The 20-Minute Email List Setup
Starting an email list can feel like one more thing you’re “supposed” to do — but without a clear reason why, it’s easy to let it sit at the bottom of your to-do list.
And I get it. You might be thinking:
“I don’t have anything to email people yet.”
“It’s too technical.”
“I’ll do it when I launch.”
Here’s the truth: you don’t need a full strategy to start.
You just need a place to collect the right people now — so they’re there when you’re ready.
And if you're using Squarespace, you already have the tools.
No need for third-party platforms.
No complicated setup.
Just a simple 20-minute task that sets you up for the long run.
Add a Newsletter Block to Your Site (5 mins)
Start by choosing where you want your email form to live:
Homepage? Great.
Blog sidebar? Even better.
A dedicated “Subscribe” page? Sure, why not.
In Squarespace, head to Pages → Choose your section → Click Edit → Add a Newsletter Block.
Use a short, clear headline:
“Stay in the loop.”
“Want first dibs?”
“Join the list — no spam, ever.”
Keep it simple. One sentence is enough.
Connect to Email Campaigns (5 mins)
When you add a Newsletter Block, Squarespace will ask you where the emails should go.
Click Storage → Select Squarespace Email Campaigns → Choose or create a mailing list.
Tip: You can name it something like “General Interest” or “Warm Leads.” You can rename it later if needed.
Write a Welcome Message (5 mins)
You don’t need a full sequence — just one thoughtful message.
Head to Email Campaigns → Automations → Set up a Welcome Email for new subscribers.
Write like a human:
“Hey! Thanks for signing up. I’m slowly building something behind the scenes, and I’ll keep you in the loop as it unfolds.”
That’s it. It doesn’t need to be fancy — it just needs to be real.
Test It (5 mins)
Enter your own email into the form, hit subscribe, and make sure it works:
You land on the right confirmation page
You’re added to the correct list
You receive the welcome email
If everything works — congrats. You’ve just set up your first list.
Bonus: Add It Where It Matters
Now that it’s working, make your form easy to find:
Add it to the footer of your site
Link to it from your social bios
Mention it in your blogs
Embed it in your launch waitlist
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to have it all figured out to start building your list.
You just need to make space for the people who want to stick around.
Start small. Keep it human.
That’s the foundation of every good list.
