Building an Email List as a Small Marketplace Seller
An email list is one of the few marketing assets you actually own. Here's how a small seller can build one honestly.
Ask permission, once, clearly
Include a small card in every package: 'Prefer to hear when I release new work? Sign up at this URL.' No dark patterns, no pre-checked boxes.
Send infrequently
Small sellers almost never need weekly emails. Once a month, or when there's genuinely something new, is plenty. Frequency does not equal effectiveness.
Write like a person
A short, personal, direct email out-performs a template every time. If your emails read like they were written by a robot, they will be treated like they were written by a robot.
Respect the list
Don't sell, rent, or swap the list. It is one of the few assets your business has, and treating it well pays for itself.
This article is part of the Suliit editorial series on online commerce for independent sellers and buyers. Suliit is a U.S.-based marketplace operated from Prince Frederick, Maryland.