Keeping your customers engaged is more challenging than ever in today's world, where the attention span of customers is as short as Instagram reels and TikTok videos. It’s also critical because unengaged customers have a higher churn rate, leading to lost revenue and diminished brand loyalty. So, how can you keep them engaged and build a lasting connection? One powerful solution is launching an email newsletter.
Email newsletters offer a unique opportunity to connect directly with your audience, share valuable content, and promote your brand effectively. According to Statista, the number of global email users is projected to grow to 4.73 billion by 2026, making an email newsletter more important than ever. It's also the most cost-effective way to foster a personal and direct connection with your target audience.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of launching your very own email newsletter, explore some challenges you may face and debunk the common myths that might be holding you back.
What is an email newsletter?
An email newsletter is a scheduled email communication sent to a list of subscribers who have opted in to receive them from you. Its primary purpose is to engage recipients by delivering valuable content, such as news, updates, tips, and promotions, that aligns with their interests.
The frequency can vary and typically ranges between weekly to monthly, depending on the organization's goals and audience preferences.
Why are email newsletters effective?
According to a study by the Content Marketing Institute, 73% of B2B marketers use email newsletters to distribute their content. Email marketing boasts an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent. This is an impressive 36x return on investment and marketing efforts.
If you're still not convinced, here are 5 reasons why your business absolutely needs to start an email newsletter in 2025:
1. Acts as a direct communication channel with your audience
Email newsletters provide a direct channel to communicate with your audience without relying on algorithms or third-party platforms. With email newsletters, you have complete control over when and how you communicate with your audience. Since your subscribers have willingly opted in to receive your newsletters, they are more receptive to the content you provide.
2. Increases brand awareness
By regularly appearing in your subscribers' inboxes, your brand remains top-of-mind, increasing brand recall and recognition. With each newsletter, you reinforce your brand logo, brand image, and messaging, strengthening your position in the minds of your audience.
Crafting your personal brand isn't just for influencers or entrepreneurs—it's a must for everyone. Regularly sharing valuable content in your email is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field. By showcasing your insights and knowledge, you build a strong personal brand that attracts followers and opportunities.
3. Drives traffic
Email newsletters serve as a powerful tool to drive traffic to your website, blog, or other digital platforms. You can put links in your email to guide readers to relevant content and landing pages, like an upcoming product or website blog. When your subscriber clicks these links, they visit your site, increasing traffic and engagement.
4. Builds brand loyalty
Email newsletters help you nurture relationships beyond the initial transaction. You can use them to educate your subscribers about your industry, products, or services. Combining personalization with sharing brand success stories, motivations, and valuable content helps build a strong relationship with your audience. This encourages repeat purchases and builds brand loyalty.
5. Saves cost while scaling
Email newsletters offer a cost-effective way to engage with your audience and drive action. You can create and send more newsletters without much incremental cost. You can use these newsletters for various purposes, from promoting products to sharing updates. Plus, you can easily change your email marketing campaigns to match your goals and objectives with time, making them a versatile marketing tool.
How to start an email newsletter
For beginners, launching your first email newsletter can be simplified into a few simple steps.
Step 1: Identify your target audience
Understanding who your target audience is will shape the content, tone, and design of your newsletter. Research their interests, preferences, and pain points to ensure your newsletter delivers value and resonates with readers.
Step 2: Build and grow your email list
Building an email list is a cornerstone of starting a successful newsletter. One of the most effective ways to grow your list is by offering valuable resources—such as helpful content, exclusive discounts, guides, or industry news—as lead magnets. By providing something your audience finds genuinely useful, you can encourage them to share their email addresses in exchange, creating a win-win situation.
Step 3: Establish clear goals
Define what you want to achieve with your newsletter. Is it to drive website traffic, increase sales, nurture leads, or build a community? Clear goals will guide your overall strategy, content for your newsletters, and the metrics you need to measure for tracking success.
Step 4: Choose the right email marketing software
Choose an email marketing platform that aligns with your needs and budget. Popular options like Mailmodo, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and ConvertKit offer features such as customizable email templates, detailed analytics, and automation tools, making it easier to manage your newsletters effectively.
Step 5: Create your newsletter
Focus on creating an attractive, user-friendly design and compelling content. Key elements to include are:
- A captivating subject line to boost open rates.
- Personalized and useful content that resonates well with your audience.
- Clear calls-to-action (CTAs) to guide readers toward the desired actions.
You can use an ESP like Mailmodo to create visually appealing newsletters with the help of their drag-and-drop email template builder.
Step 6: Test your newsletter
Before hitting send, test your email for errors, broken links, and formatting issues. Use tools to preview how your newsletter will look on different devices and in various email clients. You can also send it to yourself and your friends to get feedback and ensure that your newsletter renders as expected on different devices, browsers and email clients.
