Let’s be honest, between showings, content creation, client calls, and pretending you’ve got it all together, the last thing most agents want to do is build a whole email marketing strategy from scratch. Good news? You don’t have to.
If Instagram is where your people are hanging out, it’s also where your email list can grow… without adding 17 new tasks to your to-do list. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about making what you’re already doing work harder for you.
Here’s how to build your email list from Instagram… the lazy (but smart) way.
Step 1: Make Your Bio Do the Work
Your Instagram bio is prime real estate. Treat it like your open house sign.
Instead of just saying “Realtor | Helping you buy & sell in Tampa,” make it actionable:
👉 “Free Guide: 5 Mistakes Buyers Make in a Hot Market — grab it here ⬇️”
Link it to a lead magnet, a freebie, or your newsletter signup page. That one small shift turns a passive scroll into an intentional opt-in.
Pro Tip: Use a tool like Milkshake or Stan Store to create a mini landing page for your links. Keep it simple. One clear CTA is better than a laundry list.
Step 2: Reuse Content You Already Have
Don’t overthink it. You don’t need to reinvent your content, you just need to redirect it.
Made a Reel on “3 Things to Know Before Buying a Fixer-Upper”? Great. End it with:
🗣 “Want the full checklist? Drop your email in my bio link.”
Just posted about a recent win with a client? Wrap it up with:
📩 “I share tips like this weekly in my emails — sign up in my bio.”
Lazy doesn’t mean ineffective, it means efficient.
Step 3: Poll Your Audience (and Then Give Them What They Asked For)
Instagram Stories are a goldmine for building your list. Here’s how to use them without breaking a sweat:
- Use the poll sticker: “Want my free checklist for first-time buyers?”
- Everyone who votes yes? DM them the link to your opt-in or landing page.
- Bonus points if your opt-in page tags your email system to auto-subscribe them.
Now you’ve started a conversation and grown your list… all in 90 seconds.
Step 4: Save the Good Stuff for Your Email List
This is key: Don’t give it all away on Instagram.
Tease content in your captions or Reels and tell people the full version is in your emails.
Example:
📣 “Tomorrow I’m breaking down the 3 biggest mistakes sellers make in a slow market — but it’s only going out to my email list. Want in? Link’s in the bio.”
This creates curiosity, urgency, and value. AKA: the trio of email list growth.
Step 5: Actually Show Up in Their Inbox
The only thing lazier than not starting an email list? Starting one and never using it.
You don’t need a 12-email funnel. Just write like you talk. Share a quick story, a tip, or something you learned this week.
Keep it consistent, even once a month is enough to stay top of mind.
And when you do have something to sell or promote? That list is already warm and waiting.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a tech wizard or marketing pro to grow your email list from Instagram. You just need to get a little intentional with the content you’re already creating.
So yes, you can be “lazy”, as long as you’re strategic about it.
Start with one CTA in your bio. Create one freebie. Set up one email opt-in. That’s it.
The list will grow, the leads will come, and you’ll have a whole new way to connect with your audience beyond the scroll.
Need help creating a killer freebie or setting up your first list?
We’ve got you. Head to Agent Social Haus to grab done-for-you templates and lead magnets that don’t suck the life out of you.
