If no one’s clicking, it’s easy to think email marketing doesn’t work—but the real issue is who is on your list.

Your Email Goldmine: Fill Your List with Hot Leads & Dream Clients

Let’s Talk About Your Email List…

What do you actually need for a successful launch?

Aligned leads. Not just any leads—aligned, ready-to-buy, dreamy client leads.

There’s a huge difference between launching to 20,000 random people who barely open your emails vs. 1,000 super-engaged dream clients who can’t wait to buy from you. The second group? That’s what you want to fill your list with.

Why Aligned Leads Matter More Than a Big List

After last week’s episode on list growth, someone reached out and said they’d been in a bunch of bundles but felt like their list was full of freebie seekers.

So today, we’re talking about quality vs. non-quality leads, how to clean up your list, and how to make sure the right people are on it.

The Big List Myth

It’s easy to think that more subscribers = more sales. But here’s the truth: a big email list means nothing if those people aren’t engaged.

• If 20,000 people on your list never open your emails, that number is meaningless.

• If 1,000 people are actively clicking, replying, and buying? That’s the real gold.

Having a bloated list of disengaged subscribers can actually hurt your business:

1. You’ll start doubting email marketing. If no one’s clicking, it’s easy to think email doesn’t work—but the real issue is who is on your list.

2. Your emails might get sent to spam. Email providers track engagement. If people aren’t opening, your emails might stop showing up at all.

3. You’re paying for ghost subscribers. Most email platforms charge based on list size—so why waste money on people who don’t care?

So let’s talk about how to clean things up.

Should You Delete Subscribers? (Short Answer: YES.)

I know it feels weird to delete people from your list. But trust me—if they aren’t engaging, they aren’t helping your business.

Here’s how to clean your list without stressing about it:

1. Check engagement. Filter your subscribers by their last email open/click (30, 90, or 365 days).

2. Run a re-engagement campaign. [optional] you can send a “Still want to hear from me?” email before deleting. However, if people aven’t opened your emails in 6+ months, I don’t think this step is necessary.

3. Remove inactive subscribers. If they haven’t opened anything in 90 days, it’s time to say goodbye!

I did this recently and deleted 500 inactive subscribers. Was it scary? A little. But it’s improved my conversion rates and shows a more accurate picture of my list health. 

Are Freebie Seekers Really the Problem?

If you’ve ever joined a bundle or giveaway and felt like your list got filled with freebie seekers, you’re not alone.

Are they really freebie seekers, or is that just a crutch for a weak lead magnet and nurture strategy?

Before you blame the bundle, ask yourself:

• Does my freebie solve a problem that my dream client has? Or are you attracting the wrong audience?

• Is my nurture sequence the problem? If people disappear after grabbing the freebie, it might not be that they are freebie seekers and instead be the quality of your nurture sequence. What are the conversion rates for people who come through a different lead source?
  Nurture sequence benchmark conversions are:

  • Open rates: 50%

  • End of sequence conversion: 8%

Not All Bundle Leads Are Freebie Seekers

Think about your own inbox—

• You’ve probably signed up for tons of freebies before.

• Some you ignored, some you unsubscribed from, and some made you buy.

Your job is to create a freebie + email sequence so good that the right people want to stick around.

Instead of assuming freebie seekers are just out for the free stuff, take a step back and analyze your funnel:

• Does your freebie naturally lead to your paid offer? 

• Does your nurture sequence build connection and trust? If it’s just “value, value, value” without guiding them toward a next step, they won’t take action.

• Are you segmenting new leads effectively? Not everyone is ready to buy immediately, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be a great client later.

When you blame freebie seekers instead of looking at the data to analyze a deeper issue in your funnel, you’re missing out on an opportunity to convert potential buyers who could have been nurtured into dream clients.

How to Segment Your List for Higher Conversions

The key to an engaged email list? Segmentation.

Tagging subscribers based on their behavior helps you send the right messages to the right people.

How to Segment Your List:

1. By Source (How they joined)

   • Specific lead magnet

   • Bundle/giveaway/freebie event

2. By Behavior (What they do)

   • Opened/clicked an email

   • Clicked a sales page but didn’t buy

   • Engaged in a launch sequence

3. By Purchase History (What they’ve bought)

   • Past program/product buyers

   • Hot leads (clicked multiple times but haven’t purchased)

This lets you send personalized messages instead of one-size-fits-all emails.

How to Find & Attract More Aligned Leads

Now that we know why aligned leads matter, let’s talk about how to get them.

Here’s what works:

1. Use a strategic lead magnet. Make sure your freebie solves a problem your ideal client actually has.

2. Promote your freebie consistently. If no one’s opting in, you’re not talking about it enough.

3. Check where past clients came from. If most buyers came from one specific freebie, double down on that!

For more strategies, go back and listen to Episode 13: Five Algorithm-Free Ways to Grow Your Email List (No Social Media Required!)

Final Thoughts: Don’t Ghost Your Email List!

Once people opt in, the worst thing you can do is vanish.

Send emails regularly—weekly if possible, but at least bi-weekly—so when it’s time to sell, they remember who you are.

Your Next Steps

1. Clean your list. Remove inactive subscribers.

2. Check your lead sources. Are they bringing in aligned leads?

3. Commit to consistent emails. Nurture your list so they stay engaged.

Aligned leads = essential for sales, conversions, and stress-free launches.

Want to Go Deeper? Join the Waitlist of my Mentorship

If you want to master messaging at this level—where your dream clients see you as the only choice—join the waitlist for the next round of my live launch mentorship.

I’ll be guiding you through every stage of your launch and working closely with you to ensure you’ve got highly specific magnetic messaging that makes your offer a no-braner for your audience.

Click here to join the waitlist

Thank you for listening to this episode of Copy to Freedom: The Podcast. Subscribe for more lighthearted, inspirational, and actionable chats about business, marketing, and reclaiming your freedom.

Connect with Erin:

Website: https://erinmorris.co/

Instagram: @LaunchWithErin