Step 7: Schedule and send
Decide how often you'll send your newsletter—weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly—and stick to it. Consistency builds trust and keeps your subscribers engaged. Once you've created multiple issues of your newsletter, you can schedule them to be sent on specific days or after a specific interval. You must also maintain consistency in your newsletter schedule.
Step 8: Monitor and analyze performance
After sending your newsletter, track key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. Use this data to refine your content and strategy for future campaigns.
Start your newsletter with the easiest tool in 2024
8 myths stopping you from starting an email newsletter
We have discussed the importance of an effective email newsletter, but you might still have doubts holding you back. There are several myths associated with launching a newsletter. Let's address them here.
Myth 1: No one reads email newsletters
This can’t be further from the truth. Many people actively subscribe to newsletters that provide valuable insights, updates, and offers tailored to their interests. With the right content targeting the right people, you can create a compelling newsletter that is eagerly anticipated and read!
Myth 2: Creating email newsletters takes too much time, money, and skill
With the right strategies, creating and managing email newsletters can be efficient and cost-effective. Email marketing software like Mailmodo allows you to create and schedule newsletters easily, saving significant time.
You can repurpose your blogs as newsletters to reduce content creation time. You can also use AI to speed up your content creation. According to the HubSpot State of Generative AI Report, 43% of marketers find AI super helpful for writing email content.
Advanced graphic design skills aren't necessary. Many email marketing software programs, like Mailmodo, offer customizable newsletter templates and drag-and-drop editors, making it easy for even beginners to design professional-looking emails. Check out these 6 free newsletter email templates from Mailmodo to captivate your readers.
Cost isn't a barrier either. Many email marketing software provide free trials or affordable plans, that cater to businesses of all sizes.
Myth 3: Email newsletters are intrusive
Email newsletters are sometimes unfairly associated with spam due to the misuse of email marketing by some businesses. By definition, spam is unsolicited and irrelevant email communication, often sent in bulk without permission.
Email newsletters, on the other hand, are opt-in subscriptions where recipients have willingly signed up to receive updates from you. So, they’re not intrusive. In fact, many email subscriptions require a confirmation or double opt-ins to ensure that the subscribers actually want to receive emails from you.
Myth 4: Email newsletters are only for promotions
While promotions can be a part of your email newsletter strategy, they shouldn't be the sole focus. Email newsletters are a medium for nurturing relationships and engaging with your audience beyond sales or promotions.
For example, you can share helpful tips, industry news, or customer stories that resonate with your audience. Try making these emails more engaging by using interactive features in your newsletter. You can do this using an email service provider like Mailmodo, which supports AMP emails.
Myth 5: Managing an email list is complicated
While managing an email list does require some initial setup and ongoing maintenance, it's not as complicated as it may seem. With the availability of user-friendly email marketing platforms and automation tools, tasks like email list segmentation, subscriber management, and analytics tracking can be simplified.
Myth 6: Email newsletters don't work for small businesses
Contrary to the common belief, email newsletters can be incredibly effective for small businesses. They provide a cost-effective way to reach and engage with your audience, build brand awareness, and drive conversions. Campaign Monitor found that 64% of small businesses use email marketing to reach their customers.
Myth 7: Email newsletters don't work for B2C
While email newsletters are often associated with B2B marketing, they can be equally effective for B2C businesses. B2C businesses can showcase new products, offer exclusive discounts, share engaging content like blog posts or videos, and gather feedback through surveys.
Myth 8: Email newsletters are outdated
Despite the rise of social media and other digital channels, email newsletters remain a highly effective marketing tool. That’s because emails remain a crucial communication channel for both professional and personal purposes. Companies rely on emails to communicate with employees and customers. People use them to stay in touch with friends and family. So, emails continue to be a relevant and essential part of our daily lives.
5 Ideas to start your first email newsletter
Still hesitating to launch your first email newsletter? Here are 10 beginner-friendly ideas to kickstart your journey.
1. Industry news and updates
Start a newsletter that delivers the latest news, trends, and developments in your industry. This positions you as a thought leader in your niche and establishes credibility with your audience.
Share articles, blog posts, videos, or podcasts that are relevant to your audience's interests and needs. You should add brief commentary for each curated piece to provide context and help your subscribers understand the relevance of the content.
2. Problem-solution series
The idea is to address common challenges or pain points faced by your audience and offer practical solutions. You can provide step-by-step guidance, tips, and resources to help them overcome obstacles and achieve their goals or overcome their problems.
3. Resource lists
Compile a list of useful resources, tools, or recommendations related to your niche. Whether it's books, apps, websites, or software, sharing valuable resources adds value to your newsletter and positions you as a helpful resource.
