Episode Summary:

Most people don't come to me simply asking for "more emails." Clients often come to me because they don't know what's actually happening inside their email marketing — and that's kind of stressful. Like walking around in the dark without a flashlight. You want to know it's working — and you want a better plan going forward. Like, a real plan, a what-I-need-for-my-business email strategy. In this solo episode of Happy Subscribers, I'm sharing all of the details of what it's like to work with me and my team. Specifically, the "Duett Process" that started this business (literally). If you've ever wondered how an agency could nail your voice, know what to send your audience, or really incorporate your business goals — for sales, traffic and audience connection — into your ongoing email strategy… I'm about to tell you how. We do follow this process all the time. This is the Duett Process — the system I've refined since 2019 — and the reason our welcome sequences average 9%+ click rates. My goal has always been to make it easy on my clients, give them the emails they want (that sound like them!), and a tech system setup they didn't have to figure out and set up themselves. If you've ever been curious what it actually looks like to hire help for your email strategy, copywriting, and email setup, this episode is your behind-the-scenes look at how we "Duett." (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

Check out this episode's blog post Episode Resources: Free Duett Resources Join the Duett newsletter Check out Duett Services Book a FREE Discovery Call Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

It's not every day that I get to rave about getting to listen to a lawyer talk about affiliate disclosures, accessibility compliance, and privacy policies.

And yet… here we are. Excited!

In this episode of Happy Subscribers, I'm joined by creator lawyer Brittany Ratelle (aka the Fine Printcess) to talk about something most of us would rather ignore: the legal blind spots in our online businesses.

What started as me wanting to get clear on affiliate disclosures in emails… became a LOT more.

Because the truth is:

We don't know what we don't know.

And unfortunately, "blissful ignorance" is not a great legal strategy.

Brittany walks us through the foundational pieces every online business owner needs — from LLC setup to contracts, privacy policies, website accessibility, and the very real lawsuits happening right now around tracking pixels and SMS marketing.

She shares what she's actually seeing in the wild (yes, horror stories included), how small businesses are being targeted, and what you can do now to protect your business, your income, and your peace.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Why setting up an LLC isn't enough if you're not actually using it correctly.
• What needs to be in your email footer.
• The rules on affiliate disclosures in 2026.
• What website accessibility really means (and why "having a plugin" isn't a guarantee).
• The difference between being legally "fine"… and being legally legit.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Brittany:Instagram Website Episode Resources: Mike Zielonka's Happy Subscribers Episode Duett Free Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Freebies are supposed to help grow your business but too often, they just collect downloads… and dust.

In this episode, I'm joined by brand strategist, former Disney storyteller, and author Annie Franceschi to unpack why so many lead magnets fail and what actually makes a freebie work.

Annie shares her Smart Freebie Formula: a simple, thoughtful framework for creating lead magnets that don't just grow your list, but attract the right people — the ones who are most likely to become paying clients.

This conversation is especially for creators and service providers who:

• Feel like they've "given everything away" for free
• Have lead magnets that grow subscriberS but not sales
• Want to feel proud of what they're offering and confident sharing it

We talk honestly about over teaching, being "helpful vs. hireable," and how to design freebies that respect your audience and your expertise.

If you've ever wondered whether your freebie is doing too much… or not enough — this episode will change how you think about lead magnets and help you build ones that actually support your business goals, not just your list size.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Annie:The Referral Message Creator Freebie Establish Yourself Podcast Instagram Episode Resources: Duett Free Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

"If you can't explain why someone should choose you, your marketing has to work twice as hard." - Rich Brooks

Most creators don't need MORE marketing ideas.

They need a clearer answer to one question: "Why should someone choose me?"

In this episode, I'm joined by Rich Brooks (founder of Flight New Media and host of The Agents of Change podcast) to talk about how to differentiate your business online especially now, when AI makes it easier than ever to sound like everyone else.

Rich shares his Remarkability Formula: four practical "lenses" you can use to uncover what already makes you stand out (or what you can build) so your marketing gets simpler, your message gets sharper, and your audience knows exactly why YOU matter to THEM.

And yes — we bring it back to email, because once you know what makes you remarkable, writing emails (and creating content) gets a whole lot easier.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Why your marketing feels harder than it needs to be.
• How your most powerful differentiator is probably something you're already doing — you just haven't named it yet.
• Why narrowing your focus doesn't limit your business — it makes you easier to remember (and easier to choose).
• That you don't need a new offer to stand out (sometimes you need a better way to frame what you already do.)
• How when your positioning is clear, writing emails stops feeling like a guessing game.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Rich: The Remarkability Formula Workbook Agents of Change LinkedIn Episode Resources: Duett Free Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

When I launched my podcast, I used Instagram, LinkedIn, and relationships with my peers in the online space to get the word out. You know what I never considered using?

Pinterest. Thanks to Andi Smiley, the podcast coach behind Friendly Podcast Guide, I got to learn about how to do this correctly, in a really sustainable way. Andi proves that Pinterest is a great way to get more listeners (and therefore more clients) when you have a podcast — but in very little time each month. Yay! Andi relies on Pinterest and email marketing to grow her listenership — and in this interview with her, we dive into how she's been using email (almost exclusively) to sell her latest offer. BONUS: I coached Andi on how to use email marketing and copywriting strategies to fill her last two spots for her new done-for-you offer. She didn't see that coming, nor did I, but it was fun for both of us!

