Unlocking Growth with Email Funnels: Why Email Marketing Beats Social Media for Attracting New Members
Email marketing is often the backbone of digital strategy, particularly for anyone aiming to build a membership community, but not everyone is aware of just how impactful it can be.In fact, statistics show that email marketing has an average ROI of 4,400% - yes, you read that right.
For every £1 spent, you can expect around £44 in return, making it one of the most cost-effective tools for bringing in new paying members.In comparison, social media’s reach can be volatile, influenced by algorithm changes and fluctuating engagement rates. With email, however, you control how and when your message is seen by your subscribers, making it a more reliable option for long-term growth.
What Are Email Funnels?
Think of email funnels as a carefully designed journey that guides subscribers from a simple introduction to fully-fledged, engaged members. An email funnel is an automated series of emails designed to nurture, educate, and ultimately convert subscribers into paying members.
Starting from their very first sign-up, potential clients receive targeted content that builds trust, answers their questions, and introduces them to the benefits of joining your membership community. And because this process is automated, once it's set up, it runs itself, consistently working in the background to grow your membership base.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Email Marketing vs. Social Media
Reach and Open Rates: Emails have an average open rate of around 20-25%, while social media posts are lucky to reach even 5-10% of followers due to platform algorithms. With an email funnel, you can create more consistent visibility with your subscribers, and these are people who’ve actively chosen to hear from you. Each email serves as a stepping stone to create a stronger connection and drive membership sign-ups.
Conversions: Across industries, the conversion rate for email is 3.2%, while social media conversion rates hover around 1.8%. With strategic email funnels, you can consistently attract new clients and members, with targeted messaging tailored to their needs and interests. An email sequence can include testimonials, exclusive insights, and direct calls to action-directing subscribers toward a membership option that’s right for them.
Longer-Term Connection: Social media is great for brand awareness and real-time updates, but email marketing builds a deeper, more personal connection. You can tailor emails for different stages of your audience’s journey, from newcomers to dedicated clients. For example, in a welcome email sequence, you might start with introductory resources, then follow up with success stories, and end with an exclusive membership offer that’s hard to resist. This structure allows people to warm up to your brand and makes them more likely to make a commitment.How to Set Up an Email Funnel for Your Fitness or Wellness Brand
Setting up an email funnel might sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:
How to Make It Work
If you're serious about growing your membership community, invest time in setting up email funnels. A few high-impact email sequences could include:
Welcome Sequence: Introduce new subscribers to your brand, share your story, and help them see the value of your offerings.
Onboarding Funnel: Guide new members with resources and encouragement that make them feel part of a community.
Re-engagement Campaign: Reach out to inactive subscribers with special offers or new content to re-ignite their interest in joining.
With a solid email funnel in place, you're not just sending messages - you're building trust, showcasing value, and inspiring action. In the long run, the payoff of email funnels can outshine social media by bringing in committed, paying members who resonate with your community’s purpose.
Need Help? Book a Session with Cat, Our Business Coach
Seems overwhelming? If you're serious about growth, but not sure where to start with your emails, getting some support is the first step. You'll get all of the email templates that you need, that have been tested and optimized for best results, as well as back-end help to actually build and implement the email funnels with our VIP Business Growth 1:1 coaching packages.We've had a lot of requests for this in the last few weeks with many of you planning ahead for January promotions. With just a few spaces left, and a juicy Black Friday offer of 6 weeks of coaching for the price of 4, don't hang about! You can have a free 30 min strategy session with our business coach to see if this is a good fit.
Ready to set up your email funnel? Reach out to Cat to book a session and get the support you need to make it happen!