Why Your Email List Matters In 2026 with Allison Hardy
Social media reach: 3% or less. Email open rates: 25-35%.
With 100 people in your audience, three see your social content versus 25-35 reading your emails.
Today I’m talking with Allison Hardy about why email marketing for coaches isn’t optional in 2026 and what strategies actually convert.
Why Most Coaches Avoid Email Marketing
Allison got laid off six months pregnant. She started a fitness business. However, she built herself another 9-to-5.
With a newborn and postpartum depression, she needed revenue without her constant presence. Consequently, email marketing became that solution. She built systems that sold while she slept.
The Three Reasons Email Marketing Beats Every Other Platform
- Algorithm independence. Your email hits inboxes. Period.
- Designed for sales. Instagram doesn’t want you to leave the platform. Email is built to drive traffic to your offers.
- Sustainable revenue. Fast cash injections are great. Consistent automated revenue is better.
Additionally, you own your list. Instagram could disappear tomorrow. Your email list belongs to you.
What Used to Work in Email Marketing (That’s Dead Now)
“Join my newsletter” is toast.
Nobody’s excited about another newsletter. Instead, what works now: specific lead magnets that solve specific problems.
For example, downloads, checklists, swipe files, limited series podcasts, mini-courses. Something valuable that gets people saying, “Yes, I want that specific solution.”
The Biggest Email Marketing Mistake Coaches Make
Sending emails without clear objectives.
Most coaches think, “I should email my list this week” and share updates, stories, maybe a soft pitch. Unfortunately, no strategic objective drives the content.
Every email needs a purpose: nurturing relationships, driving podcast listens, getting sales calls, or selling specific offers. Therefore, know your objective before writing a single word.
Why Email Funnels Actually Matter for Your Coaching Business
Someone downloads your lead magnet. What happens next?
An email funnel is the automated sequence that nurtures new subscribers, builds trust, delivers value, and makes an offer. It runs without you manually sending each email.
As a result, Allison’s email funnels sell daily. Baseball games. Brushing teeth. Random Tuesday afternoons. Sales are happening without active involvement.
The Difference Between Long Runway and Short Runway Sales
Short runway: launches, open cart, limited promotions. You’re actively selling for a specific window.
Long runway: evergreen funnels running 24/7. Someone can buy any day of the year.
Both matter. However, coaches focus exclusively on short runways and miss consistent revenue from long runway systems. Just because your promotion ended doesn’t mean people shouldn’t still be able to buy from you.
How to Write Emails That Actually Convert (Without Being Salesy)
You don’t need to pitch your program in every single email. That’s needy.
Instead, mix up your approach. Sometimes I send short emails starting conversations. Other times I direct to podcast episodes or invite people to free workshops. Occasionally, I move straight to sales calls.
People are in your world at different journey stages. Consequently, each person needs different support.
Real Results from Automated Email Systems
Allison has an email template that generated $80,000 in sales last year. One template. Automated.
She gets text notifications when sales come through. Baseball games. Brushing teeth. Random Tuesday afternoons.
Furthermore, she created her Instagram series “Where the heck did this sale come from?” tracking specific sales back to specific email funnels, proving exactly how this works.
Why 2026 Is the Year to Double Down on Email Marketing
Algorithm changes keep getting worse. Reach keeps declining. Platforms keep changing rules.
Email remains stable. Your subscribers opted in. They want to hear from you. Your message hits their inbox regardless of what Instagram decides.
If you’re thinking, “Why haven’t I done this yet?” You’re right on time. Build your lead magnet. Next, start your nurture sequence. Finally, set up one email funnel.
