Why ConvertKit Is Worth It With a Small List

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Why am I paying for ConvertKit when my list is small? The short answer? Because I love their service and I think it’s well worth the cost!

The longer answer?

When I first started blogging, an email list wasn’t really on my mind. I was just trying to get some more samples to use to grow my freelance writing business.

But then I realized…

I wanted to create a course

I’d been asked by so many people how I had time to freelance with such a large family. Other freelancers were asking for advice on how to get it all done.

So I decided to turn my best tips for time management and efficiency into a course. Balancing Diapers and Deadlines was born!

Originally, I planned this course to be a self-paced email course. This meant I sent you an email when you signed up, and when you were done with lesson one you clicked a link.

The link triggered the next email to appear in your inbox. Email automation!

But, writing a course takes time. Especially when you’re only working on it thirty minutes a day.

So I decided the best use of my time would be to create a shorter, free course. I set this up quickly, and signed up for a free MailChimp account.

This free course was originally automated through there. Every couple days a new lesson appeared. It worked great!

The Problems with a Free Email Solution

Using my free course as a freebie was all set up. But then, I wanted to create a quick content upgrade as another opt-in.

At that time (2015), I couldn’t make it happen easily. Everyone who signed up for both the course AND the content upgrade were now on my list twice.

My problems with my free service didn’t stop there. Once I finished my course, I realized I’d have to switch to a paid account.

Without a paid account, I couldn’t set up a self-paced course.

Making the Switch to ConvertKit

So I started researching my options. Another blogger recommend ConvertKit, and even though my list was only a whopping 47 at the time, I signed up.

It didn’t take me long to get my email list transferred over. There were plenty of videos and directions on how to do it. I was a bit apprehensive, but thankfully it worked smoothly!

I’ve been using ConvertKit now for quite a while, and my list has grown (just over 1100 now, which I know is large for some of my readers and tiny for others!)

No matter the size of my list, I can’t imagine leaving ConvertKit. It has been amazing for my email marketing, and I highly recommend it for yours!

Here are five reasons why:

1. ConvertKit Is Simple to Use

ConvertKit is simple to use for your email marketing needs. It is very user friendly, and:

• Doesn’t require any dragging and dropping.
• Has built in spell check, with the red squiggly lines
• Doesn’t have random filler text in header boxes you need to delete or change.
• Easily segments and tags subscribers based on opt-ins, clicks, and other criterion.

2. ConvertKit Reminds You to Use It

Every Thursday, if I’ve published a new post in the past week,  a handy email from ConvertKit shows up in my inbox.  It contains a draft of an email newsletter.

From the email, you can head over to ConvertKit and make any changes. As a busy mom, this email reminder helps immensely. Otherwise, this task can escape your mind more often than not.

3. ConvertKit Makes Offering Content Upgrades Simple

Content upgrades are typically printables or worksheets that add additional value to your blog posts. They are things like my annual meal plan template or 100 Baby Steps to Grow Your Business.

In ConvertKit, it’s easy to figure out the logistics of getting the content upgrade to readers. It’s a cinch to upload the file, and make the opt-in form. Then you can easily connect it to the appropriate blog post.

4. ConvertKit Has Built In Landing Pages

With ConvertKit’s landing pages, you don’t have to pay for a secondary service when you are first getting started. Finding products that work for multiple purposes is essential when you’re trying to keep your business on a budget.

And while ConvertKit only used to have a couple of very basic landing page templates, that is no longer the case! They have a ton – and you can sort them by purpose:

It really is a great way to save money while still having a professional looking landing page.

And the pages can all be customized to better fit your site. You can use the settings to change many aspects of the form. Then you can use CSS to further make the landing pages match your branding.

 5. Sequences Are Simple in ConvertKit

ConvertKit makes it easy to create a sequence. They even have recommended formulas to help you with sequence generation.

So now when someone signs up for my course, they get a welcome email. They also get a reminder at a month out. It’s all automated and I don’t have to try to manually track any of this.

You can set up sequences for any number of things. Many bloggers send out a welcome email series. Since I know my audience is comprised of busy moms who don’t have a ton of time to read emails, I’ve opted not to do that.

But, you definitely have the option in ConvertKit.

Do You Have an Email List?

As a blogger, you truly do need to work on building relationships with your readers through email marketing. Being invited into someone’s email inbox is a privilege, and a more personal connection than just simply having them visit your blog.

If you haven’t started growing your list yet, I highly recommend that you do. And while free email service providers are free, they don’t always have the features you need.

So, I highly recommend ConvertKit! They are a powerful email service provider with tons of bells and whistles – at a price that is typically accessible for many beginning bloggers.

The prices are broken down by subscriber number, which means your costs will go up only when your subscribers go up.

Don’t let fear hold you back from investing in your blog. ConvertKit is a great email marketing provider, even if your list is tiny!