How to Grow Your Email List With YouTube (Step-by-Step Strategy for Creators and Solo Businesses)

If you’ve been building an online business, you’ve probably heard that growing an email list is one of the most important things you can do. And it’s true — your email list is your own asset. It’s not controlled by algorithms, ads, or social platforms that can change overnight.

But here’s the question: how do you actually build an email list using YouTube?

That’s exactly what I’m going to show you — a simple, proven system I’ve used to add thousands of email subscribers from my YouTube channel with just a few steps.

Why YouTube Is One of the Best Ways to Grow Your Email List

Let’s start with why YouTube works so well for list building.
Unlike social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook, where your content disappears within a day, YouTube is a search engine — in fact, it’s the second largest search engine after Google.

That means your videos keep working for you long after you upload them. People can find your YouTube video months or even years later, and that gives you a long-term way to grow your email list automatically.

This makes YouTube one of the best ways to grow your business and connect directly with viewers who already care about your topic.

Step 1: Create a Valuable Freebie (Lead Magnet)

The first step to building your list is having something valuable to offer — something your viewers want enough to exchange for their email.

This is what marketers call a lead magnet. It could be a free ebook, a PDF guide, or even a mini-workshop. For example, on my YouTube channel where I teach Lithuanian, I offer a free download of 117 common Lithuanian phrases.

During the video, I mention it naturally:

“Hey, I’ve got a free guide with the most common Lithuanian phrases — you can download it using the link in the description.”

This is an email opt-in opportunity — people click the link to your email capture page (or landing page) and sign up for your email list.

Step 2: Add the Link Everywhere

Once you’ve created your lead magnet, make sure your email signup link is easy to find.

Here’s where to add it:

• In your video description

• As the first pinned comment

• Inside your channel banner

• And even in the end of your video, using YouTube cards or end screens

The goal is to give your audience multiple chances to subscribe to your email list while they’re watching your videos.

Step 3: Mention It Naturally Throughout the Video

The most effective YouTube creators don’t just drop a link — they remind viewers of the value.
Throughout the video, talk about your freebie like this:

“If you’d like to learn faster, grab my free checklist — it’s linked in the description.”

This is one of the best ways to encourage new subscribers to join your mailing list while keeping your content natural and conversational.

Remember: you’re not selling — you’re helping your viewers get a quick win.

Step 4: Let the Numbers Work for You

Here’s the beauty of this system.
Even if you don’t have a massive channel, you can still see incredible list growth over time.

For example, one of my channels has around 14,000 YouTube subscribers and 400,000 total YouTube views. From that, I’ve built a mailing list of almost 10,000 email addresses.

That’s roughly 1 lead for every 40 views — and these are targeted subscribers who found me through video content related to my niche.

If your niche has higher-priced offers, those leads can easily translate into thousands in monthly revenue. That’s the true power of email marketing combined with YouTube traffic.

Step 5: Keep Your System Simple

You don’t need a complicated landing page builder or fancy video marketing funnel.
Just follow these steps to building your list:

1. Create a free lead magnet your audience actually wants.

2. Add a clear CTA (call to action) in every video.

3. Include the link to your email in multiple places.

4. Be consistent and keep posting videos.

Once your content on YouTube starts ranking, it becomes a way to grow your list 24/7 — even when you’re not uploading new content.

Step 6: Let Your Videos Work Long-Term

Here’s what’s amazing: I’ve gone weeks without posting a new video, yet my list still grows daily — sometimes adding 10 to 20 email subscribers per day from older videos.

That’s the power of YouTube as a search engine.
Unlike social media posts that vanish, your YouTube videos continue to bring in email opt-ins for months or years.

It’s one of the best ways to grow your audience and make money online sustainably.

Final Thoughts: Build an Email List With YouTube Today

If you’re serious about growing your email list, YouTube can help you build an asset that keeps paying off.

Use your videos to attract the right audience, offer a free resource, and invite viewers to subscribe to your list. Over time, this simple system becomes a powerful list building machine that fuels your online business.

And if you want to go deeper, grab my free 3-step workshop — I’ll walk you through how to create content, get leads, and turn your email list into income.

Because at the end of the day, your email list using YouTube might just become your biggest business advantage. 🚀