The 5 Steps Approach I Took

When I first got into email marketing, I was obsessed with growing my list. I’d brag about hitting 5,000 subscribers, thinking that was the ticket to big money.

But here’s what I didn’t get: a huge list doesn’t mean squat if half of it’s asleep. My email marketing revenue was flatlining, and I couldn’t figure out why—until I decided to clean my email list.

That one move, done in just three days, was the first step to doubling my revenue in a month. I’m not guessing here; I’ve lived this, and it works.

Let me paint the picture. I used to send emails to everyone I’d ever collected—people from giveaways, old signups, you name it.

Problem was, tons of them hadn’t opened an email in months. I thought, “They’re still potential buyers, right?” Wrong.

Those inactive subscribers were dragging me down. They weren’t just ignoring me—they were hurting my email deliverability.

That’s a fancy way of saying my emails were getting flagged as spam because so few people engaged. Spam folders don’t pay bills.

When I finally cleaned things up, everything changed. My open rates jumped, my clicks followed, and suddenly my offers were hitting eyeballs that cared.

A clean list isn’t about size; it’s about quality. A tight 1,000 engaged subscribers will out-earn a sloppy 10,000 every time. That’s how you increase email revenue—by talking to people who actually listen.

So, how did I do it? On Day 1, I dug into my email tool. I’ve used Mailchimp, ConvertKit, even ActiveCampaign—doesn’t matter which you’ve got, they all have this feature.

I pulled a report to see who’d been ghosting me. My rule? If they hadn’t opened or clicked in 90 days, they were on the chopping block.

Why 90? I’ve tested 30, 60, even 180 days, and 90 hits the sweet spot—long enough to give them a chance, short enough to keep my list fresh.

I found about 40% of my 5,000 subscribers were dead weight. That’s 2,000 people I was paying to email for nothing.

Day 2, I didn’t just delete them cold—I gave them one last shot. I sent a re-engagement email to that 2,000. Subject line? “Hey, still with me?” Inside, I kept it simple: “I’ve missed you!

Here’s a quick tip to boost your sales—reply if you want more, or I’ll assume you’re out.” No hard sell, just a nudge.

Some folks clicked the tip (a link to a free resource), others replied. Those who did? They stayed. The rest? I marked them for the exit.

By Day 3, I had my data. Maybe 200 of those 2,000 woke up—great, they’re back in. The other 1,800? I unsubscribed them myself.

Was it tough? Yeah, watching my list shrink from 5,000 to 3,200 felt like a gut punch. But the next campaign I sent? Open rates went from 15% to 25%, and clicks doubled.

That’s real money, not vanity numbers. My email tool’s cost dropped too, since I wasn’t paying for inactive contacts.

Here are the email Marketing tools you can start using immediately. specific tools I can vouch for:

Any of these will work; just use what you’ve got.

After I cleaned my email list, my emails started landing in inboxes, not spam. Gmail, Outlook—they all noticed my engagement spiked, so they trusted me more.

My next offer—a $47 course—hit that fresh list, and I saw a 30% uptick in sales compared to before. That’s the power of focus.

I wasn’t blasting the world anymore; I was hitting the right people. And here’s the kicker: my list kept growing naturally after that, because engaged subscribers share stuff they love.

If you’re thinking, “I’ll just keep everyone,” don’t. A messy list is like a leaky bucket—you’re pouring effort in, but it’s spilling out.

Cleaning it takes a few hours over three days, and it sets you up to double your email revenue.

I’ve seen it with my own campaigns, and I’ve watched clients turn flat sales into growth just by doing this.

It’s not sexy, but it’s the foundation. You’ve got a list—make it work for you.

Next up, I’ll show you how I got those newly engaged folks to actually open my emails—because a clean list is useless if they don’t click “open.”

After I cleaned my email list in Step 1, I had a lean, engaged crew ready to hear from me. But here’s the catch: if they don’t open my emails, I’m still stuck at zero.

That’s when I realized my subject lines were garbage. I used to send stuff like “Newsletter #7” or “Update for You”—boring, right? No wonder my open rates were tanking.

On Days 4-7, I focused on writing email subject lines that actually work, and it was a game-changer for doubling my email marketing revenue. Here’s how I turned it around.

I’ll be real: your subject line is the gatekeeper. If it’s weak, your email’s dead on arrival.

I learned this the hard way—great offers were going unseen because no one clicked “open.” A killer subject line doesn’t just increase email open rates; it sets the stage for clicks and sales.

When I started treating it like a hook instead of an afterthought, my open rates jumped from 25% to 40%. That’s more eyes on my stuff, which means more money in my pocket.

At first, I had no clue what worked. So, I started watching what got me to open emails. Was it curiosity? Urgency? A big promise? Turns out, it’s all three, depending on the vibe.