4. Beginner's guide series
You can break down complex topics or concepts into beginner-friendly guides or tutorials. This takes your subscribers on a journey of learning and discovery, providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Don’t forget to use visuals and examples to make it easy to follow for your subscribers.
5. Behind-the-scenes
These offer an exclusive peek behind the scenes to humanize your brand and build a deeper connection with your audience. You can share behind-the-scenes stories, photos, or videos that showcase your team, workspace, creative process, or product development journey.
Want to browse through more ideas? We’ve done all the hard work and compiled 30 creative newsletter ideas to captivate your subscribers in 2024—check it out here!
5 challenges you may face while launching your first email newsletter
Creating and launching your first effective email newsletter campaign comes with its own set of challenges. Here are five common hurdles you might encounter and some tips to overcome them.
1. Getting your boss’s buy-in
To gain your boss’s buy-in, you should highlight the benefits of email newsletters, such as increased customer engagement, brand awareness, and potential revenue growth. You can always present data or case studies showing the success of email newsletters in similar industries or companies. The benefits discussed above might be of help too.
2. Choosing the right newsletter software
With so many email marketing platforms available, choosing the right one can be confusing. When picking one, you should consider factors such as ease of use, features, pricing, and customer support. Start with a platform that offers beginner-friendly tools and scales as your needs grow.
You can check out Mailmodo’s pricing calculator for easy comparison.
3. Hiring or outsourcing content creator and design
If you don’t have the time or expertise to create content and design newsletter email templates yourself, you can consider hiring or outsourcing these tasks. Look for freelancers on Upwork or agencies with a portfolio that aligns with your brand aesthetic. By leveraging their expertise, you ensure that your newsletter stands out.
4. Building your email list
Building a quality email list is essential for the success of your newsletter. You should start by leveraging your existing contacts and networks. Promote your newsletter on your website, social media channels, and other marketing materials. You can offer incentives such as exclusive content or discounts to encourage quick sign-ups.
6.Choosing the right newsletter layout
Deciding on the best layout for your newsletter can be tricky. The layout should align with your brand's identity, be easy to read on mobile devices, and emphasize the most important information. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Check out our related guide for tips and inspiration to create a layout that resonates with your audience.
6. Finding inspiration
Coming up with fresh ideas for your newsletter can be challenging. To stay inspired, subscribe to newsletters from industry leaders, competitors, and those in your niche.
You can create a swipe file to collect content, subject lines, and newsletter design ideas you like. This stash will come in handy whenever you're brainstorming content ideas or refining your strategy. You can also pick from the newsletter ideas we suggested in this blog.
5 email newsletter examples for inspiration
Looking for fresh ideas to make your newsletter stand out? These examples showcase creative layouts, engaging content, and effective strategies that captivate readers and drive results.
1. Mailmodo Idealetter
With Mailmodo's Idealetter, you can access fresh email newsletter ideas and strategies all in one place. No need to sign up for multiple newsletters; just subscribe to get your monthly dose of actionable tips. Successful content creators like Anushka Rathore (ft. the Crore Club) have used Mailmodo to build an engaged community through their newsletter, showing its effectiveness. Idealetter is one of the best email newsletter examples of the problem-solution approach we discussed.
Link to subscribe: Mailmodo Idealetter
2. Demand Curve
Demand Curve's newsletter offers valuable insights and strategies for startups and growth marketers. They provide expert-written playbooks and weekly content covering proven strategies, teardowns, resources, and even job openings in marketing. One notable tip you can learn from them is the copywriting rule of three, illustrated by the MacBook Pro tagline!
Link to subscribe: Demand Curve
3. Sunday Branding
Nik Sharma's Sunday Branding Newsletter is a treasure trove for ecommerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. Subscribers receive a free slide deck on launching a successful DTC brand, offering immense value from the start. Sharma's expertise and practical advice make this newsletter stand out.
Link to subscribe: Sunday Branding
4. Trello's Newsletter from "Taco"
Trello's newsletter adds a fun twist with its mascot, "Taco," making it memorable and engaging. Despite its simplicity, the newsletter effectively showcases the brand's best content.
Link to subscribe: Trello
5. The Hustle
The Hustle's informal yet informative tone makes it a favorite among startups and entrepreneurs. It delivers a powerful lesson in combining business insights with a touch of humor, making it a must-read for anyone interested in tech and entrepreneurship. This is a great example of how SaaS newsletters can stand out.
Link to subscribe: The Hustle
Looking for more inspiration? We've got you covered with another guide featuring 20 stunning newsletter examples. Check it out.
Start your newsletter today
Launching your first email newsletter as a beginner is an exciting opportunity for growth and connection. They help establish authority and expertise in your industry, keep subscribers informed and engaged, drive traffic to your website or blog, and ultimately, increase conversions and sales.
It might be challenging at first, but you can overcome all of them one by one using the suggestions discussed in this article.
