How to Build Your First 100-Person Email List From Scratch (2025 Guide)

The advice is everywhere: the money is in the list. But for a solopreneur or indie founder just starting, that advice can be frustrating. How do you build a list when you have zero subscribers?

The truth is, your first 100 subscribers are the hardest to get, but they are also the most important. They are your foundation, your first true fans, and your most valuable source of feedback. This guide will show you how to find them using proven email marketing strategies and lead generation techniques.

> 💡 Pro Tip from MailIris: With desktop-first email marketing software, you have complete control over your subscriber data from day one. No cloud dependencies, no data hostage situations - just pure ownership of your most valuable business asset.

Step 1: Define Your One-Thing

Before you ask for a single email, you must answer one question: What is the one thing I can help my audience with? Your entire email list should be built around this promise. Are you helping them write better, code faster, or grow their business? Be specific. Your niche is your foundation.

Step 2: Create a Simple, High-Value Lead Magnet

A lead magnet is a free resource you offer in exchange for an email address. People don't give away their email for free. You need to offer a compelling ethical bribe.

It doesn't need to be a 100-page ebook. In fact, simple is better. Ideas include:

The key is that it must solve a small, painful problem for your specific audience.

MailIris Success Story: One of our beta users created a simple Email Marketing Compliance Checklist and gained 150 subscribers in their first month. Sometimes the simplest lead magnets are the most effective.

Step 3: Set Up a Dead-Simple Landing Page

You need a single page with one job: to capture email addresses. This page should have:

That's it. Don't overcomplicate it.

Step 4: Promote in the Right Places (For Free)

You don't need to spend money on ads to get your first 100 subscribers. Go where your audience already is.

Social Media: Put the link to your landing page in your X.com and LinkedIn bios. Create content that naturally leads to your lead magnet.

Communities: Find relevant subreddits or Facebook groups. Don't spam your link. Instead, find questions that your lead magnet can answer. Provide a helpful, genuine comment and then say, I actually created a free checklist on this, you can grab it here if you're interested.

Your Personal Network: Add the link to your email signature. Tell friends and colleagues what you're working on.

Step 5: Nurture Your First Subscribers

Once someone joins your list, your job has just begun. Set up a simple automated welcome email that:

These first 100 people are your founding members. Treat them like gold, and they'll become the bedrock of your business.

Why Choose MailIris for Your Email Marketing Journey?

Ready to start building your own audience? Join the MailIris waitlist and get exclusive founding member pricing. Perfect for creators who value privacy, control, and long-term cost savings.

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