I stopped writing safe, generic lines and leaned into what makes people tick. The goal? Make them think, “I have to see this.” It’s not about tricking anyone—it’s about promising something worth their time.

That shift alone started boosting my email marketing revenue.

On Day 4, I sat down and brainstormed. I looked at my next email—a promo for a $49 course—and scrapped the old “Check Out My Course” idea.

Instead, I tested something punchy. Here’s what I came up with over those four days:

Each day, I sent a small test to part of my list and tracked what stuck. By the end, I had a playbook.

Here’s what I’ve nailed down after testing dozens of campaigns:

These aren’t guesses; they’re what I’ve seen work across thousands of sends.

Need specifics? Here are some email subject lines I’ve used that crushed it:

Each one led to opens above 40%, and the clicks followed. That’s how you increase email open rates and set up sales.

I don’t overcomplicate this, but a couple of tools helped:

Day 7, I even peeked at X for inspiration—marketers there share gold if you search “email subject lines.”

Once I nailed my subject lines, the results snowballed.

That $49 course email with “Steal My $49 Secret Before It’s Gone”? It didn’t just get opens—it got a 15% click rate, and 10% of those clicked bought.

Before, I’d see 5% clicks and 2% buyers. That’s triple the revenue from one tweak.

My next campaign—a freebie signup—hit 50% opens with “Don’t Miss This Free Revenue Boost.” More signups, more leads, more cash later.

If your subject lines suck, your list doesn’t matter. I’ve had a clean, engaged group ignore me because I didn’t hook them.

Spending Days 4-7 on this gave me the momentum to double my email revenue. It’s not about being clever—it’s about being clear and compelling.

You’ve got seconds to grab them before they scroll past. Nail this, and your offers actually get seen.

By Day 7, I had a system. Now, every email I send starts with a subject line I’d open myself. It’s not rocket science—it’s just knowing your people.

Next, I’ll show you how I welcomed new subscribers to keep that momentum going—because opens are great, but sales seal the deal.

By now, I’ve cleaned my email list and hooked people with email subject lines that pop.

But here’s where I used to drop the ball: new subscribers. I’d get them to sign up—say, for a freebie—and then just toss them into my regular emails. Big mistake. They’d vanish, and my revenue stayed flat.

On Days 8-14, I built an email welcome series that turned those fresh signups into buyers fast.

It’s a huge reason I doubled my email marketing revenue, and it’s simpler than you’d think.

When someone joins your list, they’re excited. Maybe they grabbed your lead magnet or opted in from a webinar—they’re warm, ready to engage.

I didn’t realize this at first, but stats back me up: new subscribers are 50% more likely to buy in their first week than later. If you don’t strike while they’re hot, you’re leaving money on the table.

My old approach—dumping them into random newsletters—wasted that spark. A welcome series changed everything.

Before, I’d send one “thanks for joining” email and call it a day. No plan, no follow-up. Half the time, it was a generic “here’s your download” with no personality.

Open rates were okay, but clicks? Barely there. I wasn’t building trust or showing them why they should stick around.

When I switched to a proper email welcome series, my newbies started buying—sometimes within days. It’s about warming them up, not just saying hi.

On Day 8, I mapped it out. I wanted five emails over a week—enough to connect without overwhelming them. Here’s what I did, step by step:

I set this up in my email tool (Systeme.io is my go-to) to run automatically. Took me a day to write, a day to tweak.

Each email has a job. Number one delivers and welcomes—they feel good. Two gives value—they see I’m legit. Three bonds—they know me. Four tests the waters—some buy the cheapie. Five closes—big sales roll in.

It’s a ladder: trust, value, then offers. My open rates stayed above 40% (thanks to Step 2’s subject lines), and clicks hit 20% by Email 5.

That’s how you increase email revenue—steady buildup, not a random blast.

I kept it simple:

Day 10, I even scanned X for welcome series tips—marketers there swear by this flow.

First run? Eye-opening. Email 1 got 60% opens—newbies love that first hit. Email 2 held at 50%—free value keeps them in. By Email 4, 10% bought the $7 eBook—$700 from a 1,000-person list. Email 5? 5% grabbed the $49 course at $39 (discount)—another $195.

That’s over $800 from one week of welcomes, way up from my old “thanks and bye” approach. And those buyers? They stuck around for more.

I’ve flubbed this before. Don’t make emails too long—300 words max, or they skim. Don’t sell too soon—Email 1’s just a handshake. And don’t skip the story—people buy from people, not robots.

I once rushed a three-email series with no value; opens tanked by the end. Five emails, paced out, is my sweet spot.

A welcome series isn’t fluff—it’s your first shot to increase email revenue from every signup. I’ve seen it turn cold leads into $50 buyers in a week.

