I’ve tested just about every list-building strategy out there. Some worked, some flopped, and a few I really wish I had started sooner.

Over the years, I’ve realized that growing an email list doesn’t have to mean posting on social 24/7, setting up complicated funnels, or spending hours creating new content every week.

This week, I’m sharing three underrated (but wildly effective) ways to grow your list and build trust from day one:

✔️ The welcome email that actually makes people want to hear from you
✔️ How to use collaborations strategically (not all bundles are worth it—I'll show you why)
✔️ A repeatable podcast guesting system that brings in leads long after the episode airs

Whether you’re starting from scratch or just want to grow faster without the burnout, these are the exact strategies I’m leaning on in my own business right now and I know they’ll work for you too.

Let’s dive in 👇

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🎧 NEW EPISODE

If you’re skipping your welcome email or treating it like a quick afterthought—you’re leaving trust, engagement, and even sales on the table.

In this week’s episode of the Creator’s MBA, I’m breaking down why your welcome email is the most important email you’ll ever send and how to write one that actually converts.

You’ll learn:

• The 2 goals every welcome email should achieve
• The biggest mistake creators make with this message
• A simple copy-and-paste framework to get more replies and clicks
• How to boost deliverability and long-term engagement

If your subscribers go silent after grabbing your freebie or if your emails keep landing in spam, this episode is your fix.

🎙️Listen in here: Website​

⚡ QUICK TIP

If you're serious about growing your email list, collaborating with other business owners still works, but here's the thing...

Not all collabs are created equal.

Here’s what I’ve found after hosting and participating in over 100+ bundles and summits collabs:

Free Bundles are great when:

• You want a quick boost in subscribers
• You have a strong lead magnet image + clear positioning
• You’re okay with lower lead quality for higher volume

💡 A compelling landing page and headline make all the difference. People are skimming FAST!

Virtual Summits work best when:

• You want high-converting, engaged leads
• You’re ready to teach and connect through a short presentation
• Your lead magnet aligns tightly with your topic

Summits usually bring fewer leads than bundles, but I have found they tend to be more qualified and more likely to buy.

Here's what you want to avoid:

• Paid bundles (if list growth is your primary goal)
• Events where subscribers opt in to the host’s platform, not your list (yes, I've seen this!)
• Delivering your freebie on the thank-you page instead of email (this hurts your deliverability and future engagement)

Want help implementing this in your business?

Inside the Newsletter Profit Club, you’ll get access to the full workshop:

“Fast-Track Your List Growth with Freebie Collabs, Bundles & Summits”

You'll learn:

• When to use bundles vs. summits vs. freebie swaps
• How to pitch yourself (with templates)
• How to track which events actually grow your list
• My go-to AI tools for streamlining the entire process

✨ Also included: Meet Jess – Your Collaboration Matchmaker

Jess is a custom AI assistant that helps you find aligned newsletter swaps, summit opportunities, and bundle hosts, so you’re not guessing who to pitch.

→ Watch the workshop for free inside the Newsletter Profit Club​

→ or grab lifetime access for $27 here ​

📌 BOOKMARK WORTHY STRATEGY

If you’ve been relying on social media to grow your list, it’s time to pivot to a strategy that scales long after the interview ends: podcast guesting.

Here’s why it works and how to make it work for you:

1. Leverage Other People’s Audiences: Instead of building from zero, show up in front of listeners who already trust the host. A single episode can drive subscribers for months.
2. Stand Out with a Lead-Magnet-Friendly Topic: Choose an angle that ties directly into your freebie, so listeners have a clear next step. (Hint: teaching-based topics convert best.)
3. Pitch to Get Booked: Connect on a personal or niche-specific pain point and promise actionable takeaways for the audience
4. Convert Listeners into Subscribers: Deliver your freebie via email, not a thank-you page—boosting both deliverability and engagement when they click and reply.
5. Track & Repeat: Keep a simple spreadsheet to measure what’s working and build momentum.

🔗 Ready to pitch, speak, and grow your list?

Inside the Newsletter Profit Club, you get the full workshop “Pitch, Speak & Grow Your List with Podcast Guesting”, complete with:

• my proven 3-part pitch formula
• how to find aligned, active shows
• exactly how to craft topics that convert
• Kelly—your Podcast Guesting Assistant (she helps you find shows, brainstorm topics, and write pitches in seconds)

→ Watch the workshop for free inside the Newsletter Profit Club​

→ or grab lifetime access for $27 here ​

(Yes—you can bundle both the collabs workshop and the podcast workshop in the Newsletter Profit Club for maximum list-growth impact!)

Your email list is your most valuable business asset, so let’s stop relying on luck, the algorithm, or outdated tactics to grow it.

Every week inside the Newsletter Profit Club, we’re giving you practical, plug-and-play strategies to build, nurture, and monetize your list, without burning out.

This week’s featured trainings:

• Fast-Track Your List Growth with Bundles, Summits & Swaps (includes Jess, your AI collaboration assistant)
• Pitch, Speak & Grow Your List with Podcast Guesting (with Kelly, your podcast booking AI)

You can access both inside the Newsletter Profit Club, or grab them individually in the HelloContent shop.

Here’s to growing your list and your business, with ease.

Until next time,

Destini

Business Growth Coach & Graduate Marketing Professor

Host, Creator’s MBA Podcast

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P.S. If growing your list is on your priority list this quarter, don’t miss these two workshops inside the Newsletter Profit Club. They’re packed with real strategies I use every month and they’re ready for you to watch on demand.

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Dr. Destini Copp Certified Business Growth Coach for Digital Product Entrepreneurs