How to Get Started with Email Marketing in 2026
**As you know, I only share products that I really love and this one is no different! This blog post was written in partnership for Flodesk and contains affiliate links! Thank you so much for reading and using my links to support my business!**
Email marketing isn’t new, and it also isn’t going away any time soon. In fact, email marketing is one of the top conventional marketing channels, especially in online business.
But sometimes, it’s intimidating.
💭 How do I get started with email marketing?
💭 How do I get people subscribed?
💭 What do I send to them after they are subscribed?
💭 What platform should I use?
And I get it — I mean, starting any new form of marketing can be intimidating at first. But as someone who has been in the online business space for the last 8 years and seeing the trends over the years, there is one thing that has remained constant and that is email marketing is crucial for scaling your business and Flodesk makes it simple.
I have been using Flodesk personally since 2019 (OG, baby!!), and I have helped multiple clients in the online space implement Flodesk into their tech stack as well so when I tell you that they are by far my favorite email marketing platform, I really do mean that.
Now, because I have been a Flodesk user for so long, I have also seen how much time and energy the team puts into bringing us updates and integrations that we ask for as their customer base, and boy, when we ask, THEY DELIVER, OKAY?! (Flodesk team, if you are reading this, I really appreciate you so, so much!!)
So in this blog post, I wanted to not only loop you in on all the reasons I love Flodesk, but I also wanted to share my top tips for getting started with email marketing so that if it’s a goal of yours in 2026, you can dive right in!
01. Pick your email marketing platform
A little sneak peek at just a few of them templates they have in their library!
Obviously, I recommend Flodesk. I have used other platforms in the past while working with clients and Flodesk is by far the most intuitive, which I think is really important when you are using technology! They also have the best in class templates (including ones you can’t find anywhere else), plus the ability to add custom fonts, brand colors, and even create your own templates (even if you aren’t a designer).
They also allow for you to set up automated workflows, so, for example, when someone opts into your email list, they can immediately start getting a welcome sequence (a series of a handful of emails) so they can get to know you and what it is you have to offer and how you can help them!
Flodesk also has forms (like a landing page!) and checkouts, which you can use to sell digital products, membership subscriptions, workshops, and more.
They have also added new integrations with Canva, Manychat, Thrivecart, and more which when you are running a business with so many moving pieces, it’s nice to have your tech talking to each other!
Plus, Flodesk is one of the most affordable options when you look at their features, their intuitive user experience, and their reliability(not to mention, the Flodesk team is full of incredible humans that genuinely care about their customers!). You can get started for just $19/month (on the annual Lite subscription plan), which gives you unlimited emails, unlimited forms, and 1 workflow (hello, welcome sequence!) Then, as your list or needs grow, you can upgrade to the Pro plan ($25/month on the annual plan) or the Everything plan, that gives you well, everything, for only $49/month on the annual plan!
PLUS, you can use my partner code (YOURBFFKATE) to save 25% off your first year!
02. Decide how you are going to get people on your list
I think we can all agree (especially after Black Friday/Cyber Weekend, which is when this blog post is going live) that our email inboxes can get a little crazy at times. I think more now than ever before, people are intentional about who they give their email address to — which is exactly why in order to get people who want to hear from you on your list, you need to provide value to them in return!
This could be through a freebie or a quiz, and it could also be by creating content (such as a newsletter) that you send out weekly or monthly! The idea is that you provide value in exchange for someone's email address!
Another way that people opt into my list is when I am doing some exclusive for my email list only. For example, before we launch our signature program, Beginner to Booked VA®, we build a waitlist using Flodesk’s forms! Then, when it’s time for the launch, the waitlist gets a special discount and/or bonus when they enroll in the program!
03. Create your email marketing strategy (but keep it simple at first!!)
Okay you got their email, now what?
Well, this is where that value comes in. Even if your subscribers opted in to download a freebie or they took your quiz, that shouldn’t be the only time they ever hear from you! Consistency is important with email (as it is with all kinds of marketing) but that doesn’t mean you have to send an email newsletter every week if you don’t have the capacity! Just decide how often you can commit to sending your list an email (once a week, biweekly, or monthly) and do your best to stick to that. One reason I love using email is that not everyone sees my posts on social media! So I don’t want them to miss out when I share valuable content that just gets lost in the algorithm.
Flodesk makes this really easy with their scheduling feature! Let’s say you want to send a weekly email (which would be 4-5 per month) — you could batch those emails in just a couple hours and then schedule them out (or have your virtual assistant schedule them!!) to automatically go on the days you want them to!
A more obvious way to use email is to use it to sell your services or offers! Now, I think its important to not JUST sell to people through email (because remember, we want to provide free value, too), but as I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, email marketing is one of the most high-covering forms of marketing when it comes to sales. So when you are planning out your sales and launch campaigns, make sure to consider email and not just social! The people that joined your list joined for a reason, and it’s likely because they see value in what you offer and they are starting to belief that you can help them solve their problem!
Email marketing can be intimidating, but if you have an online business and you are only relying on social media to connect with your audience, you are missing out (not to mention that if your social media disappeared tomorrow, how would you connect with people and sell your offers?!)! Flodesk makes it easy to get started, and as a partner with them, I have a special discount code that gets you 25% off your first year!
Use the code YOURBFFKATE at checkout for 25% off your first year!
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