Without it, you’re hoping they stick around long enough to care. With it, you control the vibe—value first, sales second.

Days 8-14 gave me a system that runs itself now, pulling in cash while I sleep.

By Day 14, my new subscribers were primed—some bought, all trusted me more. That’s the setup for bigger wins.

Next, I’ll show you how I upsold those early buyers into bigger tickets—because a $7 sale’s nice, but $50 is better.

By Day 15, I had a clean email list, killer email subject lines, and a welcome series turning newbies into buyers. But I wasn’t stopping there.

I used to think one sale per person was enough—send an offer, cash in, move on. Wrong.

On Days 15-21, I learned to upsell with an email in a way that felt natural, not pushy. It’s how I took $7 buyers to $50 buyers and doubled my email marketing revenue. Here’s what I did.

I’ll admit, I used to shy away from upselling—felt too salesy. Then I realized: if someone’s already bought from me, they trust me. They’re in. Why not offer them something more that solves their problem?

Upselling isn’t about squeezing people dry; it’s about adding value they’d thank me for. Done right, it increases email revenue fast.

I’ve seen a $7 eBook sale turn into a $99 course buy in one email. That’s the magic of a no-brainer offer.

Before, my upsells were clunky. I’d send a “thanks for buying” email, then a week later blast a random “buy this too!” message. No connection, no flow. Most ignored it—my click rates were dismal, like 3%. I wasn’t thinking about timing or fit.

When I got smart, I tied the upsell to their first purchase and made it irresistible. That’s when the cash started rolling.

On Day 15, I picked a low-hanging fruit: people who’d bought my $7 eBook from the welcome series.

I didn’t wait—I struck while they were still excited. Here’s my process over the week:

The trick? It’s got to feel like a steal. I’ve tested this a bunch—here’s what works:

That’s how you upsell with an email—relevant, affordable, urgent.

Here are some upsells I’ve run that crushed:

Each doubled my average order value—huge for email marketing revenue.

Nothing fancy:

Day 16, I peeked at X for upsell ideas—marketers there love this stuff.

First go, those 100 eBook buyers? 15 more grabbed the $37 course in 48 hours—$585 extra from upsell email.

Before, I’d have stopped at $700 from the eBook alone. That’s nearly 45%($585) more revenue from the same people from a total of $1285.

Later, I tried it with a $17 template upsold to a $67 tool—20% converted, another $1,000 bump. It’s not just extra sales; it’s bigger sales, fast. My average order went from $10 to $30+.

I’ve flopped this too. Don’t pitch too high—$7 to $197 scared folks off. Don’t wait too long—after a week, they forget why they trusted you.

And don’t over-email—two follow-ups max, or they unsubscribe. I once sent four reminders; lost 5% of my list. Two’s the sweet spot—remind, then respect their choice.

Upselling isn’t optional if you want to increase email revenue. I’ve seen it turn small wins into big paydays.

Days 15-21 locked in a system: find buyers, offer more, time it tight. It’s low effort—two emails—and high reward.

Without it, you’re leaving half your potential on the table. With it, every sale becomes a stepping stone.

By Day 21, my buyers were spending more, and my revenue was climbing.

Next, I’ll show you how I capped it with a flash sale to push the whole list over the edge—because upselling’s great, but a big finale seals the deal.

By Day 22, I’d cleaned my email list, hooked folks with email subject lines, built trust with a welcome series, and boosted sales with an email upsell. But I wanted a big finish—something to push my whole list into action.

That’s when I ran an email flash sale, and it was the final punch that doubled my email marketing revenue.

Days 22-30 were all about urgency, and it lit up my inbox with orders. Here’s how I pulled it off.

I used to think sales were just for desperate stores—clearance vibes, you know? Then I tried a flash sale, and it flipped my thinking. A short, sharp discount—like 48 hours—creates a “now or never” buzz.

People who’d been sitting on the fence? They jump. It’s not about begging; it’s about giving them a reason to act fast.

My first flash sale turned a quiet week into a $5,000 spike. That’s how you increase email revenue—light a fire under your list.

Early on, I’d run “sales” that dragged on—two weeks, no deadline. Guess what? No one cared. They’d think, “I’ll get to it later,” and never did. My click rates were pitiful, like 5%.

I didn’t get it—urgency’s the secret sauce. When I tightened it to 48 hours and hit them with clear “last chance” vibes, everything clicked. A flash sale isn’t a slow burn; it’s a sprint.

On Day 22, I picked my star product—a $97 SEO software I upsold from a $15 template. It’d sold okay, but I knew it could do more. Here’s my week-long rollout:

A flash sale’s power is in the details. Here’s what I’ve learned:

That’s how an email flash sale turns browsers into buyers.

