Marketing
Followers vs. Email Subscribers: What's the Difference?
On Local Cottage Foods, followers and email subscribers are two separate audiences. Followers keep up with your shop and can receive a daily digest when you post a public update; email subscribers opted in to hear from you directly through announcements. You see counts for both (never personal emails), and you grow them with great products, clear updates, and a simple ask.
It's easy to lump everyone who likes your shop into one bucket, but Local Cottage Foods gives you two distinct audiences — and they're reached in different ways. Knowing the difference helps you grow the right one for the job.
The two audiences, side by side
| Followers | Email subscribers | |
|---|---|---|
| How they join | Follow your shop from your storefront | Opt in to email updates from your shop |
| How you reach them | Public updates (can appear in a daily follower digest) | Announcements you send directly |
| What you see | A follower count | A subscriber count (never their emails) |
| Best for | Staying top of mind as you post | Time-sensitive news and drops |
How to grow them
- Ask at pickup: a quick 'follow my shop to catch the next batch' works
- Post public updates consistently so followers keep seeing you
- Invite buyers to subscribe for early access to pre-orders
- Make it worth it — early or exclusive access rewards signing up
Privacy is built in: you never see or download buyers' email addresses. The platform sends on your behalf, so subscribers stay protected and you stay compliant.
Put the audience to work
Once you've grown subscribers, reach them with announcements. To understand how new buyers discover and follow you in the first place, read how Local Cottage Foods helps sellers get discovered.
List your cottage food business
Create a free storefront, take local orders, and get discovered by buyers near you.
Frequently asked questions
Should I focus on followers or subscribers?
Both, because they reach people differently. Followers can be re-engaged when you post a public update (it can land in a daily digest), while subscribers get your announcements directly. Grow both and you have two ways to bring customers back.
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Using Announcements to Keep Customers Coming Back
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How Local Cottage Foods Helps Sellers Get Discovered
How Local Cottage Foods helps cottage food sellers get found by local buyers: location-based discovery, verified storefronts, SEO-friendly pages, and built-in tools.