Quick-start checklist
Your first list swap, step by step
Print this page or work through it on screen. Tick each box before moving on — skipping steps is the #1 reason first swaps underperform.
Preparation
- Active email list with a consistent sending schedule (weekly minimum)
- Lead magnet created and hosted (PDF, video, mini-course, template)
- Landing page built and tested — one offer, one CTA, one form
- Welcome sequence written (3–5 emails for new swap subscribers)
- List cleaned — bounced and long-inactive subscribers removed
- You know your key metrics: list size, open rate, click rate
Finding partners
- Listed 10–15 potential swap partners
- Subscribed to their lists to vet content quality (2–4 weeks)
- Confirmed they serve a complementary, non-competing audience
- Drafted a personalized outreach email for your top 5 candidates
- Sent pitches and scheduled a follow-up in 3–4 days
Executing the swap
- Agreed terms in writing — date, format, assets, tracking
- Created promotional email copy for your partner to send about you
- Reviewed and approved the email your partner will send to your list
- Set up UTM tracking links on all opt-in URLs
- Sent a test email to your partner for final sign-off
- Scheduled the send (Tue–Thu typically performs best)
After the swap
- Monitored real-time landing page conversions
- Exchanged stats with your partner within 48 hours
- Tagged and segmented new swap-acquired subscribers
- Verified the welcome sequence is delivering correctly
- Updated your partner scorecard with results
- Proposed a repeat swap in 4–8 weeks if results were strong