The Email Sound Booth with Liz Wilcox – Episode 100: Live from YouTube! AMA!

Host: Liz Wilcox
Guest: Patricia Wilcox
Release Date: February 22, 2025
Format: Live AMA (Ask Me Anything) on YouTube

1. Celebrating Milestones and Welcoming Special Guests

[00:02] Liz Wilcox:
Liz kicks off the 100th episode with palpable excitement, thanking her live and replay audience. She introduces Patricia, her biological sister, who joins as a special guest to help moderate the live AMA session. Liz highlights Patricia's pivotal role in the podcast's expansion to platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

Notable Quote:
"Patricia is the queen of frames. She has so many of them." — Liz Wilcox [00:02]

2. Community Shoutouts and Acknowledgments

Liz gives heartfelt shoutouts to several community members, including Chris, Melanie, Farida, Kate, and others who have supported the podcast. She emphasizes the importance of community feedback and engagement, fostering a sense of belonging among her listeners.

Notable Quote:
"If you are watching the replay, put hashtag replay. If you are here with us live... Comments. I'm so, so excited." — Liz Wilcox [00:02]

3. Q&A Session: Building and Managing Your Email List

a. Starting an Email List from Personal Contacts
[06:50] Kate’s Question:
Kate inquires about best practices for transitioning personal Gmail contacts to a professional email list.

[06:50] Liz’s Response:
Liz advises obtaining explicit consent before adding contacts, suggesting sending a personalized BCC email with a link to a landing page for opt-ins.

Notable Quote:
"You have to get them to opt in. They have to consent." — Liz Wilcox [06:50]

b. Using Amazon Affiliate Links in Emails
[08:00] Jenny’s Question:
Jenny asks if Amazon affiliate links can be included in email marketing blasts.

[08:16] Liz’s Response:
Liz notes that Amazon's policy has evolved, allowing affiliate links in emails but recommends verifying with both Amazon and the chosen email service provider to avoid issues.

Notable Quote:
"I believe you can, according to Amazon, put Amazon affiliate links in your email marketing." — Liz Wilcox [08:16]

c. Recommended Business Books
[09:32] Best Business Books & Future Plans:
Patricia asks if Liz plans to write her own email marketing book. Liz shares her aspiration to create a humorous compilation titled "Crappy Poems about Email Marketing" and discusses influential books like "Real Artists Don't Starve" by Jeff Goins and "Perennial Seller" by Ryan Holiday.

Notable Quote:
"Real Artists Don't Starve by Jeff Goins... It's probably one of like 10 books that I've ever read about business or about making money." — Liz Wilcox [09:41]

4. Balancing Personal Life and Business

a. Deleting Dating Apps and Personal Choices
[15:10] Fun Personal Questions:
Patricia asks Liz if she has deleted the Hinge dating app. Liz humorously confirms she hasn't used any dating apps, emphasizing her focus on being single.

b. Transitioning from Teaching to Business Ownership
[17:40] Hillary’s Question:
Hillary, a teacher, seeks advice on shifting from teaching to running a full-fledged business.

[17:50] Liz’s Response:
Liz reassures teachers of their inherent skills in teaching and connecting with people, encouraging them to leverage their strengths. She emphasizes the importance of financial planning and personal readiness for such a significant transition.

Notable Quote:
"Teachers have an unfair advantage because teachers know how to teach, they know how to talk to people, they know how to connect." — Liz Wilcox [17:50]

c. Structuring Life and Business for Harmony
[29:12] Gloria’s Question:
Gloria asks how Liz balances running her group, managing her email marketing membership, and podcasting without dropping the ball.

[29:25] Liz’s Response:
Liz explains her strategy of subtracting rather than adding tasks, utilizing Patricia’s support to handle operational aspects, and prioritizing health and personal well-being to maintain business harmony.

