How to Launch Your Email Newsletter
You hear it all the time: You Need a Newsletter!
But, what does that mean for you if you don’t strategize and plan how to launch and maintain your newsletter? It can be daunting to take on yet another project for your business that needs regular maintenance so let’s keep things simple and steady when we plan your launch, okay?
Priority: Purpose of your email newsletter. The purpose should be drawn from your brand’s purpose and utilize your overall communication plan strategy that way you’re not creating content 24/7 for your business and never getting your actual business work done.
Planning: We highly recommend committing to one email per month when you’re first starting. It’s very easy to say twice a week or once a week, but the truth is that most email newsletters start with great consistency and then fall off the habit due to the commitment. Starting at once per month allows you to spend a quarter finalizing your plans and content. At the end of the quarter you can reassess if once a month is working for you, or if you’re ready to increase the amount of emails you send out.
Depending on the purpose of the newsletter, you can determine what content should be shared. Try to stick to consistent themes, that way you build recognition with your audience while also making your life easier as you’ll know what to highlight per email!
Pre-Launch: Before you start accepting email subscribers you’ll want to design a welcome email. Make it personal and fun! This is perhaps the first time you will engage with a website visitor and you want to make it memorable and warm! Adding in a personal note and a bit on your story makes for a great intro before they start to receive your regular updates.
Launch: You’ve done it. You’ve figured out your purpose, your consistency, your content, and how to welcome subscribers. Now it’s time for the launch! You’re going to add locations in which someone can subscribe to your newsletter! Some of the best places to add a “sign up” link or form are your website footer button or form, a website pop up form, a button on your social media links page, a link once a week posted to your social media as a post or story, and in the footer of your email newsletter (remember, sometimes people forward emails and a link where they can click to subscribe makes life easier for them!). From here on out it’s the upkeep of your emails and smooth sailing!
