Challenge Post: I Tried Email Marketing for 30 Days – Here’s What Happened

INTRODUCTION

If you've ever dipped your toes into digital marketing, you've probably heard the phrase “the money is in the list.” Intrigued and a bit skeptical, I decided to put email marketing to the test. For 30 days, I immersed myself in building an email list, crafting campaigns, and analyzing results. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned entrepreneur wondering if email marketing is worth the hype, this post is for you.

Week 1: Laying the Foundation

Before sending a single email, I had to build my list from scratch. I started by creating a lead magnet—a free PDF guide titled “5 Tools Every Digital Marketer Needs”. I offered it in exchange for email addresses via a simple sign-up form on my blog.

Here’s what I did in the first week:

• Set up an account with an email marketing platform (I chose MailerLite).

• Designed an opt-in form and embedded it on my blog and landing page.

• Created a welcome email that would be automatically sent after signup.

• Shared my lead magnet across social media and within Facebook groups.

Result: By the end of week one, I had 84 subscribers—not bad for starting from zero.

Week 2: Learning the Art of Email Writing

With some subscribers on board, I started creating my first email sequence. I aimed to deliver value, build trust, and avoid sounding too promotional.

Here’s how my week unfolded:

• Email 1: “Welcome and Thank You” – A simple thank-you message plus the download link.

• Email 2: “3 Mistakes I Made in My First Year of Marketing” – A personal, story-driven email.

• Email 3: “Tool Tuesday: My Favorite Free SEO Tool” – A quick tip email with a soft CTA.

• Email 4: “My Top 3 Affiliate Programs That Actually Pay” – A monetized email with affiliate links.

I spaced these emails over 7–10 days, keeping them short, actionable, and friendly. I also included my social media links to stay connected outside the inbox.

Lesson learned: Writing emails is different from writing blog posts. You need to be concise, conversational, and clear with your call-to-action.

Week 3: Experimenting with Campaigns

Now that I had a few sequences running, I decided to try one-off campaigns to keep my list engaged. I ran three campaigns during the week:

1. A mini-product launch for an eBook I created earlier.

2. A content roundup sharing my top three blog posts.

3. A short survey asking my subscribers what content they’d like to see next.

I was surprised at the level of engagement. People replied to my emails, gave feedback, and even shared their own struggles with email marketing. It was no longer a one-way conversation—it was a relationship.

Stats from Week 3:

• Average Open Rate: 43%

• Click-Through Rate: 8.5%

• Unsubscribes: 3

Week 4: Monetization and Analytics

By week four, it was time to see if email marketing could actually make money. I sent two emails promoting affiliate products related to digital marketing tools. I was careful to provide context, use the tools myself, and disclose affiliate links.

I also looked into my analytics more closely to figure out:

• What subject lines worked best

• Which email format (plain text vs. HTML) had higher engagement

• Best time of day for sending emails

Earnings: I made around $127 from affiliate commissions and sold 6 copies of my eBook. While not life-changing, it proved that email marketing can be profitable—even with a small list.

What Worked

1. Personalization – Using the subscriber’s first name and writing in a conversational tone helped boost open rates.

2. Valuable Freebie – A lead magnet tailored to my audience’s needs made list-building much easier.

3. Consistency – Sticking to a schedule and avoiding long gaps kept engagement high.

4. Split Testing – Trying different subject lines and formats gave me better insight into what my audience preferred.

What Didn’t Work

1. Over-Promotion – One email promoting a product too aggressively led to 5 unsubscribes in a day. Lesson learned: always lead with value.

2. Generic Subject Lines – Emails with vague or dull subject lines had 10–15% lower open rates.

3. Neglecting Mobile Optimization – One HTML-heavy email looked terrible on phones. I later switched to simpler formats that worked across devices.

Final Thoughts: Is Email Marketing Worth It?

Absolutely. After 30 days, here’s what I walked away with:

• 140+ subscribers

• A clearer understanding of email automation

• Real income from a small but engaged list

• Better relationships with my audience

Email marketing isn't a magic bullet, but it’s a powerful tool when done right. It takes effort, consistency, and a genuine desire to serve your audience. If you’re thinking of starting, don’t wait until everything is perfect. Just start.

Tips for Your Own 30-Day Email Marketing Challenge

• Pick a niche and know your audience well.

• Offer a compelling lead magnet that solves a real problem.

• Write like a human, not a robot.

• Don’t sell all the time—give 80% value, 20% promotion.

• Track your analytics and make changes accordingly.

Whether you're a blogger, coach, freelancer, or small business owner, email marketing is still one of the best ways to build a loyal community and generate income.