🔥 I deleted 1K+ subscribers from my email list...
This wasn't an easy decision but I'm so glad I did it!
I created a segment of "cold subscribers", anyone who hadn't interacted with my emails in a number of weeks. My email service, Kit, makes this super easy!
I then set up a simple campaign with a short email sequence. This included a clear call to action to let readers know that I was cleaning up my list and how to stay on it if they wanted to continue hearing from me. If no action was taken, my automation triggers tagged them for removal.
Why did I do this?
I care about building a community of genuinely engaged readers.
Keeping subscribers just for numbers doesn’t serve anyone. I would rather speak to 500 people who are aligned and interested than 5,000 who never engage.
The results speak for themselves–my engagement scoring, open rates, click-through rates and email replies have all increased!
Why you should regularly clean your list
Regularly auditing your email list is so important, because:
- It saves you money: You're paying for every subscriber, even the ones who never open your emails.
- It gives you better metrics: A more engaged list improves open rates, click-through rates and overall metrics.
- It improves deliverability: Email platforms reward engagement. Cleaning your list helps your emails land in the inbox, instead of spam.
- It protects your reputation: Inactive subscribers can hurt your sender reputation, lowering deliverability across the board.
How to audit your email list
If you’ve had your email list for a while, set aside time this month to audit it.
- Identify inactive subscribers (those who haven't opened or clicked in the last 90-180 days) and add them into a group.
- Create a simple re-engagement campaign that gets sent to that specific group and asks them to take action to stay on your list.
- Remove anyone who doesn't respond or engage within a set time period.
The result? Lower costs, better engagement and a community that genuinely wants to hear from you.
Thinking about cleaning up your own email list but not sure where to start? Or need ideas for a re-engagement campaign? Hit reply—I’m happy to share tips or answer any questions you have!
