Email List Not Converting? What Actually Works Instead
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Email List Not Converting? What Actually Works Instead

If you’re wondering why your email list not converting is still an issue… you’re not alone.

Because opening emails and actually buying? Two very different things.

And because of that, a lot of strategies that used to work… just don’t hit the same anymore.

This episode of The Virtual Summit Show dives into why your email list isn’t converting… and what actually works instead.

I’m joined by Laura Kendrick, and we’re unpacking the shift from transactional marketing to real connection… and why that’s what drives sales now.


Meet Laura Kendrick

Laura Kendrick is a copy co-conspirator and conversion strategist who helps online business owners create client-forward copy that actually sells… without sounding like everyone else.

She’s the founder of Cheeky Copy and the host of the Holistic Marketing Summit, and she’s known for her relationship-first approach to marketing.

If you’ve ever felt like your emails are “doing all the right things” but still not converting… Laura brings a completely different lens to what’s actually going on.

Free Resource: Welcome In (Private Podcast)
(Link: https://www.cheekycopy.co/welcome-in)

A private podcast experience focused on bringing hospitality and real connection into your marketing… so your audience actually feels seen, supported, and ready to buy.

Website:
http://www.cheekycopy.co

Socials:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-m-kendrick/
https://www.instagram.com/cheekycopy/
https://substack.com/@cheekcopy


What You’ll Learn About Email List Not Converting

→ Why your email list might not be converting even if it’s growing
→ The shift from transactional marketing to relationship-driven marketing
→ Why buyers are more aware and harder to “sell” to
→ The problem with templates and copy formulas
→ How connection actually drives conversions
→ What to focus on if your emails feel disconnected

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Email List Not Converting? What Actually Works Instead

Why Your Email List Not Converting Keeps Happening

Here’s the truth… your email list isn’t broken.

And because of that, trying to “fix” it with more tactics won’t get you the result you want.

Most people follow strategies that focus on urgency, pressure, and templates.

But your audience has seen it all before… which means those approaches don’t land the same anymore.


Email List Not Converting Because Buyers Have Changed

This is where things shift…

Buyers are more aware, more skeptical, and more selective than ever.

So if your emails feel scripted or predictable, people notice.

And because of that, they don’t engage the way they used to.


Why Templates Don’t Fix Email List Not Converting

Templates promise easy conversions… but they often remove what actually matters.

Your voice.
Your perspective.
Your connection.

And because of that, your emails can start to feel generic… even if they’re technically “correct.”

That’s where the disconnect happens.


What Actually Builds Connection (And Converts)

Here’s what works instead…

Real connection.

Not forced urgency.
Not pressure tactics.
Not perfectly structured emails.

But communication that feels human, intentional, and aligned.

And because of that, your audience starts to trust you… which is what leads to sales.


How to Shift Out of the Conversion Struggle

So instead of trying to optimize every email…

Focus on how your audience experiences your content.

Do they feel understood?
Do they feel seen?
Do they feel like your message is actually for them?

And because of that, your emails stop feeling like marketing… and start feeling like connection.


What Actually Works Instead

So if your email list isn’t converting… the answer isn’t more tactics.

It’s a shift in how you communicate.

When you focus on relationships over transactions… everything changes.

And because of that, your audience doesn’t just read your emails… they respond to them.


Connect With Laura Kendrick

Website:
http://www.cheekycopy.co

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-m-kendrick/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cheekycopy/

Substack:
https://substack.com/@cheekcopy

Free Resource:
Welcome In (Private Podcast)
https://www.cheekycopy.co/welcome-in


Ready to Build Your Own Strategic Summit?

If you want to grow your audience and build real connection… not just visibility…

Inside Virtual Summit Success LAB
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/lab/)

You’ll learn how to create experiences that build trust, grow your list, and turn attention into real clients.


Related Episodes

Why You’re Getting Seen… So Why Aren’t You Getting Clients?
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/ep73)

Posting More Isn’t Growing Your Email List… It’s Slowing You Down
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/ep76)

How to Make Money From Your Virtual Event (Without Selling More)
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/ep74)

Related Posts

How to Grow Your Email List Without Social Media in 2026
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/grow-email-list-without-social-media-2026)

List-Building Myths Keeping You Invisible (and What to Do Instead)
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/3-list-building-myths-keeping-you-invisible-and-what-to-do-instead/)

How to Get Clients From Collaborations (Not Just Visibility)
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/get-clients-from-collaborations/)

Why Bundles Work for Visibility and List Growth
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/why-bundles-work/)

How to Get Traffic Without Social Media (Using Summits And Collaborations)
(Link: https://juliecbutler.com/get-traffic-without-social-media/)

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full Transcript (ai Generated)

Prefer to read this in a cleaner format?

Julie [00:00:02]:
Hey there. Welcome back to the show. Today I have a special guest with me who actually we just found out we live like five minutes away from each other. Well, not five minutes, but you’re like in a different country, but you live two hours away. Welcome to the show, Laura.
Laura Kendrick [00:00:17]:
Thank you, Julie.
Julie [00:00:18]:
You’re welcome. Like, we live so close. We can actually go for coffee. Well, kind of.

