From Zero to My First 50 Email Subscribers: What Worked for Me

byJohnMaluth

490 followers

2 weeks ago

By John Monyjok Maluth
Author | Coach | Wealthy Affiliate Mentor

Introduction

Building an email list can feel overwhelming when you’re starting from scratch. I used to wonder how other affiliate marketers seemed to magically attract subscribers while my email sign-up form sat untouched.

But over time — and through a lot of testing — I found a system that helped me grow from zero to my first 50 subscribers. In this article, I’ll share exactly what I did so you can shortcut your own list-building journey.

1. Why I Focused on Email Early

I learned from WA training that email lists are your safety net.

• You own your list — unlike social media followers.
• You can build relationships over time.
• You can promote affiliate products without relying on search rankings.

Even with low website traffic, an engaged email list can generate sales.

2. Step One: Creating a Simple Lead Magnet

I started by creating something my audience actually wanted:

• A free PDF guide: “5 Easy Steps to Start Your First Affiliate Website”
• Short, actionable, and beginner-friendly
• Delivered automatically via my email marketing tool (MailerLite)

Why it worked:

• It solved a specific problem for my niche (new African entrepreneurs).
• It was easy to consume — no 50-page ebook that nobody reads.

3. Step Two: Adding Sign-Up Forms Strategically

Instead of hiding the form on a “subscribe” page, I placed it:

• At the top of my homepage
• At the end of blog posts
• In the sidebar
• As a pop-up triggered after 30 seconds on the site

I kept the copy simple:

“Want to start your online business? Get my free 5-step guide — no jargon, just results.”

4. Step Three: Promoting the Lead Magnet

• Blog Posts: Added CTAs inside relevant posts.
• Social Media: Posted a teaser on Facebook and LinkedIn with the sign-up link.
• Quora: Answered beginner questions and mentioned my free guide.
• WA Profile Blog: Shared my journey and linked to the guide.

5. Step Four: Following Up With Value

Once someone subscribed, they didn’t just get the guide and disappear. I set up:

• A welcome email introducing myself and my story.
• 2–3 follow-up emails with tips for building their first website.
• Subtle affiliate recommendations for tools I personally used.

6. The Results

• First week: 12 subscribers
• First month: 28 subscribers
• End of month 2: 50+ subscribers
• Engagement: 40–50% open rates and personal replies from readers

7. Lessons Learned

• Make the lead magnet hyper-relevant to your niche.
• Place sign-up forms where people already engage with your content.
• Follow up quickly to keep new subscribers interested.
• Be human — write like you’re emailing a friend, not a faceless list.

8. How This Ties to My Philosophy

In M = {B, D²}, my Being was my role as a guide for beginners, and my Doing² was the consistent creation, promotion, and nurturing of my list. The Meaning came in seeing subscribers take action on my tips — and some even becoming paying customers.

Conclusion

Your first 50 subscribers can be the hardest to get, but once you figure out what works, growth becomes much easier. Focus on providing value, making it easy to sign up, and building trust from day one.

Those first 50 aren’t just numbers — they’re the foundation for your future affiliate marketing success.

John Monyjok Maluth
Author of 100 books | Digital Entrepreneur | Wealthy Affiliate Mentor