Primp My Blog: Build a Better Blog Newsletter

As you may already know, I started Primp My Blog as I was DIYing my way through my own blog design and development. Even though I’ve developed my following by blogging about blogging, I am the first to admit that I certainly don’t know everything! So when I began doing research into creating a newsletter for my blog, I was delighted to happen upon the lovely work of Moe from Five Sixteenths. I asked her to share her knowledge with you all, and today I’m sitting back as a student as Moe teaches us all how to craft the perfect blog newsletter. Enjoy!Hello there! I’m Moe, the blogger behind Five Sixteenths. 516 is a daily log of my post grad life, recent move to Michigan, all things DIY and blogging related, with a dash of style & decor thrown in. This past summer, blogging became especially important to me as a way to connect with other like-minded creatives out there, to promote my various business adventures, and to learn more about myself. Around February of this year, I decided to offer up a monthly newsletter subscription as a part of my blog, and haven’t looked back since!I’ve found that newsletters are a great way to build up your readership and share a personal connection with readers. As my blog grew, I felt like I wasn’t connecting one on one with readers anymore. Your blog is out there for everyone to see and you post content open to the public out there for anyone to stumble upon. A newsletter, however, is like a private communication with only a select number of people out there on the internet. These people could be readers or even just people who’ve signed up for your newsletter. Either way, they have given precious inbox space to you and you should use it wisely. First, though, I want to share with you what a blog newsletter isn’t.A blog newsletter isn’t…a flat out, outright promotion of your goods, services, shops, etc.a rehash of everything you posted on your blog this month.an email you’re sending to your best friend filled with lol’s, poor grammar, smiley faces, and poor design (though you should treat your subscribers as friends, after all… you do care about them!)Now that we have that out of the way, I want to share with you five starter tips on creating an effective newsletter for your blog:Choose a PlatformChoosing a platform for your newsletter is like choosing a platform for your blog. There are quite a few out there to pick from, so research your needs and evaluate the competition. I chose MailChimp because I love the templates, ease of design, and the overall interface. MailChimp offers a free subscription service that allows you to customize your templates, have multiple lists, send a giant number of emails a month (12,000 emails!), and have up to 2,000 subscribers. So MailChimp is pretty excellent when it comes to starting off. There are templates to choose from, colors to pick, it is nearly entirely customizable without any HTML knowledge. A total plus!Be Design ConsciousJust like your blog design, the design of your newsletter is important. MailChimp makes it super easy to customize a premade template and you can choose varying widths and columns. The design of your newsletter should be based solely on your needs, there is no right or wrong. However, the most successful newsletters will reflect the branding and style of your blog. The great part about a newsletter is nothing goes live until you send it! So play with it, preview it, and change it until you’re satisfied with your look. The best way to gain inspiration is to sign up for other blog newsletters. You’ll gain content inspiration, design inspiration, and gain an understanding of how the newsletter fits in with the blog or shop.After the first few months curating Five Sixteenths Newsletter with the same standard template, I gave it a facelift. Assessing your needs and playing around is a great way to develop the overall look of your newsletter. In fact, my research and change paid off when Kira happened to subscribe and called me up for this guest post!Share Quality ContentAs I mentioned before, a newsletter shouldn’t be a rehash of your blog, an outright promotion, or be taken lightly. When done well, newsletters can be a great resource and outreach for your blog! The Five Sixteenths Newsletter is a mix of exclusive, newsletter-only content, info on my feature sponsor, a personal message, and tidbits from the blog, in case the subscriber missed something. Use this opportunity to personally connect with your newsletter subscribers. A personal note or letter gives your readers a way to connect with you on a level different from popping by your blog everyday.Share old, but good posts from your archives, turn an old blog post idea into a tidbit for the newsletter, share a super secret project, or ask for an opinion. Connect with subscribers on a different level than you do on your blog.Create Interest One of the biggest newsletter struggles is gaining interest and subscribers. Five Sixteenths newsletter had 9 subscribers on the first mailing in March, but I kept writing to those 9 subscribers for a few months until I gained more by building interest. Use your social platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and post it on your blog. Advertise it like you would advertise a recent blog post. Offering an incentive for readership – a coupon code, free resource, etc. – is a great way to test the growth of your numbers. The more you send it, the more you advertise it, the more you mention it, the more subscribers you will get.I use the newsletter to host exclusive tidbits such as a Boost your Blog tip, a preview of the monthly thrift tip, and coupon codes for my shop.Keep Up EnthusiasmStarting a newsletter is a great way to drive more readership and create a stronger bond with your readers, but in order to do this, you must remain enthusiastic! Newsletters aren’t a one and done type of deal… you have to keep at it to see results. So keep sending to those 9 recipients and keep learning. Keep your newsletter active by sending out something at least every two months. One newsletter I subscribe to sends frequently but usually it’s just a little update, a picture, and something to inspire my indie biz goals. Nothing lofty or heavy, just a little check in.I’d love for you to sign up for the Five Sixteenths Newsletter (go ahead and sign up for Kira’s newsletter too)! Why? I am working on a Blogging 101 eBook (more info here!), to be launched September 1, filled with blogging info and tips regarding Organization, Design, & Networking. Newsletter subscribers get special access to a super secret Chapter 0 that has an open letter to bloggers, sneak peeks, and tips on blogging honestly, to be released at the same time the eBook launches. Not to mention, each month the newsletter holds sneak peeks on current projects, special discounts, and tips and tricks exclusively for you!I’ve always wanted to write a little book and now I am so glad I get to share it with you. Blogging is such an important part of my life and building a community is the best thing about it! Sign up for the newsletter to get notified as soon as it’s released!Find Moe: Five Sixteenths • shop • TwitterWant to find out how you can contribute to Her New Leaf? Click here for details.