6 Things You Need To Know Before Starting a Newsletter

Are you curious about what it takes to start and maintain a newsletter? Creating a newsletter template and then writing new ongoing, engaging content takes a level of commitment. But the reward is watching your subscriber list grow and the ability to interact with readers directly in their email inbox. You’ll need to consider the following categories when starting a new newsletter.

Who is your audience?

Knowing who your newsletter audience is will guide all decisions, from what the newsletter should look like to what content to include.

What will be your newsletter content?

Think about how you can bring value to your subscribers. What tips and solutions to problems can you share? Help your subscribers learn and grow in an entertaining and engaging way.

What will your newsletter layout look like?

There are many design and layout decisions to make when starting a newsletter. You’ll need to decide what sections to include: a graphic header, contact information in the footer, article column orientation, etc. What the newsletter looks like and how long articles are before linking to other places on the web create the newsletter’s vibe.

What calls to action will you use?

As you strengthen your relationship with subscribers, you can ask them to take action. A call to action or CTA can ask subscribers to buy now, read more, book a session, and call for more information via web links, clickable graphics, and buttons, sending readers to other places on the internet.

Which newsletter email platform will you use?

Many content marketing email platforms offer a free trial to experiment with their features. Mailchimp offers a generous free plan for accounts under 500 email addresses. I like using Constant Contact because their layout is intuitive and displays predictably in various email systems.

How often will you send a newsletter?

Consider how often you want to appear in your subscribers’ email inboxes. A monthly newsletter is a good place to start. From there, you can gauge if your subscribers would welcome more frequent bi-weekly newsletters, or if you’re short on time, you could scale back to every other month.

If you want more guidance on how to set up or revamp your newsletter, book a one-on-one Newsletter Jump Start Coaching session with me to gain confidence in creating a newsletter that’ll engage and wow your subscribers.