Kit, which used to be called ConvertKit, is an email tool designed for creators: writers, coaches, podcasters, artists and anyone who sends a newsletter. Its free plan is unusually generous on list size, which makes it a popular place to start.
Kit works a little differently from tools like Mailchimp, so it helps to understand a few ideas before you begin.
How Kit thinks about your list
- Subscribers, not lists. Everyone lives in one big list. You sort people with tags, such as "joined from podcast" or "bought course".
- Broadcasts are one off emails, like a weekly newsletter.
- Sequences are a series of emails that send automatically, like a welcome series.
- Forms and landing pages are how people join.
Once these click, Kit is very straightforward.
What the free plan includes
At the time of writing, Kit's free Newsletter plan lets you have up to 10,000 subscribers, send unlimited broadcasts and create unlimited forms and landing pages. You also get one sequence and one visual automation, and Kit branding appears on your emails. Paid plans add more sequences and automations, and remove the branding.
Step 1: Create your account
Sign up on the Kit website and choose the free plan. Kit will ask about what you create and how big your audience is. Add your name and postal address. Kit adds your address to your email footer, which email laws in many countries require.
Step 2: Set your sender details
In your account settings, set the from name and from email. Use your own name if your newsletter is personal. People open emails from people more readily than from brands. Use an email address on your own domain, not a free Gmail or Yahoo address.
Step 3: Authenticate your sending domain
In settings, look for the email or sending domain section and add your domain. Kit will show you DNS records to add at your domain company. Copy them exactly, save, and return to Kit to verify.
This tells inbox providers that Kit is allowed to send email for your domain. It is one of the biggest factors in staying out of spam.
Step 4: Create your first form or landing page
Go to the grow area and create a form or landing page. A landing page is a full page with its own link, which is perfect if you do not have a website yet. You can share the link in your social bio, podcast notes or email signature.
Write a clear promise above the signup box. "A short email every Sunday with one idea to make your mornings calmer" works far better than "Subscribe to my newsletter".
Turn on the confirmation email, which Kit calls incentive email or double opt in depending on where you set it. It asks new subscribers to confirm and can deliver a free download if you offer one.
Step 5: Import existing subscribers
If you have people who already agreed to hear from you, import them as a CSV file. Add a tag during the import so you remember where they came from. Only import people who opted in.
Step 6: Set up your one free sequence
Use your free sequence as a welcome series. Three short emails is a good start:
- Email 1: welcome, deliver anything you promised and say what to expect.
- Email 2: share your best piece of content.
- Email 3: tell your story and invite a reply.
Connect the sequence to your form so every new subscriber gets it automatically.
Step 7: Send your first broadcast
Create a broadcast, write your email, and choose who gets it. You can send to everyone or filter by tag. Send a test to yourself first, check it on your phone, then send.
Tips for growing on Kit
- Keep tags simple and consistent. Too many tags become hard to manage.
- Use landing pages for each free download or topic so you can see which ones work best.
- Look at click rates and replies more than open rates.
Kit rewards consistency. Pick a sending rhythm you can keep, and let your welcome sequence do the introductions for you.
Email tools change their plans and screens often. If something here no longer matches what you see,let us know and we will check it.