When we talk about web content writing, the first thing most people think of is coming up with good web content to write for their blog or website.
Another common content-writing concern is coming up with email newsletter ideas.
One of the most frequently asked questions about email marketing is "what do I send to my list?" and most people admitted that they find emailing their subscribers daunting or even intimidating...
Email Marketing Mindset
The first order of business is a simple shift in mindset. Remind yourself that you are a market leader or expert in your niche, and that these people have subscribed to your list to get more information from you.
Not only did they request it, they expect to get email from you.
Offering an opt-in box and building an email list - that you never (or rarely) send an email to - is a disservice to your visitors. You owe it to them to hold up your end of the deal by sending them exactly what they requested.
Email Newsletter Format
The traditional long-format email newsletter is out, and short & resourceful is IN. There's no need to spend hours creating some massive perfectly formatted essay to send out to your email subscribers every week or every month.
Short is good. In fact, short is better. People are busy and usually go through their email in a hurry. They will really appreciate getting quick actionable tips from you. Consider your own email reading habits, and what you prefer to read yourself.
Keep it short, use short easy-to-read paragraphs, and simply send them a resource or an idea they can put into action right then and there.
Email Newsletter Ideas
Before you sit down to write an email to your list, consider the purpose of that message. What is your objective in writing it? What do your readers expect from you? What do you want your subscribers to do when they read it?
Answering those questions will help you craft the best possible email message.
If you're at a total loss for newsletter ideas, or what to send your list, go back to your opt-in page or your subscribe box and see what you promised them when they signed up. That's always a good starting point... š
Keep in mind that you don't always have to send your readers to your own site, or try to sell them your own products. In fact, it's best if you don't do that in every email message. Being too self-promotional will be a real turn-off for your readers.
Send them a link to a great blog post on someone else's blog, or a great discussion on a forum in your niche. Send them a cool free resource they can use and a short paragraph describing what it is, what it does, and why you use it.
5 quick email newsletter ideas to consider:
- A link to a news story, and your thoughts on it.
- A great new blog post you recommend they read.
- An idea, or how-to, with quick tips for implementation.
- A free tool or resource to help them achieve their objective.
- News about a sale, special offer or coupon code you found.
Obviously what you send via email is going to be specific to your niche, the purpose of your newsletter, and what your subscribers expect and want or need most. Take a moment to get in their mind, and consider how you can meet them where they are - and help them take action on your topic.
Also decide how often you are going to email your list, and when. Create an email marketing publishing schedule, and stick to it. This will help you stay on track, and also get your subscribers looking forward to receiving emails from you on certain days or at specific intervals.
Best,
p.s. If you need a step-by-step fill-in-the-blank solution for email newsletter ideas, see www.clicknewz.com/instantnicheemails.htm The software is great (I've used it myself), but first download the free report there by Lisa Preston.
About Lynn Terry
Terry, what are your thoughts on HTML vs. TEXT?
Hey Randy,
HTML is great for using advanced tracking and split-testing features. It allows you to see stats on CTR (click through rate) etc. Aweber allows you to create two versions of each email message - one HTML and one plain text for those who can't receive HTML formatted emails. That's helpful. I actually prefer to send in plain text, so when I create an HTML formatted message I create it so that it still looks like plain text.
I receive some nice HTML formatted emails through lists I'm on - from Staples, for example and some from online marketers. My security settings dont allow the images to show up automatically so I have to go through an extra step to load the images so that those display correctly.
That's one of the reasons I keep my own emails simple, even if I do use HTML for the tracking & testing features.
Lynn, I prefer short emails too, but sometimes long email newsletters work also very well. Matt Furey for example, writes often long emails and he has a good success with this format. He also mails his list sometimes twice a day. I think you could train your subscribers to a certain format (short or long) and a certain schedule.
I agree with that Megan - and those that like it will stay on the list, those that don't will filter it out or unsubscribe. Which is ultimately what you want anyway.
With the longer emails that I get, I generally just scan thru them. I always seem to be in a hurry when I'm in my inbox LOL. It's that personal frame of reference that has conditioned me to keep my own emails short when sending something out to my readers...
Wow, this just came right on time for me. I am still on the fence whether to go for sending newsletters, and this article really helped me decide easily. Thanks, this is really useful.
This is a great stuff. Your article completely demystify the fear I have been carrying about writing email letters.
Content writing for email marketing campaign has been one of a major blockage in my online business success. Always thinking about what to write, how to write it, where the next idea was going to come from.
Your ideas have dispel my fear and will now give it ago. Thanks for this infprmation
Thanks Lynn! This blog post came at just the right time. I was sitting here thinking "what am I going to write today" definately a stumbling block for me each week!
Thanks for all of your great advice!
Thanks Lynn, I was just thinking of ideas for the next newsletter and came across this article. Much appreciated!