Are your open rates low? While hard to admit, the issue could be that your content is just too boring. Would you continue to open an email if every week it is yet another blog post? Probably not, right? So, why would you expect your subscribers to open your emails if you only sent the same type of newsletter over and over again?
Considering that more than 300 billion emails were sent in 2020 according to Statista, you need to find a way to make your email newsletters stand out. Here are 20 newsletter content ideas that we love.
20 Email Newsletter Ideas You Wish You Had Thought of Sooner:
- 1. Industry-related News
- 2. How-to Guides
- 3. Tips and Recommendations
- 4. FAQs
- 5. Behind-the-scenes Content
- 6. Webinar Invites
- 7. Recaps
- 8. An Interview with an Expert
- 9. A Survey, Poll or Quiz
- 10. Blog Posts, YouTube Videos and Roundups
- 11. Case Studies, Customer Stories, Reviews or Testimonials
- 12. User-generated Content
- 13. Vacancies
- 14. Employee of the Month
- 15. New Products, Services or Software Features
- 16. Gift Guides
- 17. Coupons, Promotions, Contests or Giveaways
- 18. A Loyalty or Rewards Program
- 19. Quotes, Tweets or Other Posts
- 20. A Note From the CEO
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Industry-related News
Source: freepik
It might sound slightly counterintuitive, but your email newsletter does not always have to be about your business. Depending on your type of business, your subscribers might want to learn more about recent news and trends.
For example, if your target audience is short-term rental owners, they would appreciate staying informed about changes in regulations and new vacation rental platforms. Another idea is to feature a leader in the industry who they might want to follow on social media. Not only will it help them to stay up to speed with what is going on in the industry, but it will also show that your brand pays attention to the developments in the industry. Whether it was a major headline or simply something interesting, be sure to share industry-related news from time to time.
2. How-to Guides
Offering something free but valuable, such as a how-to guide, is one of the most popular approaches. It is also an effective way to boost your traffic. You can, for instance, share detailed step-by-step instructions on how subscribers can use your offerings in different ways. Perhaps you have written a couple of how-to guides for your own blog which you can then simply share in your email newsletter?
It does not have to be in a written form, though. Creating how-to videos can be extremely effective and more engaging. Everyone has some sort of issue that they wish to solve. So, use your email newsletters to help your target audience, while at the same time illustrating to them how valuable your service or product can be.
3. Tips and Recommendations
Not every educational email has to be accompanied by an in-depth, step-by-step, how-to guide. You can also just share one, quick tip or actionable item in a couple of paragraphs.
Have you recently binge-watched a relevant series or subscribed to a new podcast? Are there any handy tools or resources that have helped your business? You can also share these types of recommendations with your subscribers in a company newsletter. By sharing what you find interesting, you start building a more authentic connection with your target audience.
4. FAQs
If you want to get into the good books of your sales or customer support team, create an email that answers some of the most frequently asked questions. Your current customers and target audience will learn more about your products, while it can free up some time for your employees. The information you need to write such an email is right at your fingertips. All you have to do is ask your employees or scan your inbox to see which questions get asked often.
5. Behind-the-scenes Content
People love to be treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse. Similar to sharing worthwhile entertainment or resources that you have been enjoying, you can also include behind-the-scenes content in one of your emails. Perhaps your team is currently working on an interesting project? Maybe you give your customers more insight into how you make your flagship product without revealing any trade secrets? Or, how about simply taking them on a virtual tour of your headquarters? Not only will this type of content let your customers enjoy some VIP-like treatment, but it also helps to ensure that your brand remains transparent.
6. Webinar Invites
Another way that you can offer free, valuable content to your subscriber list is by announcing an upcoming webinar. It is a powerful way to drive traffic and turn subscribers into customers. With such an email, remember to include all the information that the recipients need such as the date and time, topics that will be covered, and, of course, a link to register.
Alternatively, you can also use this medium for event promotion, if you are not keen on the idea of hosting a webinar. After all, who does not feel extra special when they receive an invite? It is a great way to place the focus on your customer, while spreading the word about your business without coming across as spammy.
7. Recaps
If you recently hosted a webinar or event, you can also create a newsletter that summarizes the main highlights. You can, for example, include information about the attendees and the topics that were discussed. Who knows, maybe it is the only encouragement a subscriber needs to attend the next event or buy a product?
8. An Interview with an Expert
Knowledge is there to be shared. So, from time to time, use your email newsletters to share with your audience what you have learned from experts or inspirational people in your niche. When creating this type of newsletter, be sure to include a video as well as a blog post. This way, your readers can either watch the actual interview or read the transcript.
9. A Survey, Poll or Quiz
Not every email that you send has to be informative. Sometimes, you can simply create a newsletter that will be entertaining. Including a survey, poll or quiz can create a lot of fun and gets loads of engagement. Not only will you entertain your subscribers, but you will also gather information about your target audience. The information that you collect can also be repurposed as a blog post that you can share with your readers. So, be sure to send a follow-up email as part of an email drip campaign to inform them about the results or findings.
