How to Grow Your Email List in Klaviyo Without Spending a Dollar
For small ecommerce brands, paid growth is not always an option. But your email list still needs to grow. If you are looking for a smart, zero-cost way to build your newsletter audience in 2025, one strategy stands out: collaborative giveaways.
Partnering with like-minded brands gives you access to new subscribers who already match your ideal audience. No ads. No SEO. Just connection and collaboration.
Here is how to do it.
Step 1: Define Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)
Before anything else, get clear on your ICP: your ideal customer profile. Consider demographics, buying habits, and shared values.
Your goal is to find brands that serve the same audience but sell different products. This could include a fitness gear company, a wellness coach, or a clean beauty brand. You want overlap in audience but not in offerings.
Step 2: Choose a Partner Brand That Is the Right Size
Look for a brand with a similar or slightly larger following than yours. Social media can be a helpful indicator. Focus on signs of strong engagement so there’s a higher likelihood they have a healthy email list.
Subscribe to their emails, browse their site, and assess their voice and consistency. A good partner brand should be active and audience-focused.
Step 3: Pitch the Collaboration
Reach out with a clear value proposition. Focus on mutual benefit. They get exposure to your list, and you get access to theirs.
Keep the offer simple. Propose a giveaway where both brands promote a shared prize through their respective email newsletters. It is a list swap with purpose.
Need help building automations to support this kind of campaign? This guide on email automation strategy can help.
Step 4: Set Up the Giveaway
Decide on the prize. A product bundle from both brands is enough to create interest without adding complexity.
Next, build a landing page in Klaviyo or your preferred platform. It does not need to be fancy, just clear and functional. Include space for an email signup, highlight the prize, and add the deadline. Make sure the page works smoothly on mobile.
Need help creating your landing page? Learn how email design supports list growth and improves engagement.
Step 5: Promote to Both Lists
Both brands should send two to three emails each, promoting the giveaway to their own audience. Keep the call-to-action strong, the subject lines clear, and the message simple.
Your goal is to drive both audiences to the shared landing page. This gives each brand an opportunity to grow their email list with highly targeted new leads.
Step 6: Use a Targeted Welcome Flow
When someone signs up, trigger a welcome series. Start with a thank you for entering the giveaway. Then follow up with a few automated emails that:
Introduce your brand
Highlight popular products or categories
Offer a small, time-sensitive discount to encourage a first purchase
End the sequence with a giveaway winner announcement. Even if someone did not win, you can still convert them by offering a special thank-you discount. This is how you turn list growth into revenue.
Step 7: Share the Leads and Stay Engaged
After the campaign ends, make sure both brands get access to the new subscribers as agreed. Be transparent about data handling, and confirm compliance with email and privacy regulations.
From there, keep nurturing. People who joined your giveaway are warm leads. Follow up with newsletters, automations, and occasional offers to build loyalty.
Looking for ideas to keep your emails fresh? Here are 67 newsletter content ideas to keep your new subscribers engaged long after the giveaway ends.
Final Thoughts
You do not need a big budget to grow your Klaviyo list. All it takes is a well-matched collaboration. A single giveaway can connect you with thousands of potential customers who already align with your audience.
Just remember:
Choose the right partner
Keep the offer simple
Follow up with value
Automate wherever you can
Subscriber quality may vary compared to paid acquisition, but this approach costs nothing and delivers targeted growth. With a strong welcome flow and ongoing strategy, you can turn new signups into long-term buyers.