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The Most Underrated Asset in Your Business? Your Email List

The Most Underrated Asset in Your Business? Your Email List

Insights for Rural and Small Town Entrepreneurs

Tance Hughes
March 24, 2025

Social media platforms change weekly. Algorithms shift. Ad costs rise. But one thing hasn’t changed: email is still the most profitable marketing channel in business.

If you’re running a business in a small town or rural market, and you’re not building a newsletter, you’re missing out on the most reliable way to stay connected with your customers and drive consistent revenue.

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Email Isn’t Dead. It’s Quietly Winning.

You won’t hear much hype about newsletters because the people winning with them don’t need to talk about it.

They’re busy collecting email addresses, nurturing relationships, and launching offers directly into their customers’ inboxes… no middleman, no algorithm, no guessing.

While everyone else is chasing views on TikTok, the entrepreneurs building newsletters are creating leverage.

Email has the highest ROI of any marketing channel… $36 to $40 for every $1 spent. Open rates are strong. Clicks lead to sales. And you control the list.

RP+ Members: Dig into the advanced version of this guide here. Not an RP+ member? Join today to get in depth tactics and strategies that will elevate your business for less than the cost of 2 coffees each month.

Three Types of Newsletters That Work in Rural Markets

You don’t need to be a full-time writer or content creator to send emails that work. Here are three formats that any rural business can start today:

1. Product-Focused

Send weekly or monthly updates with restocks, promotions, new arrivals, or limited-time offers. It’s the fastest way to drive repeat sales.

Example: a local boutique sends out “New This Week” every Friday and sells out half their inventory by Monday.

2. Content-Driven

Share tips, how-to guides, or short stories related to your niche. Position yourself as the go-to expert.

Example: a landscape business sends seasonal tips and reminders that drive consultations and installs.

3. Community Connector

Highlight local events, business updates, or exclusive discounts from partners. Build a sense of local pride and community.

Example: a coffee shop features one local business every week and gets shared across town.

Keep your brand top of mind without needing daily social posts
Create a low-cost sales channel for new products and services
Nurture leads over time until they’re ready to buy
Launch new offers to a warm, trusting audience
Convert existing customers into repeat buyers

Email builds equity. Every subscriber is an owned asset. Nobody can take them from you. You don’t have to pay to reach them. And when you send a good email, it drives action that day.

How to Start Without Getting Overwhelmed

Use a platform like beehiiv (simple, no bloat)
Create a landing page with a clear reason to subscribe
Write a 3-email welcome sequence:
- Email 1: Who you are and what they can expect
- Email 2: One helpful tip or resource
- Email 3: An offer, product, or service you want them to see

You don’t need fancy automation. You need consistency. One email per week. Keep it simple. Make it useful.

beehiiv — The newsletter platform built for growth

Access the best tools available in email, helping your newsletter scale and monetize like never before.

How to Grow Your List Without Spending on Ads

Add an opt-in form to your website and link it everywhere
Use a QR code in your shop, at events, or on printed receipts
Ask customers directly—“Can I send you updates and deals?”
Partner with other businesses to cross-promote and share each other's newsletters

Every local interaction is a chance to turn someone into a subscriber. The email list becomes your digital town square.

Why This Matters Even More in a Small Town

You don’t have the foot traffic of a big city. You don’t have a huge ad budget. And you can’t afford to lose customers just because they forgot you exist.

Your newsletter keeps you in front of your customers. It reminds them who you are, what you do, and why they should come back.

You only need a few hundred loyal subscribers to see real results. In rural markets, that’s often more than enough.

Final Word

If you're not emailing your customers, you're relying on hope. And hope isn't a strategy.

Start small. Send one email a week. Talk to your customers like real people. Over time, this will become one of the most powerful tools in your business.

Want to double down on this? I can help you write your welcome sequence, build your lead magnet, or even write your first few emails to get things moving. Just say the word.