How to write email newsletters that people actually want to read

Do you want to engage your audience? Email Newsletters are perfect for doing that. Here’s how to write engaging emails that people will actually read.

A newsletter is a tool used by brands, marketers, and content creators to distribute crucial and relevant information to subscribers, prospects, or customers. Newsletters allow them to have access to the inbox of their audience to engage, advertise, or direct traffic to their website.

How to write a great newsletter

Writing newsletters should be very easy for anyone who has previously written web contents because similar rules apply. But to get the most of your newsletters, you need to write catchy headlines, readable paragraphs, and engaging subheadings in your newsletter.

First, you need to understand the purpose of an email newsletter which is mainly to engage your audience and establish relationships rather than for promotional purposes. Let’s look at the elements that make up a newsletter and how to write one.

Name

The name should have a person’s name instead of noreply@company.com to establish familiarity.

Subject line

Let the subject line be catchy and relevant to enable your subscribers have a glimpse of what they want to read. For the character length, let it be between 55 and 75 words.

Body

Although you want to make sure your newsletter carries every bit of information, make sure it is clear and easy to read. Make use of short sentences and active voices to facilitate clarity.

When deciding on whether to use plain text or Html in your email newsletters, keep in mind that even though Html facilitates a more impactful and effective visual appearance, users tend to flag heavy emails as spam. According to statistics, plain text seems to generate more open rates than Html emails. Therefore, the best option is to combine both plain text and Html in your newsletter. Always give your audience the option of viewing your newsletter on a single page or plain text whenever there are display issues.

A few things to note when creating Html emails are:

Include a header, to increase visual interest and helps to initially establish your brand.

Categorize the body

Include share button, social icons, and footer.

Other crucial things that should be included in your Html email are brand logo, headings, a face of a human, and a CTA.

Examples of effective newsletters

Before developing an effective newsletter, you can review a couple of newsletters you know have provided good results. You can check out the design, format, and other elements to have an idea of what is expected. A few examples are provided below.

Shopify

BrainPickings

Below The Fold

Should you create an email newsletter?

Deciding whether or not you want to include a newsletter in your marketing strategy will be determined by recognizing the potential benefits email newsletters offer for your business.

Typically, your list contains people with a level of interest in your business, and reaching out to them through your email newsletter will be more receptive than those on social media or search engine promotions. You can also tailor your products and services to meet the specific interests and needs of your audience using your email newsletters.

It can also help you drive consistent traffic, provide crucial metrics that can be used to make informed future decisions, and considering that it is usually in the inbox of your audience, it can encourage a more deliberate engagement with your content.

Types of newsletters perfect for your brand

Several types of newsletters are available that will make sure your audience receives fresh and insightful updates from you. These includes:

Informative newsletters, used to provide the latest brand or product news, tips and tricks, launches, or general news.
Promotional newsletters, used for sending coupons, discounts, offers, and opportunities.
Fun newsletters, for encouraging customer participation.
Helpful newsletters, used to provide insights into products and services.
Events newsletters, for brand events, product launches, seminars, and trade shows.

Therefore, your content marketing strategy and objective will determine the type of newsletter that would be sent but most importantly, there should be a content balance. After determining the type of newsletter you choose to send, another crucial thing is the frequency because you don’t want to bombard your audiences’ inbox which could lead to being blacklisted.

Balance content to 90% educative and 10% promotion.

There is every tendency that your audience is more interested in your offers. Even though they are expecting they hear from you, if you focus too much on fun and promotions, they will find the exit door before long.

It is important that your newsletter is rewarding for your audience. Develop content s that will inspire them, motivate them, and educate them. You need to focus more on their needs and interests than promoting your offers. Promotional newsletters should only be used when you have major news about your brand, product, or service.

Necessity of email verification

Running a campaign without email verification is similar to playing darts in the dark. Even though you are hitting a target or close to it, you won’t know what you are hitting. The only way you can guarantee that your message is reaching the right audience is by making sure your opt-ins verify their emails (double opt-ins).

