Systeme.io Tutorial: Proven Steps to Start Email Marketing

Last Updated on August 3, 2025 by Team Digital Web Verse

Introduction

If you’re just getting started with blogging, you’ve probably heard that “the money is in the list.” But let’s be honest — building an email list can feel like a techy nightmare, especially when you’re juggling a new blog, niche research, and fifty tabs of marketing advice.

That’s where Systeme.io comes in — it’s a clean, all-in-one tool made for creators, coaches, and bloggers who want to skip the chaos and just start collecting emails. No endless settings, no Frankensteining five tools together — just one dashboard that actually makes sense.

Social platforms change algorithms, trends shift, and traffic can disappear overnight. But with an email list? You own it. You’re building a direct relationship — not renting space on someone else’s platform. According to OptinMonster, email marketing still delivers an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent — making it one of the most profitable digital marketing tools available.

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to set up Systeme.io so you can start growing your list today. We’ll go step-by-step — from signing up, to creating your form, to sending your first welcome email. And yep — this is based on the actual steps I took while setting up my blog, Digital Web Verse.

💡 Try Systeme.io Free — no credit card required.
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Step 1: Sign Up for a Free Systeme.io Account

While tools like Mailchimp or Kit also offer email marketing, they often come with confusing dashboards, limited free plans, or require integration with other tools. Systeme.io keeps it all in one place, which is a huge time-saver when you’re just starting.

Head over to Systeme.io’s signup page and create your free account. The free plan gives you:

• Up to 2,000 email contacts
• Unlimited emails
• 1 blog
• 1 funnel
• 1 automation workflow
• No time limit

If you want to see all features, check out the official Systeme.io pricing page.

Once you’re in, you’ll land on the dashboard where all your tools live — no separate tabs for every feature. It’s all here: funnels, emails, contacts, automations, and even a blog builder.

Step 2: Add and Verify Your Sender Email

Before you do anything else, go to Settings > Mail Settings and enter the sender email address you’ll use to contact subscribers.

Tip: Always use a domain email (like hello@yourdomain.com) to avoid deliverability issues and look professional.

Once entered, you’ll get a verification email. Confirm it before moving to the next step.

Step 3: Create a Contact List or Tag

Systeme.io keeps things simple: instead of complicated list structures, you’ll use tags to segment your subscribers.

Go to CRM > Tags and create a new tag — e.g., Checklist Optin or Blog Subscribers.

You’ll use this tag later when someone fills out your form or joins a funnel.

Step 4: Build a Simple Funnel (Landing Page + Thank You)

Go to Sites > Sales Funnels > Create and select “Build an Audience.” You can keep the “Funnel domain” and “Currency” selection as is.

Name your funnel and add two pages:

• Opt-in page – where the form lives
• Thank You page – to confirm subscription or offer a freebie

Use one of the beginner-friendly templates, or start from scratch. Either way, drag-and-drop customization is simple.

Don’t forget to:

• Add a compelling headline (“Get My Free Blog Setup Checklist”)
• Embed the form block
• Connect the form to the correct tag and automation

On your Thank You page, you can:

• Add a simple “Thanks for joining!” message
• Offer a downloadable freebie (like a checklist)
• Let them know to check their inbox for your welcome email
• Tease what’s coming next (e.g., “I’ll send you 3 more blog tips this week — stay tuned!”)

Step 5: Create an Inline Form for Your Blog

While the funnel works great, you’ll also want a form you can embed directly on your blog sidebar, homepage, or under posts.

Go to Sales Funnels, click your funnel, and create a new step → choose “Inline Form”.

Customize the look and fields, then grab the HTML code to embed it into your WordPress blog.

You can paste it using the Header & Footer plugin or directly into a block using “Custom HTML.”

Here are some of the best places to embed your inline form:

• In your blog’s sidebar (especially on posts about email, blogging, or monetization)
• At the bottom of blog posts as a soft CTA
• As a floating block on your homepage
• Inside a dedicated Resources or Start Here page

Step 6: Customize the Design + Fields

Even with the free plan, you can tweak:

• Fonts, colors, and spacing
• Field names (use “First Name” + “Email”)
• Button text (e.g., “Send Me the Free Guide”)

Try to match your blog’s style to keep things visually consistent.

📘 Bonus Tip: You can also create popup forms — but stick with inline for now if you’re new.

Step 7: Set Up Automation + Welcome Email

Here’s the fun part — let Systeme.io do the follow-up for you.

Go to Automations > Workflows > Create Workflow.

Choose the trigger: When a contact gets tagged (e.g., Checklist Optin), then…

1. Send a welcome email
2. Optionally, add a delay → send follow-ups later

Sample welcome email:

• “Thanks for subscribing!”
• Link to download your lead magnet (e.g., your SEO Optimized Blog Post Checklist PDF)
• A short personal message to build trust

Subject: 🎉 Welcome! Here’s your blogging checklist inside

Hey [Name],
Thanks for signing up! I’m excited to help you start and grow your blog — no fluff, no overwhelm.

👉 Here’s your free checklist: [PDF LINK]
You’ll also get 2–3 short emails from me this week with blogging tips, tools I actually use (like Systeme.io), and how to grow your traffic the smart way.

Let me know if you ever have questions — just hit reply.

Talk soon,
– [Your Name]

Optional: Plan a Full Email Sequence

Systeme.io lets you create full drip sequences — ideal for:

• Nurturing new subscribers
• Promoting affiliate tools like HostGator, InVideo, or even RankMath

📌 I’ll cover that in a follow-up post. Want to get notified when that’s live? Subscribe through any form on Digital Web Verse.

💡 Bonus: Combine Systeme.io with Your Blog Strategy

If you’re using WordPress (like most bloggers), Systeme.io integrates easily with your existing flow. You don’t need to ditch your blog — just embed your forms and link back to your funnels. Want to take it even further?

• Offer a freebie like a checklist or cheat sheet in exchange for emails
• Use Systeme.io’s tagging + automation to segment your audience (e.g., beginners vs. advanced readers)
• Later, add affiliate emails or course promotions — all within the same dashboard

FAQ Section

Conclusion

Building your email list doesn’t have to be a tech marathon. With Systeme.io, even complete beginners can go from “I have no idea what I’m doing” to “I just got my first subscriber!” — without touching code or paying monthly.

You’re not just building a list — you’re building a community that you own. Systeme.io makes it easier, even if you’ve never touched an email tool before.

Give it a try — you’ll be surprised how easy it feels.