Thereās no doubt social media gets a lot of attention these daysāit’s fast, flashy, and full of trending sounds. But if you’re a solo entrepreneur trying to build real connections (and real income), email marketing is still where the magic happens.
It might not be as glamorous as Instagram Reels or viral TikToks, but email marketing delivers results that social media simply canāt compete with. And the best part? You donāt need to go viral to win.
Letās break down why email is still the MVP of your marketing strategy ā¬ļø
1ļøā£ Email Converts Better (Like, Way Better)
When it comes to turning followers into customers, email wins hands down.
- The average email open rate? Around 40%
- The average click-through rate? 3.2%
Compare that to social media, where most engagement rates barely hit 1% š
That means more people are actually seeing your messageāand more of them are taking action.
⨠Real talk: Email marketing gives you a direct line to people who already said, āYes, I want to hear from you.ā Thatās powerful.
2ļøā£ Itās More Personal + Customizable
Email lets you speak to your audience like real humans, not just usernames on a screen. You can:
- Send welcome emails to new subscribers
- Share updates or launches with just your warmest fans
- Segment your list so the right people get the right message
Itās direct. Itās intentional. And it builds trust faster than a disappearing Instagram Story ever could.
3ļøā£ Itās Budget-Friendly (and Scales With You)
Social media ads can add up fast. But email marketing? Itās one of the most cost-effective tools in your business toolbox.
- Average cost per lead via email: $1ā2
- Average cost per lead via Facebook: $6ā8
Whether youāre just starting or scaling, email fits your budgetāand grows as you grow.
š Pro Tip: Tools like MailerLite, Flodesk, or ConvertKit offer affordable plans that are beginner-friendly and look great, too.
4ļøā£ Itās Simpler (and Less Stressful)
While social media requires constant content, algorithm games, and platform-specific strategies, email is refreshingly simple.
You write ā you send ā your people read.
No hashtags, dancing, or endless scrolling needed.
Plus, nearly 94% of internet users check their email regularlyāmeaning your message is more likely to be seen, even if your audience isn’t online 24/7.
š” Final Thoughts
Social media has its place (and yes, it can be fun and helpful for brand awareness), but it should never replace email marketing in your solo business.
If you want to build a community that cares about your workāand actually buys from youāstart by building your list.
Treat email like the cozy coffee shop corner of your business. Itās where real connection happens, conversations flow, and loyal customers are born.
So donāt just collect followersāstart nurturing subscribers š