*SALES EMAIL SUMMIT* Melquea Smith– finding my first founding members

What's up, Inbox Innovators?! This week on the Sales Email Summit, we chat with the radiant Melquea Smith, a children's book illustrator on a mission to center black and brown kiddos in her clip art. From giggle-inducing subject lines to peeling back the curtain on a scrappy, real-life launch, this convo is for anyone who's ever tried to sell something before it felt "ready." (Hint: Done is always better than perfect, especially when you show up as YOU.) We talk creative launches, building "in public," and leaning all the way into authenticity (even using that "eye-lips-eye" emoji combo in a subject line). Melquea gets super real about her journey: new membership, no fancy name, just raw impact and a big heart. Ready to get inspired to hit send on your next imperfect sales email? You're in the right place. Episode Highlights Subject Line Experimentation = Fun & Effective Malkia dishes about her "For Your Eyes Only 👀👄👀" email, showing how letting personality shine can reignite your list—even if you can't tie every sale to one email. (Liz, for the record, is totally stealing that subject line. #Trendsetter) Founding Members without Perfection Even without a slick name or shiny graphics, Malkia brought in SEVEN (!) founding members for her clip art membership. No shame in being scrappy—just serve real needs and be honest with your people. The Power of Building with Your Audience Instead of going all sage-on-the-stage, Malkia took calls with new members, learned what they craved, and let clarity emerge as she created. Selling isn't just about money—it's about communication and community (and, you know, learning nonstop as you go). Key Takeaways Don't wait for perfection before you start selling or showing up for your email list. Your personality (even if it's just "excessive" emoji use) and willingness to learn out loud will open more doors than a hyper-polished plan ever will. Listen to your people, let the process get messy, and just… hit SEND. Your future self will thank you 🥲 Links & Resources ​Sponsor shoutout to List Gadget! Turn your email newsletters into interactive growth machines with polls, leaderboards, and more. Get 3 free Illustrations from Melquea to use in your business today! Grab the Steal These Sales Emails template pack- all the summit emails turned into templates you can swipe, tweak, and send for sales (including Melquea's!):