If you’re building an online business, you’ve probably heard that “the money is in the list.” But when you’re just starting out, email marketing feels overwhelming. Which platform should you use? How do you build a list? What do you even send to people? This complete beginner’s guide to Email Marketing with Systeme.io will answer all these questions and show you exactly how to set up professional email campaigns without technical headaches or expensive software.
I’ve researched email marketing extensively and Systeme.io stands out as the perfect platform for beginners. Unlike complex tools that require weeks to learn or expensive platforms that drain your budget before you make a single sale, Systeme.io combines simplicity with powerful features at prices anyone can afford. You can literally start for free and build a real email marketing system that generates revenue.
By the end of this guide, you’ll understand exactly how to use Systeme.io for email marketing, from capturing your first subscriber to creating automated sequences that sell while you sleep. This isn’t theory. It’s a practical roadmap you can implement today.
Quick note: This guide assumes you’re completely new to email marketing. If you’re migrating from another platform, the principles still apply, but setup will be faster since you already understand the basics.
Why Email Marketing Matters for Your Business
Before diving into the technical how-to, let’s understand why email marketing is crucial for online business success.
Email Owns Your Audience
Social media platforms can disappear, change algorithms or ban your account overnight. You don’t own your Instagram followers or Facebook fans. But you own your email list. Nobody can take those contacts away from you.
When you have someone’s email address, you can reach them directly anytime. No algorithm decides whether they see your message. No platform changes that limit your reach. You have direct access to their inbox.
Email Converts Better Than Other Channels
Email marketing consistently delivers the highest ROI of any marketing channel. Studies show email generates $36 to $42 for every dollar spent. Compare that to social media or paid ads and email wins dramatically.
Why? Because email is personal. People check their inbox multiple times daily and messages feel more intimate than public social posts. When someone gives you their email, they’re inviting you into their personal space. That trust translates to higher conversion rates.
Studies show email generates $36 to $42 for every dollar spent
Email Enables Automation
Once you set up email automation, it works 24/7 without ongoing effort. New subscribers automatically receive your welcome sequence. Customers get post-purchase follow-ups. People who abandon carts receive reminders. All automatically.
This automation means you can build a business that generates revenue even when you’re sleeping, on vacation or focused on other projects.
Email Builds Relationships
Consistent email communication builds relationships with your audience over time. They get to know your voice, trust your recommendations and become loyal customers who buy repeatedly.
One-time customers are nice. Loyal fans who buy everything you create are business-changing. Email marketing creates those relationships.
Why Choose Systeme.io for Email Marketing
Dozens of email marketing platforms exist. So why Systeme.io specifically for beginners?
It’s Genuinely Affordable
Most email platforms charge based on subscriber count. As your list grows, costs explode. ConvertKit charges $29/month for 1,000 subscribers. Mailchimp starts free but quickly becomes expensive. ActiveCampaign begins at $29/month for 500 subscribers.
Systeme.io includes unlimited email sending on all plans, even the free one. You’re not penalized for growing your list. The free plan supports 2,000 contacts with unlimited emails. The Startup plan is $27/month for 5,000 contacts. That’s revolutionary pricing.
It’s All-in-One
Traditional email platforms only do email. You still need separate tools for landing pages, sales funnels, course hosting and payment processing. Systeme.io includes everything in one platform.
You can create opt-in pages to capture emails, set up automated sequences, sell products, deliver courses and manage affiliates all in one place. This integration eliminates the complexity and cost of connecting multiple tools.
It’s Beginner-Friendly
Systeme.io’s interface is straightforward. You don’t need technical skills or design experience. The drag-and-drop builders make creating emails and automation simple enough for complete beginners.
Complex platforms like ActiveCampaign or Infusionsoft offer powerful features but require weeks of learning. Systeme.io balances power with simplicity, letting you start fast while growing into advanced features over time.
It Includes Automation
Email automation is essential for modern online business. Systeme.io includes visual automation builders on all plans. You can create sophisticated workflows that segment subscribers based on behavior and send targeted messages automatically.
Many affordable email platforms charge extra for automation or limit it severely. Systeme.io includes robust automation even on the free plan.
