How to Start an Email List: Building Genuine Connections Beyond the Algorithm
If you're tired of spending all your energy—and money—on social media just to feel like you're shouting into the void, you're not alone.
The cost of marketing on social media isn't just financial. It's emotional. It's your time, your energy, your creativity, your nervous system. This workshop was designed to help you build something more sustainable.
take me to the workshop!
"How to Start an Email List: Building Genuine Connections Beyond the Algorithm" is a marketing course video built for small business owners, creatives, and changemakers who are ready to explore digital marketing without social media—and want to do it with heart.
What You’ll Learn in the Workshop Replay
This is not your typical "build your list fast" training. It's grounded in anti-capitalist values and built for folks who care about connection, consent, and community.
Inside this marketing course video, we cover:
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Why email marketing is more effective (and less exhausting) than social media
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The key elements in marketing that matter for building trust
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The difference between email marketing and traditional sales funnels
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How to set up your first email list and choose the right tools (no tech expertise required)
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How to write emails that sound like you—warm, clear, and grounded in marketing values
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A simple 5-part nurture sequence template
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Real-life examples from businesses doing this well
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What ethical, consent-based growth actually looks like
We’ll also talk about the blurry line between marketing and sales and why it’s okay to ask: is marketing and sales the same? (Spoiler: not quite.)
What You'll Receive (via Email)
Once you opt-in, you'll receive access to:
🧰 1. How to Start an Email List Workbook
Includes writing prompts, setup checklists, and a 5-part welcome email template you can customize.
🌸 2. Branch & Thorn Welcome Sequence
A real-life example of a nurture sequence that leads to CSA sales without a lead magnet. A great case study in values-first marketing.
💸 3. Liberatory Finance Welcome Sequence
A short, effective sequence that delivers a free 4-part workshop series via email. A brilliant example of how digital marketing without social media can still lead to real sales.
✍️ 4. Subject Line + Preview Text Guide
Packed with 36 subject line examples and tips to boost your open rates while staying true to your voice.
Why I Made This Workshop
So many of the folks I work with feel burnt out by the cost of marketing on social media. It asks us to perform constantly, rewards urgency, and penalizes rest. But your business doesn’t have to rely on algorithms to grow.
I created this workshop to offer a calm, clear, doable path forward. Email marketing is one of the most effective elements in marketing for small business owners—and you don’t need to be a tech expert or a “marketer” to do it well.
You just need a little guidance and some real examples to follow.
This is about building relationships, not funnels. And redefining what success looks like outside of social media likes.
About Me 👋
Hey, I’m Emily Eley. I’m an anti-capitalist business coach, organizer, and firm believer that business can be a tool for collective care—not just profit. I help small business owners rethink their models, reconnect to their marketing values, and build sustainable systems for growth that don’t burn them out.
I've worked with hundreds of business owners across Vermont and beyond to build marketing strategies that feel good, make sense, and center real human connection.
My work is rooted in the idea that we can opt out of the extractive systems we’ve been handed—and build new ones that actually support our communities.
You can learn more about me and my coaching philosophy at the button below. I'm so glad you're here, comrade.
learn more about my coachingReady to build an email list that’s rooted in your values—not just algorithms?
