Send Your First Email (Without the Panic!) 📧
That blank email screen can be intimidating, right? "What do I say? What if they unsubscribe? What if nobody opens it?" Deep breath. We're going to send your first email together, and it's going to be easier than you think.
First, Let's Fix Your Email Mindset
You're not "bothering" people. If someone gave you their email, they WANT to hear from you! They're literally asking for your help. Not emailing them is actually doing them a disservice.
Before We Start: Who Are We Emailing?
You need at least one person to email to. If you don't have a list yet:
Super Quick List Building:
- Add yourself (seriously, for testing)
- Ask 5 friends who might be interested
- Post on social: "I'm starting a newsletter about [topic]. Who wants in?"
- Import existing contacts (with permission!)
Even 10 people is enough to start. Everyone starts somewhere!
Step 1: Add Your Contacts (2 minutes)
- Go to GROW → CRM
- Click "Add Contact" or "Import"
- Add emails manually or upload a CSV
- Tag them (like "newsletter" or "friends")
⚠️ Permission Reminder
Only add people who've explicitly agreed to receive emails from you. It's not just polite - it's the law (and it protects your sender reputation).
Step 2: Create Your Email (5 minutes)
- Go to GROW → Email
- Click "Create Broadcast"
- Choose "Start from scratch" (we're keeping it simple)
Step 3: Write Your Subject Line (2 minutes)
The subject line is 80% of your success. If they don't open, nothing else matters!
Subject Line Formulas That Work:
- Curiosity: "The weird trick that doubled my productivity"
- Benefit: "Get 2 hours back in your day (starting tomorrow)"
- Question: "Are you making this meal prep mistake?"
- Number: "3 reasons your photos look amateur (and how to fix them)"
- Personal: "Quick question for you, Sarah"
Keep it under 50 characters so it doesn't get cut off on mobile!
Step 4: Write Your Email (10 minutes)
Use this simple template for your first email:
The "First Email" Template:
Opening (Personal Connection):
"Hey [Name]! Hope you're having a great [day of week]."
Why You're Writing (1-2 sentences):
"I wanted to share something that's been working really well for me lately..."
The Value (Main Content):
Share ONE useful thing:
- A tip they can use today
- A resource that helped you
- A quick win strategy
- An inspiring story
- A helpful tool
Call to Action (What's Next):
"Try this out and let me know how it goes!"
OR
"Check out my new mini-course on this topic [link]"
Sign Off (Keep it Casual):
"Talk soon,
[Your name]"
P.S. (Optional but Powerful):
"P.S. Reply and tell me your biggest challenge with [topic]. I read every email!"
Real Example:
Subject: The 10-minute trick that changed my mornings
Hey Sarah!
Hope your week is off to a good start.
I wanted to share something that's completely transformed my mornings (and it only takes 10 minutes).
Instead of checking my phone first thing, I do this:
- 5 minutes: Write down 3 things I'm grateful for
- 3 minutes: Set my top 3 priorities for the day
- 2 minutes: Do some quick stretches
I know it sounds simple, but this tiny routine has made me SO much more focused and less stressed throughout the day.
Give it a try tomorrow morning and see how you feel!
Talk soon,
Jessica
P.S. If you want more morning routine tips, I just created a mini-course with my complete system. Check it out here: [link]
Step 5: Preview and Test (3 minutes)
- Click "Preview" to see how it looks
- Send a test email to yourself
- Check it on your phone (most people read on mobile!)
- Click all links to make sure they work
- Fix any typos or formatting issues
Step 6: Send It! (1 minute)
🎯 Time to Pull the Trigger!
Your first email won't be perfect. That's okay! The hardest email to send is the first one. After this, it gets easier every time. Your audience is waiting to hear from you. Hit send!
After You Send: What to Expect
Check Your Stats (But Don't Obsess):
- Open Rate: 20-30% is good for a first email
- Click Rate: 2-5% is normal if you included links
- Unsubscribes: A few are NORMAL and healthy (they weren't your people anyway)
Remember: 20% open rate means 80% didn't open... YET. They might open it later, or next time. Keep sending!
Email Ideas for Your Next Sends
- Share a customer success story
- Behind-the-scenes of creating your product
- Answer a common question
- Share a failure and what you learned
- Give a free resource or template
- Announce something new you're working on
- Curate helpful links from around the web
Common First Email Fears (Solved)
"What if no one opens it?"
Then you'll try a different subject line next time! Every email is data. Low open rate = test new subjects. It's not personal, it's just testing.
"What if people unsubscribe?"
GOOD! You want an engaged list of people who actually want to hear from you. Every unsubscribe makes your list healthier. Quality > Quantity.
"What if I say something wrong?"
You're human. If you make a mistake, send another email: "Oops, here's what I meant..." People actually love this - it makes you real!
"I don't know what to write about"
Write the email you wish someone had sent you a year ago. What would have helped you? That's your email!