Notable Quote:
"It's never about adding. It's about subtracting." — Liz Wilcox [29:25]

5. Enhancing Email Marketing Strategies

a. Podcast Guesting as a Lead Generation Tool
[21:14] Chris’s Question:
Chris inquires if podcast guesting remains an effective method for generating email leads.

[21:33] Liz’s Response:
Liz affirms that podcast guesting is still highly effective, as it engages listeners who are already multitasking and open to new ideas. She highlights the quality of leads gained through this method—people genuinely interested and invested.

Notable Quote:
"You're in someone’s ear for 30 minutes... you're convincing them to become a follower and friend." — Liz Wilcox [21:33]

b. Re-engaging Inactive Email Subscribers
[23:03] Patricia’s Question:
A listener asks how to begin emailing their list again after a two-month hiatus.

[23:10] Liz’s Response:
Liz recommends simply restarting communication by sending out recent relevant content, assuring subscribers that the pause likely went unnoticed and emphasizing popular recent topics to re-engage them.

Notable Quote:
"They probably didn't even notice you were gone, but they'll notice that you were back." — Liz Wilcox [23:10]

c. Converting Newsletter Subscribers to a Digital Magazine
[23:44] Patricia’s Question:
A listener with newsletter subscribers asks for ideas to convert them into a new digital magazine.

[23:54] Liz’s Response:
Liz suggests either simply sending the magazine as part of the email content if it's free or continuously promoting it through various channels if it's a paid product. She emphasizes consistent marketing efforts to drive conversions.

Notable Quote:
"If the magazine is paid, then I suggest constantly selling it." — Liz Wilcox [23:54]

d. Impact of Using “Free” in Subject Lines on Deliverability
[24:52] Patricia’s Question:
Concerns are raised about the word "free" affecting email deliverability.

[24:58] Liz’s Response:
Liz acknowledges that "free" is technically a trigger word but reassures that consistent, high-quality emailing practices mitigate deliverability issues. She encourages not to worry excessively about such terms.

Notable Quote:
"There are so many trigger words out there that there might as well be no trigger words." — Liz Wilcox [24:58]

6. Overcoming Procrastination and Enhancing Productivity

a. Combating Procrastination in Email Marketing
[26:06] Patricia’s Question:
A listener struggling with procrastination asks for actionable steps to get started with email marketing.

[26:27] Liz’s Response:
Liz advises committing to the value of email marketing by reassessing its worth and dedicating time to engage with training materials. She encourages listeners to take incremental steps and communicate their progress.

Notable Quote:
"The one thing you should do today is just tell yourself this is worth it." — Liz Wilcox [26:27]

7. Maximizing Efficiency in Content Creation and Management

a. Handling Multiple Promotions in a Single Email
[52:05] Lisa’s Question:
Lisa faces challenges managing overlapping promotions within a single email.

[52:13] Liz’s Response:
Liz recommends transparency by informing subscribers about multiple promotions and leveraging clear segues within the email. She emphasizes honesty and simplicity to maintain subscriber trust.

Notable Quote:
"When in doubt, I'm just as transparent as possible." — Liz Wilcox [52:13]

b. List Quality vs. Quantity
[62:23] Patricia’s Question:
A discussion on prioritizing list quality over quantity.

[62:33] Liz’s Response:
Liz champions quality over quantity, explaining that highly engaged subscribers are more likely to convert into customers. She highlights metrics like the percentage of customers to monitor list health.

Notable Quote:
"Quality wins, even when you're working with sponsors." — Liz Wilcox [62:33]

c. Substack vs. Kit for Email Marketing
[66:57] Patricia’s Question:
Comparing Substack and Kit as tools for list building.

[67:07] Liz’s Response:
Liz expresses limited knowledge about Substack but favors Kit for its advanced email service provider functionalities, such as automation and tagging. She acknowledges Substack's strengths in authority building and niche content.

