230: List Building Meets Storytelling: A No Fluff Email Strategy with Amy Porterfield

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If you’ve ever felt like your email list is too small to matter or wondered what to actually say to the people on it, this episode is about to change the way you think about email marketing.

I sat down with Amy Porterfield - yes, that Amy Porterfield - to talk about list building, storytelling, and staying consistent, especially when your list feels like it’s barely getting started.

Amy went from working in the corporate world for Tony Robbins to becoming one of the most trusted teachers in digital marketing. She’s the creator of Digital Course Academy, host of the Online Marketing Made Easy podcast, and one of the biggest advocates for growing your business through the power of your email list.

Your Email List Is Where the Magic Happens

As Amy says, social media is rented land. Your email list is the only platform you truly own. If you have even one subscriber, talk to that person like you’re writing just for them.

Your list will make you money over and over again, but you have to do the work to grow it. Amy’s simple steps:

1. Get clear on who you want to serve and how you want to serve them.

2. Create a freebie (lead magnet) that solves one small problem.

3. Set up your CRM and get that freebie out there.

4. Promote it often! Talk about your freebie on social media every single week.

Consistency Builds Trust

When I asked Amy how to keep showing up in email, her answer was simple: consistency.

She sends her newsletter every Tuesday morning, no matter what. Her formula:

1. Start with a story that connects back to the reader.

2. Share two pieces of valuable content from others.

3. Teach something simple and actionable.

4. End with a personal story (and add her podcast link in the P.S.)

People open emails from people they trust. And trust is built when your name keeps showing up in their inbox.

Storytelling That Sells (Without Feeling Salesy)

Amy shared that storytelling has become one of the most powerful tools in her emails. When people feel seen and understood, they stick around. And they buy.

She often shares stories between her email and social platforms. If a story performs well in one place, she uses it in the other. Stories make your audience feel connected, and connection builds conversion.

From Email Subscriber to Buyer

So how do you actually move people from your list to paying customers?

• Keep showing up.

• Tell stories that build trust.

• Send more than one promo email - your audience needs to hear from you multiple times.

• Let your personality shine through every message.

And if you don’t know where to start? Create a simple email template to guide you every week, and do a brain dump in a Google Doc of every story or lesson you could share.

Amy reminded me of something she learned from Tony Robbins — and something I’ve said many times myself. Growth comes from being uncomfortable.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start. Do it scared. Do it messy. But do it.

If you’ve been waiting to “get your list ready,” this is your nudge. Start small. Share one story. Send one email. Stay consistent.

Your email list doesn’t have to be big, it just has to be active.

Where to find Amy:

• Amy Porterfield on Facebook

• Amy Porterfield on Instagram

• Amy Porterfield’s Website

Join me in all the places:

• Facebook

• Instagram

• Launch Your Box with Sarah Website

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