How to Build an Email List with Instagram – Video Tutorial

In today's post, I'm going to show you how to build an email list with Instagram the easy way. Here are the steps, including the tools that I use to grow my Instagram account as well as grow my email list. And it's almost all on autopilot. Yup, it only takes 10-15 minutes a day per Instagram account.

By the end of this post, you will know how to build an email list from scratch with Instagram -

How to Build an Email List from Scratch

So, if growing your Instagram account, learning how to build an email list from scratch, and getting visitors to your website is what you're wanting to achieve, read on. This is right up your alley. I will also include videos showing the basics so that you can follow along.

Seeing how it's done is definitely the best way to learn for most people, including me. Are you ready? Let's crack on then, shall we?

How to Build an Email List for Free

Yes, it is possible. A little bit slower and more time consuming, perhaps, but definitely doable if you get the right tools.

We're going to learn how to build an email list for free with Instagram, a free website, some free hosting, a free opt-in form maker, a free opt-in (lead magnet), a free autoresponder, and of course, our free Instagram account.

Oh, we'll also be using two other free tools (websites) where we will get free images, and edit them to make them nicer for posting on Instagram. I love free stuff, don't you?

Let's crack on... 

How to Build an Email List with Instagram

The money's in the list, they say. And it's 100% true. The bulk of your income online, if done properly, will come from your email list. Email marketing is the most profitable way to go.

If you're not building an email list, today's the day to start. One thing I've heard a lot of the most successful online marketers say is "I wish I'd started my email list building sooner than I did".

That being said, I'm sure you've heard the same things about email lists. So, without further ado, let's rock! 

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The Tools for Building an Email List with Instagram -

  • An email Address so we can create an Instagram account I use Gmail, but you don't have to.
  • An Instagram Account (free) You need your email address to get this.
  • A Website (I will show you a way to get one free which includes some cool training videos to make money online).
  • Free tools to help you create a freebie to give to subscribers
  • An Opt-In Form (I will show you a free way to make one).
  • An Autoresponder (I will recommend the one I use and also show you a free one if you want to save some money).
  • A Way to Make Cool Images for Free (I will show you in the video).

Step 1: How to Create an Instagram Account

Okay, you need an Instagram account. If you haven't already got one, that's your first task. You will need to use an email address to make a new account with Instagram.

But just creating an Instagram account isn't enough. It's what you do with that Instagram account that makes the difference.

In the video, you'll see how I use Instagram to get leads. If you've got an Instagram account already, great, you can continue reading.

Step 2: Get a Free Website (And Free Hosting)

Next, you need a website. For a free one, go read this review of Wealthy Affiliate and get a website for free (training and hosting included!) and you'll also benefit from my personal help after getting in. Sound good?

Get in there quick! You can have a website up and running in about 15 minutes from now. You can then create a landing page on there to collect leads. Cool stuff!

Step 3: Create a Freebie to Entice People to Subscribe with Their Email Address

In this section, we're going to be covering how to create a freebie to give away to people in return for their email address. I use Google docs to create ebooks in PDF format. Then I use a website called Adazing.com to create a 3D book cover. It only takes a few minutes to make a cool looking book cover with it, and it's free. Google docs is also free, by the way.

Step 4: How to Get Email Subscribers by Creating an Opt-in Form

Next, you need to create an opt-in form which you can have on your landing page. I will include this process in the video. This can be done for free with a WordPress plugin called Icegram or Sumome. They both work great. In the video, I'm using thrive leads, but the process is pretty much the same across the board whichever tool you choose.

We have to create an opt-in form using our autoresponder, I'm using Aweber autoresponder in this video. The page I created that contains the opt-in form was made with my specific theme provider.

Again, the same method will apply whichever autoresponder you choose and which opt-in form and landing page builder you use. One free landing page builder you could try is called Beaver Builder. It's a WordPress plugin.

Let's keep this method as free as possible until we start to profit and then we can re-invest those profits into better tools. Then we can scale up our business further. Little acorns grow into giant oaks.

So, we need 3 tools for this process. Something to build a landing page, Beaver Builder is free. An Email autoresponder such as Aweber and a plugin like Icegram or Sumome to collect the email addresses and send them to your autoresponder. Confused yet? It's not nearly as hard as you think once you've done it a couple of times.

Step 5: How to Build an Email List for Free (Up to a Point)

There are so many, like Aweber, which I use because it's what I consider the best after trying many others. Or, you could go the free route like I did when just starting out. There's a cool free one you can use and that one is called benchmarkemail. If you'd like to go the more professional route from the beginning, you can start with Aweber for 30 days free.

Get 30 Days Free Aweber Account Here

Or You Could Get a Free Benchmark Email Account

This one allows you to collect subscribers until you reach a total of 600. Then you'll have to upgrade to the paid plan. I did this with benchmarkemail then when I reached a certain point I converted to Aweber. I suggest you do similar. It'll take a while to reach the total amount of subscribers you can collect for free, so get in there.