Discover why Systeme.io is the perfect all-in-one platform for your email marketing needs
Setting Up Email Marketing in Systeme.io
Let’s walk through the complete setup process step by step.
Step 1: Create Your Systeme.io Account
Visit Systeme.io and sign up for a free account. No credit card required. You’ll verify your email and log into your dashboard.
The dashboard shows all platform features including funnels, emails, contacts, products and automation. For email marketing, you’ll primarily work in the Contacts and Emails sections.
Step 2: Connect Your Custom Domain
While optional for testing, connecting a custom domain is essential for professional email marketing. Emails from yourbusiness.com look legitimate while emails from systemesites.com look amateur.
Purchase a domain from Namecheap or GoDaddy (costs $10 to $20 annually). In Systeme.io settings, add your domain and follow the DNS instructions. This takes 5 to 10 minutes and dramatically improves deliverability and credibility.
Step 3: Create Your First Email List
In Systeme.io, navigate to Contacts and then Tags. Think of tags as your email lists or segments. You’ll tag subscribers based on what they’re interested in or what actions they take.
Create your first tag for your main email list. For example, if you run a fitness blog, create a tag called “Main Subscribers” or “Fitness Newsletter.”
You can create multiple tags for different lead magnets, products or interests. Tags let you send targeted emails to specific segments rather than emailing everyone every time.
Step 4: Set Up Your Email Settings
Go to Settings and then Email to configure:
From Name: Use your real name or business name. “Sarah from Fitness Tips” works better than “Fitness Tips” alone. Personal names increase open rates.
From Email: Use your custom domain email like sarah@yourbusiness.com, not a free Gmail address.
Reply-To Email: Where replies should go. Usually the same as your from email.
Footer Information: Required by law. Include your business address and unsubscribe link (Systeme.io adds the unsubscribe link automatically).
Learn more about email marketing legal requirements
Step 5: Create Your First Lead Magnet
You need something to offer in exchange for email addresses. This is your lead magnet. Popular options include:
- PDF guides or checklists
- Email courses delivered over several days
- Video training series
- Resource libraries
- Templates or tools
- Exclusive content not available elsewhere
Your lead magnet should solve a specific problem your target audience faces. Make it valuable enough that people willingly trade their email address for it.
Create your lead magnet content, save it as a PDF or video and upload it to Systeme.io. You’ll deliver this to new subscribers through an automated email.
Building Your Email List with Systeme.io
Now that setup is complete, let’s focus on actually growing your list.
Create an Opt-In Page
Systeme.io includes a funnel and page builder. Create a simple opt-in page (also called landing page or squeeze page) that:
Has a Clear Headline: State the main benefit. “Download the Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Garden” is better than “Sign Up for My Newsletter.”
Explains the Benefit: A few sentences describing what they’ll get and why it matters.
Includes an Opt-In Form: The form should ask for minimal information. Just name and email typically. More fields reduce conversions.
Shows What They’ll Receive: Include an image of your lead magnet or bullet points listing what’s included.
Has a Strong Call to Action: “Get My Free Guide” performs better than generic “Submit.”
Systeme.io’s page builder makes creating these pages simple. Choose a template, customize text and colors and publish. No coding required.
Embed Forms on Your Website
If you have an existing blog or website, embed Systeme.io opt-in forms directly on your pages. In Systeme.io, create a form and copy the embed code. Paste this code into your blog sidebar, footer or within blog posts.
Forms placed within content (in-line forms) convert better than sidebar forms because they appear while people are engaged with your content.
Create Multiple Lead Magnets
Don’t limit yourself to one lead magnet. Create different lead magnets for different topics or audience segments.
If you run a cooking blog, you might have:
- A lead magnet for quick weeknight dinners
- Another for meal prep strategies
- A third for dessert recipes
Each attracts a slightly different subscriber interested in that specific topic. You can then send targeted emails based on which lead magnet they downloaded.
Promote Your Opt-In Page
Your opt-in page won’t generate subscribers automatically. Promote it through:
Your Blog: Link to your opt-in page in every blog post. Include a compelling call to action that explains the benefit.
Social Media: Share your lead magnet regularly on all social platforms. Create graphics that highlight the value.
