Introduction: Why Email Newsletters Still Matter
Even though we live in a very fast-paced digital world with constantly updating social media feeds and lots of ads, one thing still works surprisingly well: the humble email message.
When it comes to marketing, newsletters are a straight line to the inboxes of your audience. You don’t have to fight algorithms or pay for every click.
That being said, there is a catch: inboxes are full. Every day, a lot of emails come in. How can your magazine stand out and not end up in the trash?This blog is meant to assist you in building a robust email marketing strategy, which is a key element in digital marketing courses.
You should use a newsletter as part of your marketing arsenal. We’ll talk about what makes a newsletter great and how you can create one that people want to open, read, and interact with.
You’ll find useful tips, examples, and tools that make the process easier and more effective, whether you’re new to newsletters or want to make a current one better, which you can master through a digital marketing course.
What Is an Email Newsletter? (And How’s It Different?)
An email magazine is basically a regular message that you send to people who have signed up for it. It should have useful, interesting, or fun content.
It’s a way for your company to stay in touch with people—not to sell, but to build a relationship over time.
Newsletters are different from sales emails or blasts because they focus on adding value. They could share news about the company, helpful tips, behind-the-scenes stories, or news about the business.They don’t shout “Buy now!”; instead, they ask the reader to interact, learn, and connect.
Newsletters keep people in touch with each other and with marketing in general. These help people go from not trusting your brand to believing it and then becoming loyal customers. They care less about “quick wins” and more about growth over the long run, which is a key topic in many digital marketing courses.
Why Marketers Should Use Email Newsletters
Email newsletters have a lot of perks in the long run. First, they help build trust by always giving us useful information. Second, they keep your company in people’s minds by keeping them interested. Third, they keep people by giving them reasons to stay.
The numbers show this to be true. New studies show that email marketing gives the best return on investment (ROI) of any channel, at $36 for every $1 spent.Not just for B2C brands, either. 71% of B2B marketers say newsletters are an important part of their content strategy, and 37% say they’re one of their best outlets.
Newsletters work for a wide range of businesses and audience types because they make interactions feel personal and real.
Newsletters are a great way to build relationships at any stage, whether you’re a SaaS company nurturing leads, a creator building a fan group, or a store giving out product tips. By enrolling in digital marketing courses, you can learn how to harness the power of email newsletters for your business.
Popular Types of Newsletters (With Great Examples)
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to newsletters — and that’s a good thing! Here are some popular formats to consider:
Curated news and insights — For example, The New York Times Morning Briefing delivers top news stories daily, combining expert curation with trusted journalism.
Product or service updates — Companies like Apple or Notion send sleek updates highlighting new features, improvements, or releases.
Educational tips and guides — Food blogger Cookie + Kate shares recipes and cooking advice, helping readers learn (and love) vegetarian cooking.
Creator/community updates — Newsletters like The Hyphen, by Emma Gannon, connect with readers on personal topics such as creativity, well-being, and life updates.
Paid or monetized newsletters — Platforms like Substack enable writers and creators to charge for premium content, creating a business model centered on engaged subscribers.
These examples succeed because they focus on the audience’s needs — not just what the brand wants to say, a lesson that is commonly taught in digital marketing courses.
10 Simple Steps to Create a Great Email Newsletter
Ready to create a newsletter that your audience will love? Follow these ten proven steps:
1. Define your goal — What do you want to achieve? More traffic, stronger engagement, lead nurturing, or brand authority? Be clear, a key part of digital marketing courses.
2. Know your audience — Segment your list if you can. Speak to specific interests, past actions, or customer journeys.
3. Choose your newsletter type — Decide if you’re sharing curated news, tips, updates, or something else. Match the format to your goal.
4. Share valuable content — Deliver insights, stories, or resources that your audience cares about—quality matters.
5. Write a strong subject line — Your subject line decides if the email is opened or ignored. Make it clear, catchy, and relevant.
6. Make it mobile-friendly — Use a clean layout, short paragraphs, and visuals that look good on any device.
7. Include a clear CTA — What should readers do next? Click, reply, read more? Make it obvious and straightforward.
8. Personalize your message — Use names, recommend content, or reference past interactions to make it feel tailored.
9. Test and improve — A/B test subject lines, CTAs, or send times. Track what works and refine over time.
10. Stay consistent — Send on a regular schedule, whether that’s weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Consistency builds trust.
Top Tools to Help You Send Email Newsletters
When it comes to creating and managing newsletters, the right tool can make all the difference. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the top platforms, along with who they’re best suited for.
Mailchimp
A favourite among small businesses and beginners, Mailchimp offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, pre-built templates, automation tools, and analytics. It’s ideal for those who want an all-in-one marketing platform without a steep learning curve.
Beehiiv
Designed for newsletter-first businesses and media brands, Beehiiv focuses on helping creators grow audiences and monetize through subscriptions or ads. It’s great for those who want a sleek, creator-focused writing experience.
