How I Grow and Connect with My Email List
If you have been putting off starting an email list because it feels complicated or expensive, I want to talk you out of that hesitation today. Building my email list is one of the things I wish I had prioritized sooner.
I have tried a few different email platforms over the years, and the one I kept coming back it is Kit. It’s built specifically for creators, which means it does not feel like overkill the way some of the bigger platforms do, and it does not feel too basic either. It hits a sweet spot that works really well for bloggers and content creators who are just getting serious about their lists.
This is not a post telling you that email marketing will make you rich overnight. It is a post about why having an email list matters and a bit about the platform that I use and how I use it so you can decide if it is the right fit for you too.
This post contains affiliate links for products that I actually use and recommend. Any purchases made after clicking these links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, you can view the full affiliate disclosure. Thank you for all of your support.
Your Email List Matters More Than Your Follower Counts
I know this sounds like something everyone says, but it is worth repeating because it is genuinely true:
you do not own your social media followers.
Any platform can change its algorithm, reduce your reach, or disappear entirely.
Think about how often you see creators you actually follow in your feed these days. Most platforms are pushing you new content by other creators that match your interest. So the same thing is likely happening to everyone who follows you.
Your email list is yours and no algorithm stands between you and the people who signed up to hear from you.
For side hustlers and content creators, that matters a lot. When you have a digital product to launch, a new post to share, or an affiliate offer your audience would actually find useful, email is still the highest-converting channel by a wide margin. My email list is small compared to some creators, but the people on it are genuinely interested in what I share, and that makes a real difference when it comes to clicks and conversions.
What Is Kit?
Kit is an email marketing platform designed specifically for creators and bloggers. It was called ConvertKit for years and recently rebranded, but the product is essentially the same. It lets you build and manage your email list, create automated sequences, set up forms and landing pages to capture new subscribers, and send broadcast emails to your whole list or specific segments of it.
The interface is clean and straightforward. You are not wading through features you will never use. For someone who is just starting out, that simplicity is genuinely valuable.
What Kits’s FREE PLAN Includes
Kit has a free plan that covers up to 1,000 subscribers, which is more than enough to get started and grow for a long time before you need to pay anything. On the free plan you can send broadcast emails, create basic signup forms, and build a simple landing page.
Where the free plan is limited is automations. If you want to set up a welcome sequence that automatically sends new subscribers a series of emails over a few days, you need a paid plan. This becomes especially valuable when you want to set up a sales funnel for a product launch or to nurture subscribers and encourage them to look at your paid products.
How I Use Kit For My Email List
I use Kit to manage my newsletter for These Days of Grace. Right now I send a monthly email to my subscribers sharing what I have been working on, a useful tip related to side hustles or affiliate marketing, and links to recent posts they might have missed.
I also use Kit forms, like the one below, embedded in my blog posts to capture new subscribers. When someone reads a post about affiliate marketing and sees a relevant opt-in offer, they can sign up directly from the post without leaving the page. Kit makes it easy to create those forms and drop them into WordPress.
The analytics are simple but useful. I can see open rates, click rates, and which links people actually clicked. That tells me what my audience is interested in so I can write more of it.
Setting Up an Email List with kit
Getting set up is easier than you might think. Here is the basic process:
Step 1: Create your free account
Step 2: Set up your first form
A form is how people subscribe to your list. Kit has a form builder that is drag and drop and takes about ten minutes to set up. You can embed the form on your website or use a Kit-hosted landing page if you do not have a site yet.
Step 3: Write a simple welcome email
When someone subscribes, you want them to hear from you right away. Set up a single welcome email that introduces yourself, tells them what to expect, and maybe links to one of your best pieces of content. This does not have to be long, a few paragraphs is fine.
Step 4: Connect Kit to your website
If you are on WordPress, Kit has a plugin that makes it simple to add forms to your posts and pages. Install it, connect it to your Kit account, and you can drop forms anywhere on your site.
Step 5: Start sending
Do not wait until you have a huge list to start emailing. Send to whoever has signed up. The habit of showing up consistently matters more than the size of your list, especially early on.
Is Kit The Best Choice for you?
Kit is a great fit if you are a blogger, content creator, or side hustler who wants an email platform that is easy to use, built for creators, and free to start. It is not the cheapest paid option out there once you scale up, but for where most beginners are starting, the free plan is genuinely solid.
If you are already using something like Mailchimp and it is working for you, there is no urgent reason to switch. But if you have been putting off starting an email list because you are not sure where to begin, Kit removes most of the friction. It is the platform I recommend to anyone just getting started.
Click Here to Start Your Free Kit Account
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT KIT
Is Kit really free?
Yes, Kit has a free plan that supports up to 1,000 subscribers. You can send broadcast emails and create basic forms without paying anything. Automations and some advanced features require a paid plan.
Is Kit the same as ConvertKit?
Yes. ConvertKit rebranded to Kit in 2024. The product is the same, just with a new name and updated branding.
Do I need a big audience to start an email list?
No, and honestly the sooner you start the better. Even if you only have a handful of subscribers at first, building the habit of showing up consistently is what matters. Your list grows over time.
Can I use Kit with a self-hosted WordPress site?
Yes. Kit has a WordPress plugin that makes it easy to add signup forms to any post or page on your site.
What should I send to my email list?
Start simple. Share your latest blog post, a tip related to your niche, or something you learned recently. Your subscribers signed up because they want to hear from you, so do not overthink it. Consistency matters more than perfection.
How is Kit different from Mailchimp?
Both are solid platforms, but Kit is built specifically for creators and bloggers while Mailchimp is more of a general-purpose tool. Kit’s interface is simpler and its automation features are more creator-focused. Mailchimp’s free plan used to be more generous, but Kit’s free tier has caught up significantly.