Guest Posts: Write for other blogs in your niche and include your lead magnet in your author bio.
YouTube Videos: Mention your lead magnet in videos and include the link in video descriptions.
Paid Ads: Once you validate your lead magnet converts, consider Facebook or Google ads to scale subscriber growth.
The more traffic you drive to your opt-in page, the faster your list grows. Aim for consistent promotion across all channels.
Get started building your email list with the right tools and strategy
Creating Email Campaigns in Systeme.io
With subscribers joining your list, let’s create emails that engage and convert.
Understanding Campaign Types
Systeme.io offers two main email types:
Broadcasts: One-time emails sent to your entire list or specific tags. Use broadcasts for announcements, promotions, weekly newsletters or any message you want to send immediately.
Automation Sequences: Pre-written email series that send automatically based on triggers. Welcome sequences, product launch sequences and educational courses use automation.
Most email marketing combines both types. Automation handles predictable communication while broadcasts handle timely announcements.
Writing Your Welcome Email
Your welcome email is the most important message you’ll send. It arrives when subscriber interest peaks. Open rates for welcome emails often exceed 50% while typical emails get 15% to 25%.
Your welcome email should:
Deliver the Promised Lead Magnet: Include a download link or access instructions immediately. This builds trust by delivering what you promised.
Set Expectations: Tell subscribers what they’ll receive from you. “I’ll send you one email weekly with gardening tips” manages expectations and reduces unsubscribes.
Introduce Yourself: Share your story briefly. Why do you help people with this topic? What qualifies you? Make it personal.
Encourage a Reply: Ask a question and invite replies. “What’s your biggest challenge with gardening right now?” Replies improve deliverability and start conversations.
Include a Call to Action: Don’t sell hard in your welcome email but consider a soft invitation to check out your best content or a relevant product.
Keep your welcome email conversational and warm. You’re starting a relationship, not making a hard sales pitch.
Creating Your Welcome Sequence
Beyond the initial welcome email, create a welcome sequence of 3 to 7 emails sent over the first week or two. This sequence warms up subscribers and establishes your authority.
Example Welcome Sequence Structure:
Email 1 (immediate): Deliver lead magnet and introduce yourself
Email 2 (day 2): Share your best blog post or video on the topic
Email 3 (day 4): Tell your origin story. Why do you care about this topic?
Email 4 (day 7): Provide additional value. A case study or success story.
Email 5 (day 10): Soft sell. Mention a relevant product with a story about how it helps
Email 6 (day 14): Transition to regular content. Explain what they’ll receive going forward
This sequence builds rapport and trust before asking for a purchase. Each email provides value and strengthens the relationship.
Writing Regular Email Content
After your welcome sequence, maintain regular communication. Most successful email marketers send at least one email weekly. Some send daily.
Content Ideas for Regular Emails:
Teaching Content: Share tips, strategies or how-to information related to your niche
Stories: Personal anecdotes that illustrate lessons or entertain
News and Updates: Industry news, personal updates or announcements
Product Recommendations: Affiliate products or your own products you genuinely recommend
Questions: Ask subscribers about their challenges or preferences
Curated Content: Share interesting articles, videos or resources you’ve found
The key is consistency. Pick a schedule you can maintain long term and stick with it. One great email weekly beats three sporadic emails followed by silence.
Email Copywriting Best Practices
Subject Lines Matter: Your subject line determines whether people open your email. Make it curious, benefit-driven or personal. “3 mistakes killing your tomato plants” beats “This week’s gardening tips.”
Write Conversationally: Email feels personal. Write like you’re talking to one person, not broadcasting to thousands. Use “you” and “I” liberally.
Keep Paragraphs Short: Long blocks of text are hard to read on mobile devices. Break content into 1 to 3 sentence paragraphs.
Focus on One Topic: Each email should have one main point or call to action. Don’t overwhelm subscribers with multiple messages in one email.
Always Include a Call to Action: Every email should ask subscribers to do something. Read a blog post, reply to your email, check out a product or attend a webinar.
Be Yourself: Don’t try to sound corporate or overly formal. Your personality makes your emails memorable.
Setting Up Email Automation in Systeme.io
Automation transforms your email marketing from a time-consuming task to a system that runs itself.
