I’m a huge fan of email marketing. Even though our inboxes are busier than ever, a good newsletter will always bring you new business and help forge strong relationships with your subscribers.
But those busy inboxes I mentioned… it can be tricky to even get your newsletter SEEN, let alone read. So how do you cut through all that noise and stand out?
Here are 3 ways to make sure yours is the newsletter that gets noticed, read and acted on.
1. Know Your Ideal Customer And What They Want
Know what your audience wants and needs. Take notice of the questions your customers ask you – in your DMs, in the comments on your Instagram posts, in your Facebook group. The better you know your ideal customer, the more of them you can attract and convert into buyers.
If you don’t already have a handle on this, answer these questions:
- What keeps the people in your target market up at night?
- What are their dreams and goals?
- What do they struggle with most?
- What would solve their biggest problem right now?
Practical tip: Use Instagram Stories polls and question stickers to ask your audience directly what they want to hear about. You’ll get gold-dust insights AND it boosts your engagement. Win-win!
2. Get Great At Subject Lines
Your subject lines are SOOOO important! This mini-message plays a huge role in whether people open your emails or scroll straight past.
Here are some subject line formulas that work brilliantly:
- Curiosity: “The one thing I’d do differently if I started my business today”
- Numbers: “5 ways to get more sales this week”
- Personal: “I nearly gave up last Tuesday”
- Direct benefit: “How to double your enquiries without spending a penny”
Practical tip: Most email platforms like Mailchimp, Flodesk, MailerLite or ConvertKit let you A/B test your subject lines – send two versions and see which one gets more opens. Use that data to get better every time.
3. Get The Frequency Right
Email too often and you become noise. Not often enough and they forget who you are.
Start with what feels comfortable and stretch slightly. Thinking once a quarter? Try monthly. Thinking monthly? Try fortnightly. Once you pick a schedule, stick to it RELIGIOUSLY.
Practical tip: Batch-create your newsletters. Use Canva for eye-catching header images, and tools like ChatGPT or Claude to help brainstorm topic ideas when you’re stuck. Set aside one morning a month to draft your next 2-4 newsletters – future you will be so grateful!
Your Challenge
- Find 3 newsletters that you always open when they land in your inbox
- Work out why you love them (is it the subject lines? The tone? The content?)
- Use what you’ve learned to create newsletters YOUR ideal customers will love AND act on!