Podcast Summary: Shiny New Clients!

Episode: Grow your email list: The strategy that got 700 opt-ins in a week!

Host: Jenna Harding
Date: February 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This energetic, strategy-packed episode of Shiny New Clients! centers on Jenna Harding’s practical, generous approach to email list growth. Jenna breaks down the “List Growth Method” she developed—one that delivered 700+ opt-ins in a single week—and dispels outdated or pushy tactics, focusing instead on simplicity, clarity, speed, and authentic value. The episode is essential listening for any entrepreneur, especially women-led businesses or service-based professionals, looking to transform the way they attract and nurture prospects.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Problem with Old-School Email List Growth

• Traditional Freebies: Jenna explains that the outdated method involves creating one elaborate lead magnet and using it for years, but this no longer works due to changing audience behaviors.
  • “Back then, years ago, you could just make one freebie and use it literally for years. But that’s not how things work anymore.” [03:05]
• Covert Sales Pitch Pitfalls:
  • Many coaches advise using freebies as disguised sales pitches, but this approach turns people off and limits your opt-in rate.
  • “If your secret intention is to sell someone something, you are optimizing this thing to make a sale. You are not optimizing it for massive growth potential.” [05:10]
  • Using quizzes as sales traps is called out as tired and “ingenuine” (or, more properly, disingenuous).
  • “It takes the fun out of it. I feel like it’s ingenuine. Ingenuine. Ingenuine. Is that even a word?” [16:45]

The List Growth Method: A New Approach

• Constant, Varied Freebies:
  • Continually offer new, ultra-targeted lead magnets to suit different audience segments and settings.
  • “Nothing like a fresh freebie to reinvigorate your list.” [03:45]
• Simplicity Is Key:
  • Jenna highlights a failed attempt to combine “on-camera confidence” with tech setup, resulting in a confusing, underperforming freebie.
  • “If you don’t have a clear promise and a clear result... it becomes very difficult to talk about it in a succinct manner. And you need to be succinct on Instagram.” [10:20]
• Case Study—The 700 Opt-Ins in a Week:
  • After simplifying her process and focusing on one quick, actionable result, Jenna created a freebie on a Saturday afternoon and saw a 75%+ conversion rate, with over 700 sign-ups in a week.
  • “We don’t need to be putting six weeks of effort into our lead magnets... I did it in a Saturday afternoon.” [13:30]
• Three Criteria for Winning Freebies:
  1. Crystal-clear promise: Can you state the result in three seconds?
  2. Speedy format: Is it fast for your person to consume (not a 45-min webinar!)?
  3. Immediate payoff: Can your lead gain value within an hour?
  • “The fact is, good freebie doesn’t give more, it gives less more clearly, which is better for you and your leads and the health of your subscriber list.” [14:45]
• Generosity, Not Pressure:
  • Overdeliver value with no strings attached; let your email list build the relationship and create future sales opportunities.

How the List Growth Event Works

• Freebie Creation in 48 Hours:
  • Jenna recounts the success of her two-day “Freebie in a Weekend” event, now rebranded as “Grow Your List With Instagram” (moving to midweek for broader accessibility).
  • “You’ll still be creating an entire freebie and funnel in 48 hours... not a sneaky sales pitch freebie.” [08:10]
• Flexible Tech Setups:
  • Multiple “tiers” of tech, from free to advanced, ensure the process works for both new and experienced business owners.
  • “We have multiple tiers—T I E R S—so you can have no tears—T E A R S.” [21:00]
• Coaching, Support & Templates:
  • Live coaching, feedback, step-by-step processes, and promo templates are provided.
  • “The goal with this event is every single thing is done by the time we wrap up on day two.” [22:10]
• Pre-Event Prep & Accessibility:
  • Pre-recorded lessons available so attendees can arrive with ideas or get help brainstorming onsite.
  • “Some people freeze at the idea of needing to come up with something on the spot... so now we will facilitate both types of person.” [23:50]

Quick Wins and Nurturing Dormant List Members

• Reactivating Old Leads:
  • Announcing a new freebie can also wake up disengaged subscribers, offering them a quick, tangible win and rekindling their interest.
  • “That is such a powerful way to reinvigorate the people who already showed interest in you before, but may have fallen off a bit.” [25:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jenna’s humor and relatability:

  • Throughout, Jenna weaves in playful anecdotes—like befriending chickadees at her bird feeder—to infuse a sense of fun and “real-life” grounding.
  • “This is how I am regulating and healing my nervous system. This bird feeder.” [01:30]

• On Over-Complicating Freebies:

  • “If you don’t have a clear promise and a clear result... it becomes very difficult to talk about it in a succinct manner.” [10:20]

• On Generosity Over Gimmicks:

  • “Good freebie doesn’t give more, it gives less more clearly, which is better for you and your leads and the health of your subscriber list.” [14:45]

• On Sneaky Tactics:

  • “You’re never going to get to the end of someone’s quiz and they go, ‘You know what, you're fine, don't give me your money.’” [16:20]

• On Event Accessibility:

  • “We have multiple tiers—T I E R S—so you can have no tears—T E A R S.” [21:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–01:50 – Jenna’s intro, bird feeder story as nervous system “regulation.”
• 01:50–05:10 – Why traditional freebies don’t work anymore; pitfalls of sales-focused lead magnets.
• 05:10–08:30 – The importance of offering new, diverse freebies and Jenna’s “bazillion” lead magnets.
• 08:30–11:00 – Mistake case study: Combining too many topics in one freebie.
• 11:00–14:30 – The “aha!” moment: Simplification leads to 700 opt-ins in one week.
• 14:30–17:00 – The three criteria for effective, no-pressure freebies.
• 17:00–21:00 – Event evolution: Freebie in a Weekend → Grow Your List With Instagram, supporting multiple tech levels.
• 21:00–24:00 – How to participate in the event, pre-event content, live coaching, and support options.
• 24:00–End – How to wake up dormant subscribers with your new freebie, and Jenna’s closing encouragement.

Takeaways

• Keep it Simple: Targeted, easily-consumed freebies outperform complex “hidden sales pitch” lead magnets.
• Rapid Results: Your lead magnet should create value for the lead within an hour.
• Continual Innovation: New freebies wake up your existing audience and keep your list fresh and engaged.
• Supportive Community: With accessible tools, live support, and updated templates, Jenna’s system is designed for entrepreneurs at all levels.

This punchy, practical episode is perfect for service-based business owners ready to ditch the sales traps and build an email list with genuine value and lasting growth.