Understanding Automation Rules
Systeme.io’s automation builder uses visual workflows with triggers, conditions and actions. Think of it like: “When this happens, check if this is true and then do this.”
Triggers: Events that start automation. Someone opts in, clicks a link, purchases a product or reaches a certain date.
Conditions: Rules that determine whether someone continues down the automation path. “If they have this tag” or “If they clicked this link.”
Actions: What happens. Send an email, add a tag, move to a different automation or send to a different sequence.
Creating Your First Automation
Let’s create a simple automation that sends your welcome sequence automatically.
Step 1: Go to Automation in Systeme.io and click Create Rule
Step 2: Choose your trigger. Select “Contact is tagged” and choose your main subscriber tag
Step 3: Add action “Send email.” Select your first welcome email
Step 4: Add a delay action. “Wait 2 days”
Step 5: Add another “Send email” action for your second welcome email
Step 6: Continue adding delays and emails for your complete sequence
Step 7: Save and activate your automation
Now anyone who joins your list automatically receives your entire welcome sequence without any manual work from you.
Advanced Automation Ideas
Once you master basic sequences, explore advanced automation:
Behavior-Based Segmentation: Tag subscribers based on which links they click. If someone clicks your yoga content, tag them “Interested in Yoga” and send yoga-specific content.
Product Launch Sequences: Create automated sequences that sell products. Share value upfront, introduce the product, handle objections and close with urgency.
Re-Engagement Campaigns: Automatically identify subscribers who haven’t opened emails in 60 days and send a special re-engagement sequence.
Post-Purchase Sequences: When someone buys, automatically send onboarding emails, request reviews or offer complementary products.
Abandoned Cart Recovery: If someone starts checkout but doesn’t complete it, automatically send reminder emails with incentives to return.
Automation lets you deliver personalized, timely messages at scale without manual effort.
Learn how Systeme.io’s all-in-one platform simplifies email automation for beginners
Email Marketing Best Practices
Following these best practices ensures your email marketing succeeds while avoiding common pitfalls.
Build Your List Organically
Never buy email lists or add people without permission. Purchased lists have terrible engagement, damage your sender reputation and violate anti-spam laws. Every subscriber should actively opt in to receive your emails.
Segment Your Audience
Not every subscriber cares about every topic. Use tags to segment subscribers by interests, purchase history or engagement level. Send targeted emails to relevant segments rather than blasting everyone with everything.
Segmented emails get 14% higher open rates and 100% higher click rates compared to non-segmented emails.
Focus on Deliverability
Your emails are worthless if they land in spam folders. Improve deliverability by:
Using a Custom Domain: Free email addresses and default platform domains harm deliverability
Avoiding Spam Trigger Words: “FREE!”, “ACT NOW”, excessive exclamation marks and all caps trigger spam filters
Encouraging Engagement: High open and click rates tell email providers your content is wanted
Making Unsubscribing Easy: Hiding unsubscribe links increases spam complaints which destroy deliverability
Maintaining List Hygiene: Remove subscribers who never open emails. Inactive subscribers hurt deliverability.
Test Different Approaches
Don’t assume you know what works. Test subject lines, send times, email length and content types. Systeme.io includes A/B testing features on higher plans but you can manually test by trying different approaches and comparing results.
Send one subject line style for two weeks, then try a different style the next two weeks. Compare open rates and click rates to see what resonates with your specific audience.
Balance Value and Promotion
The classic ratio is 80% value content and 20% promotional content. Most of your emails should educate, entertain or help subscribers. Occasional promotional emails are fine and expected but if every email is a sales pitch, people unsubscribe.
Even promotional emails can provide value by explaining how a product solves specific problems rather than just listing features and saying “buy now.”
Monitor Key Metrics
Track these essential email metrics:
Open Rate: Percentage who open your emails. Aim for 20% to 30% for cold traffic and 30% to 50% for warm lists.
Click Rate: Percentage who click links in your emails. 2% to 5% is typical.
Unsubscribe Rate: Should stay under 0.5% per email. Higher rates indicate poor targeting or frequency.
Conversion Rate: Percentage who take your desired action (purchase, register, etc.). Varies widely by offer.
