How to start email marketing?
As a newbie stepping into the world of affiliate marketing, I quickly realized that chasing shiny objects—whether it’s the latest AI tool or a “get rich quick” scheme—is a recipe for burnout. I needed a foundation. That foundation became email marketing. But before you even sign up for a single platform, there is one critical question you must answer: Who are you actually trying to help?
It might sound simple, but defining your target audience is the make-or-break step. If you skip this, your emails will feel like spam, no matter how good your offer is.
Why Do We Define the Audience First?
The purpose of identifying your niche audience is to create a “mental model” of your future subscribers. You need to know their pains, their desires, and their language. Are they beginners struggling to set up their first website? Or are they intermediate marketers looking to scale their YouTube channels? The action you take next depends entirely on this.
What Happens If You Skip This Step?
If you skip defining your audience, you risk becoming a “generalist.” You’ll try to talk to everyone and end up resonating with no one. Your open rates will plummet because people won’t see the value. Worse, you’ll have a hard time choosing which affiliate products to promote.
The First Action: Pick a “Persona”
Don’t overthink this. Start hyper-specific. Instead of saying, “I want to target bloggers,” narrow it down to “Beginner solo preneurs who want to build an online course but don’t know how to code.”
Once you have this persona, go to platforms like Reddit or Facebook groups and read their discussions. What questions do they ask daily? This research becomes the fuel for your welcome email sequence.
Drag-and-Drop vs. Self-Hosted: Which Landing Page Method Wins?
Okay, so you have your audience. Now, how do you actually capture their email addresses? This is where most beginners get stuck. There are two main paths: using a platform’s built-in drag-and-drop builder (like Systeme.io or Systeme) or using your own hosting provider with templates (like WordPress with Elementor). Both work, but they have vastly different implications. Let’s break down the pros, cons, costs, and ideal users.
Method 1: The All-in-One Platform (Drag-and-Drop)
Platforms like Systeme offer a seamless experience where you can build a squeeze page without touching a single line of code.
*The Role (Purpose):The purpose here is speed and accessibility. It removes all technical friction.
Advantages:
It is incredibly fast to set up (you can have a page live in an hour). It handles hosting, security, and even email delivery automatically. It is perfect for non-technical users.
Disadvantages:
You are limited by the templates. If you want a super unique design, you might hit a wall. Also, you don’t own the asset outright; you are “renting” the space on their platform.
*What Happens If You Choose This Incorrectly (For the Wrong Persona)?If you are a tech-savvy designer who needs pixel-perfect control, this method will frustrate you. You might feel “boxed in.”
*Best For:Complete beginners, those on a tight budget, or anyone who wants to test an idea quickly without hiring a developer.
Method 2: Self-Hosted with Hosting Providers (WordPress & Co.)
This method involves buying hosting from a company like Hostinger, installing WordPress, and using a page builder plugin.After registering the website host of Hostinger, you can also use domain email services, and the first-year trial is free.
*The Role (Purpose):The purpose is ownership and scalability. You are building a long-term asset.
Advantages:
You own your data and your website. It looks more professional and offers unlimited customization. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is much better on a self-hosted blog.
Disadvantages:
It requires a monthly fee for hosting. It takes longer to learn (installing SSL certificates, updating plugins, etc.). One wrong setting can crash your site, causing panic.
*What Happens If You Choose This Incorrectly (For the Wrong Persona)?If you are not technical, you will waste weeks trying to figure out why your CSS isn’t working instead of focusing on making sales. The “tinkering” trap can kill your motivation before you make your first dollar.
*Best For:People planning to build a long-term brand, those comfortable with basic tech troubleshooting, or anyone serious about ranking on Google.
My choice
| Dimension | My Setup (Hostinger hosting + Systeme template) | Pure Plan A (Self-coded HTML on Hostinger) | Pure Plan B (Systeme hosted funnel page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Freedom | Medium (limited by Systeme template) | High (full control) | Low (limited by Systeme editor) |
| Page Load Speed | Fast (Hostinger server) | Fast | Moderate (Systeme server) |
| Branding (Clean URL) | ✅ Uses your own domain | ✅ | ❌ Contains *.systeme.io |
| Learning Curve | Low (drag & drop template) | High (needs HTML/CSS) | Lowest |
| Future Migration Flexibility | High (page files are yours) | Highest | Low (pages stay on Systeme) |
In the next article, I will show you my actual screenshots and step-by-step process of setting up the drag-and-drop funnel, including how to integrate it with your email service.
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