Get Your Free BenchmarkEmail Account Here

Keep in mind, when you reach the maximum number of subscribers using a free account, you'll have to start paying for the service. You might want to go for a better autoresponder like Aweber.

One thing to consider is going straight for the Aweber account because then you don't have to mess about importing email addresses from BenchMark to another service. It's a bit of a pain in the butt and you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get it done.

Not to mention, you have to create new emails in the new autoresponder. Up to you. If you don't mind all the extra work, go for Benchmark. If you want to save yourself some work then go for Aweber.

Step 6: How To Make a Picture for Instagram

Now for the most fun stuff. I use Canva.com which is free, to create my images. There is also another one which is cool called Snappa.io that's very similar to Canva. Don't worry, I will show you how to make awesome images in mere moments using Canva in the video.

Get Free Images at Pixabay

Ooops, I almost forgot, Pixabay!

You need to get images you can upload into Canva. I get those from places like Pixabay.com. It's all in the video, so, watch how easy it is to make some snazzy pics for your Instagram. On Pixabay you can choose from gazillions of free images. 

Make sure though, that you check if attribution is required and that they are labeled as CC0 which stands for creative commons. Not to worry, it's also in the video.

How to Make a Picture for Instagram

Step 7: How to Post a Picture on Instagram

Use a mobile device to post your images on your Instagram account(s). Use relevant hashtags for your niche and your brand. If your brand were Nike, you should definitely have #nike as one of your hashtags. 

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, however, just because you can add 30 hashtags to every post, it doesn't mean you should. Between 5 and 7 hashtags is a good number to use, in my opinion, since it looks less desperate and less spammy. 

Another tip, don't put the hashtags in the post caption. Add them in as the first comment. This looks more aesthetically pleasing. If you do want to put the hashtags in the caption, use periods as line breaks to push the hashtags down below the "show more" section. However, in the comments is most recommended. 

You're Not Limited to One Instagram Account.

You might only have 1 Instagram account, but I use 5 currently. You'll need separate email addresses for each one. Having more Instagram accounts means more followers when you combine them. Soon, I will be adding another 5. I think I must be insane! 🙂

Step 8: Add Your Link in Your Instagram Bio

Once you know everything is set up from steps 1 to 7, you need to get the url of the page on your website that you want people to visit. Paste it into your Instagram bio. There is only one place where Instagram allows this, and you should find it in the settings somewhere.

Guess what? Instagram will probably move it around so it's best I don't say exactly where to find that in case that happens.

How to Build an Email List with Instagram - Summary

  • 1 Create an Instagram Account if you don't already have one. You will need an email address to signup for one.
  • 2 Get a Free Website at Wealthy Affiliate (You Get My Personal 1 on 1 Help and Advice When You Do)
  • 3 Install and setup Icegram or Sumome (both are WordPress Plugins) to collect emails in an opt-in box
  • 4 Create some kind of freebie to give away (I made an ebook with free tools I discovered - even the cover which was made with Adazing.com)
  • 5 Get an autoresponder (I recommend Aweber for serious email marketers) or get Benchmarkemail which is okay for beginners. You can always get an Aweber account when you've grown your list. Click here to check the current pricing plans at Aweber.
  • 6 Get some free images from Pixabay. Get 12 nice ones you want to post on your Instagram.
  • 7 Use Canva to edit the images and add text - I use 9Cut (an Android app) to create photo grids. (make images 3240p X 3240p for a grid of 9 images) People go wild for these and you will get more likes.
  • 8 Add a link to your opt-in page in your bio on your Instagram

List Building with Instagram is Almost All Autopilot Now it's Set

Of course, now that the "system" is set up all you need to do is post relevant, high-quality content on Instagram every day. 1, 2 or 3 posts per day will do the trick for each Instagram account you have.

The link to your opt-in page will be in the bio of all of your accounts. When someone discovers your Instagram profile, they follow you, or they might not. It depends on if they like your Instagram posts. However, the important part is the link in the bio. Many people will click on it out of curiosity.

When people click on the link in your bio, they are taken to your landing page. On the landing page there is your freebie ebook or report (just the image). They enter their email into the opt-in box and are then in your autoresponder.

The first message from your autoresponder will be a "please click here to confirm your subscription". The second message in the sequence (once they've confirmed their subscription) is the one where they have a link to click on that brings them back to your "thank-you" page on your website.

Other List Building Strategies Coming Soon

I will have some other email list building strategies coming soon.

Thanks for reading about how you can build an email list with Instagram. I hope you learned all you need to know, but if not, ask me some questions in the comments below and I will be right back with a reply.

I'm Jim,

If you want to know more about me read this.

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