Let's talk about something that I'm sure many of you do: ​you find yourself browsing the web, hopping from one site to the next and find​ some pretty cool blogs. A few days later, you want to go back to the site and you can't because you've forgotten where and how you found it.

It happens to me all the time and I have every intention of going back to some of those blogs to read more. Sometimes I even remember to bookmark them. But the chances of me ever finding my way back there or digging through my list of hundreds of browser bookmarks are slim to none. And the vast majority of people that stumble across your blog are the same way. That’s not a very effective way to grow a loyal readership.

That’s why it is crucial to get those readers on your email list. Once you do that you can bring them back over and over again. You can send out a quick little email inviting them to read your latest blog post. But it doesn’t stop there.

You can also share your social media posts and profiles with your list and grow your reach with nothing more than an email that invites them to interact with you on your Facebook Page.

And with each email you sent, your readers get to know you a little better. Ideally that means they’ll also like and most importantly trust you more. Once your readers know, like, and trust you, they'll gladly take you up on product recommendations you make to them.

A lot of bloggers ask about monetizing their posts. Frankly the best answer is to get your readers on your list, build that relationship and then make offers via email. You don’t have to be spammy about it or sound like a used car salesman. Instead, share some helpful information, give them some tips and then invite them to learn more or implement it with the product you’re recommending.

Let’s recap why it’s so crucial to your blogging success that you should focus on building an email list first. It allows you to bring readers back to your blog whenever you’re publishing a new post. Having a list also allows you to grow your social media reach by inviting readers to connect with you on said social media properties. Last but not least, staying in touch regularly via email gives you a chance to build a relationship with your audience. It’s at that point that it makes sense to make offers for products and services and make some money from your blog posts and emails.

I hope this inspires you to give building a list for your blog a try.