Email marketing is one of the most effective methods for reaching your target market and keeping them engaged. Small business owners, artists, bloggers, service providers and brands of all kinds rely on this mode of communication to strengthen their online presence, increase their traffic (once they create a website) and gain more business.
In addition to being amazing marketing tools, email campaigns and newsletters are also fun to work on. But creating them can get a little challenging. It’s not easy to come up with so many different topics to communicate about!
But worry not, dear reader. We created this useful list of effective newsletter ideas that will inspire you to create many, many great newsletters. And, a tool like Wix Email Marketing helps you create a stunning newsletter in a flash! Now you only have one tricky question to answer – which one should you start with?
Send a holiday and seasonal greeting
The annual calendar provides many great opportunities to reach out to your subscribers – from Thanksgiving to the summer solstice. Find a nice angle that ties in your specialty with the essence of the event, design the layout to match the occasion, and you’re all set.
Subject line example: “New Spring Fashion You Just Can’t Miss”
Introduce a new product or service
A new launch is always exciting. Share the news with your subscribers and show off what you got. Add enticing visuals that will get them eager to try it out for themselves. Oh, and it’s always a nice idea to add a coupon code as a treat.
Subject line example: “Introducing: Wave Speakers – A Whole New Way to Experience Music”
Share success stories of real customers
Your happy customers are your best advocates and most effective ambassadors. Share one of their success stories with the rest of your audience. It’s a triple win situation – you get to showcase your brand’s potential, your loyal customer gets exposure and encouragement, and your readers get inspired by someone else’s achievements.
Subject line example: “How Dana Increased Her Conversion Rates by 92%”
Reveal a new design/look/logo
This may not seem like such an important issue, but sharing updates about a new look is actually a wonderful way to connect with your subscribers. You can invite them to share their feedback and use the opportunity to explain how the new design represents your brand identity.
Subject line example: “Breaking News: Our Homepage Just Got a Makeover & It’s a Knockout!”
Offer a contest or raffle
Draw your subscribers in with a hook by promising them a chance to win a cool prize – it could be a voucher for your online store, a special basket filled with the best of your products, a free consultation session, or any other reward that is unique to what you do.
Subject line example: “We’re Giving Away 10 Tickets For Our Upcoming Tour. Come Get Yours”
Run a sale for a limited time only!
A sense of urgency is a great incentive for action. Create a short-term campaign with a defined end point – preferably no longer than 2-3 days – and announce it to your subscribers with a motivating message. A terrific advantage of this type of campaign is that you can send not one but two emails; one announcing the promotion and one just shortly before it ends, as a last push and reminder.
Subject line example: “Madness Sale! 50% Off For 48 Hours Only”
Invite subscribers to a real-life event
Show your audience that you’re interested in strengthening your relationship by inviting them to an event. It can be a meetup at your brick-and-mortar location, a conference presentation, a block party your brand is involved in or other opportunities for face-to-face engagement.
Subject line example: “Wanna Meet? Let’s Chat and Exchange Fashion Tips Next Week”
Solicit feedback
Open the lines of communication and invite your subscribers to share their thoughts, reviews and suggestions with you. You can design the email with an integrated form, ask guiding questions or leave it more open. Initiating this type of conversation will show your audience that they have your ear while reinforcing your brand’s trustworthiness.
Subject line example: “A Penny for Your Thoughts? Help Us Get Better at What We Do!”
Announce exclusive coupon codes for subscribers
Your subscribers deserve a special gift! Treat them to an exclusive bonus and send them a coupon code to use in your store or website. They’ll appreciate the VIP treatment.
Subject line example: “Here’s a little thank you. Hope you like it!”
Examine a case study
Case studies draw much interest, especially when they hold real insight and practical benefit for readers. In this case, your newsletter will introduce a case in which your product or service proved especially valuable. The purpose is to show your readers that you can do the same for them, by narrating the process the challenges brought about in that particular case study.
Subject line example: “How We Helped Mark and Jane Plan the Wedding They Dreamed Of”
Deliver a note from the owner/manager
Extending a personal word from the movers and shakers of your company generates an air of distinction. It’s not every day that newsletter subscribers get to hear directly from the people on top. If you want to try this approach, make sure you create an email with unique content that is appropriate for the occasion. You don’t want to lure readers in and then under deliver.
Subject line example: “A Personal Word From Our CEO”
Enlighten readers with advice
As an expert in your field, you are in a unique position to share insights and knowledge with your readers. You can choose to send a list of quick tips that revolve around a particular topic, or a longer tutorial to guide your subscribers step-by-step through a specific action.
Subject line example: “The Complete Guide to Baking a Failproof Pie Crust”
Show off your most popular products (and why people love them)
This email topic works on a very basic human concern – FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out. People want to know what others are up to, what the current trends are and what they need to do to stay “in.” By revealing the most popular products, you’re sharing the wisdom of the group with the individual. It’s also a terrific opportunity to showcase the amazing qualities of your products by explaining what makes them so popular.
Subject line example: “Introducing Our Best-Selling Headphone Sets”
Celebrate an anniversary
Your brand’s anniversary is coming up and it’s definitely a reason to celebrate with a special newsletter. Use this opportunity to thank your audience for their support, to share a funny story from the early days and maybe even offer a special anniversary deal as well.
