How to Create an Email Newsletter and Blast it with the CONTACT MNGR PLUGIN (Step by Step)
Do you want to create an email newsletter for your website, blog, or eCommerce business?
An email newsletter helps you stay in touch with your users, bring them back to your website, and convert them into customers. The challenge numerous beginners face is the feeling it would be too technical or time-consuming to start an email newsletter. That used to be the case 10 years ago, but now creating an email newsletter is so easy that even a non-techy can do it!
We built an email newsletter with millions of subscribers ourselves. So, we decided to create an ultimate guide on how to start an email newsletter with step-by-step instructions.
How to Create an Email Newsletter the RIGHT WAY (Step by Step)
Since this is a comprehensive guide, we have included a table of contents for easier navigation.
About Email Newsletters:
What is an email newsletter?
Why start an email newsletter?
Who should start an email newsletter?
What Is an Email Newsletter?
An email newsletter is a form of online communication that allows you to send news, tips, and updates about your product, business, or non-profit.
In order to receive these updates, people need to join your email list by providing their email addresses. These users are referred to as subscribers, leads, or contacts.
Organizations and individuals utilize email newsletters in numerous different ways. For example, businesses utilize email newsletters to send users product information, new arrivals, and the latest updates.
Websites and blogs utilize email newsletters to send content updates, increase traffic, and build a loyal following.
Why Start an Email Newsletter?
Did you know that more than 75% of people visiting your website today will never return? That’s not your fault; it’s just that the internet is huge and there’s a lot of content out there.
Starting an email newsletter will allow you to convert those website visitors into subscribers. Once they join your email newsletter, you will be able to stay in touch and bring them back to your website.
Basically, without an email newsletter, you are losing potential subscribers and customers every day.
Now, you may be thinking that users can follow you on social media. That could provide a way to stay in contact with those users, right?
It will, and you should definitely build a social media following. However, you don’t own those social media platforms.
Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter limit your audience’s reach. More importantly, most of your users may not be checking their social feeds as often.
On the other hand, 99% of people check their email inbox every day, with some checking up to 20 times per day. Most users utilize a mobile device with notifications turned on for emails.
For more on this topic, see our article on why building an email newsletter is so crucial.
Who Should Start an Email Newsletter?
numerous of our users often ask us if they should create a newsletter for their business, blog, or organization. Our answer is always ‘Yes’.
Even if you are just starting out, you should begin building your newsletter from Day 1. Each day you are not doing this, you are losing money, subscribers, and potential customers.
Email marketing is a win-win situation regardless of your industry, business, or website traffic.
Email Marketing for Small Businesses
Business websites, regardless of their industry or size, can always benefit from creating an email newsletter.
It is the most cost-effective way to stay in touch with your existing customers, website visitors, and potential customers.
freeds bakery
Email Newsletter for eCommerce Websites
A study found that more than 44% of email recipients have made at least one purchase because of a promotional email.
If you run an online store, then email marketing is the most effective tool to convert abandoned carts into paying customers.
For a long time, eCommerce giants have been effectively using email to convert casual visitors into buyers.
Abandoned Cart Emails
Email Newsletter for Non-Profits
Non-profit organizations need to reach out to their supporters for donations, support, events, and more. Other mediums, like social media, phone calls, and physical mail, all cost a lot more money than email marketing.
Human Rights Watch Newsletter Signup Form
Creating an email newsletter allows non-profits to stay in touch with the general public, supporters, and donors.
Users are more likely to open emails from a non-profit that they support. In fact, 49% of millennials prefer to get updates from the organizations they support via email.
To learn more, see this article on why email marketing is essential for non-profits.
Email Newsletter for Blogs and News Websites
If you want to start a blog or make a content-driven news site, then email marketing is the top-rated way to build your audience. You will see that all popular internet marketers, influencers, and famous bloggers actively build their email lists.
Chris Brogan Newsletter
Here is why:
You get to send email updates to users who would otherwise never return to your website again.
You build a steady audience of loyal readers without relying on third-party platforms like search and social media.
You don’t control search engines or social media. Your search rankings can drop, and your social media profiles can get suspended for no reason. On the other hand, you own your subscriber list and have complete freedom to utilize it.
