5 Ways to Kill Your Email List

(and How to Avoid Them)

If you’ve been in association marketing long enough, you know your email list is one of your most valuable assets. It’s your direct line to members, prospects, and partners. But here’s the hard truth: there are surefire ways to completely destroy it.

That’s why I created a new YouTube series: 5 Ways to Kill Your Email List. Each short video breaks down one of the biggest mistakes I see associations make and how to avoid them.

Here’s a sneak peek, so you don't kill your list:

1. Emailing everyone, all the time.

   • When you blast your whole list with every email, you exhaust your audience. Segmentation is key.

     
     

2. Not having a working unsubscribe or email preferences.

   • People want choices. If they unsubscribe, let them. If they want fewer emails, give them options. Respecting their preferences = longer list life.

     
     

3. Stop being curious

   • Great marketers test, tweak, and keep asking questions. If your open and click rates are tanking, it’s a signal to try something new, not to send the same thing over and over.

     
     

4. Ignoring disengaged members.

   • Every list has people who go quiet. Don’t write them off. A simple re-engagement campaign can show you care and win them back.

     
     

5. Never letting anyone go.

   • If they don’t open, don’t click, and don’t respond, it’s time to let them go! Holding on too long hurts your deliverability and damages your sender reputation. Yes as a member they need information, but if they aren't engaging with your emails no matter what - what if they prefer to get information from social media or your community? Great, remove them from the bulk of your emails.

     
     

The bottom line: if you’re not thoughtful about how you send, engage, and clean your list, you’re going to kill it.

That’s the bad news. The good news? Each of these mistakes can be fixed.

📺 Watch the full YouTube series here

At Email Maven, this is what we do every day: help associations build healthier email lists, create smarter strategies, and send emails members actually want to read. Need help? Let's connect!