Email Marketing on Blogger: Build Your List for $0
byALEX-
500 subscribers in 87 days built entirely on ConvertKit's free plan with one Blogger HTML gadget and a 45-minute Canva checklist.
Every traffic guide eventually leads here. You can have 5,000 monthly
visitors from Google but if you don't have an email list, you own none of
that audience. A Google algorithm update, a Reddit ban, a Pinterest policy
change: any of them can cut your traffic overnight. An email list is the
only audience you actually own.
If you want to know how to build a free email list on Blogger in 2026, the answer is simpler than most guides make it sound. ConvertKit's free
plan handles up to 1,000 subscribers. Their embed code pastes directly into
Blogger's HTML/JavaScript widget no plugins, no coding knowledge, no paid plan
required.
I hit 500 subscribers in Month 3 with under 5,000 monthly visitors. Here's the
exact setup, the form copy that converted, the welcome sequence that turned
subscribers into buyers, and the one placement hack that doubled my opt-in
rate overnight.
500
Email subscribers reached Day 87 · Month 3
4,800
Sessions at milestone
10.4%
Opt-in rate
$0
Cost to build
Why Your Email List Beats Every Social Channel
⚡ Quick Answer — SGE Target
To build a free email list on Blogger in 2026: create a ConvertKit free
account, build a form, paste the embed code into Blogger's HTML/JavaScript
gadget in your sidebar or at the end of each post, offer a free lead magnet
(a PDF checklist or resource list), and publish consistently so new visitors
have a reason to subscribe. ConvertKit is free up to 1,000 subscribers.
Email marketing has a median ROI of 36:1 meaning for every dollar invested, businesses earn $36 back. Compare
that to social media, which sits around 5:1. The reason is simple: email
subscribers chose to hear from you. They gave you permission to land in their inbox. That
level of intentional engagement doesn't exist on any feed-based platform.
For a Blogger blog specifically, there's another benefit: Blogger has no
built-in newsletter or subscriber system. So most Blogger blogs have zero
email infrastructure. Building even a small list puts you ahead of 90% of
competing blogs in your niche many of which have been publishing for years
without ever capturing a single email address.
💡 Alex's Advice: Think of your email list as your blog's backup hard drive. If Google
tanks your search traffic tomorrow, your email list is your direct line back
to your readers. Every subscriber is an asset that no algorithm can take away.
Build it from Day 1 even if you only add 5 subscribers a week at first.
Step 1: Set Up ConvertKit Free (10 Minutes)
ConvertKit's free plan gives you everything you need for the first year of
email list building: unlimited broadcasts, 1 sequence, 1 landing page, and
forms all for up to 1,000 subscribers. Zero credit card required. I've been on
the free plan since Day 1 and it handles everything in this post.
Step 01
Free Plan
Create Your ConvertKit Account
Go to convertkit.com → click "Start for free" → enter your blog name and email. Choose
"Creator" as your account type (not "Business"). This is important Creator
accounts get the email sequence feature on the free plan.
When asked "How many subscribers do you have?", select 0–1,000. This unlocks the full free tier. You'll land on the dashboard
immediately no email verification delay.
FreeCost
1,000Sub Limit
10 minSetup Time
Step 02
Form Builder
Build Your Opt-In Form
In ConvertKit: Landing Pages & Forms → New Form → Inline. Choose the "Mills" template (minimal, no image, fastest-loading). Edit
three fields only:
Headline: Specific promise not "Subscribe to my newsletter" but "Get the free 2026 Passive Income Blog Checklist"
Subheadline: One sentence expanding the promise "7 steps to your first $100,
condensed to a single page."
Button text: Action word + outcome
"Send me the checklist" not "Subscribe"
Click Save, then click Embed → choose HTML → copy the embed code. You'll need this for Step 3.
app.convertkit.com/forms/new — Inline Form Builder
ConvertKit
🎨 Forms
📧 Sequences
📨 Broadcasts
👥 Subscribers
⚙️ Settings
Form: "Passive Income Checklist" · Inline · Mills Template
Get the Free 2026 Passive Income Blog Checklist
7 steps to your first $100 from blogging condensed to a single
printable page. Sent instantly to your inbox.
I respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam — ever.
Embed Code paste into Blogger HTML/JavaScript Gadget:
<!-- ConvertKit form · alexblog · Passive Income Checklist -->
Template: Mills · Inline · Free plan✓ Form saved · Ready to embed
ConvertKit form builder the "Mills" minimal template with a specific promise
headline, benefit subheading, and action-oriented button text. The embed
code at the bottom pastes directly into Blogger's HTML/JavaScript gadget in
one step.
💡 Alex's Advice: The single biggest opt-in rate improvement I made: changing the button
from "Subscribe" to "Send me the checklist →". That one edit lifted my opt-in
rate from 4.2% to 7.8% overnight. Specific, outcome-oriented button text
always outperforms generic subscription language. The reader should know
exactly what happens when they click.
Step 2: Embed the Form in Blogger (No Coding Required)
Step 03
Blogger Setup
Add the HTML/JavaScript Gadget
In Blogger: go to Layout → Add a Gadget → HTML/JavaScript. In the Content field, paste your ConvertKit embed code. Give it a Title
like "Free Checklist" or leave it blank. Click Save. The form appears in your sidebar
immediately no template editing, no code knowledge needed.
For the best conversion placement, add the gadget at the very top of your sidebar (drag it above your
Archive and About widgets). Sidebar-top placement converts at 2–3× the
rate of sidebar-bottom or footer placement for most blog niches.
Second placement (highest converting overall): Also paste the embed code at the bottom of each post, directly
above the CTA box. In-content forms after a full post read convert at
8–12% on average much higher than sidebar forms.
✓ Widget position: Sidebar Top slot. Displays on every page. Renders ConvertKit form automatically. No
Blogger theme editing required.
Drag widgets above/below each other to reorder · Changes save
automatically
Blogger Layout Editor ConvertKit embed code pasted into the
HTML/JavaScript gadget. The gadget is dragged to the top sidebar slot so it
appears above the archive and labels widgets on every page. Total setup
time: 3 minutes.
💡 Alex's Advice: Also paste the form embed code at the bottom of every post manually,
just before your CTA box. In Blogger Compose view, switch to HTML mode at the
bottom of the editor, scroll to the end of your post content, and paste the
ConvertKit script tag there. In-content forms after a completed post read are
your highest-converting opt-in placement by a wide margin.
Step 3: The Lead Magnet That Actually Converts
The form alone won't get you to 10% opt-in rates. You need a lead magnet a specific, free resource that gives readers a compelling reason
to hand over their email address. The bar is low: most blogs in the passive
income niche are either offering nothing at all, or vague "exclusive content"
promises that mean nothing.
My lead magnet: a single-page PDF checklist titled "The 2026 Passive Income Blog Launch Checklist 47 Steps From Zero to
First $100." I created it in Canva's free tier in 45 minutes. It's available for
free on my ConvertKit landing page as the "incentive" attached to the form.
Why a checklist works better than an ebook: it's faster to consume, easier to
promise ("one page"), and more actionable. A reader who downloads a checklist
and uses it is far more likely to click your next broadcast than someone who
downloaded a 40-page ebook they never read.
Lead Magnet Type
Creation Time
Avg Opt-in Rate
Reader Completion
PDF Checklist (1 page)
45 min
9–12%
~80%
Resource List (curated links)
30 min
7–10%
~75%
Short Email Course (5 days)
3–4 hrs
6–9%
~60%
Ebook (10–40 pages)
8–20 hrs
5–8%
~20%
Webinar / Video
4–10 hrs
4–7%
~15%
No lead magnet ("subscribe for updates")
0 min
1–3%
—
💡 Alex's Advice: Your lead magnet doesn't have to be polished. My checklist is a Canva
page with the blog's brand colors, a numbered list, and my logo in the corner.
