So, You Think Building Your Own Email List Is a Good Idea?

Picture this: You’re sipping your coffee, full of confidence, keyboard at the ready. You’re staring at your screen, thinking, “Why use a plugin or service like Kit (formerly ConvertKit) when I can just build my own custom email list system? How hard could it be?”

Spoiler alert: Two. Days. Later.

It turns out, building an email system is kind of like chasing your own tail. You can’t stop, you can’t win (at least not without several rounds of coffee), but you’re pretty sure you’re getting somewhere. Maybe.

The Unfolding Saga

It started off as an innocent idea: "I’ll just add a form, sprinkle in some checkboxes, do some backend validation, and voilà—custom email system!" What followed was a lesson in both humility and patience, as well as a deep dive into the wonderful world of modals, checkboxes, and the mysterious art of CSRF tokens.

The Checkbox Chronicles

There’s something oddly satisfying about a checkbox... until you realize that unchecked boxes might as well be unchecked emotions. Are users unsubscribing, or are they just confused? The real kicker was getting everything to work in tandem without causing the form to break down in tears—like I almost did.

Modal Madness

Let’s talk modals. These little pop-up windows of joy are there to make sure users are really, *really* sure they want to unsubscribe. But after testing my modal 30 times (not that I’m counting), it started to feel like an endless loop of uncertainty. Click unsubscribe, reload the page, nothing happens. Did it work? Maybe the modal is stuck in existential limbo... along with my sanity.

The Double Opt-In Dilemma

Double opt-in - good for users, bad for developers who enjoy their weekends. Do I send a confirmation when they subscribe? What about when they unsubscribe? Oh wait, they changed their mind. Quick, send them three more emails to make sure we’re all on the same page.

Validation, Schmalidation

I’d like to think I’m a validation pro. After all, how hard can it be to stop someone from subscribing without an email? Well, let’s just say there were moments when my form either let users subscribe without entering their email (oops) or didn’t let them do anything at all. Validation is apparently a delicate art that can teeter on the edge of madness.

Lessons Learned (Or Maybe Not)

In hindsight, I could have saved myself two days (and several cups of coffee) by using a pre-built solution like Kit. In fact, Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is an excellent choice, highly recommended by many people I know and trust. With Kit, you could have your email list up and running faster than I can finish my first cup of coffee - and that’s saying something.

But where’s the fun in that?

The “I Think It’s Working” Phase

Is my system working? Yes. Will I keep refreshing the page just to make sure it’s still working? Definitely. But the important thing is, I won. I created a completely custom email system that no one else will ever have. Not because it’s revolutionary... but because no one else would want it.

Could I Have Used Kit?

Yes, and honestly, I might recommend it to you if you’re just getting started. Kit has all the tools you need to manage newsletters, autoresponders, and email campaigns, without writing a single line of code. While I’ve been deep in checkbox purgatory, you could be sipping your coffee with your email list running smoothly in the background.

In Conclusion: The Winner’s Circle

So, did I lose my mind? Almost. But I came out the other side with a quirky, one-of-a-kind email system that only I could create. Would I do it again? Probably... but maybe next time I’ll think about Kit first. After all, I might enjoy having an extra day to actually do something other than wrestling with checkboxes.

So, whether you’re looking for a plug-and-play solution like Kit or want something custom (and maybe a little crazy), there’s a path for everyone. Just remember: coffee is mandatory, patience is recommended, and if you get stuck... maybe just ask Kit to do the hard work for you.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured, I only recommend products and services I trust and personally use (or genuinely believe in)!