Subject line example: “It’s Our 10th Birthday! Let’s Celebrate Together”
Present an end of season special
Every experienced consumer knows that end of season specials are something to look forward to. Would they miss out on an opportunity to see what great merchandise you’re offering? Not if you hook them with a gorgeous email about it.
Subject line example: “The End-of-Season Sale You’ve Been Waiting for all Summer”
Connect on social media
Why limit your interactions with your audience only to one platform? Write a newsletter and invite your subscribers to follow your social media pages (and vice versa!). Make sure they realize that connecting with you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. actually offers your readers added value. It can be chat support, exclusive visuals, or access to social raffles.
Subject line example: “Follow Us on Instagram to Get a Sneak-Peak of our Latest Designs”
Create a “Top 10 list”
Lists are a superb form of content that has great potential for virality. Readers love to share lists that they believe could be interesting to their friends. With a good list, your subscribers will happily click the Fwd button and do their share in promoting your brand.
Subject line example: “10 Mistakes You’re Making That are Killing Your Plants”
Give subscribers first access
Are you launching a new feature, a new website or a new physical location? It’s a great opportunity to get in touch with your subscribers and invite them to be the first to check it out. They’ll be grateful for the personal treat, and you’ll get to give your new baby a trial run.
Subject line example: “Be the First to Try Our New Fruity Flavors!”
Follow up after a sale/interaction
Clients love to see that their experience and opinion matters. When you reach out to them shortly after they made a purchase, visited your store or contacted your customer care, you are showing them that you value their input.
Subject line example: “How Did We Do? Share Your Experience With Us.”
Provide a solution to a common problem
Lifehacks are always popular. In this era of digital information flow, we’re already used to going online to find quick answers to questions that constantly nag us. When these solutions happen to arrive into our inbox, we’re definitely going to take a peek.
Subject line example: “We’ve Got What You Need to Get the Results You Want.”
Recommend dos and don’ts
Present yourself as an authority in your business area with a Dos and Don’ts list that gives your readers substantive guidance. Do’s and Don’ts offer advice based on conclusions from past experience. This is the type of instruction that readers truly appreciate and are happy to follow.
Subject line example: “The Do’s and Don’ts of Home Design.”
Distribute a weekly/monthly recap
Depending on the volume of your activities and the type of business you’re in, sending out regular recaps of the past week or month could be extremely valuable in keeping your audience engaged. This email genre can be useful for musicians on tour, for venues with a changing schedule or for non-profit organizations that support a certain cause.
Subject line example: “[Monthly Roundup] What We Were Up to in April.”
Support and promote a social cause
If you’re active with a charity or non-profit organization, share your passion for their cause with your newsletter subscribers. This is a great way to present your brand’s personal side and show your audience that you are committed to making the world a better place.
Subject line email: “Why We Spend Every Second Saturday Volunteering at the Dog Shelter.”
Inform subscribers of an upcoming webinar or online course
You have more than one way to share your knowledge with your subscribers. Have you ever considered creating a webinar or an online course, offering to train them as experts in their own right? You can even invite guest speakers related to your field to increase your audience’s interest.
Subject line email: “Join Me for a Webinar: Introducing Portrait Photography Basics”
Pull back the curtain with a personal story
A personal tone of voice is an important aspect of marketing. People relate better to real people, so it’s always good to show them the person behind the brand. You can share a story about how you started to become a professional in your field, or about a special individual in your life that influenced your vision.
Subject line email: “Cycling Changed my Life. Now I’m Committed to Helping Others to Do the Same.”
Make them laugh with fun trivia facts
What are some interesting, poppy trivia bits about your brand, your industry or your organization that no one knows? Prepare a short list of fun facts and keep it light but interesting. Aim for the type of trivia knowledge that people like to share over coffee at work.
Subject line email: “Which President Was Addicted to Scones & More Fun Facts From Pastry History.”
Answer FAQs
What are the most common questions or concerns that you believe affect your target market? This newsletter will not only allow you to show that you are an attentive business owner by addressing them in advance. It also gives you a terrific content platform to highlight the advantages of your product or service.
Subject line email: “Frequently Asked Questions About Mortgage Financing, Answered by Our Consultants”
Tap Into Media Buzz
If you notice a trending issue in the media that you think has relevance to your brand, be spontaneous and take the opportunity to create an impromptu newsletter and tap into that buzz. Preparing for the season finale of the most popular TV show? Responding to a viral meme that’s breaking the internet? Go wild!
Subject line example: “Is Beyonce Copying Our Latest Collection?”
Give a free download
Downloads and digital products are a powerful incentive because they offer an immediate result. Musicians, digital artists, authors and other creatives can share a downloadable link (or even better – refer readers to their website for a download) and give a sample of their latest work as an exclusive offer to subscribers.
Subject line example: “Available Here Only: Hear Our Latest Track Before Everyone Else”
Inspire with words of wisdom from a guest author
Think of an individual whose experience and talent has special bearing on your own field and your own professional development, someone whose words can be of great interest to your followers. Invite them to author a guest email and offer to return the favor :)
Subject line example: “Our Favorite Author Shares Her Winter Must-Reads With Us”
Thank you WIX team
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