Building an Engaged Email List: Tips for Coaches & Spiritual Entrepreneurs

As a coach or spiritual entrepreneur, you've got a powerful message to share. But how do you get that message in front of the right people? That's where email marketing comes in.

I've worked with countless spiritual coaches, healers, and teachers who were hesitant about email marketing. They worried it would feel too "salesy" or inauthentic. But here's the truth - when done right, email marketing can be one of the most genuine and effective ways to connect with your audience.

Let's dive into how you can build an engaged email list that aligns with your values and helps you make a bigger impact.

Understanding the Power of Email Marketing for Spiritual Entrepreneurs

Before we get into the practical tips, let's talk about why email marketing is so powerful for spiritual entrepreneurs:

1. Direct Connection: Unlike social media, where algorithms control who sees your content, email gives you a direct line to your audience.

2. Deeper Relationships: Email allows for more in-depth conversations and sharing, perfect for spiritual topics.

3. Energetic Alignment: You can infuse your emails with your unique energy and intention.

4. Scalable Impact: With email, you can touch thousands of lives with a single message.

5. Business Sustainability: A strong email list provides a stable foundation for your spiritual business.

Now that we understand the 'why', let's dive into the 'how'.

Start with a Compelling Lead Magnet

Your journey to an engaged email list begins with a great lead magnet. This is a free resource you offer in exchange for someone's email address. For spiritual entrepreneurs, this could be:

• A guided meditation audio

• A mini e-book on a spiritual topic

• A worksheet for self-reflection

• A video series on energy healing techniques

The key is to create something that provides immediate value and showcases your unique approach. What transformation can you offer in a small, digestible format?

When creating your lead magnet, consider these questions:

• What's a common challenge your ideal clients face?

• What's a quick win you can offer them?

• How can you showcase your unique gifts and approach?

Remember, your lead magnet is often the first experience someone has with your work. Make it count!

Craft an Authentic Welcome Sequence

Once someone joins your list, it's time to welcome them properly. This is your chance to make a great first impression and set the tone for your relationship.

I usually recommend a series of 5-7 emails that:

1. Deliver your lead magnet and express gratitude

2. Share your personal story and mission

3. Provide additional value related to your lead magnet

4. Address common challenges or questions

5. Share a client success story

6. Introduce your paid offerings (but in a gentle, non-pushy way)

7. Invite them to connect with you further (social media, blog, etc.)

Remember, authenticity is key here. Let your unique voice and energy shine through in every email.

Here's an example of how this might look for a spiritual life coach:

• Email 1: "Welcome! Here's your Self-Discovery Journal Prompts"

• Email 2: "My journey from corporate burnout to spiritual awakening"

• Email 3: "3 unexpected benefits of regular journaling"

• Email 4: "Overcoming the top 3 journaling challenges"

• Email 5: "How Sarah used journaling to manifest her dream life"

• Email 6: "Ready to go deeper? Introducing my 'Soul Alignment' coaching program"

• Email 7: "Let's stay connected! Join me on Instagram for daily inspiration"

Check out my Welcome Series Swipes here if you want to use quick and easy to edit templates to write this sequence. 

Provide Consistent Value

The secret to keeping your subscribers engaged is to consistently provide value. This doesn't mean you need to send daily emails (please don't!). But you should aim to show up in their inbox regularly with content that enriches their lives.

This could be:

• Spiritual insights or reflections

• Practical tips for incorporating spirituality into daily life

• Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your own spiritual practice

• Inspiring client stories or case studies

• Guided visualisations or short meditations

• Energy forecasts or intuitive readings

• Book recommendations or reviews

One of my clients, a mindfulness coach, sends a weekly "Mindful Monday" email with a short meditation prompt. It's simple, but her subscribers love it and look forward to it every week.

When deciding on your email frequency, consider:

• What you can consistently maintain

• What your audience prefers (you can ask them!)

• The depth of your content (deeper topics might require less frequent emails)

Quality always trumps quantity. It's better to send one amazing email a month than four mediocre ones.

Segment Your List for Personalised Content

Not all of your subscribers are in the same place on their spiritual journey. By segmenting your list, you can send more targeted, relevant content.

You might segment based on:

• Interests (e.g., meditation, energy healing, spiritual business)

• Level of experience (beginner, intermediate, advanced)

• Engagement level (highly engaged vs. inactive subscribers)

• Purchase history

• Quiz or survey responses

Most email marketing platforms make this easy to do. It takes a bit more effort, but the increased engagement is worth it.

Here's an example of how segmentation might work:

Let's say you're a spiritual business coach. You could segment your list into:

• Aspiring spiritual entrepreneurs

• New spiritual business owners (0-1 years)

• Established spiritual business owners (2+ years)

You could then tailor your content to each group:

• Aspiring: "5 Signs You're Ready to Start Your Spiritual Business"

• New: "Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Your First Year as a Spiritual Entrepreneur"

• Established: "Scaling Your Spiritual Business: When and How to Hire Support"

Use Email to Build Real Relationships

Email doesn't have to be a one-way street. Encourage replies, ask questions, and genuinely engage with your subscribers.