It took 45 minutes. The promise matters far more than the production
value a specific, useful, one-page checklist beats a beautiful but vague
30-page PDF every time.
Step 4: Write a Welcome Sequence That Makes Money
Most bloggers set up the form, get subscribers, and then never email them.
That's the fastest way to build a list that earns nothing. A welcome sequence a series of 4–5 automated emails sent over the first two weeks
after someone subscribes is where the affiliate money lives.
Here's the exact welcome sequence I use. Every email is 250–400 words.
Conversational, not corporate. Each one ends with either a link to a
high-value post or a natural affiliate mention:
D0
Immediately on signup
📎 Your checklist is attached plus one thing to do first
Delivers the lead magnet PDF. Explains what the blog is about and who
Alex is. Ends with: "Reply with the one thing you want to achieve with
your blog in 2026." (Replies train spam filters to trust the sender
address.)
Open rate: 71% · No affiliate links yet
D2
Day 2 after signup
The mistake that kept my blog at $0 for 8 weeks
Personal story about not joining affiliate programs early enough.
Explains the 180-day Amazon window. Links naturally to Post #002
(affiliate programs guide). Soft mention of Shopify CPA offer.
Open rate: 54% · 1 affiliate mention (Shopify)
D5
Day 5 after signup
How I got 312 blog visitors in Month 1 (no social media)
Condensed version of Post #004. Real numbers. Links to the full post.
Mentions Search Console indexing trick. No affiliate links pure
value email to build trust.
Open rate: 48% · No affiliate links
D9
Day 9 after signup
The tool I use every day (and it's free until 1,000 subs)
Dedicated ConvertKit affiliate email. Personal story of how building the
email list changed the trajectory of the blog. Affiliate link for
ConvertKit. Explains the 30% recurring commission for subscribers who
refer others.
Open rate: 41% · Primary ConvertKit affiliate email
D14
Day 14 after signup
Your Month 1 roadmap everything in one place
Summary email linking to the full 7-post series in order. Frame as "if
you do nothing else this month, read these 7 posts in order." Multiple
affiliate links embedded naturally throughout each linked post. Last
email in automated sequence subscriber now moves to broadcast
list.
Open rate: 44% · Multiple affiliate links via post links
Welcome Sequence · "Passive Income Starter" · 5 emails · 14 days
500
Total Subscribers
↑ 500 in 87 days
51.6%
Avg Open Rate
↑ vs 21% industry avg
8.4%
Avg Click Rate
↑ vs 2.6% industry avg
$0
Monthly Cost
Free plan ✓
Email
Subject
Open Rate
Clicks
Affiliate
Day 0
Your checklist is attached…
71%
32%
None
Day 2
The mistake that kept…
54%
12%
Shopify
Day 5
312 visitors, Month 1…
48%
9%
None
Day 9
The tool I use every day…
41%
14%
ConvertKit
Day 14
Your Month 1 roadmap…
44%
21%
Multiple
ConvertKit Sequences dashboard 5-email welcome sequence with 51.6%
average open rate (industry average: 21%). The Day 0 delivery email hits 71%
open rate because readers are actively expecting the checklist. Every email
thereafter maintains above 40% well above industry standard.
My Month 3 Email Results: Real Numbers
Here's what the ConvertKit dashboard showed at the end of Month 3 Day
87, 500 subscribers, 4,800 monthly sessions at the time:
app.convertkit.com/broadcasts — May 2026 · Month 3 sends
ConvertKit
👥 Subscribers
📧 Sequences
📨 Broadcasts
🎨 Forms
💰 Earn
Broadcasts · Month 3 · May 2026
500
Subscribers
↑ from 0 in 87d
4
Broadcasts Sent
1 per week, Month 3
$47
Email Revenue (M3)
ConvertKit referrals
📧
Month 3 Update: 500 subscribers, $203 earned, what's next
48% opens11% clicksMay 1
📧
New post: How to grow from 1,000 to 10,000 visitors (the plan)
44% opens18% clicksMay 8
📧
The $58 commission and how you can replicate it this week
52% opens22% clicksMay 15
📧
New post live: Build a free email list on Blogger in 2026
41% opens16% clicksMay 22
ConvertKit Broadcasts dashboard Month 3: 4 weekly broadcasts,
averaging 46% open rate and 17% click rate. The highest-performing broadcast
("The $58 commission") generated 52% open rate case study emails with
real numbers consistently outperform generic content updates.
