You’re email design options are practically unlimited which can make this task feel overwhelming. So, let me give you a step-by-step guide on how to approach this.
1. Content Format
This means is your newsletter going to provide written content only? Are you going to publish a video newsletter? Do you intend to include audio and written content?
2. Content Sections
Basically outline your email newsletter content, such as:
- A note from you
- Table of contents
- Feature article
- Promotion
- Bio
- Copyright
Are you going to include contact information or links to social media? Will you provide the entire feature article in your newsletter or link back to your blog?
3. Draw it out with pen and paper.
I’m no artist, but even I can draw boxes (for the most part!), so I know you can do this. Just grab a piece of paper and draw out exactly where you see each piece fitting. . .from the header to your footer.
4. Create it.
Now you can go into your list management service and find a standard template that most closely matches what you’ve drawn out and will include a place for each piece of content you want to provide. These standard templates will likely not be 100% what you envision, but if you are just starting and want to keep overhead costs minimal this is an option to consider.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson
Hi Lisa, Thanks for posting this. I am right in the throws of desiging my first newsletter that will have graphic elements. My previous newsletter was text, only. So I just needed to focus on the content. I have been a holistic health reseracher and preactitioner for more than 30 years, so I have quite a bit of knowledge there. But I am completely new to newsletters. I can use all the help I can get.
Once I have my newsletter ready, which I think will be by 5/17/2011, I would love to send you a copy for your critique. Please let me know if that is OK. You can either send me a mesage to let me know it is OK, or you can subscribe. (If you cange your mind you can always unsubscribe.) Here is the link:
http://www.MyHealthOptimizer.com Then Click the Newsletter TAB.
Thanks!
To your health!
Jeff Bell
jeff@MyHealthOptimizer.com
Lisa-
Some sound advice, but there is one other point I would like to make.
Even before taking Step 1, decide if you are in a position to commit to the production of a client newsletter every month, for many months or years.
My company provides customized client newsletters to group benefit brokers. Many of our customers are from small to mid-size agencies that attempted to produce their client newsletter in-house. Most of them stopped producing newsletters in-house in less than 6 months.
Why? Because producing a quality newsletter takes time – and time is a valuable business resource. They soon realized that they earned their living by taking care of their clients – not by publishing a newsletter. Phone calls from clients took priority over writing articles.
If you opt to outsource your client newsletter, here are a few tips.
1. Select a newsletter provider that knows your market well. Some providers try to servie any & every profession – and they tend to come up short. Since 2002 my company has stayed focused on the broup benefits market. We are now looking into other markets / professions but only a very limited number so we can keep a stronger focus.
2. Make certain the content is focused on current issues that are relevant to your audience.
3. Ask about including content you provide from time-to-time to give your newsletter a stronger connection to your audience.
4. Select a provider that gives you the highest level of branding possible with your newsletter. Your business name & logo should appear at the very top of page-1, and somewhere on each succeeding page.
I just use mailchimp……easy, quick.
thanks for such an informative post….
There is a great program I have used for Email Newsletters, very affordable and great ROI
For instance access to a 30 day free trial of the VMA emailer, check out
http://www.vma-emailmarketing.com/