Struggling to get your amazing blog content seen by readers? Email marketing can be your secret weapon. It’s a direct line to your readers, where you can build a community, share exclusive content, and get them clicking back for more.
But, how do you create newsletters that engages your audience from opening to clicking through your call to action (CTA)? Here are some tips that follow email marketing best practices:
1. Build your email list organically
The foundation of successful email marketing is a strong and engaged email list. You definitely don’t want to resort to buying one and risk your sender reputation. Instead, build it through:
- Offering incentives: Give away some freebies in return of an email signup. Think downloadable resources like ebooks, cheat sheets, or templates
- Setting up signup forms: Place signup forms throughout your website, especially on homepage and high-traffic posts. This will make it easier for readers to subscribe
2. Don’t skip on creative subject lines
You can spend all day creating the most beautiful email, but if nobody opens it, what’s the point? That’s why you need subject lines that are impactful and attention grabbing. When creating one, think about:
- Keeping it short: Aim for around 50 characters to avoid getting cut off in inboxes
- Spark curiosity: Use questions, teasers, or intriguing statements to pique reader interest
- Personalize when possible: Personalization in the subject line can increase your open rates by additional 26-39%. It can be as simple as using a subscriber’s first name
3. Design emails that are easy to engage with
You want your emails visually appealing and easy to navigate — it’s as simple as that. Here are some design elements to consider:
- Mobile-friendly design: A large portion of emails are opened on mobile devices, so create them with a mobile-first mindset and make sure they adjust to different screen sizes
- Less is more: Don’t clutter your layout with excessive text, but rather use clear headings/subheadings and add bullet points for better readability
- Quality visuals: Only use high-quality images, infographics, or GIFs. Not only do they break up text, but also they make your email more appealing to the reader
4. Create value with your content
The heart of your email marketing success lies in the content you provide. Here’s what most subscribers are looking for:
- Quality content snippets: Briefly summarize your latest blog posts, highlighting key takeaways and enticing readers to click through for the full article
- Exclusive content: Send out waitlist emails, offering your subscribers to join for some exclusive content, be it bonus tips, Q&A sessions, or early access to your new blog post
5. Include a clear CTA
Help your readers understand what you’d like them to do next by telling them exactly what action you want them to take. Your CTAs should:
- Use strong verbs: Words like “Read Now,” “Download Here,” or “Join Us” are clear and oriented to a specific action
- Highlight benefits: Briefly mention the benefits of clicking through, such as learning new skills or discovering exclusive content
- Make it easy to click: Your CTA buttons should be prominent and stand out visually from the rest of the email
7. Find your emailing rhythm:
There’s a fine balance between staying connected and being perceived as a spammer. You’ll have to find a sending frequency that is acceptable for your audience. Here’s what you can do:
- Experiment with frequency: The ideal frequency depends on things like your blog’s posting schedule and your audience’s content consumption habits. Be curious and start testing where the sweet spot is for you
- Track open rates: Monitor what send time leads to the highest open rates
- Don’t overwhelm your audience: Avoid bombarding subscribers with daily emails. Aim for a consistent frequency that keeps them engaged without feeling spammed
8. Analyze and optimize:
- Track key metrics: Data is your friend, so make a habit of tracing it regularly. Look at open rates, click-through rates, and unsubscribe rates to understand what resonates with your audience
- A/B test different elements: Test variations of subject lines, email layouts, and CTAs to see what drives the best results. Just make sure you’re testing one thing at a time
- Continuously optimize: Based on your data, make changes and improvements to your email strategy
Final Thoughts
The world of blogging is a competitive landscape, so you need all the help you may get. With email marketing you can rise above the noise and start creating a strong connection with your audience.
By implementing the tips outlined above and adhering to email marketing best practices, you’ll be well on your way to creating compelling newsletters that not only get opened but also drive readers back to your blog, boosting engagement and propelling your website’s success.