The #1 Way I Grew My Email List without a Lead Magnet or Social Media [Ep. 169]

How I Grew My Email List Without Freebies or Social Media

Have you been spinning your wheels trying to grow your email list with little results? Are you tired of being told you need to create yet another freebie or dance and point on social media?

I want to share how I transformed my business by tripling (and even quadrupling) my email list without relying on social media, paid ads, or the standard lead magnet freebies that everyone claims are essential.

My List Growth Journey

Back in 2022, I had only about 150 subscribers after nearly two and a half years of trying to build my list. The problem? I was making critical mistakes:

1. I created lead magnets that didn't lead anywhere
2. I had no customer journey mapped out
3. I lacked clarity on my offer and ideal client
4. My business wasn't aligned with God's design yet

Then I discovered a strategy that changed everything. In just weeks, I tripled my email list. More recently, I grew my list by 162 amazing women in just 22 days – all while I was sick and unable to actively work on my business!

The Strategy: Leveraging Collaboration as Your Top-of-Funnel Lead Magnet

The key to my success has been using collaborations as my primary lead generation strategy. Instead of relying on traditional freebies, I focus on:

• Value Visibility: Strategically showing up where my ideal audience already gathers by participating in collaborations, guest teaching, and providing genuine value
• Voice Visibility: Building relationships and credibility by lending my unique voice to conversations through podcast guesting, collaborative projects, and partnership events

This framework focuses on quality over quantity, resulting in more engaged subscribers right from day one.

Recent Results

Those 162 new subscribers I mentioned? They came from just two bundle events I participated in. And my current open rates hover between 30-50% (well above industry standards), with click-through rates also exceeding averages.

This tells me I'm not just growing my list – I'm growing it with the right people who genuinely engage with my content.

Why I Don't Rely on Social Media

Here's where I might be a bit controversial: I intentionally shifted away from social media as my primary list-building strategy. Why?

• Social media algorithms control your reach
• Platform tactics and strategies constantly change
• Success becomes tied to something outside your control

Instead, I focused on strategic partnerships that give me direct access to my audience without algorithm interference. This doesn't mean I abandoned social media completely (though I did lose all my accounts to hacking in January 2025 right before a huge launch). I still maintain a presence, but it's supplementary rather than foundational.

The freedom this shift has given me is incredible! I'm no longer stressed about posting daily or keeping up with the latest trends. I've reclaimed hours each week to better serve my audience and clients.

My Email Growth Drivers

Here's what actually drives my list growth:

1. Strategic collaborations: Carefully selected bundle events where my offer is positioned alongside complementary experts serving the same audience
2. Speaking at virtual summits: Events with hosts committed to promotion and audiences that match mine
3. Hosting my own collaboration events: This gives the biggest return on time invested as you control the positioning and collect all email addresses

The power of collaboration strategies is that they bring in pre-qualified subscribers – people who have actively said "yes" to your content rather than random clicks on ads or freebies.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As you rethink your email growth strategy, watch out for these common pitfalls:

1. Chasing vanity metrics: Focusing on likes, shares, or subscriber count over engagement and quality
2. Inconsistency: Emailing sporadically instead of maintaining regular contact (at least weekly)
3. Treating your list like an ATM: Only showing up when you have something to sell
4. Never making offers: Not giving subscribers opportunities to say yes to your products or services
5. Overwhelming new subscribers: Giving too much content with confused messaging that doesn't lead to a clear next step

Your Action Steps

Ready to implement this strategy yourself? Here's where to start:

1. Identify 2-3 potential collaboration opportunities for this quarter (remember: what you do today affects your business 60-90 days out)
2. Implement the visibility framework by asking where you can provide genuine value and lend your voice to existing conversations
3. Commit to nurturing your current list consistently with a simple email schedule
4. Audit your current list-building strategies and honestly evaluate what's working and what isn't

Remember, sustainable business growth comes from focusing on the right strategies, not all the strategies. By making strategic collaborations your top-of-funnel lead magnet, you can build a thriving email list of engaged people who genuinely want to hear from you.

Looking for help with collaboration strategies? Whether you want to host your own event or participate in others', I can help you determine the right fit for your business and season of life. Reach out today!

LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE:

The #1 Lead Magnet Mistake Christian Women in Online Business Make Podcast Episode #167:

https://businessbygodsdesign.com/167-lead-magnet-mistake-christian-women-entrepreneurs/

Ready to find collaboration opportunities without being a slave to social media? Join the Kingdom Business Revolution community app today! 

In our exclusive off-social media community, we do the hard work for you by curating potential collaboration opportunities in our dedicated Collaboration Corner.

My team and I scour social media for valuable partnerships, bundle events, and summit opportunities, then bring them directly to you.

Connect with like-minded Christian entrepreneurs, access curated collaboration listings, and grow your business in alignment with God's design—all in one dedicated space away from algorithm changes and digital noise.

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Stop scrolling endlessly for opportunities and start growing strategically. Your next business-changing collaboration is just a click away!

 

Next Steps:

If you're ready to ditch the social media hamster wheel and build a business by God's design:

Listen to my "Grow Without the Scroll" private podcast, where I share my seven-step faith-filled framework to leverage the power of collaborations!  Grab it here!

 

Take this 62 second quiz to........ Discover the #1 Piece of God's Divine Blueprint that You are Missing in Launching Your Profitable Business By God's Design: https://go.kristindronchi.com/quiz

 

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↳Called to Business: Clarify Your Kingdom Calling: Go from Zero Business Clarity to a Kingdom-Aligned Business in 60 Days or Less without the endless Confusion!   ↳Business By God's Design Academy The 5-Step Roadmap for Holy Spirit Led Women Ready to Create & Launch a Profitable, Impactful and Scalable Online Business By God’s Design without being slave to social media