Start your online business · Email marketing · 2 min read
How to Make Money With Email Marketing: Step by Step
Short answer
You make money with email by building a permission-based list of people interested in a specific topic, sending them consistently useful emails, and then monetizing through your own products, affiliate recommendations, sponsorships, paid subscriptions or by offering email marketing as a service to businesses.
Email itself doesn't make money. Relationships do, and email is the most direct way to build and keep them. There are two broad paths: monetize your own list, or get paid to run email for other businesses.
Path 1: Monetize your own list
Step 1: Pick a specific audience
"Everyone interested in health" is impossible to serve. "Runners training for their first marathon" isn't. A narrow audience makes content easier to write and offers easier to match.
Step 2: Choose an email platform
Start with a free plan. Mailchimp and Klaviyo both offer free tiers for small lists; Klaviyo suits ecommerce, while newsletter platforms suit writers. See Klaviyo vs Mailchimp.
Step 3: Create a reason to subscribe
People don't sign up for "updates." Offer something concrete:
- A checklist, template or short guide
- A discount (for stores)
- A weekly roundup that saves time
- A mini course delivered over five days
Step 4: Get subscribers
- Signup forms and pop-ups on your website or blog
- Social profiles linking to a landing page
- Guest posts and podcast appearances
- Partnerships with complementary newsletters
Step 5: Send consistently
A predictable schedule builds habit. Mix value with offers. A common rough balance is several useful emails for every direct pitch, though stores with strong products can sell more often.
Step 6: Monetize
| Method | How it works | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Your own products | Physical goods, digital products, courses | Stores, creators |
| Affiliate offers | Commission on recommended products | Niche newsletters |
| Sponsorships | Brands pay for placement | Larger, defined audiences |
| Paid subscriptions | Readers pay for premium issues | Writers with unique insight. See are paid newsletters worth it |
| Services | Coaching, consulting, freelance work | Experts |
For online stores, automated flows (welcome, abandoned cart, post-purchase, win-back) typically produce a steady share of revenue without extra effort once built.
Path 2: Sell email marketing as a service
Many businesses know email matters but don't have time to do it well. If you can write, design simple emails and set up automations, you can charge for it.
Step 1: Build skills
Learn one platform deeply, usually Klaviyo for ecommerce. Practice building welcome, cart and post-purchase flows. Study good emails from brands you admire.
Step 2: Create proof
Offer to audit a few businesses' email setups, build flows for a small brand at a reduced rate, or create sample emails. Document what you did and, with permission, the results.
Step 3: Find clients
Start with your network, then reach out to stores that clearly lack basics (no welcome email, no cart reminders). Our guide on landing your first email marketing client covers outreach.
Step 4: Price your work
Common models are project fees for flow builds, monthly retainers for ongoing campaigns and performance bonuses. See how much to charge for email marketing.
Rules you can't skip
- Get consent. Don't buy lists or add people without permission.
- Identify yourself and include a physical mailing address where required (CAN-SPAM).
- Make unsubscribing easy and honor it promptly.
- Disclose affiliate and sponsored content.
- Authenticate your domain so emails reach inboxes.
Measure what earns
Track revenue per subscriber, click rates and which emails drive sales or affiliate commissions. Over time you'll see which topics and offers your audience responds to, and you can send more of what works.
Realistic expectations
Email income grows slowly at first. The first few hundred subscribers are the hardest. But a list compounds: each subscriber can buy repeatedly over years. Treat it as a long-term asset rather than a quick win.
Frequently asked questions
How big does my list need to be to make money?
Smaller than most people think if the audience is targeted. A few hundred engaged subscribers can support product sales or services; sponsorships usually need larger, well-defined audiences.
Is it legal to email anyone whose address I find?
No. Laws like CAN-SPAM in the US and GDPR in Europe set rules on consent, identification and unsubscribing. Build lists with clear permission.
What's the fastest way to earn from email skills?
Offering email marketing services to businesses, since they already have customers and lists, usually produces income faster than building your own audience.
Sources and further reading
Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.