AWeber is one of those names you see all over when you start looking into email marketing. It’s a tool made to make handling email lists, forms, broadcasts, and automation pretty straightforward, even if you’re new to all of this. For beginners, the platform can feel like it comes with a handful of jargon, but once you’ve wrapped your head around the basics, it becomes a really handy part of your marketing toolkit. Here’s my guide to getting started with AWeber, laying out the basics step by step with practical tips you can use right away.
If you’re running a business, blog, or just want a simple way to keep in touch with your audience, learning these essentials will set you up for smooth email marketing from day one.
Landing Pages: Your Starting Point
Landing pages in AWeber are specially designed web pages that help you collect people’s email addresses and start building your list. These pages come in handy when you want to promote a freebie, an event, or even just grow your newsletter audience. You don’t need any coding skills, since AWeber gives you templates that look good and work well right out of the box.
How to Make a Landing Page
- Pick a template that matches your style. There are options for sales, newsletters, freebies, and more.
- Customize the text, add your own images, or upload your logo so the page fits your brand.
- Set the signup form on your landing page to send contact info straight to one of your lists.
- Preview your page and hit publish. AWeber gives you a link you can share anywhere, such as on social, your site, or in your email signature.
Pretty simple, and it’s a fast way to get your first subscribers.
Forms: Collecting Signups Anywhere
Forms in AWeber help you collect email addresses from people visiting your website or landing page. You can use embedded forms on your site, popup forms for special offers, or even add forms to WordPress if you use that platform.
Making a Signup Form That Works
- Select “Sign Up Forms” in your AWeber dashboard and start with a template.
- Customize the form with your headline (like “Subscribe for Updates!”) and add or remove fields—sometimes sticking to just “First Name” and “Email” gets you more signups.
- Decide which list subscribers will be added to. This helps you stay organized later.
- Choose what happens after someone subscribes. You might send them to a thank you page or start them on your welcome campaign automatically.
- Grab the provided code and pop it onto your website, or use an AWeber plugin for platforms like WordPress or Squarespace.
Good forms are clear and quick; nobody likes filling out too much info just to get an email.
Subscribers: Growing and Managing Your List
Subscribers are the heart of your email marketing. AWeber helps you keep track of everyone who signs up and makes managing things pretty painless. You’ll see their join date, location (if available), and which forms or landing pages they used.
Tips for Managing Subscribers
- Regularly clean out inactive subscribers. This keeps your emails landing in inboxes and not in spam folders.
- Use tags to organize people based on their interests, what links they click, or what products they buy. It makes targeted emails way easier.
- Import subscribers from other platforms with a simple spreadsheet upload if you already have a list.
Always make sure you’ve got permission to email people and stick with good email practices. Nobody likes spam!
List Settings: Getting Organized from the Start
Every time you set up a new audience or project, you’ll want a dedicated list inside AWeber to keep everything organized. Each list acts as its own hub for subscribers, emails, and automations. Naming your list clearly, like “Weekly Newsletter,” helps you know exactly whom each list is reaching, and you can set custom from-names and addresses to match your brand. You can also add reminder messages so your subscribers remember why they’re hearing from you, which really helps with trust and deliverability.
Top Tips for List Setup
- Use descriptive list names for clarity, both for you and your audience.
- Add a brief description to remind subscribers why they joined.
- Customize the email signature and sender details for each list to build recognition and trust.
- Set up notification emails so you know when someone subscribes—a small thing that keeps you in the loop.
Broadcasts: Sending One-Time Emails
Broadcasts are single emails sent to your subscribers, used for updates, big announcements, or newsletters. They’re perfect when you need to send information once to your group, whether that’s a new blog post, special deal, or time-sensitive alert.
How to Send a Broadcast
- Pick your list and press the “Create Message” button. You can use a drag-and-drop email builder or stick to plain text for a more personal touch.
- Add images, buttons, and your call to action. Make your email eye-catching, but keep your message clear so readers know what to do next.
- Preview your email, check with the built-in spam checker, and send a test to yourself to double-check that everything looks right.
- Choose when the broadcast goes out—immediately or scheduled for later. Scheduling lets you reach readers in different time zones without needing to be at your computer.
Tracking opens and clicks is simple within AWeber. It helps you spot which emails connect with your audience and refine your content over time.
Automation: Welcome Series and More
Automation in AWeber lets you set up sequences of emails that go out automatically based on someone’s action, like subscribing to a list. Most beginners start with a welcome series—a short set of emails that greet subscribers, share your story, provide value, and introduce what people can expect from you. This way, new subscribers feel seen, and you set expectations from day one.
Steps to Set Up a Basic Automation
- Go to the “Campaigns” section and choose “Create a Campaign.”
- Select a trigger—typically when someone joins a specific list.
- Add your first message (a “welcome” email). Then add follow-up emails to introduce yourself, share best content, or offer a freebie, spacing them out every few days.
- End your series with a personal note, inviting questions or replies to build a relationship.
Once you set this up, the automation works for every new subscriber, making onboarding smooth and hands-off.
Useful AWeber Features for Beginners
- Simple draganddrop builder for emails and landing pages—no coding skills needed.
- Free stock images and graphics to help your emails stand out.
- Tagging and segmentation, making it easier to send targeted emails to just the right group.
- Analytics for opens and clicks, so you can see exactly what’s working and tweak your approach.
Extra Tips: Growing Your List and Staying Out of Spam
- Offer something valuable for subscribing—an ebook, checklist, or exclusive video always helps bring people in.
- Make your signup forms quick to fill out but visually eye-catching so people notice them.
- Email regularly so subscribers remember you. Irregular emails can leave your audience unsure who you are and more likely to mark you as spam.
- Avoid spammy phrases and too many salesy words. Keep your value front and center, and always provide a clear way for people to unsubscribe.
- Test your forms and emails on multiple devices to make sure they look great everywhere.
Bottom Line
Getting started with AWeber takes a little setup, but once you’ve got your basics in place—landing pages, forms, your first subscribers, a tidy list, and maybe even a welcome series—you’re off to a strong start. Remember, the real goal is building trust with your audience and keeping things smooth and helpful. Try out AWeber’s features, don’t be afraid to experiment, and keep refining your approach as you grow. Happy emailing!