Email validation helps to ensure that your list is active, accurate and error free. It also helps to increase your sender’s score, avoid the possibility of being flagged as spam or getting blacklisted, and evade IP address restriction.

Set expectations on your subscribe page

After you’ve discovered the objective and the content balance, ensure that you are providing the right information to your audience on your subscriber’s page.

Be specific. Provide your audience a peek of the kind of information contained in your newsletter and the frequency of sends to expect from you.

Be creative with the email subject line

There is usually no guarantee that your subscribers will open your email newsletter in their inbox even if they subscribe to your list. A trick some marketers use to establish familiarity is to use a similar subject line in the newsletters they send every week.

But using this method can become old and out of style as subscribers are not motivated to click or any possibility of getting something beneficial. Therefore, it is important to make sure the subject lines in your newsletter are creative, unique, engaging, and appealing to your subscribers.

Pick one primary call-to-action

A major feature of a newsletter is the use of content and multiple call to actions. However, this doesn’t mean all these call to actions should be prominent. You should have a major CTA that will determine what you want from your subscribers. Other CTAs should be alternatives or other options for your subscribers. This could be a share button or a click-through to a landing page, but ensure that it is a simple enough task.

Keep design and content minimal

An effective method of avoiding cluttering your newsletter is to always create concise content and sufficient white space in the design.

Since your objective is to engage and direct your subscribers to other places on your blog or landing page, making your copy concise will let them have a glimpse of your content such that they would be motivated to click and discover more. White space makes it easy for your subscribers to read your content, especially on mobile devices.

Ensure your images have alt text

Visual contents such as images are usually included in your email newsletters to improve their appearance and visual effects.

But always keep in mind that some people don’t usually enable images when reading emails which is why you should enable an alt text for each of your images. Alt-text is a text that appears as a substitute for images when it is disabled or not loaded. This is very important, especially for CTA images to ensure that your audience is able to click them, even without loading images.

Make it easy for your audience to unsubscribe

Even though we always want our subscribers to stick around for as long as possible, allowing anyone who intends to leave the opportunity without hiding the unsubscribe button or replacing it with another text is the right thing to do. A clear and visible unsubscribe button will not only keep your list healthy but help you focus on those who are interested in your brand. But don’t forget to ask why they want to leave to discover what has gone wrong with your newsletters.

Wrapping Up

The steps outlined above should be used if you intend to develop the kind of newsletter your subscribers would love to read. Keep your copy concise, straightforward, and interesting. Make sure your content is relevant and valuable to your audience. Most importantly, don’t forget to A/B test your designs, text, and links to gain insights into their performance and help you improve future sends. If you need help with your writing, be sure to search for professionals to help you do so. Nothing is too crazy. I can even find writers to help with custom assignment writing services.

FAQ

What is an email newsletter?

An email newsletter is a digital publication sent via email to subscribers, typically containing updates, information, or content relevant to a specific audience.

Why should I write an email newsletter?

Email newsletters are an effective way to engage with your audience, share valuable information, promote products or services, and build brand loyalty.

How do I choose a topic for my email newsletter?

Select a topic that aligns with your audience’s interests, your expertise, and your business goals, ensuring it provides value to subscribers.

What are the key elements of a well-structured email newsletter?

A well-structured email newsletter includes a compelling subject line, relevant content, clear call-to-action, and visually appealing design.

How often should I send out an email newsletter?

The frequency of your email newsletter depends on your audience’s preferences and your content availability, but typically, a consistent schedule (e.g., weekly, monthly) is advisable.

What are some tips for writing engaging email newsletter content?

Write concise and relevant content, use a conversational tone, personalize messages, and include visuals like images or videos to make your newsletter more engaging.

How can I grow my email newsletter subscriber list?

Encourage website sign-ups, offer valuable incentives, and promote your newsletter on social media and other marketing channels to attract more subscribers.