These metrics tell you what’s working and what needs improvement.
Common Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
Learning from others’ mistakes saves time and frustration.
Mistake 1: Not Emailing Consistently
The biggest mistake beginners make is building a list then rarely emailing. Subscribers forget who you are, engagement plummets and your list becomes worthless.
Pick a schedule (weekly is minimum) and stick to it. Consistency builds trust and keeps you top of mind.
Mistake 2: Making Every Email a Sales Pitch
Constantly pitching products turns subscribers off. Provide genuine value most of the time. When you do promote something, your audience is more receptive because you’ve built trust.
Mistake 3: Neglecting Mobile Optimization
Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices. If your emails don’t display well on phones, you’re losing more than half your audience.
Use short paragraphs, clear formatting and mobile-responsive templates. Systeme.io’s email templates are mobile-responsive by default.
See the latest data on mobile email usage
Mistake 4: Ignoring Your Welcome Sequence
Your welcome sequence is your highest-performing email series. Many beginners create one welcome email then move on. Invest time creating a strong 5 to 7 email welcome sequence that maximizes this high-engagement period.
Mistake 5: Not Cleaning Your List
Keeping inactive subscribers hurts deliverability and costs money on some platforms. Remove or re-engage subscribers who haven’t opened an email in 6 to 12 months.
Mistake 6: Overcomplicating Everything
Beginners often get paralyzed trying to build the “perfect” email system. Start simple. One opt-in page, one lead magnet, one welcome sequence and weekly broadcasts. You can add complexity as you grow.
Mistake 7: Writing Only About Yourself
Nobody cares about your day unless you make it relevant to them. Frame every story and lesson around how it helps your subscribers. “You” should appear more than “I” in your emails.
Real World Email Marketing Example
Let me show you how this works in practice with a concrete example.
Scenario: You run a website teaching people how to grow vegetables in small spaces.
Step 1: Lead Magnet You create a PDF guide called “10 Vegetables Perfect for Small Space Gardens.” It’s 8 pages with photos, growing tips and space requirements.
Step 2: Opt-In Page You build a simple landing page in Systeme.io with the headline “Grow Fresh Vegetables Even in Tiny Spaces.” The page explains the guide’s value and includes an opt-in form asking for name and email.
Step 3: Welcome Sequence You create a 5-email welcome sequence:
- Email 1: Delivers the PDF guide and introduces yourself
- Email 2: Your biggest small space gardening mistake and how to avoid it
- Email 3: Your story of starting with a tiny balcony garden
- Email 4: Three essential tools for small space gardening (with affiliate links)
- Email 5: Invitation to check out your paid course on year-round small space gardening
Step 4: Promotion You link to this opt-in page in every blog post you write. You mention it in YouTube video descriptions. You share it on Pinterest and Instagram. Within three months, you’ve built a list of 500 subscribers.
Step 5: Regular Emails Every Tuesday, you send a value-packed email with one gardening tip, a story and a call to action. Some weeks you share blog posts. Other weeks you recommend products. Occasionally you promote your course.
Results: After six months, you have 1,200 subscribers. About 350 open each email (29% open rate). You’ve made 40 course sales at $97 each ($3,880 revenue) plus $600 in affiliate commissions. All through email marketing that takes 2 to 3 hours weekly.
This isn’t hypothetical. This is how real online businesses grow through email marketing.
Start building your email marketing system today with beginner-friendly guidance
Taking Your Email Marketing to the Next Level
Once you master the basics, these advanced strategies help you scale results.
Create Multiple Email Sequences
Beyond your welcome sequence, create sequences for:
- Product launches
- Event promotions
- Educational courses delivered via email
- Holiday sales
- Re-engagement campaigns
Having pre-written sequences ready means you can activate them whenever needed without starting from scratch.
Implement Win-Back Campaigns
Some subscribers go inactive. Before removing them, send a win-back sequence asking if they still want to hear from you. Offer an incentive like a special discount or exclusive content for re-engaging.
Win-back campaigns recover 5% to 15% of inactive subscribers and help clean your list of truly uninterested people.