Kept it lean:

Day 23, I skimmed X for flash sale tips—saw pros swear by three emails, so I stuck with it.

First send, Day 27? 45% open rate—teaser worked. Click rate hit 20%, and 5% bought—150 sales at $67. That’s $10,050 in 48 hours. My usual month was $5,000 from that Software at full price.

The flash sale doubled it, easy. Even better, 10% of buyers were from my upsell crew—proof the steps stacked. My PayPal was pinging nonstop by Day 28’s close.

I’ve botched this too. Don’t discount too deep—50% off a $97 course once felt “cheap,” and sales dipped.

Don’t skip the teaser—without it, my launch email got 10% less opens.

And don’t nag—four emails one time annoyed folks; unsubscribes spiked.

Three’s perfect: build, drop, remind. Day 29, I learned my lesson—keep it tight.

A flash sale isn’t just a bonus—it’s the climax. Days 22-30 took my whole list—newbies, upsell buyers, lurkers—and shook out every dollar they’d spend.

It’s low effort—three emails—and massive reward. Without it, I’d have coasted at half the revenue.

With it, I hit my double email revenue goal. It’s the “act now” push your list needs after a month of buildup.

By Day 30, my revenue was up 100% from Day 1—$5,000 to $10,000+. The flash sale was the knockout blow, but every step built to it.

Next, I’ll wrap up how it all tied together—because this isn’t a one-off; it’s a system you can run forever.

Thirty days ago, I was staring at my email stats, wondering why my email marketing revenue wasn’t budging. I had a decent list, some sales, but nothing to write home about.

Now? I’ve doubled my email revenue, and I’m not looking back. It wasn’t magic or some secret guru trick—it was five steps I hammered out through trial and error.

I’ve walked you through every one, and I’m pumped to see you try it too. Let’s break it down one last time and figure out what it all means.

I started with a mess—a bloated list, weak opens, and sales that barely covered my coffee habit.

Step 1, cleaning my email list, was the wake-up call. Cutting 40% of my subscribers felt brutal, but it jacked my open rates from 15% to 25%. That set the stage.

Step 2, those email subject lines, turned opens into a game—I went from “Newsletter #8” to “Steal My $49 Secret,” hitting 40%+ every time. It was like unlocking a door I didn’t know was there.

Then came Step 3, the email welcome series. I stopped treating new subscribers like afterthoughts and gave them a five-email handshake—value, trust, then sales. That alone pulled in almost $2,000 from a 1,000-person list.

Step 4, the email upsell, took it further—$7 buyers became $39 buyers with a no-brainer offer, adding 80% more revenue per sale.

Finally, Step 5’s email flash sale was the big finish—over $10,000 in 48 hours from a $97 Software slashed to $67. Each step built on the last, and by Day 30, I’d gone from less than $5,000 a month to $10,000+.

This wasn’t a straight line—I stumbled plenty. Cleaning my list scared me silly; I thought I’d lose everything. Turns out, less is more.

Writing subject lines felt awkward until I tested what clicked—curiosity and urgency beat bland every time.

The welcome series took a few tries; my first one sold too hard, too fast, and people bailed.

Upselling? I bombed with a $197 pitch once—too big a leap. The flash sale taught me three emails max—more, and I annoyed folks.

Every flop showed me what works: focus, timing, and value over pushiness.

Here’s the kicker: I’m no tech wizard. I used basic tools—ConvertKit, a countdown timer, my own head—and a few hours a week.

My list wasn’t huge; 3,000 after cleaning was plenty. It worked because I stopped spraying and hoping it sticks—random emails to everyone—and got deliberate.

Each step had a job: clean, hook, welcome, upsell, close. It’s a system, not a one-off. That’s how you increase email revenue—not by luck, but by stacking smart moves.

You don’t need my exact setup to pull this off. Got a list of 500? 5,000? Doesn’t matter—start where you are.

Maybe your product’s a $2 ebook, not a $97 Software. Same rules apply: clean it, hook them, welcome them, upsell, then hit with a sale. I’ve seen it work for a buddy selling $15 printables—she doubled her take in a month.

It’s not about scale; it’s about focus. If I can do it—someone who once thought “email marketing” meant spamming—you can too.

Here’s where you take it:

Don’t overthink it—start with one piece and build. My first try wasn’t perfect; yours won’t be either. Tweak as you go.

Day 30 wasn’t a finish line—it was a launchpad. Now, I run this every quarter: clean, hook, welcome, upsell, flash. My list grows, my offers sharpen, my revenue climbs.

You can do the same—turn a month’s work into a machine that keeps paying. I’ve laid it all out—no hunting for more info needed. This is the playbook I wish I’d had years ago.