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Why Collecting Emails Is Like Owning the VIP List to Your Own Party

  • Writer: Johnathon Crowder
    Johnathon Crowder
  • Aug 14
  • 3 min read
A vibrant, wide digital illustration for Crowder Code & Design showcasing the importance of collecting customer emails, featuring a friendly mailbox, floating envelopes, and playful icons symbolizing growth, connection, and business success.

Imagine this: You throw the most epic backyard BBQ in Springfield. There’s music, delicious food, the neighbor’s dog is behaving (for once), and everyone is having a blast.


Now imagine… you forgot to tell half your friends it was happening.They missed the ribs, the music, and your legendary potato salad.That’s what running a business without an email list feels like.



The One Thing Social Media Won’t Tell You

Sure, social media feels like the easiest way to keep in touch. Post a photo, and bam — instant likes.


But here’s the thing nobody talks about:

  • Social media is like renting a billboard on someone else’s road. You don’t control who drives by.

  • Algorithms change. One day you’re the talk of the town, the next day, you’re buried under cat videos and latte art.

  • If Facebook or Instagram took a nap for 24 hours, how would you reach your customers?


Email, on the other hand, is your house. You own it. You decide when to send the invite, what music to play, and whether there’s a bouncy castle in the backyard.



Why Email Lists Are Secret Money Printers

(Okay, they’re not literally printers — although that would be nice.)


Here’s the magic:

  1. Direct Line – An email lands straight in their inbox. No middleman, no “hoping the algorithm likes me today.”

  2. Your People Want to Hear from You – They signed up. That’s basically them saying, “Yes, please tell me more about what you’ve got.”

  3. It Works While You Sleep – Send an email at 8 PM, wake up to a flood of clicks, bookings, or sales.


Think of it like planting seeds in your garden. Every email you send is watering those seeds, and eventually… you’ve got a forest. Or at least a few solid apple trees.



The “Springfield Farmer’s Market” Analogy

Picture yourself at the Saturday Farmer’s Market. You sell homemade fudge that makes grown adults tear up with joy.


Now… two stalls down, a guy is handing out free samples and collecting emails. He’s got a clipboard and a smile.


You? You’re just handing out free samples.A week later, he emails everyone: “New maple pecan fudge this weekend. Limited batches!”Guess who gets the crowd? (Spoiler: it’s not you.)



The Myth of “I Don’t Want to Bother People”

A lot of small business owners whisper this like a dirty secret: “I don’t want to spam people.” But here’s the truth — if someone signed up for your list, they’re not a random stranger.


They’re your people. They want updates. They want deals.


They want to know you’ve got a new product before anyone else. Sending valuable, friendly emails isn’t annoying. It’s customer service with a bow on top.



How to Make Email Collection Fun (and Not Weird)

No one wants to feel like they’re being hustled. Here’s how to keep it natural:

  • Offer a Perk – “Sign up for 10% off your next visit.” Works like magic.

  • Keep It Light – “Join our list. We promise not to send you pictures of our lunch… unless it’s amazing.”

  • Name It – Don’t just call it a newsletter. Call it “The Insider’s Circle” or “VIP Deals Club.”



Story Time: The Coffee Shop That Beat Starbucks

True story:

There was a little coffee shop here in town that collected emails religiously. Every week, they’d send one short, funny email:


“Pumpkin spice is back. We can’t stop it. Resistance is futile.”


People showed up in droves. Meanwhile, the big chain down the street? They relied on people wandering in. Guess who stayed packed year-round?



Your Next Steps (AKA, Let’s Get You That VIP List)

  1. Get a Simple Signup Form – On your website, in your store, at events. Everywhere.


  2. Decide on Your “Welcome Gift” – Could be a discount, a freebie, or even a funny downloadable guide.


  3. Send Something Immediately – Don’t let those emails collect dust. Send a warm welcome right away.



The “Sleep Easy” Guarantee

When you’ve got a solid email list, you can sleep easy knowing:

  • You can reach your customers anytime.

  • You’re building loyalty instead of relying on luck.

  • Your business isn’t at the mercy of tech giants’ mood swings.


So… what’s stopping you from starting today? Your BBQ guests — I mean customers — are waiting.


✅ Want help setting up an email list that actually works?

That’s literally what we do at Crowder Code & Design.

We make it painless (and maybe even fun).


 
 
 

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