What is the best time to send an email newsletter?

The optimal sending time varies by audience and industry. Conduct A/B testing to determine when your subscribers are most active and responsive.

Should I segment my email newsletter subscribers?

Yes, segmenting your subscribers based on demographics, interests, or behaviors allows you to send more targeted and relevant content, increasing engagement.

How do I measure the success of my email newsletter campaigns?

Track key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates to assess the performance of your email newsletter campaigns and make improvements accordingly.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing an email newsletter?

Avoid sending too many emails, using spammy subject lines, neglecting mobile optimization, and not providing clear value to subscribers.

Can you provide tips for crafting compelling subject lines for email newsletters?

Use concise and descriptive language, create a sense of urgency or curiosity, and personalize subject lines when possible to increase open rates.

What is the role of visuals in an email newsletter?

Visuals, such as images and videos, can make your newsletter more engaging and help convey your message effectively, but ensure they are relevant and optimized for email.

How can I ensure my email newsletter is mobile-friendly?

Use a responsive design, keep content concise, optimize images, and test your newsletter on various mobile devices to ensure it displays correctly.

Should I include a call-to-action (CTA) in my email newsletter, and if so, how?

Yes, include a clear and compelling CTA that directs readers on what action to take next, whether it’s visiting a webpage, making a purchase, or subscribing to a service.

What is the importance of A/B testing in email newsletter campaigns?

A/B testing allows you to experiment with different elements of your email, such as subject lines, visuals, and CTA buttons, to determine which variations perform better and refine your strategy.

Are there email newsletter best practices for maintaining subscriber engagement over time?

Yes, consistently deliver valuable content, maintain a consistent sending schedule, and periodically clean your email list to remove inactive or disengaged subscribers.

Can you recommend any tools or platforms for creating and sending email newsletters?

Popular email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and ConvertKit offer user-friendly tools for creating and sending email newsletters.

How can I avoid my email newsletter being marked as spam?

Comply with email marketing regulations, use double opt-ins, include an unsubscribe option, and ensure your content is relevant to your subscribers’ interests.

What should I do if my email newsletter isn’t achieving the desired results?

Analyze your email analytics, gather feedback from subscribers, experiment with different approaches, and consider seeking expert advice to improve the effectiveness of your email newsletter campaigns.

How long should my email newsletter be?

The ideal length of your email newsletter depends on your audience and content. However, it’s generally best to keep it concise, focusing on delivering value without overwhelming readers.

What are some creative content ideas for email newsletters?

Consider including industry news, how-to guides, customer success stories, product updates, exclusive offers, and curated lists of relevant resources.

Should I personalize my email newsletter content?

Yes, personalization can increase engagement. Use subscribers’ names, segment your lists, and tailor content to their interests and preferences whenever possible.

What are the key elements of a compelling email newsletter design?

A compelling design includes a visually appealing layout, a consistent color scheme, readable fonts, and well-placed images that complement the content.

How can I handle unsubscribers from my email newsletter?

Respect unsubscribe requests promptly and provide an easy and clear way for subscribers to opt-out. It’s essential to maintain a positive reputation.

Can I repurpose existing content for my email newsletter?

Yes, repurposing blog posts, videos, or other content is a great way to save time and provide value to subscribers who may have missed the original content.

What is the role of storytelling in email newsletters?

Storytelling can make your content more relatable and engaging. Use anecdotes or narratives to connect with readers and convey your message effectively.

How can I avoid my email newsletter ending up in spam folders?

Use a reputable email marketing platform, authenticate your sender domain, avoid excessive use of promotional language, and regularly clean your email list to maintain good deliverability.

Should I include a plain text version of my email newsletter?

Yes, including a plain text version ensures accessibility and helps improve email deliverability, as some subscribers may prefer or require plain text emails.

What are some common metrics to track the success of an email newsletter?

Common metrics to track include open rates, click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, unsubscribe rates, and the overall return on investment (ROI) for your email marketing efforts.