If you’ve ever collected emails from students (or potential students)… and then done absolutely nothing with them, you’re not alone.
Most online teachers know they should be using email marketing, but they don’t know where to start—or what to say. Today’s post will walk you through exactly what to do (in order) to finally make email work for your teaching business.
Whether you’re looking to get your first student or scale to a full roster, email marketing can help you do it faster—with less hustle.
Why Email Marketing Matters for Teachers
Let’s be real—social media is exhausting. You post, hope for engagement, and still feel like you’re yelling into the void.
With email marketing, you own the audience. No algorithm. No hoping your Reel lands. Just a direct line to people who already said yes.
For online teachers, email is one of the easiest ways to:
- Deliver free value (and start building trust)
- Keep your name top of mind when a parent is ready to buy
- Share your offers without feeling salesy
- Turn your freebie into actual student bookings
But that only works if you have a system.
The 6 Phases of a Successful Teacher Email Strategy
This isn’t about writing one welcome email and calling it a day.
This is about setting up a full system that turns curious people into booked students—and does it automatically.
Here’s the roadmap you’ll want to follow:
📬 Phase 1: Lay the Groundwork
Before you send a single email, you’ll need a few essentials in place:
- Choose your platform (Kit is my favorite one!)
- Set up a sender name + verified email domain
- Create a welcome message for new subscribers
- Decide what kind of emails you’ll send and how often
- Get clear on your brand and what value you’ll offer
This phase is all about getting ready to show up like the pro you are.
🎁 Phase 2: Build Your Freebie Funnel
Next, you’ll need to give before you ask.
- Choose a freebie that solves a real problem for your audience
- Set up an opt-in form or landing page
- Create a thank-you page and delivery email
- Tag subscribers based on the freebie they grabbed
This is what gets people onto your list—and sets the stage for your future offer.
🧠 Phase 3: Map Your Nurture Sequence
This is where you plan your follow-up emails.
- Choose a clear goal (like “book a trial class”)
- Plan out 5–7 emails that build toward that goal
- Match each email to one of the 8 persuasion triggers
- Decide when you’ll send them and what each one says
The point here is to strategically guide people from freebie → action.
✍️ Phase 4: Draft the Emails
Time to write!
- Use hooks, stories, and plain language
- Make each email about one main idea
- Include calls to action (some soft, some direct)
- Keep it fun, helpful, and aligned with your teaching style
This step is what makes your sequence feel human and effective.
⚙️ Phase 5: Automate Everything
Once your emails are written, it’s time to set them on autopilot.
- Set up a trigger that starts your sequence
- Add delays and automation rules
- Test the entire flow before going live
Your future self will thank you for this. Done right, it works 24/7.
📈 Phase 6: Track and Tweak
Finally, make sure it’s doing what you want.
- Track open and click rates
- Tweak low-performing subject lines or CTAs
- Resend to unopens
- Use tags to segment your audience
- Keep growing from here
This is where you turn a “set it and forget it” into a high-performing machine.
What’s Next?
If you’re ready to stop sitting on your email list and actually turn it into bookings, I’ve got a challenge just for you.
👉 Join the Teacher Boss Society Email Sequence Challenge happening this June! You’ll map out and write your entire nurture sequence—with prompts, support, and strategy included.
New to email marketing? No problem. You can also go back to May’s challenge to create your very first freebie and start growing your list from scratch.
Inside Teacher Boss Society, we break this all down step-by-step, so you’re never stuck staring at a blank screen again.
🎯 Let’s build your list and your bookings—starting now.
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