Use Email to Drive Webinar Attendance
Host live webinars and use email to drive registrations and attendance. Send:
- Invitation emails explaining the webinar value
- Reminder emails the day before and hour before
- Replay emails for those who missed it
Webinars often convert 20% to 40% of attendees into customers when done well.
Personalize Based on Behavior
Advanced segmentation tags subscribers based on actions they take. If someone clicks your link about indoor plants, tag them “Interested in Indoor Plants” and send targeted content about that topic.
Behavioral personalization dramatically increases engagement and conversions compared to one-size-fits-all approaches.
Build Relationship Beyond Email
Use email to move subscribers to other platforms where you can build deeper relationships:
- Invite them to join your Facebook group
- Ask them to follow you on Instagram
- Suggest they subscribe to your YouTube channel
- Offer to connect on LinkedIn
Multi-platform relationships are stronger and more valuable than email-only relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I email my list?
At minimum, email weekly. Daily emails work for some niches if every message provides value. Test frequency with your specific audience but never go longer than two weeks between emails or subscribers forget you.
What’s a good open rate?
Industry average is 15% to 25% but this varies by niche and list warmth. Fresh subscribers open at 30% to 50% while older lists might see 15% to 20%. Focus on improving your own open rate over time rather than comparing to others.
Should I segment my list?
Yes. Even basic segmentation (by interest or purchase history) improves results dramatically. Start simple with 2 to 3 segments and add more as your business grows.
Can I move my existing list to Systeme.io?
Yes. Export your contacts from your current platform as a CSV file and import into Systeme.io. Just ensure you only import people who opted in to receive emails from you.
What if my emails go to spam?
Use a custom domain, avoid spam trigger words, encourage engagement and maintain list hygiene. If problems persist, check your domain’s sender reputation and consider working with email deliverability specialists.
How long should emails be?
There’s no perfect length. Some successful marketers send 100-word emails while others send 1,000-word essays. Match length to your content and audience preference. Test different lengths and see what gets better engagement.
When is the best time to send emails?
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings (9-11 AM in your audience’s timezone) typically perform best. However, your specific audience might differ. Test different days and times to find your optimal send window.
Should I use plain text or designed emails?
Both work. Plain text emails often get higher open rates because they feel personal. Designed emails can look more professional and are better for visual content. Many successful marketers alternate between both styles.
Your Email Marketing Action Plan
You now understand how email marketing works in Systeme.io. Here’s your step-by-step action plan to implement everything:
Week 1: Setup
- Create your Systeme.io account
- Connect your custom domain
- Configure email settings
- Create your first tag/list
Week 2: Lead Magnet
- Decide what lead magnet to create
- Create the content (PDF, video, etc.)
- Upload to Systeme.io
- Build your opt-in page
Week 3: Welcome Sequence
- Write 5 welcome emails
- Set up automation to deliver sequence
- Test the complete subscriber experience
Week 4: Promotion
- Add opt-in links to your blog
- Create social media posts promoting lead magnet
- Embed forms on your website
- Start driving traffic to your opt-in page
Week 5+: Consistency
- Send weekly broadcast emails
- Monitor metrics and adjust approach
- Create additional lead magnets for different segments
- Build more automation sequences
Following this plan, you’ll have a functioning email marketing system within a month.
Begin your email marketing journey with Systeme.io’s powerful all-in-one platform
Conclusion: Start Your Email Marketing Journey Today
Email Marketing with Systeme.io doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. This platform gives beginners everything needed to build professional email campaigns that generate real revenue. The free plan alone is more powerful than some paid platforms while the affordable paid plans scale with your business growth.
The hardest part is starting. Most people spend weeks researching the “perfect” email platform and never actually build their list. Don’t let that be you. Systeme.io removes technical and financial barriers. The only thing stopping you is taking action.
Your email list becomes your most valuable business asset over time. Every subscriber represents someone interested in what you offer. Nurturing those relationships through consistent, valuable email communication transforms subscribers into customers and customers into lifelong fans.
Start today. Create your free account, build your first opt-in page and send your first email. You’ll learn more from doing than from reading another guide. This comprehensive introduction to Email Marketing with Systeme.io has given you everything needed to succeed. The rest is up to you.
Your future subscribers are waiting. Go build something amazing.