Do I need an email list if I already post on social media?

It helps. Social platforms decide who sees your posts, and that can change at any time. An email list lets you reach people who asked to hear from you, which is especially useful when you launch a course or product.

Is Kit free to start?

Yes. As of October 2026, Kit has a Free plan with unlimited forms, landing pages, and email broadcasts, up to a subscriber limit. Automated email sequences need a paid plan. Check Kit's pricing page for the current details.

How often should I email my list?

Pick a schedule you can keep, such as once a week or every two weeks. Consistency matters more than frequency when you are starting out.

How to Start an Email List as a New Creator (with Kit)

Why an email list matters for creators

When you post on social media, the platform decides who sees it. A change in the algorithm can cut your reach overnight. An email list is different: the people on it asked to hear from you, and you can reach them directly.

For creators who want to teach or sell online, that makes an email list one of the most useful things to build early — long before you have a course or product ready. When you do launch, you will already have people who know you.

This guide walks through a simple setup using Kit (formerly ConvertKit), an email marketing tool built for creators.

What you need before you start

A topic. What will you email people about? Keep it close to what you want to teach or sell later.
A reason to subscribe. People rarely sign up for "my newsletter." They sign up for something useful (more on this in Step 2).
About an hour for the first setup.

Step 1: Create your Kit account

Go to Kit's website and create an account. Kit has a Free plan that includes unlimited forms, landing pages, and email broadcasts, up to a subscriber limit (as of October 2026). Automated email sequences need a paid plan; third-party sources list paid plans from $39 per month, so check Kit's pricing page for current prices.

During setup, you will usually be asked about your business and your audience. Answer honestly — it only affects suggestions inside the app.

Step 2: Create a simple "lead magnet"

A lead magnet is a small, free thing you give in exchange for an email address. For a new creator, it can be very simple:

a one-page checklist,
a short email mini-course (for example, 3 emails over 3 days),
a template or worksheet related to your topic.

Choose something you can create in an afternoon. You can always replace it later.

Step 3: Make your first sign-up form or landing page

Next, create the place where people actually subscribe.

Kit lets you create both of these, including on the Free plan:

a form you can embed on your blog, and
a landing page — a standalone page with its own link, useful when you do not have a website yet.

Keep the page short: a clear headline, two or three bullet points about what they get, and the sign-up box.

Step 4: Write a welcome email

The first email people receive sets the tone. A good welcome email:

delivers what you promised (the checklist, template, etc.),
says in one or two sentences who you are and what you will send,
asks a simple question, such as "What is the biggest thing you are stuck on right now?"

Replies to that question are gold: they tell you what to write about — and what your future course should cover.

Free plan vs. paid plan: In Kit, emails that go out automatically after someone subscribes are called sequences, and they need a paid plan (as of October 2026). On the Free plan, you can send broadcasts — one-off emails to your list. A simple way to start is to send a short welcome broadcast to your newest subscribers each week, then switch to an automated sequence when you upgrade.

Step 5: Get your first 100 subscribers

You do not need a big audience to start. A few practical ways to get your first subscribers:

Add the form to your blog posts. Put it at the end of posts related to your lead magnet.
Use Pinterest. Create pins that link to helpful blog posts. People who find the post useful are more likely to subscribe.
Mention it where you already show up — your social profiles, communities you take part in, or your email signature.

Track how many people subscribe each week. Early on, the numbers will be small, and that is normal.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting until you have "enough" content. Start the list now; write as you go.
Only emailing when you sell something. Send useful emails regularly so people remember you.
Making the sign-up form complicated. Ask for an email address (and maybe a first name). That is enough.

Next steps

Once your list is running, the next steps are to plan a regular email schedule and, later, to connect your list to a course or product. If you are still choosing a course platform, see our comparison of Thinkific and Systeme.io.