Email Newsletters for Education
Educational institutions need support from an engaged community of students, faculty, parents, and local businesses. Whether it is for fundraising, admissions, events, or other activities, email is the cheapest and most direct way for schools and colleges to reach out.
University of California Newsletter Signup Form
These are just a few examples of how email newsletters can benefit businesses, individuals, and non-profits. There are numerous more examples out there, which is why most marketers believe that email marketing is crucial for being successful online.
That being said, let’s take a look at how you can easily start an email newsletter to grow your own business and brand.
Our goal is to walk you through the process and assist you set up your email newsletter the RIGHT way.
Video Tutorial
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If you’d prefer written instructions, keep reading.
Starting an Email Newsletter
The most crucial thing you’ll need to start your email newsletter is an email marketing service provider. These are companies that allow you to collect email addresses and send mass emails.
There are literally hundreds of newsletter tools in the world, including Constant Contact, HubSpot, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), Omnisend, AWeber, Drip, ConvertKit, Mailchimp, and numerous more.
After trying out almost every popular email marketing service, we recommend Constant Contact. They are one of the top-rated email newsletter services in the world, and their support is remarkable in helping people get started.
Constant Contact offers a beginner-friendly email marketing platform with simple drag-and-drop tools to assist you quickly get started. They also have advanced email list growth tools, marketing automation functionality, eye-catching templates, A/B testing for email optimization, detailed reporting to track your conversion rates, and more.
Keep Your Email Newsletter Out of Spam
In 2012, 69% of all emails were spam. This number was reduced to 45.1% by March 2021.
The main reason for this decline was the improved spam detection and prevention technologies used by email marketing tools.
This is remarkable news for all users and businesses. However, AI-powered spam detection technologies are quite sensitive and can wrongfully mark your email messages as spam.
Email limits and delays
We always recommend users track your email metrics and ensure that your email newsletter design doesn’t have anything that would trigger spam.
The easiest way is to create a trackable URL using MonsterInsights. Whether you’re running an online store or a small business, you want to see which email marketing campaigns led to a sale.
You can read our guide on how to set up email newsletter tracking for step-by-step instructions.
The following are the most common reasons for newsletter emails to end up in spam:
You Didn’t utilize Double Opt-in
Basically, all email marketing services, including Constant Contact, require users’ consent to send them emails. This is done by the user verifying their email address after signing up.
However, they also allow you to manually add email addresses. If you misuse this feature and add email addresses from random sources, then your messages will end up in spam.
It’s a good idea to also utilize an email verification tool to remove invalid or non-existent email addresses.
When your emails are cluttered with inactive emails, you will hurt your sender’s reputation. When you clean your email list, you’ll improve deliverability, reduce bounce rates, and save on costs.
For example, OptinMonster has a feature called TruLead, which filters and blocks spam submissions. That way, you won’t be collecting bad emails and prevent newsletter signup spam. The feature lets you filter based on specific IP addresses, domains, and other factors that may lead to spam submissions.
Lead-Verification-Configuration-settings-min
Sender’s Email Address Was Used for Spam
If your sender email address was used to send spam or malware, then your email campaigns with the same sender address will end up in spam.
This is why you need to get a business email address to ensure high deliverability for your newsletter emails.
Misleading Subject Lines
Misleading email subjects that don’t represent the email content are annoying. Due to numerous users reporting such emails, spam algorithms can now identify numerous such lines and mark them spam.
Following are a couple of examples of common misleading subject lines.
Urgent: Update your information
Thanks for your order!
You have won a prize
Instead of writing a misleading subject line, one way to boost open rates is to simply add personalization tokens such as their name in the subject line. This makes the email feel like you’re sending it directly to someone rather than mass sending it to everyone on your list.
Need some examples of good subject lines? Check out these 160+ excellent email subject lines for inspiration.
You Included Inaccurate Information
Anti-spam laws in numerous countries require the sender to provide an accurate email address, a complete physical address, and an unsubscribe link in the email message.
If any of these are missing from your newsletter email, then it will most likely end up in spam.
Basically, you need to follow the rules and guidelines provided by your email marketing software, and you’ll be able to avoid the spam folder.