Inbox Insider #6 - Sun Mar 9, 2025

Welcome to Issue #6 of "Inbox Insiders": Your Email List-Building Backstage Pass

In this issue:

1. By The Numbers: What worked and what didn't
2. Deep Dive: The Transformation Trail
3. Up Next: What I'm working on this week

Welcome to Issue #6

"Inbox Insider" is my Sunday newsletter sharing the behind-the-scenes of what I'm doing to grow my email list to 100,000.

I share what works, what doesn't, and how I'm growing.

Thanks for reading.

Let's dive in:

By The Numbers:

My Email List

• Total Subscribers: 14,706 (last week 14,554)
• Added last week (net): 200 (last week: 370)
• 5* Subscribers (engaged in the last 30 days): 9,410 (last week: 9,630)

My Ad Account - Lead Magnets:

• Ad Spend: $768 (last week: $1,056)
• Gross Leads from FB: 386 (last week: 444)
• Cost per lead: $1.99 (last week: $2.37)

Ads Assessment:

• CPL dropped a bit
• I'm planning a revamp of my lead magnets this week

Instagram (@emailschool): Started Feb 1st

• Total Subscribers: 341 (last week: 320)
• New Subscribers last week: 21 (last week: 5)

​Email School (Email-Focused Membership):

1. Paying Members: 225 (-7 from last week)
2. Monthly Recurring Revenue: $3,989 (down $171/mo from last week)
3. I'm reopening Email School this week and have 34 on the waitlist
4. I'm also opening up the Affiliate Plan for Email School

Other Audiences:

• ​LinkedIn Newsletter: (86 subscribers; +7 this week)
• ​Threads: 17 followers (+4 this week)
• ​YouTube: 592 (+8 this week)

Deep Dive: Memorable Milestones

5 MONTHS AGO, MY DAD WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA

It was my first "Oh, shoot, my parents won't live forever" moment.

In troubled, confusing, overwhelming times, I did what anyone would do:

I turned to ChatGPT.

• How does this work?
• What does this mean?
• What happens next?
• Is this thing hereditary?
• What are our treatment options?

I'm now an uncertified, unsanctioned, unlicensed leukemia expert.

But once we got the treatment plan, our fear subsided, and our confidence soared.

20 YEARS AGO, WE MOVED TO COLORADO

I grew up in Texas and went to college in Oklahoma.

My formative memories are those of heat, humidity, and being covered in bugs.

After graduating college, my wife and I sought relief in Colorado Springs.

It's great.

The weather is crisp and dry.

And best of all? No bugs.

I also picked up a new hobby: hiking.

For my fellow Texans, here's how hiking works.

There's a map at the trailhead.

• Milestones
• Checkpoints
• Distances

For example, if you want to hike up Pike's Peak, you'll take Barr Trail.

1. 3 miles in, you'll hit the top of the Incline.
2. Halfway up, Barr Camp.
3. At 11,000 feet, you'll hit A-Frame Shelter.
4. Near the top? 16 golden steps.

Checkpoints. Distances. Milestones.

It makes the journey more certain.

More bearable.

It's easier to keep going.

RINGING THE BELL

When my Dad got his diagnosis, he was in the hospital for 9 days.

Then, a round of chemo once a month until the cancer was in remission.

The chemo kept the cancer at bay, but the cure was a stem cell transplant.

The process started 24 days ago.

After the transplant, he has to stay near the hospital for a few months.

Then, he's good as new.

On Thursday, he did the Soul Train dance line while "Celebrate Good Times!" played on the loudspeaker.

He got to the end of the line and rang the bell as nurses clapped.

I just got back from hanging out with him, and he's doing so well.

The treatment is working, and he's in good spirits.

His appetite is back, and he's so glad to be out of the hospital.

WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH YOUR BUSINESS

Your customers are on a journey, too.

They're at the foot of Pikes Peak staring up a 13.2 mile trail.

They can see the top.

They can see the trail.

But they don't know what lies ahead.

You do.

You're the sherpa.

You've been up the trail 100 times.

You're like those transplant nurses on the oncology floor.

Business as usual.

"I've done this before."

First, this will happen. Then, this. Then, this. Then, you get to go home.

Break your customer journey into meaningful, clearly defined steps.

Give them the map.

Note the points of interest.

Customer satisfaction will skyrocket.

Results will rise.

The journey will be easier to endure.

"Just hike to that next boulder, then we'll take a break."

Keep them going.

Thanks for reading,

~ Cody

What's Next:

Here's what's on my radar this week:

1. I'm hosting a Welcome Series Workshop next week.
2. ​Email School will be reopening soon.

It's gonna be a great week.

Thanks for reading this issue of "Inbox Insiders."

See you next week,

~ Cody

​

​

​