Substack
Perfect for writers, journalists, and independent creators, Substack lets you publish free or paid newsletters, build a community, and even offer podcasts or videos. Its simplicity and built-in monetization tools are big draws.
HubSpot
Best suited for enterprise-level teams, HubSpot offers a robust suite that combines CRM, email marketing, automation, and analytics. If you’re part of a B2B marketing team or need advanced workflows, HubSpot’s ecosystem shines.
Kit (ConvertKit)
Loved by bloggers, coaches, and digital creators, Kit (formerly ConvertKit) offers beautiful email templates, segmentation tools, and an automation builder. It’s great for growing an audience through lead magnets and landing pages.
Choosing the right tool depends on your goals, budget, and technical needs — but any of these can help you deliver polished, effective newsletters, as taught in many digital marketing courses.
When Is the Best Time to Send a Newsletter?
When you send your email can make or break its success. What time is the best to click “send”?
Based on research, the best days to open an email are Mondays and Tuesdays. Mondays have an average open rate of 51.9%, just slightly higher than Tuesdays.
People are more active in the morning, especially from 9 AM to 11 AM, when they check their emails first thing in the morning.But don’t forget that each group is different.
Think about time zones if you have a world list. You can plan sends with tools like Mailchimp and HubSpot that take into account the recipient’s time zone. This way, you don’t have to send emails at night.
When it comes to frequency, consistency is more important than amount. It’s up to you and your viewers whether you post once a week, twice a week, or once a month.
Too often and people might get tired of hearing from you; too little and people might forget about you.The smartest thing to do? Check and keep track of. Do A/B tests at different times and days, watch how many people open and click on your links, and make changes based on what they say.
Learning the best times and frequency to send emails is something that digital marketing courses can help you understand deeply.
How to Measure If Your Newsletter Is Working
Creating a newsletter is only half the job — you also need to know if it’s delivering results. Here are the key metrics to track:
Open rate — Percentage of recipients who open your email.
Click-through rate (CTR) — Percentage who click at least one link.
Conversion rate — Percentage who complete a desired action (e.g., sign-up, purchase).
List growth rate — How quickly your subscriber base is expanding.
Unsubscribe/spam rate — How many people opt out or mark you as spam?
Set meaningful goals tied to your business objectives — for example, “increase CTR by 10% in the next quarter” or “gain 500 new subscribers by year-end.”
Don’t forget to use A/B testing to improve over time. Test subject lines, CTAs, or even content formats, and use your analytics dashboard to see what’s working (and what’s not). Continuous learning is the key to better performance, and you can dive deeper into this through digital marketing courses.
Pro Tips to Make Your Newsletter Stand Out
With so many newsletters out there, how do you stand apart? Here are some expert tips:
Tell a story or use a human voice — Don’t sound like a robot. Share real stories, behind-the-scenes insights, or personal notes that make your brand relatable.
Share exclusive or VIP content — Give subscribers something they can’t get elsewhere — like sneak peeks, special offers, or expert tips.
Engage readers with polls or feedback — Ask questions, invite replies, or include a simple election. It turns a one-way broadcast into a two-way conversation.
Watch emerging trends — Interactive emails, AI-powered personalization, and dynamic content blocks are changing the game. Stay curious and experiment with what’s next.
Remember, the best newsletters feel less like a sales pitch and more like a conversation. Enroll in digital marketing courses to stay up to date with these strategies.
Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Even experienced marketers fall into traps when it comes to email newsletters. Here’s what to watch out for:
Overloading with content — Too much text or too many links can overwhelm readers. Keep it focused and digestible.
Poor mobile experience — More than half of emails are opened on mobile devices. If your design isn’t responsive, you’re losing readers.
Ignoring feedback or unsubscribes — A rising unsubscribe or spam rate is a warning sign. Pay attention to feedback, and adjust accordingly.
Focusing only on sales — A newsletter that’s all “me, me, me” and no value for the reader will burn out your list. Balance promotions with genuinely helpful or interesting content.
Avoid these pitfalls, and you’ll be ahead of the pack, which is a common theme in many digital marketing courses.
Conclusion: Time to Level Up Your Email Newsletter Game
Email newsletters aren’t just a way to sell your business; they’re also a way to connect with people, give them something of value, and help your brand grow over time.
Even though social networks come and go, your email list is still a valuable tool that you own and that lets you connect directly with your audience.
Newsletters are different from other emails. This guide taught you why they’re important and how to write one that people will want to open. Here are some tried-and-true steps, the best tools, timing tips, success metrics, and pro strategies, along with some mistakes you should never make.
Now it’s your turn: use what you’ve learnt. If you want to start or improve your newsletter, make sure it has a clear goal, focuses on value, and tries to learn what works for your readers.
If you want to get even better at marketing, look into tools, classes, or services that can help you level up.In today’s digital world, the smartest marketers are always learning new things.
Enroll in a digital marketing course to keep evolving your skills!
