. You didn’t start your business to become a digital carnival barker. You started it to help people. And the aggressive, in-your-face tactics feel like the opposite of help.

But what if the problem isn’t your volume? What if it’s your invitation?

When you throw a great party, people will want to be there. No begging, bribing, or bullying required.

Here’s the truth no one talks about: The best parties have the best invitations. And you need to be sending out those invitations a couple of times a week.

People don’t join email lists because they’re bullied into it. They join because they’re invited into something that feels exclusive, valuable, and genuinely interesting. They join because they want to be there. For more on this, check out our post on How to Gain Email Subscribers Without the Sleaze.

So, how do you throw a better party? Here are a few ideas.

1. The VIP List: The Velvet Rope Treatment

Instead of a generic “Join my newsletter,” what if you offered a spot on your VIP list? A place where they get first access to everything: new products, early-bird pricing, exclusive content. It’s not a newsletter; it’s an inner circle.

This isn’t about creating fake scarcity. It’s about rewarding your most engaged followers with real value. It’s the digital equivalent of a velvet rope, and it works.

2. The Quiz: The Self-Discovery Journey

People love to learn about themselves. A quiz is a powerful way to tap into that desire and provide real value in exchange for an email address. Instead of a boring PDF, you’re offering a moment of self-discovery. As Jessica Miller explains in her guide on how to build a quiz with Interact, the key is to make it about a topic your audience really cares about.

Create a quiz that helps your audience understand a problem, identify their strengths, or discover their unique style. The results of the quiz are delivered via email, along with a personalized follow-up sequence that speaks directly to their results. It’s a conversation, not a transaction.

3. The ManyChat Keyword: The Effortless Entry

What if getting on your email list was as easy as sending a text? With a tool like ManyChat, it can be. You can set up a keyword that people can comment on your social media posts. When they do, they get an automated DM that invites them to join your list. It’s a frictionless experience that meets them where they are. No clicking away to a different website. No filling out a long form. Just a simple, easy “yes.” ManyChat has a great tutorial on how to set this up for Instagram that walks you through the process [2].

4. The Funnel: The Guided Tour

Sometimes, the best invitation is a guided tour. A well-designed sales funnel can be a powerful way to introduce people to your work and invite them to join your list at the perfect moment. It’s not about tricking them into a sale; it’s about building trust and providing value every step of the way. If you want to learn how to build a funnel that feels good, you can download my free guide, 5 Simple Steps to Design a Sales Funnel That Gets Results.

It’s not about being louder. It’s about being more inviting. And more consistent.

Stop thinking about your email list as a chore. Start thinking about it as a party. A party where you get to connect with your favourite people and share your best work. And remember to send out your invitations a couple of times a week.

When you throw a great party, and you consistently invite people to it, they will want to be there. No begging, bribing, or bullying required.

BE THE HOST, NOT THE HECKLER.