When you’re building a podcast, your first thought probably isn’t, “I should start an email list.” You’re focused on recording great episodes, getting listeners, and maybe figuring out social media. Totally fair. But here’s the thing: If you’re not building an email list, you’re missing one of the most valuable tools for growing your podcast audience.
Email marketing for your podcast gives you direct access to your audience. No algorithms. No middlemen. Just a reliable, personal way to connect with the people who care about your content.
Benefits of Starting an Email List for Podcasters
Whether you’re just getting started or already have a growing show, here are the biggest benefits of building an email list for your podcast.
- Build a Loyal Listener Base: With regular emails, you stay top-of-mind between episodes. You can share updates, bonus content, or just check in with your audience—and that consistent contact can help you build a loyal community. The more connected your listeners feel, the more likely they are to keep tuning in, talk about your show, and support your work.
- Drive More Downloads (and Boost Visibility): Every time you publish a new episode, you want people to hear it. But with podcast apps, you’re often waiting for listeners to happen upon it. With email, you can send a direct link to your latest episode the moment it goes live so that your fans can check it out immediately. That can help boost it in the algorithms too.
- Unlock Monetization Opportunities: If you’re thinking about monetizing your podcast—now or in the future—an email list is one of the best tools you can have. Email lists are widely known as one of the highest RoI marketing channels. And because your subscribers already know and trust you, they’re more likely to take action when you recommend something.
- Create a Launchpad for Future Projects: Planning a live event? Launching a new podcast? Writing a book? Your email list becomes your built-in launch team. These are the people who already believe in your work and want to support what you do next. Instead of starting from scratch every time you launch something new, you’ve got a warm, ready audience who’s eager to hear about it.
How to Start an Email List
Starting an email list doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t need a massive audience, a fancy website, or even a perfectly planned strategy to begin. What you do need is a simple setup that makes it easy for listeners to sign up—and a way to stay in touch with them regularly.
Step #1: Choose an Email Marketing Platform
First things first: you need a tool to manage your list and send emails.
There are plenty of email platforms out there, but for podcasters, the best ones are simple, affordable, and built for creators. Here are a few popular options:
- Kit: Great for creators; easy to use, excellent automation tools.
- MailerLite: Beginner-friendly with solid features and a generous free plan.
- Substack: A newsletter-first platform; ideal if you want to write casually and build a paid audience over time.
- Flodesk: Beautiful design templates with an intuitive interface.
Step #2: Set Up a Signup Form (and Keep It Simple)
Once you’ve got your email platform, it’s time to create a signup form so listeners can subscribe. Include a clear headline, a short description of what subscribers should expect in your emails, and one or two fields such as their name and email address for signing up. The simpler you can keep it, the easier it’ll be for your audience to subscribe. Also, try to entice people with a reason to subscribe with a free offer such as a bonus episode, downloadable resource, or access to ask questions in your podcast’s Q&As.
Step #3: Create a Warm Welcome Email
Before you get subscribers, you want a welcome email ready to go. That way, as soon as someone hits that subscribe button, they get their first email that welcomes them to your list. In it, you should thank them for subscribing, provide them with any of the free offers you promised for subscribing, and give them some more details about what they should expect from your emails.
Step #4: Promote Your Email List
Now that you’ve got a signup form and something to offer, you need to let people know about it. Promote your email list consistently and clearly—especially during your episodes.
Here are a few simple ways to start promoting your email list:
- Mention it in every episode (with a clear call to action)
- Add the signup link to your show notes
- Include it in your podcast website, bio links, and social media profiles
- Pin a tweet or Instagram post with the signup link
- Use your podcast intro/outro to casually remind listeners about it
Step #5: Plan, Make, and Send Your Emails
Now that you’ve got your list growing, you need to start sending them emails. Consistency matters a lot. Don’t bombard your subscribers with daily emails, but you want them to be able to expect your emails on a certain day of the week or month. As for what to include in your emails, keep it personal, helpful, and aligned with your podcast’s tone. Think of it as an extension of your show—not a separate marketing channel.
Tips to Grow and Maintain Your Email List
Getting your email list set up is a great first step—but the real magic happens when you consistently grow and engage with that list over time. Here are some tips to help jumpstart your email list:
- Promote It Consistently in Your Podcast: One of the easiest ways to grow your list? Talk about it on your show. Your podcast audience is already engaged—they’re the perfect people to invite to your email community.
- Create a Simple, Irresistible Lead Magnet: If you want to give people an extra reason to subscribe, offer something valuable in return. A good lead magnet doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to solve a small problem or offer a quick win.
- Set Up a Welcome Sequence: A single welcome email is great—but a short welcome sequence is even better. It’s a great way to build trust and keep new subscribers engaged from the very start without needing to write emails manually every time someone joins.
- Keep Your Emails Personal and Casual: The best emails feel like they’re written by a real person, not a marketer. So write the way you talk. Keep your tone friendly, helpful, and aligned with your podcast personality.
Conclusion
Building an email list may not be the flashiest part of podcasting—but it’s easily one of the most powerful. You don’t need a massive following, a marketing degree, or a fancy strategy to get started. All it takes is a simple signup form, a clear reason to subscribe, and a little consistency over time.
Your podcast deserves to be heard. And your listeners? They want to connect with you beyond the episode. An email list makes that possible.
So if you’ve been putting it off, now’s the time. Start small. Keep it simple. And let your email list grow alongside your podcast.
