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Think no one reads emails anymore? I totally get that—because I used to believe that, too. I mean, we’re all drowning in unread emails, right? 

But here’s the kicker: my biggest sales as a brand and website designer haven’t come from Instagram, Facebook, or any social media platform. They’ve come straight from my email list—the one I almost ignored.

In fact, one particular string of emails generated substantial sales from subscribers who were already engaged in The “A” Listemail community, my modestly small (less than 500 subscribers) bi-weekly email for Iowa small business entrepreneurs. Keep reading for more on that.

My Email List has Consistently Driven More Sales than Instagram Ever Has

Don’t get me wrong—both social media and email lists have their place in my marketing plan. I’ve connected with some amazing people on social media, and it definitely has its place, but here’s the thing about social media algorithms. They can take away your audience whenever they want. One day, your post could reach 500 people; the next, it’s buried under a sea of cat videos, ‘TikTok made me buy it’ reels, or “suggested posts” I care nothing about.  🤦‍♀️ 

Meanwhile, my emails? They land directly in my subscribers' inboxes—no algorithm, no guessing game. 

The best part about an email subscriber is that they have voluntarily signed up to hear more from you on their own terms, and they are already “warmed up” to you and ready to engage.

In this post, I’m breaking down how I built an engaged email list—and how you can do the same with Flodesk, my favorite platform EVER. It’s the game-changer that made email marketing easier, from designing beautiful emails to automating list-building and seeing results—no tech degree or hours of work required.

Start your no-obligation trial using  THIS LINK. No credit card required! If you love it, use code STUDIOADESIGNS at checkout to get 50% off your first year of Flodesk! 

Why Flodesk Works Better than Other Email Platforms like Squarespace or Convertkit

I always knew email marketing was important, but every platform I tried felt like a second job—complicated dashboards, hidden pricing, and templates from a 1999 corporate newsletter. No thanks! I tried to make them work, but my inner designer was screaming. Then, I found ✨Flodesk,✨ and it was like the clouds parted and angels sang. *Que heavenly hallelujah music!*

Easy & Aesthetically Beautiful Email Builder

Sending aesthetically pleasing emails is crucial for any business owner who wants to build trust and look professional. I’m not just saying that because I’m a designer. 😆 It does make a difference to potential buyers. Flodesk’s click-and-drag builder makes it easier than ever to create beautifully branded emails (no coding or design team required). 

One Monthly Price, Unlimited Subscribers

Unlike competitors, Flodesk doesn’t penalize you for growing your list. You can have unlimited emails and subscribers for one flat rate.  Whether you have 200 subscribers or 200,000, there are no billing surprises!

You Don’t Have to Rely on a Website to Bring in Sales

If you’re just starting out with your business, you may not have a brand presence   or website yet. And that’s okay! Flodesk’s Checkout feature is online selling without the hassle.  You can simplify product sales, service bookings, and digital purchases without needing a website or sales platform; creating an easy-to-use checkout becomes a beautiful customer experience from start to purchase to email confirmation.

Automated Workflow Templates

With Flodesk, you can set up automated sequences (welcome emails, sales funnels, follow-ups) to work for you 24/7. I’m not talking about generic, over-the-top sales emails here. The workflow templates available are deeply personalized and created with sales conversion in mind.

Core Features Beyond Email List Building

From link-in bio pages to video forms, countdowns, and freebie signups, these standalone landing pages (again, no website required) engage your audience and encourage them to take action. Flodesk forms can help you entice your audience to join a waitlist, subscribe to a free resource, or make a reservation.

How Flodesk Helps Me Grow My Business (Without a Massive Email List)

I had just a few subscribers when I started email marketing, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to send. I didn’t start out using all of the amazing features Flodesk offered, because I just wanted to do SOMETHING to get going, but I decided to give it a good year and commit to consistently showing up in the inboxes of those excited about hearing from me. Flodesk made the process easy with customizable and creative templates that were easy enough for beginners like me.

I’ll never forget the first Black Friday promotion I had ever done. I had hyped it up on social media…🦗🦗🦗crickets. I posted, I engaged, I refreshed my notifications like a maniac…nothing. As a last-ditch effort, I sent an email that ended up selling four booked VIP Design Days   in a matter of a week. It was uh-maz-ing, to say the least. I attribute this to my connection with my subscribers and the trust I had built before prompting the offer. 

Fast-forward several years, and I’ve tweaked, modified, and started utilizing more Flodesk capabilities to continue my growth. Here are some of my favorite ways Flodesk helps me grow my business.

I Aim for Personalized Messaging, Sales Second

No one wants to feel like they are a part of a mass-marketing blast. Rather than constantly pushing offers that feel generic, I use my emails to educate, inspire, and build trust  with my subscribers, speaking directly to them so it’s a conversation between friends. Flodesk makes this easy with a library of beautifully designed templates and personalization options to match my brand. The “A” List content usually includes branding, SEO & website tips, personal stories, lessons as a small business entrepreneur, client wins, and special offers.

I Utilize Lead Magnets That Attract the Right People

While sometimes the words “Join my email list,” are enough, I also offer free resources   that are useful to my audience. Flodesk makes it easy to create high-converting opt-in forms and automate the delivery of my freebie—so I can build my list on autopilot.

I Focus on Analytics & Conversion

Sending emails is great, but I want to know what’s actually working. Flodesk has built-in analytics  that helps me track open rates, click-through rates, best-performing subject lines, and which subscribers are most engaged, to help me test, tweak, and improve future emails and offers.

I Use Link Actions & Workflows

Flodesk’s link actions help me track engagement and personalize workflows even further. Creating link actions automatically tags subscribers based on their clicks, allowing me to see who is interested in a specific topic. It can even trigger follow-up emails based on that engagement for a personalized experience. For example, if someone clicks on a link about branding, I can send them additional content or a special offer relating to that service.

I Organize Subscribers Using Segments

Not every subscriber wants the same thing from me, which is why I use segments to send targeted emails to different groups. Flodesk’s segmentation tools help me group subscribers based on interests (e.g., Branding vs. Website Design, or VIP Design Day Openings). This helps me keep my engagement up and send tailored promotions to only those who find them relevant.

Why Flodesk? Because it Works!

I’m living proof that you don’t need a massive email list to see sales results. Flodesk makes it easy to grow your list, increase engagement, and send emails that look and feel personal and professional.

Ready to stop fighting with social media algorithms and start growing a list that actually wants to hear from you?  Try Flodesk for free (No credit card required), no commitment, just beautifully simple email marketing that actually works.

Your designer friend always,