Laura Kendrick [00:00:25]:
It would maybe lunch. Let’s commit to a little bit longer than coffee.
Julie [00:00:28]:
Yes, yes, lunch. Are you coming to Canada or am I going to the United States?
Laura Kendrick [00:00:32]:
Sure, of course. Ottawa sounds delightful.
Julie [00:00:37]:
Anyway, so before we start our episode today, I would love for you to introduce yourself.

Laura Kendrick [00:00:42]:
Sure thing. So I’m Laura Kendrick of Cheeky Copy and I am a copywriter by trade. But I feel as though that has become a bit of a misnomer in my world in the last few years because I have shifted greatly to what I refer to as a copy co-conspirator. I really like to work with you in your copy rather than doing it for you…

Julie [00:01:31]:
I love that. I love that. And more and more, especially now with AI and everything, right? Like, I think it’s so important that connection piece be there and the authenticity…

Laura Kendrick [00:02:01]:
The buyer is much more sophisticated is the thing. And where you used to be able to get away with almost manipulation tactics if you wanted to, the buyer sees them and they’re aware of them…

Julie [00:02:54]:
Yeah. And also not just that, but that’s why I ditched my timers and that’s why I even ditched my funnels. I was like, you know what, people are smart now…

Laura Kendrick [00:03:46]:
I actually acknowledge in my own automations because I do believe in having emails that follow when somebody buys or gets in…

Julie [00:04:55]:
Yeah, Temu does that. I’m like just put it in your cart and eventually you’ll get really great discounts…

Laura Kendrick [00:05:21]:
That just shows how sophisticated buyers we are. Like, we’re gaming the system…

Julie [00:05:32]:
Yeah, that’s so cool. So the key I think here is building the relationships, the community, the trust…

Laura Kendrick [00:06:20]:
Yeah, here’s the thing. I know some of these people personally, some of the people who are very well known in the online space…

Julie [00:09:32]:
Love that. But let’s break the rules. Yeah. Like that is the key…

Laura Kendrick [00:10:54]:
Yeah. And I think it’s really important to sit back and think about how you want to do it personally…

Julie [00:12:11]:
And I think that also, yes okay it’s nice to host a virtual summit or a bundle and get 2,000 signups…

Laura Kendrick [00:12:45]:
Yeah. People lose sight of that for sure because they start thinking about the numbers…

Julie [00:16:17]:
So if you get anything out of this conversation, definitely when I get speakers for my summit…

Laura Kendrick [00:18:13]:
Yeah, yeah. Well, and here’s the thing, as we were talking about before we started, I have a big family…

Julie [00:21:01]:
It’s funny you say that because for my very first summit I hired a coach to help me host a summit…

Laura Kendrick [00:21:44]:
And the catch is though after I did the first one, the second one was way easier to fill…

Julie [00:23:19]:
It’s so cool, right? I know. The last time I did my summit I ditched the live expert panels…

Laura Kendrick [00:25:31]:
Yeah. Especially in this online space where when I go to local networking events they do not understand what I do…

Julie [00:27:15]:
Okay. We’ve spoken a lot about the speakers, but how do you build intentional connection with attendees?

Laura Kendrick [00:27:51]:
Yeah. I’ve gotten more gracious about things. So I’m about to host my very first bundle…

Julie [00:30:10]:
I love that because as a perspective of a copywriter, right, this is your expertise…

Laura Kendrick [00:33:31]:
And the creativity that comes from that, as long as there’s some strategy behind it…

Julie [00:36:51]:
I love it. Okay Laura, weird ass. Looking back, what is one thing you would do the same…

Laura Kendrick [00:37:19]:
The thing that I will always do and the kind of soapbox I will always stand on is don’t ever follow the shoulds…

Julie [00:39:29]:
Yes, totally. The whole episode was so awesome with little tips and tricks incorporated…

Laura Kendrick [00:40:42]:
At the heart of all of this honestly is this deep seated idea of giving a crap, listening, and deeply serving…

Julie [00:41:27]:
Oh, it’s so cool. Okay. Let’s talk about your free gift for people listening to this episode…

Laura Kendrick [00:41:43]:
Yeah, it is actually a short-form container of a private podcast…

Julie [00:43:06]:
Yeah, successful business too. And honestly after having our conversation…

Laura Kendrick [00:43:30]:
Well, thank you. I appreciate that.
Julie [00:43:47]:
This was the beginning of another amazing online relationship, friendship, really collaboration.

Laura Kendrick [00:43:53]:
And in person too. We’re so close.
Julie [00:44:10]:
Amazing. And if you are listening to this, I will talk to you on the next episode.

My Favorite Tools For Hosting A Summit

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you sign up through them … at no additional cost to you. I only share tools and platforms I personally use and love.

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