I love using polls or simple questions in emails to spark interaction. For example, "What's your biggest challenge with maintaining a daily meditation practice? Hit reply and let me know!"

When subscribers reply, make sure to respond. These one-on-one interactions can lead to powerful connections and even client relationships.

Here are some ways to encourage engagement:

• Ask for feedback on your content

• Invite subscribers to share their experiences or insights

• Run a contest or challenge

• Host a virtual "coffee chat" for subscribers

• Create a sense of community by sharing subscriber stories (with permission, of course)

Balance Nurture and Promotion

As coaches and spiritual entrepreneurs, I know that you often feel uncomfortable with self-promotion. But remember, if you truly believe in the value of your offerings, sharing them is an act of service.

A good rule of thumb is the 80/20 rule: 80% of your emails should focus on providing value, and 20% can be more promotional. But even your promotional emails should come from a place of service and generosity.

When you do promote, consider:

• Sharing the transformation your offering provides, not just the features

• Using client testimonials to illustrate the impact of your work

• Offering exclusive discounts or bonuses to your email subscribers

• Creating urgency through limited-time offers (but be authentic about it)

Remember, your subscribers joined your list because they're interested in what you offer. Don't be afraid to invite them to work with you more deeply.

Respect Your Subscribers' Energy

In the spiritual space, it's especially important to be mindful of your subscribers' energy. This means:

• Being clear about how often you'll email (and sticking to it)

• Making it easy to unsubscribe if they choose to

• Avoiding manipulative tactics or false scarcity

• Honouring the trust they've placed in you by sharing their email

Remember, it's better to have a smaller list of engaged subscribers than a large list of people who never open your emails.

Consider implementing these practices:

• Regularly clean your list by removing inactive subscribers

• Use double opt-in to ensure subscribers really want to be on your list

• Be transparent about how you'll use their information

• Honour unsubscribe requests promptly

Continually Refine and Improve

Building an engaged email list is an ongoing process. Pay attention to your open rates, click rates, and unsubscribes. What types of emails resonate most with your audience? What topics get the most engagement?

Use this data to continually refine your email strategy. And don't be afraid to directly ask your subscribers what they want to see more (or less) of.

Some metrics to track:

• Open rate: Aim for 20-30% for spiritual/personal development topics - just be aware that open rates aren't the most reliable metric to track anymore (here's why).

• Click-through rate: A good benchmark is 2-5%

• Unsubscribe rate: Try to keep this below 0.5% per email

Remember, these are just benchmarks. Your specific numbers may vary based on your niche and audience. Keep track of your

Infuse Your Emails with Your Unique Energy

Finally, don't forget to infuse your emails with your unique energy and spiritual gifts. If you're a Reiki practitioner, you might send Reiki energy with each email. If you work with crystals, you could share which crystal you're working with as you write.

These little touches make your emails uniquely yours and help deepen the energetic connection with your subscribers.

Some ideas to try:

• Start each email with a short channelled message

• Include a "card of the week" if you work with oracle or tarot cards

• Share the intention or affirmation you set while writing the email

• Describe the energy you're sensing for the collective

Overcoming Common Email Marketing Challenges for Spiritual Entrepreneurs

Even with all these tips, you might still face some challenges. Here are some common ones and how to address them:

1. Fear of being "too salesy": Remember, your offerings are valuable. Approach promotion from a place of service.

2. Inconsistency: Create an email calendar and batch-write your emails to stay consistent.

3. Writer's block: Keep a running list of topic ideas. Draw inspiration from your client sessions, books you're reading, or current events.

4. Low open rates: Experiment with different subject lines. Personalisation and curiosity-inducing phrases often work well.

5. Tech overwhelm: Start simple. You don't need all the bells and whistles right away. As you grow, you can add more advanced features.

Building an engaged email list as a spiritual entrepreneur is about more than just growing numbers. It's about creating a community of like-minded souls who resonate with your message and mission.

Remember, every email is an opportunity to touch someone's life, to offer a moment of inspiration or clarity. Approach your email marketing with this mindset, and you'll naturally build a list of engaged, appreciative subscribers.

Ready to Take Your Email List to the Next Level?

I've created a comprehensive Email Mastery System designed specifically for coaches and spiritual entrepreneurs. It includes step-by-step tutorials, templates, and even mindset techniques to help you overcome any blocks around email marketing.

Plus, you'll get a free trial of Infiniti Stack, my all-in-one platform for managing your spiritual business online. Click the button below to learn more and get started today!

Elevate Your Email Marketing Now

Remember, your email list is more than just a marketing tool - it's a powerful way to spread your light and make a bigger impact in the world. You've got this!