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How Pinterest can quietly boost your podcast downloads over time
• Why Andi relies on email marketing more than social media to sell her offers
• The email strategy shifts that Allea suggested to help Andi fill her last two DFY client spots 🎁

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Andi:"Is Pinterest Right for Me?" Checklist Threads Pinterest Podcast Episode Resources: Free Duett Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Most creators are sitting on years of valuable content — blog posts, emails, social captions, podcast episodes — but rarely stop to ask: "What content of mine deserves more attention?" "How could I package my ideas into a new revenue stream?" That's exactly why I invited workshop strategist Jake Wysocki from Intention Craft onto the podcast. This episode isn't just about "how to run a workshop." It's about something bigger: how to identify the content your audience is already engaged with, validate what they actually want (and could pay for), and use live connection to deepen trust. Jake brings a thoughtful, human-centered approach — along with the data of your email stats and engagement — to help identify what your audience will remember (and respond to) in a live workshop event. Tune in to this episode — even if workshops aren't even on your radar — because you'll learn how to:

• Mine your existing content (blog posts, emails, podcast episodes) for topics your audience would actually pay attention to.
• Validate ideas with your list before you invest time creating anything (whether free or paid)
• Use live connection (even in simple, low-ticket formats) to build deeper relationships with readers
• Choose ideas that support your bigger business goals — not distract from them
• Create a small, paid or free workshop that builds relationships with readers in a way a blog post or Reel just can't.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Jake:Book a FREE 1:1 45 minute session with Jake Episode Resources: John Meese's Interview with Allea The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Amy Reid has cracked the reader-relationship code with her subscribers — and you better bet that I dug in when I got her on the Happy Subscribers podcast this week!

As a baking recipe blogger, Amy has locked in on what her readers want, engaged with them 1:1 through email replies, and prioritizes email marketing as her favorite way to connect with her audience. (Dawwww! ❤️)

In Fall of 2025, Amy didn't just launch a cookbook — she found out how truly engaged (and willing to spend their hard-earned money) her email community is. Her first pre-order email generated 300+ sales in 24 hours… all because she's been nurturing her list long before she asked for the sale (what she calls "the plea" 😂)

Amy proves that strong relationships + thoughtful email strategy = real results.

Not overnight. Not from a viral reel.

But from genuine connection, built over time.

Tune in to hear how she does it — and what you can borrow for your own email strategy.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How her readers helped her find the vision (and topic) for writing her first cookbook
• What's in her welcome sequence that connects with new subscribers so deeply, so fast
• How she organized, assigned recipes, and got feedback from the 300 recipe testers on her email list
• The heartbreak of doing a cold subscriber clean-up (and whether it's worth it)
• How Amy's using AI to support her writing — while also keeping email personal by sharing anecdotes with her recipes

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Amy:Instagram Scottish Bakes Cookbook Join Amy's Newsletter Episode Resources: Duett Free Resources Join the Duett Newsletter

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

This is officially a must-listen interview on the podcast.

Mike Nelson — co-founder of Really Good Emails — has nearly two decades of email experience (the kind I seriously envy). In this episode, we cover so much good stuff, including:

• How many touches (aka emails) it really takes to build trust with new subscribers
• The KPIs that actually matter when measuring email success
• The highly underrated engagement metric you can automate
• The psychology behind effective email marketing — from the "mere exposure effect" to "reciprocity" — and why sending more emails or asking for more sales isn't always the best long-term strategy

Mike brings a rare mix of data-driven insight, years of email experience, and creative empathy to the conversation — converting them into clear, actionable takeaways for creators like us — about what matters, what doesn't, and how to send really good emails that resonate.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Mike:Really Good Emails LinkedIn Episode Resources: Duett Content Calendar Airtable Template Join the Duett Newsletter

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Email has spent years sitting on the backburner. A "just in case" channel. A safety net. A maybe I'll deal with this later strategy. But in 2026? That changes. In this solo episode, I'm sharing what I see coming next for email marketing — not from trend forecasts or hot takes, but from years inside creator inboxes, email platforms, and real subscriber behavior. Because hitting "send" on anything isn't enough anymore. Sending more emails won't fix a weak strategy. And hoping email magically performs without intention? That era is over. This episode is about what will work — and what creators need to rethink if they want email to actually support their business in 2026.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why relationship-driven creators will outperform everyone else next year
• What it really means to earn and retain permission in someone's inbox
• Why email is moving from "nice to have" to a core business asset
• How trust is being rebuilt in email — even as everything else online feels shaky
• Why your existing content is one of your biggest advantages going into 2026
• How creators will redefine success beyond open rates and list size
• What it looks like when email becomes a revenue channel — not just a traffic tool

This isn't about doing more. It's about doing email on purpose.

If email has felt heavy, unclear, or like something you should be doing but aren't sure how to use well — this episode will help you reset your expectations and your strategy.

Check out this episode's blog post Episode Resources: Book a FREE Discovery Call Duett Free Resources Instagram @alleagrummert

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Episode Summary:

When it's the end of the year, it's that time to reflect back on your year and take stock of what the last 11+ months held… I love a good moment to record what happened, asking: "What did I learn? What made this year significant?" For me, that looked like writing out a list of 10 (which quickly became 15) of my top moments or wins from the year. And I'm sharing 7 of those in this week's podcast. Tune in to hear what's shaped me the most this year. If you need a touch of humanity in this AI-crazed, "bigger must always be better" world — let me be the one to give you the encouragement (and reality) you need to set new metrics for what the "best of" could look like for your life and business.

In this episode, I'm sharing:

• What I did to actually achieve margin and rest the first half of this year
• How I'm reviving my own brand story going into 2026
• What changes I made to my travel days to fill my heart and make traveling for work even better
• The ways stretching yourself can have a ripple effect (and what that's looked like for me this year)

Check out this episode's blog post Episode Resources: Duett Free Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert