How Do I Build an Email List from Social Media?
If there’s one thing every small business should prioritize in 2026, it’s growing an email list. Why? Because you own your list. That means no swearing "it's the algorithm" or being out of luck when a social media app is down for the day.
Email lists are a space where your most engaged followers can live and further connect with your brand. Not only that, but it's amazing for converting and generating major revenue. I mean, we literally
Needless to say, an email list can be a huge revenue stream. But, how do you build that list from social media? That's exactly what we are going to break down for you today. First, let's talk about marketing funnels.
The Marketing Funnel
The marketing funnel is a strategic framework that charts the customer's journey from initial awareness of your business to becoming a loyal advocate. It's often represented by the acronym AIDA + L, which stands for awareness, interest, desire, action, and loyalty, the stages of the marketing funnel.
Awareness: The moment when potential customers first discover your business.
Interest: When they have expressed interest in your offer — visited your website, signed up for your newsletter, or engaged with your content.
Desire: During this phase, potential customers actively consider your offer. They might compare your offerings to competitors and seek more information.
Action: When they convert into a paying customer by making a purchase.
Loyalty: After the purchase, your focus shifts to retaining and nurturing the customer, fostering loyalty, and encouraging them to become brand advocates.
Think about how you are going to weave in your marketing channels and content in each channel to guide each customer through the stages of this funnel. We often like to think of it this way
Social = attracting and warming leads
Email = nurturing and converting
How Do I Build an Email List from Social Media?
Create a Lead Magnet
What would make someone easily hand over their email address to you? Our inboxes are a personal place. Lots of people don't like to give out their email addresses for the sake of protecting their time and energy of having to go through them all to find things they actually want to see. So, you need something of value to them, so it doesn't just feel like they are signing up for spam.
eBook or step-by-step guide.
Checklist.
Tutorial.
Workbook.
Template or script.
Access to a free resource library.
Swipe file.
Planner or calendar.
Promote Your Freebie Frequently
This isn't just a one-time promo. This should be something you're promoting often to continue to get new people on your list. Try promoting this —
Weekly in Stories
Once a week in the feed content
As a CTA at the end of value posts
In your bio
In your pinned posts
Inside Reels that solve the problem the lead magnet addresses
Make it Exclusive
Your email list should be your favorite fans; show them a little love for being on the list to make it feel exclusive and valuable to join. It can be helpful to put this as a pop-up on your website to ensure those who are clicking your link in bio on socials are being funneled into your email list as well.
Discounts
VIP pricing
Early access to launches
Email-only tutorials
First dibs on new offer
Make It Easy
People won’t hunt for your email sign-up link. We, as consumers, are lazy; we want things to be easy to find! Put the link to sign up:
In the link in your bio
Blogs
Story highlights
TikTok link hub
End of Reels
In Instagram posts
Make Your Brand Worth Following
Make your brand so worth following that they want to continue to be a loyal part of your audience. Take the time to nurture your audience on socials, and they won't be able to get enough of your brand.
In sum, building an email list from social media isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a strategic move that directly impacts your revenue. It's more than just names and addresses; it’s a channel directly into the inbox of your most engaged audience. Start building and nurturing it today, and you’ll see just how powerful socials and email can work together.
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