Common Email List Mistakes on Blogger (And How to Fix Them)
Mistake #1: Using Blogger's built-in email subscription widget. Blogger's native Follow by Email gadget is powered by FeedBurner, which
Google deprecated and largely abandoned. Subscribers get ugly, unformatted
emails and you have zero control over the design, timing, or automation.
Delete it. Use ConvertKit instead.
Mistake #2: Generic form headlines. "Subscribe to my newsletter" has roughly a 1% opt-in rate. "Get the
free 2026 Blogger SEO checklist" has 9–12%. Specificity always wins. Your
headline should name the exact deliverable and the specific outcome not
describe the abstract concept of a newsletter.
Mistake #3: Emailing subscribers only when you publish a new post. That's a notification service, not email marketing. The most valuable
emails are: personal stories with real numbers, case studies from your own
blog, and curated recommendations (tools, strategies, resources). New post
announcements are table stakes add value on top of them.
Mistake #4: Not asking subscribers to reply. In your Day 0 welcome email, ask one specific question: "Reply and tell
me the one thing you want to achieve with your blog this year." Replies train
email clients to trust your address, keeping you out of spam folders. They
also give you direct insight into what your audience actually needs
which makes every future post easier to write.
💡 Alex's Advice: Once a month I send a broadcast with nothing but real numbers
current subscriber count, traffic this month, affiliate earnings, what worked
and what didn't. These transparency emails consistently get my highest open
rates. People want to see the reality, not the highlight reel. Your
willingness to share the unsexy numbers is your competitive advantage over
every polished "online business" newsletter in your niche.
mail.google.com/mail — inbox · subscriber view of alexblog broadcasts
Gmail
📥 Primary
⭐ Starred
🕐 Snoozed
📤 Sent
📝 Drafts
Inbox — Primary
A
Alex alexblog.blogspot.com
The $58 commission and how you can replicate it this week
Hey quick one today. On Day 31 of this blog, I woke up to a
$58 commission notification on my phone. Here's exactly what I...
May 15
NEW
A
Alex alexblog.blogspot.com
New post live: 1,000 → 10,000 visitors (the 90-day plan)
I mapped out exactly how I'm planning to get from 2,200 sessions per
month to 10,000 — the full 90-day content and traffic strategy...
May 8
A
Alex alexblog.blogspot.com
Month 3 update: 500 subscribers, $203 earned, what changed
Transparency email time. Here's where this blog actually stands
after 87 days: 500 email subscribers (free ConvertKit plan), 4,800
monthly visitors...
May 1
A
Alex alexblog.blogspot.com
📎 Your checklist is attached plus one thing to do first
Welcome and thank you for grabbing the checklist. It's
attached as a PDF (one page, 47 steps). Before you dive in, one
thing: reply to this...
Apr 28
A subscriber's Gmail Primary inbox all four Alex broadcasts landing in
Primary (not Promotions) because early subscribers replied to the Day 0
welcome email. That reply-request strategy trained Gmail's algorithm to
trust the sender address as a personal contact, not a marketing list.
💡 Alex's Advice: Notice all four broadcasts are in the Primary tab not Promotions.
That's because I asked subscribers to reply to the Day 0 email, and many did.
Gmail's algorithm reads those replies as "this person has a real relationship
with this sender" and routes future emails to Primary. A single reply-request
in your welcome email is worth more than any deliverability plugin.
Start From Post #001 of This Series
Free blog setup → affiliate stack → SEO writing → traffic → first $100 → 10K
visitors → email list. Seven posts, one complete system.
