How to Create an Email Newsletter

An email newsletter can help to promote your small business. Here are five tips on how to create your own email newsletter.

By Lanee' Blunt

 Small businesses should take advantage of an email newsletter because it will keep your business in your customer’s mind, and when the buying decision arises, they will think of your company.

Here are some tips to help small businesses produce an email newsletter.

Choosing a Good Name

The name of your newsletter should be different from your company name.  Give the newsletter a creative title, it should reflect your business and make a lasting impression.  A creative title has the potential to position your newsletter.

Have an Easy Way for People to Subscribe to Your Email Newsletter

When your customers come in your business ask them for their email addresses, or offer a special discount to get them to give you their email address. Your website must have a high priority of capturing visitors’ email addresses.  According to Susan Sweeny, in her book, 101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site, (Maximum, 2001); “If you have valuable information that you’re current and potential customers want, they will gladly give you their email address to obtain your newsletter.” To manage your subscribers for your newsletter, you can get an autoresponder service.  This service also offers immediate response to your potential customers and can send your newsletter in response to their online request.

Write Articles That Are Helpful

To create an interesting newsletter your articles should be informative. Offer your potential customers’ information that they can use.  Write your articles in an easy-to-read format, and avoid technical jargon.  Your articles should be revised before you set them into print.  Read them out loud.

Find a Simple Business Newsletter Template

There are many desktop publishing programs that produce professional looking newsletters. You can download a simple, functional newsletter template that is already formatted, cut and paste your own photos, and add your logo. Some programs are easy to learn and inexpensive.

Email Your Newsletter to Your Customers

“You can distribute your newsletter using your email program or have people subscribe on your website directly to a listserver,” according to Ralph F. Wilson’s book, Planning Your Internet Marketing Strategy, (Wiley, 2002).

The newsletter can be sent to potential customers using your Microsoft Outlook email program.  If you don’t have Microsoft Outlook then send it with your regular email program, but you will have to send the newsletter as an attachment.

Creating an email newsletter can be time consuming, but it is worth the effort because it promotes your small business.

Reference:

Susan Sweeny; 101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site; 2001

Ralph F. Wilson; Planning Your Internet Marketing Strategy; 2002
[Image of email] (n.d.). Retrieved from http://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/todayatunl/381/2647

Posted in: Newsletter