Instead of offering free webinars or guides to build an email list, charge a small, 'no-brainer' price like $27. While this may result in a smaller list, the audience will be more engaged, more valuable, and more likely to purchase future offers because they have already demonstrated a willingness to pay.

Punch Up first provided a tool for email collection, offering immediate, low-risk utility to comedians. This attracted creators without an existing audience. The network was built only after this utility was established, proving the 'come for the tools, stay for the network' strategy.

To grow their email list organically, Province of Canada sent a daily email with an interesting fact about Canada. This non-promotional content got them into people's inboxes daily, building brand affinity and an audience that they could later market to, proving that value can be detached from the product itself.

Instead of directing users to a landing page with a form, ask them to simply reply to the email with a keyword to receive a guide or discount. This reduces friction and can exponentially increase the number of people who take the desired action compared to traditional methods.

Relying solely on social media platforms for your audience is like being an employee of those platforms. An email list is the only owned asset that gives you direct, unmediated access to your audience, making it non-negotiable for long-term viability.

A comedian used Punch Up for an early special release, collecting thousands of emails. When the special launched on YouTube, he emailed this dedicated list to drive a massive wave of initial views, giving the video an algorithmic "pop" that boosted its overall performance.

An automated email course is a superior lead magnet because it delivers value daily over a set period. This consistency trains new subscribers to anticipate and open your emails, establishing a strong engagement habit from the very beginning of your relationship.

Newsletters can be powerful list-builders, but only if promoted like a product. Instead of a simple 'join my newsletter' prompt, create a dedicated page that details the value, explains what subscribers will get, and even offers a preview of a past issue.

When you're paid to speak, aggressive selling from the stage is often inappropriate. Instead, offer a valuable freebie like your presentation slides via a QR code to capture emails. This allows you to follow up later in their inbox, where you can make your offer in a more suitable context.