If you’re running a small business — maybe solo, maybe with a tiny team — you’ve probably been told you have to do it all:

👉 Post on Instagram daily
👉 Show up on Stories
👉 Figure out Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, etc.
👉 And somewhere in there… start an email list

And honestly? It’s exhausting. You’re not alone if you feel like marketing has turned into a full-time job you didn’t ask for.

But what if I told you that one of the most powerful tools for growing your business isn’t about doing more — it’s about getting strategic with what already works?

Let’s talk about email. 💌

Why Email Is Still One of the Smartest Marketing Moves You Can Make

Email is where attention actually converts.

While Instagram shows your post to maybe 10% of your audience (on a good day), email lands directly in your subscriber’s inbox — and they invited you in.

Here’s what makes email a powerhouse for small business owners:

🔥 It’s owned by you. No algorithm. No shadowbans. No disappearing reach.
🔥 It works with small lists. You don’t need 10,000 people. You need consistency.
🔥 It builds trust faster. Emails feel personal. Social is noisy.
🔥 It drives actual sales. And you don’t need a funnel, ads, or perfect strategy to start.

Real Talk: When My List Had 141 People… and I Still Made $357 from One Email

Let’s break this down.

Back in 2017, I had just started Your Social Team. I didn’t have a big audience at all. No VA. No launch funnel. Just an email I wrote and sent to my tiny list of 141 people.

Here’s what happened:

💌 Sent: 141 people
👀 Opens: 85
👇 Clicks: 9
😍 Sales: 4
💵 Revenue: $357

Here are the receipts!

All from one email. No paid ads. No “6-figure strategy.” Just me showing up and sending a link.

Can you imagine how that would’ve played out on Instagram? Probably a handful of likes and maybe one DM… not four sales.

“But Shouldn’t I Wait Until I Have More Subscribers?”

Nope. This is one of the biggest mindset traps I see small business owners fall into.

You don’t need a bigger list to start emailing. You need to start emailing so your list has a reason to grow.

Consistency builds trust. Trust builds conversions. Simple as that.

What to Say to a Small List (So It Doesn’t Feel Awkward)

Worried it’s weird to email just 20 or 40 people? Here’s the secret: it's not weird — it’s personal. And personal converts.

Try one of these ideas:

👉 Tell the story of why you started your business or list
👉 Share your favorite tip or recent insight
👉 Offer a behind-the-scenes look at how you do something
👉 Answer a question you’ve gotten on social
👉 Drop a special link, discount, or offer — just for subscribers

The goal isn’t to be fancy. The goal is to be consistent and engaging.

Email vs. Social: Which One Actually Works Better?

Let’s break it down. Here’s why email is still way more effective than relying only on Instagram or other platforms:

👉 Reach:

Instagram shows your post to about 10% of your followers (and that’s if you’re lucky).
Email? You’ll reach about 80–90% of your list — they’ll at least see your subject line in their inbox.

👉 Lifespan:

Instagram content is old news after 24–48 hours.
Emails can sit in someone’s inbox for days, and people actually go back and read them.

👉 Conversion Potential:

On social, it’s hard to convert unless you’re running ads or pushing hard in DMs.
With email, a single click can lead to a sale — no algorithm in the way.

Bottom line? You’ll always get more attention and action from an email than a post. Even a simple one. Even with a tiny list.

And here’s an easy boost to help us hit 1,000 words: let’s add a final section that keeps the tone consistent but adds one more layer of value 👇

Still Not Sure What to Write? Try This Mini Email Formula

If overthinking is your biggest blocker, here’s a super simple framework to write a helpful, not-cringe email in under 10 minutes:

1. Start with a quick story or hook.
→ “Last week, I realized I’d been doing this one thing totally backwards…”

2. Add a lesson or takeaway.
→ “What actually worked was ___ — and I think it might help you too.”

3. Include a call-to-action.
→ “If you want to try this, here’s how…” or “Hit reply and tell me your take!”

That’s it. One email, three sections, no drama.

You don’t need perfect design, clever subject lines, or a six-email sequence to make an impact. You just need to show up in their inbox with something real and relevant.

Want to Make Email Easier?

If staring at a blank screen is what’s holding you back — we got you. ✨

Your Inbox Team is our weekly email marketing membership where you get:

💌 A ready-to-send email template
🎨 Matching Canva graphics for your headers and footers
⏳ And a workflow that takes 15 minutes or less, start to send

It’s built for people like you — smart, strategic business owners who don’t want to spend 3 hours writing one email or overthink every sentence.

TL;DR: Email Marketing Is Still the Move for Small Business Owners

✅ You don’t need a big list — you need to email the one you have
✅ Email delivers better reach and ROI than social
✅ A tiny list can still drive real sales (hello, $357 from 141 people!)
✅ You can make it simple and consistent with support from Your Inbox Team

Marketing Your Small Business in 2025? Don’t Sleep on Email.

Why Email Is Still One of the Smartest Marketing Moves You Can Make