Notable Quote:
"Substack is not an email service provider. With something like Kit, I can create a funnel." — Liz Wilcox [67:07]

8. Strategic Collaborations and Market Engagement

a. Collaborating with Creators Without Established Lists
[38:00] Patricia’s Question:
Guidance on collaborating with a niche creator who lacks a substantial email list.

[38:16] Liz’s Response:
Liz advises focusing on long-term benefits rather than immediate gains, emphasizing mutual support and strategic promotion efforts. She encourages creating win-win scenarios to foster future collaborations.

Notable Quote:
"Think long term... it just has to get you through the motions." — Liz Wilcox [38:16]

b. Capturing Emails at Outdoor Markets
[87:59] Patricia’s Question:
Effective methods to capture customer emails at outdoor markets where email receipts are often ignored.

[88:11] Liz’s Response:
Liz recommends specialized giveaways and incentives tailored to the product, such as offering a discount or a chance to win a relevant prize. She also suggests using QR codes and clearly communicating the benefits of subscribing.

Notable Quote:
"Do some sort of specialized giveaway that could be a simple one." — Liz Wilcox [88:11]

9. Mindset Shifts and Personal Reflections

a. Biggest Mindset Shift for Business Growth
[100:28] Patricia’s Question:
Liz shares her significant mindset shift necessary for business growth—recognizing and accepting sacrifices.

[100:28] Liz’s Response:
Liz discusses the personal losses endured to achieve business success, such as strained relationships and missed personal moments. She emphasizes the importance of valuing the desired outcome over the sacrifices made, highlighting the unwavering commitment required to reach her goals.

Notable Quote:
"You are going to lose a lot in order to get the thing you want." — Liz Wilcox [100:28]

10. Admired Newsletters and Inspirational Figures

a. Newsletters and Creators Liz Admires
[90:21] Patricia’s Question:
Liz is asked about newsletters and creators she admires or subscribes to.

[90:40] Liz’s Response:
Liz mentions following influential figures like Pat Flynn for his leadership in the space and Tarzan K for her unique approach to email marketing. She also admires creatives outside her industry, such as Childish Gambino and Will Smith, for their versatility and reinvention.

Notable Quote:
"Pat Flynn is someone that I admire and I have been watching quite a bit." — Liz Wilcox [90:40]

11. Personal Anecdotes and Community Engagement

Throughout the episode, Liz shares personal stories—such as her childhood encounter with Patricia regarding the reality of Santa Claus—and humorous interactions with Patricia about household matters. These anecdotes humanize Liz, fostering deeper connections with her audience.

Notable Quote:
"And I really wish that was the case because if you don't think it's worth it, you're not going to do it." — Liz Wilcox [26:27]

12. Closing Remarks and Future Initiatives

As the AMA wraps up, Liz expresses immense gratitude for her community's support and excitement for upcoming events like List Building Live scheduled for March 11-13. She reiterates her dedication to her email marketing membership and teases Episode 101.

Notable Quote:
"This does feel like my life's work, and I have truly dedicated everything I have to it." — Liz Wilcox [81:42]

Key Takeaways:

• Consent is Crucial: Always obtain explicit permission before adding personal contacts to a business email list.

• Quality Over Quantity: Focus on building a highly engaged and responsive email list rather than merely increasing subscriber numbers.

• Strategic Collaborations: Approach collaborations with a long-term perspective, fostering mutually beneficial relationships.

• Mindset Matters: Acknowledge and accept the personal sacrifices required for business success, maintaining unwavering commitment to your goals.

• Effective Tools: Utilize robust email service providers like Kit for advanced functionalities, while platforms like Substack can be beneficial for niche, authority-building content.

• Balance and Efficiency: Prioritize personal well-being and delegate operational tasks to maintain a harmonious balance between life and business.

This milestone episode of The Email Sound Booth offers invaluable insights into email marketing strategies, personal growth, and the intricate balance between business and personal life. Liz Wilcox, supported by Patricia, delivers a comprehensive AMA that addresses the community's pressing questions with honesty, humor, and expertise.