10. Blog Posts, YouTube Videos and Roundups
Another great way to drive traffic to your website is to share your latest blog posts in an email newsletter. Alternatively, you can also opt to create a roundup of your top blog posts. To make the most of this type of email, include a share button in the email to make it easy for your readers to share your blog posts on their own social media pages.
If your business has an active YouTube channel, you can also share your latest YouTube video or a roundup of the most recent ones in your newsletter. It is an easy way to get more views and subscribers. Though, the best part of this approach is that you do not have to create new content.
11. Case Studies, Customer Stories, Reviews or Testimonials
Everyone loves a feel-good story with a happy ending. So, every now and again, you can also include the success stories of your customers. Testimonials, case studies and reviews act as convincing social proof that helps to encourage your readers to support your business.
When creating this type of email content, focus on your reader so that your email will not come across as too promotional. You can do this by highlighting how your product or service can also help to solve similar issues that your readers might be experiencing.
12. User-generated Content
Source: freepik
You are hopefully already sharing user-generated content on your different social media platforms. You can take it one step further by also sharing it in one of your email newsletters. It can be another great example of social proof to help portray your business as a trustworthy brand.
13. Vacancies
With regards to this type of content, you have two possible approaches. You can either advertise your own job postings or share current vacancies at businesses that your target audience might find relevant. Informing your subscribers about job openings at your business comes with a few perks. They are already loyal supporters who know about your offerings and brand identity and if they themselves are not interested, they can share it with their network. Maybe they know of the ideal candidate? All in all, it can help to simplify your recruiting process.
14. Employee of the Month
One way to make your brand more authentic is to introduce the team behind the products or services. Once a month, you can dedicate an email (or even just a section in a newsletter) to the employee of the month. You can, for instance, include information about what their responsibilities are and the positive contributions that they have made. It is a great way to boost brand and employee loyalty.
15. New Products, Services or Software Features
If you are planning to launch a new product, service or software feature, be sure to inform your subscribers via email. One of the reasons why people sign up to newsletters is so that they can be the first to know about new offerings. Announcements about new products or services can also help to create excitement about the launch. This way, your target audience will be ready to buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.
16. Gift Guides
While seasonal, creating a type of gift guide that you can send to your subscribers as the holiday or other special events approach can help you to boost sales. Depending on the type of products that you sell, you can send this type of email before Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas.
17. Coupons, Promotions, Contests or Giveaways
One of the easiest ways to boost your online presence and grow your subscriber list is to run a social media competition or some type of giveaway. You can, for instance, reward contestants with extra entries for every friend, family member or coworker they get to join your mailing list. If your goal is to boost sales, you can also create an email newsletter to share promo codes or special offers. By only running the offer for a limited time (and including a countdown timer), you can create a sense of urgency that will help to boost conversions. All in all, subscribers find these types of email campaigns extremely engaging and it can really help you to boost your brand awareness.
18. A Loyalty or Rewards Program
Source: freepik
Sometimes you do not need to look too far to find new customers. Creating some type of rewards program for your loyal customers can make great content for your next email newsletter. You can, for example, offer them a discount in return for referring their friends or family to you.
19. Quotes, Tweets or Other Posts
You can either send a monthly email dedicated to quotes, tweets or other interesting posts on social media or include it as a section on a more regular basis. This type of content will help to make your newsletters more interesting, funny, or, even, thought-provoking, depending on your brand voice.
20. A Note From the CEO
Sometimes all it takes is a simple note from the CEO. Whether it is to thank your subscribers or inform them about all the exciting things that are happening, it is a good idea to send out this type of email on a monthly basis. It will help your target audience to feel more connected to your brand. After all, without them, your business would be nowhere. So, take the time to reach out to them without the goal of selling them anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my email newsletters more interesting?
One way to make your email newsletters more interesting is to include a regular section that is dedicated to quotes, tweets or other interesting posts on social media. Including a survey, poll or quiz can also create a lot of fun and engagement. Not only will you entertain your subscribers, but you will also gather information about your target audience by including a poll, survey or quiz.
How can I grow my email subscriber list?
One of the easiest ways to boost your online presence and grow your subscriber list is to run a social media competition or some type of giveaway. You can, for instance, reward contestants with extra entries for every friend, family member or coworker they get to join your mailing list.
How can I get more people to attend my webinar?
To get more people to attend your webinar, you can include information about it in an email newsletter. After all, receiving a personal invite by means of an email is extra special and a great motivation to join. You can also include information about webinars that you have recently hosted in an email newsletter that summarizes the main highlights of the event, information about the attendees and the topics that were discussed. This way, people will see the value offered by your webinar.
What are some tips for improving the open rates of my emails?
One of the most common reasons why the open rate of your emails might be low is the content. If you send the same type of content, your subscribers could become bored and, as a result, decide not to open your emails. So, start by ensuring you send high-quality, interesting content that your target audience will find interesting and relevant. Here are some creative content ideas: promo codes, a note from the CEO, new products or an interview with an expert.
How can I drive more traffic to my blog?
A great way to drive traffic to your blog is to share your latest blog posts in an email newsletter. Alternatively, you can also opt to create a roundup of your top or most recent blog posts. To make the most of this approach, also include a share button in the email to make it easy for your readers to share your blog posts on their own social media pages.
