Why do WordPress.com users need a separate email list?
In 2018 I did a series on Blogging and Blogging terminology. One of the posts was on MailChimp.
I did some research at the time and concluded that as a WordPress.com blogger, I don’t need to have a separate email list such as MailChimp because I already have followers and email list ( I.e those subscribed to my blog via email and via WordPress.com) provided via WordPress.com and also I have nothing to sell.
It has been a few years now since I wrote that post and my understanding of blogging has grown. Also,, I am someone who herself has subscribed to a few email lists. I can now see the total value of them, and how beautiful they can be. The email lists I subscribe to are so wonderful and useful, and I want to provide the same.
Benefits of an Email List Software
I can see the benefit of having a separate email list via MailChimp or any other email capturing tool. Which in short is a list of people who you can keep interested in your work, your business, who get exclusive content, who can be the first to know about products, books, services you want to sell at some point in the distant or immediate future, and much more.
As all WordPress.com bloggers know, we may have many followers on our blog, but we only have a handful of loyal followers who connect and comment on our blog posts.
These loyal followers on WordPress.com may wish to join our email list to support us and know what we are up to. Additionally, an email list is external to WordPress.com and allows us to capture followers to our email list, from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media sources who want to know more about us/me.
Be careful of Data Protection Rules
Having an external email, be it MailChimp or another software, allows us to have a different fan base that will enable us to run a marketing campaign. But, HERE, we have to BE CAREFUL only to capture essential data of people and ONLY use it for WHAT we said we would use it for, ensuring we comply with GDPR – data processing rules.
Advantages of Mailing Software
The advantage of using mailing software is it allows you to send a welcome email to those who subscribe or unsubscribe to the email list. And of course, it will enable us to run email campaigns. Those campaigns allow us to sell, provide the service, and more.
I believe it is as simple as that.
Why Use MailChimp?
MailChimp offers a free account for the first 2000 a single email list.
MailChimp has integrations with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WordPress.
You can use MailChimp to create landing pages. A landing page helps you capture emails. You can create an integration – which is what happens when someone subscribes to your email list, or when they unsubscribe.
With the free MailChimp you get one Audience list (email list).
But you may need more than one (audience list), for that you need to upgrade to a paid account. The reason to have multiple list is when you are offering different things to different people. Meaning, when you capture their email address and name, you say to them they will et ABCD, and the other list will get ZXY. Therefore, as a “Data Controller /User” you have to ensure do not over email market and keep the promise you made for the different lists. I hope that makes sense.
I have a Mailing List Finally
On that note, I have finally created a MailChimp List. I would be so grateful if you would signup to the email list. You can join with the simple link on this post below. I understand if you do NOT wish to subscribe – that is totally fine.
What will you get for signing up to the Thoughtsnlifeblog.com Newsletter is :-
- a post that is written exclusively for those on the email list
- a regular email on everything positive,
- Tools that I use for blogging, or scheduling, or how to create an email campaign.
- what new exciting things I am up to,
- my writing journey, for example – my attempt at drafting my first book ever (non-fiction),
- my life journey, and much more.
- Access to products that are free or reduced in price
All of which I hope you will find interesting.
I mean to write the newsletter monthly, bi-weekly, or every six weeks, or when something fascinating is about to be announced. The point is I won’t bombard you! But, I will provide you with something unique that you will get exclusively first.
Thank you for supporting me and joining my newsletter (email list). You get a free affirmation booklet.
By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.
Thank you so Much I really appreciate your support.

I signed up for your newsletter 😊
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Thank you Hetty. Really appreciat it. Appreciate any feed back you can give. Lots of learning for me.
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Bare with me for a bit, it will take me some time to figure it all out. I am going to wait a week or so before attempting an email newsletter or thank you. Appreciate your support.
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Always
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Thanks
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First Edition of the Newsletter sent. Please check your spam in case it has gone there. It might take some time to get to you. Let me know your experience so I can add to my learning.
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Let me know if the graphics and links appear right for you?
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The first email was the text only, and the second had the graphics
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Cool and sorry for two emails
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Thank you for this interesting and informative article Bella…I’m weighing up the pros and cons
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You are welcome and I fully understand. I am still experimenting with it too.
