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304: How To Build An Email List Alongside Your Online Course

Today’s session features a coaching call about how to build an email list simultaneously with an online course. You’ve probably heard that social media is the best option for building an email list, but is it? There are pros and cons to consider. Join us as we discuss this topic that is relevant to many people. I hope it’s helpful for you!

Our Featured Guest for today’s coaching call:

Tami Zak, AMFT

Tami Zak was part of our first beta group for Online Course School last fall. Her practice is based in northern California, but she works virtually with clients from all over the state. To broaden her reach and the help she wants to offer couples, Tami launched her podcast, Marriage Breakdown, in 2021. Tami now faces the dilemma of developing her email list along with her online course, and she is overwhelmed with where and how to begin. You are invited to listen to the coaching call with Tami and Melvin!


Affinity Couples Counseling

Marriage Breakdown podcast


You’ll Learn:


  • Tami’s online course idea to further develop her podcast topics and help couples communicate better
  • Why an email list is important alongside an online course
  • Why depending on social media alone to build a loyal following is not altogether sufficient
  • How Tami feels overwhelmed and intimidated about where to start and where to spend money to build an email list
  • Melvin’s tip #1: “There isn’t one solution to building an email list, but it’s more about what aligns with your creative energy.”
  • How to focus on building “your island” in the social media “ocean”
  • How Tami uses her lead magnet on her podcast and website to help build her email list–and she’s ready to dive into social media to some degree
  • Melvin’s tip #2: “Think of offering your lead magnet as the beginning of a layering process to go from podcast, website, and then on to social media.”
  • Why it’s overwhelming to dive into content creation and send out a newsletter
  • Melvin’s tip #3: “Don’t feel obligated to send out too many newsletters; even once a month is OK when getting started. You can change things up at any time. “
  • Why it’s important to be consistent at whatever stage of development you are in
  • Melvin’s tip #4: “Think of how you can batch content with short tip videos to include in your newsletter.”
  • Options in using podcast content for quotes, tips, etc. to use in a newsletter and on social media
  • Why Tami feels that her next steps will be around leveraging her content in a newsletter



Mentioned in this episode:

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Today's podcast is supported by the American Psychological Association's Psych Careers. If you are a psychology professional looking to advance your career or thinking about a pivot, definitely encourage you to check out Psych Careers, which is the career center from the American Psychological Association Services, Inc. There are over 400 positions available. It's the perfect time to create a free account, upload your resume, and set up job alerts. sellingthecouch.com/APA

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About the Podcast

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Selling the Couch
Impact And Income Beyond The Therapy Room

About your host

Profile picture for Melvin Varghese, PhD

Melvin Varghese, PhD

Hi. I'm Melvin. I'm a psychologist, girl dad, and online creator living in Philadelphia, PA.

In 2014, I began to think about how to use our therapist skillset in different realms besides clinical work (e.g., podcasting, consulting, online course creation, writing, etc).

This allows us to serve others on larger scales while diversifying our income beyond 1 to 1 work.

I make podcasts and videos about business, tech, productivity, and lessons I'm learning from becoming the CEO of a lean, mean 5 person 100% remote team (we're not really mean..it just rhymed =P).