The Anatomy of an Effective Blog Newsletter
You’ve done it.
Creating a stellar blog was no small task. You have now become the king or queen of your domain (literally).
Now, keeping your steady following of people engaged in your blog is the next step to blogging success. Social media is one really great way to accomplish this, but dealing with algorithms can be a gamble.
In looking for a more consistent strategy, we have just the ticket: a blog newsletter.
A blog newsletter will keep you dependable in front of your readers and help you maintain a healthy relationship with them as well.
Newsletters are still the leader when it comes to content marketing and they’re way easier to create than you probably think!
Using an email service provider like Mailchimp is going to simplify your job. By providing digital signup forms, managing the email list, and delivering easy design templates, a provider can be an invaluable resource for you.
Now, we’re going to pick apart a newsletter from the very top all the way down to the bottom (just like one of your subscribers would read it).
Let’s take a look at the anatomy of an effective blog newsletter:
The first thing your subscribers are going to see is the email address from where you sent your newsletter. This needs to be professional, so people will see you as an authority in this business of blogging. Your blog is your business, and your business name needs to be represented in your email address.
Your subject line is the very next thing your subscribers will see. This can make or break your newsletter success, so put a lot of thought into this. Opt out of something generic like, “June Newsletter 2016.” Convince your subscribers to open your email with a funny subject line, something controversial, or one including numbers and lists. For more information, read Megan Marrs’ article about subject lines.
For the body, focus on displaying three to five excerpts of your most popular blogs. Block these out so that each excerpt has its own space, photo, and link. No matter what you link back to in your actual blog post, the one call to action in your newsletter needs to link back to your blog site.
Remember to leave enough white space (unused space) so that your readers aren’t overwhelmed. A cluttered newsletter will get closed and deleted quickly. Link back to your social networks by adding like or follow buttons near the bottom of your email. Keep it legal with an unsubscribe button at the very bottom as well.
Lastly, your blog posting habits will determine how often you need to send your newsletter. For those of you posting daily, a weekly newsletter is a good idea. If you post on your blog once a week, aim for a monthly newsletter. As far as which day to send, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday are the sweet spots.
Happy newsletter writing!
Dyanne Harvey is a professional freelance writer specializing in blog content and newsletter copy. When she’s not writing, you can find her making music, enjoying her family, or playing with her three shelter pups. Connect with Dyanne to stay in touch!
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