Perhaps you could sign up to see what the process feels like, and then unsubscribe. If you have two different emails. You could sign one up the blog link in the post. And the other you could..
Sign up for our newsletter: https://t.co/GrUzJrOMoi
Then unsubcribe. That way you get a feel of what it is like as a recipient.
I find I learn the most when I get my hands dirty in safe way.
I won’t feel bad if subscribe and unsubcribe, or stayed subscribed for a little time before unsubcribing. Just to help you figure out .
Also it would be lovely to get feed back. If you don’t mind. No force you don’t have to.
I get it, it has taken me since 2016 !! And I am still a bit up in the air
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Again, thank for your advice Bella , I shall give it a try … actually I have 3 email addresses… I Can use the one that is fairly dormant …
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Bare with me for a bit, it will take me some time to figure it all out. I am going to wait a week or so before attempting an email newsletter or thank you. Appreciate your support.
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First Edition of the Newsletter sent. Please check your spam in case it has gone there. It might take some time to get to you. Let me know your experience so I can add to my learning.
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I shall check it out 😊🌏
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Let me know if the graphics and links appear right for you?
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I will soon 😉😴
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Np. I ended up sending two. The first one wouldn’t have graphics then second will. Sorry learning curve. But I have learnt now
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It’s 6.30am here .. my day is just starting 🌏😊
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oh yes you are in oz. it 9.35pm I am just winding down. No rush Ivor. But, I tell you I am learning loads about Mailchimp. And for a free plan its quite good. I think they have made loads of improvement from when I tried it in 2016 and then 2018. I think it much better. and it has bit of block philosophy too. Obviously the free version doesn’t allow us to do too much, but for what I need and most bloggers needs I think it fine. I was looking at the plans and I actually think the free plan is very very generous – more than the cheapest paid plan. I keep learning more. And I am really happy to share what I learn with who ever is interested. have great day a head
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Sounds great .. my old bones are in a no rush mode this morning .. 😎🌏
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Oh Ivor, Never rush for me. The world of blogging is global and of course we have different times, so I never expect anything fast. I am just happy to have you on my newsletter, and helps me learn. Take it easy. No need to rush your young bones. take care. speak soon
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Thank you .. I just checked my bigpond account and emails have arrived in the right box ..😊🌏
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superb. Let me know your thoughts on the topics. Again no rush. enjoy your day. I am off to sleep, so no rush at all
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Sleep well … we are a world apart ..
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We certainly are. I love that about blogging it is global, inclusive and no boundaries. Fun of course
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Yes .. I agree 😊🌏
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I don’t see the point of email lists unless you have a product to sell. And if you do… quite frankly, I’m not interested. I like WordPress because it enables folks to ‘follow’ those who provide content that is of interest to me… and if my visitors aren’t interested in what I might have to say, then I don’t blame them for not ‘following’ me. I trust the WordPress mission ‘to make the web better’; I have far less trust in other systems, especially when they purport to offer a ‘free’ service (I’m no mug, nobody does anything for ‘free’: TANSTAAFL — who else are these people selling my data to?).
So, no, I won’t be signing up for your ‘mailchimp’ system, I’m sorry to say.
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Thank you. What is TANSTAAFL?
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It stands for ‘There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch’. Which can be interpreted in a number of ways, such as, “you get what you pay for (which is not necessarily what you thought you were going to get)” and “anything ‘free’ is worth exactly what you paid for it (ie nothing)”.
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😊😉🙃
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On the flip side a lot of bloggers are on a free wp.com plan and perfectly fine
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Oh, I don’t disagree with that, at all. But WordPress offers the ‘free’ service as a hook, constantly pushing ‘upgrades’; and they also get income from the adverts they embed into the free users’ sites — TANSTAAFL still applies.
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Yup. We get what we pay for I agree. But honestly what mailchimp are giving for free is enough for me to learn from.
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I had to laugh at your comment, pendantry. I often think of this expression too and share your views about it in relation to some things.
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Thank you so much Robbie
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The free version is limited, it doesn’t allow you to do more than the basics. A bit like wordoress.com free option.
I get the standing on this, as that was me and still is me. But, I have been wanting to get this working since 2016, we will see how it goes
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I wish you the best of luck with it! 🙂
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😊 thank you
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