Everyone from food bloggers to business bloggers to design bloggers is running a newsletter these days. Have you thought about joining them? Do you think a newsletter could build your community, or would it only add to your list of things to do? How do you know if you should start one?
To help answer those questions, let’s take a look at the pros and cons!
Benefits of Starting an Email Newsletter
For bloggers who decide to run an email newsletter, there are several clear benefits. Consider some of these powerful advantages!
- Engagement: Newsletters give you an opportunity to reach out to your audience beyond typical blog posts—via opt-in emails that provide new or different information. This means not only new ways to target readers but also prime opportunities to build engagement.
- Value: Bonus content does more than build engagement; it creates real value for your brand. Whether you use the newsletter to share resources, videos, tutorials, or photographs, when you make the content relevant and useful, your credibility and reputation flourish.
- Authority: The more that readers see you as knowledgeable, the stronger your authority becomes. Through email newsletters, you take one more opportunity to demonstrate your expertise.
- Traffic: If you link within your email newsletter to content on your website, your newsletter becomes a great traffic referral source. Link to relevant posts within the body of text, include a list of “recent articles” at the bottom of the email, or regularly highlight archived content somewhere on the side.
- Metrics: When you send out your email newsletter, you’re not just publishing into the great unknown. The built-in email marketing tools included with most newsletter services will not only track your subscribers but also give you stats on how they’re responding to your email—What percentage open it? What do they click on? This intel helps you learn more about your audience and gives you wisdom on how to reach them best.
The Downside of Starting an Email Newsletter
Still, though, even looking at all the benefits of an email newsletter, how can you know if it is right for you? Are there disadvantages, and, if so, what are they? Consider the following:
- Time to Build Audience: Just as it takes time to build a blog audience, it takes time to get newsletter subscribers. You may be publishing to a small, select group of readers for a while in the beginning—is it still worth it to you?
- Time to Create Content: Even beyond the time it takes to build an audience is the time it takes to create content. Think of the effort you put into your blog posts each week. Do you want to add additional responsibilities to that schedule? Coming up with fresh newsletter content means spending creative energies on something besides just your site.
- Financial Costs: There are many ways to create and distribute a newsletter, but few are always free. You can start out with a free option like MailChimp’s, which allows you to send 12,000 emails a month to a list of up to 2,000 subscribers, but once your audience grows larger, you’ll have to upgrade for a price.
Helpful Resources for Building a Newsletter
If you decide to start a newsletter after considering the pros and cons, here are some resources to make the process easier, along with their starting rates:
- MailChimp (Free monthly for 12,000 emails sent to up to 2,000 subscribers)
- Emma ($30 monthly for unlimited emails sent to up to 1,000 subscribers)
- AWeber ($19 monthly for unlimited emails sent to up to 500 subscribers)
About Shanna Mallon
Email marketing is a good option for every blogger for creating some money. Nice post thanks for sharing it.
Prakash recently posted..Subway Surfers for PC, Android Free Download APK Online
Email newsletters are biG, bIG, BIG improvement for web marketing. 50% of my sales are from there. 5 stars, no doubt!
Yes you are right email marketing is a good tool for increasing the sale. It takes time but it is a effective tool.
Prakash recently posted..Subway Surfers for PC, Android Free Download APK Online
This is an excelent way to “catch” your visitors and make them to came back. Cuz if you don’t .. they forgot you and your site. Simply brilliant, that person who invented this kind of newsletters.
Twitter: AdamsSonsPump
says:
Though I do like newsletters for the engagement aspect, they can be a job in and of themselves. While there are ways to keep the costs down like using MailChimp, the content of the newsletter is key. It’s hard to find people willing to give their time without just compensation and still product quality articles. The reality is, newletters can be wonderful if done correctly, otherwise sending out a poorly done newsletter can be a bad reflection upon your company.
Twitter: suli126
says:
I like the Aweber services
A great newsletter is a great tool. Must have a good list and content though to monetize it’s advantages.
bert recently posted..Ronde tafel Business Club bijeenkomsten Arnhem/Nijmegen
Its always best to start with the free option of Mailchimp. Its easy to upgrade once your subscriber grows. Anyways, more subscribers usually mean better chance of people buying the product or service you are selling.
Preston Price recently posted..Buffer app – Best Tool to Schedule Tweets and Shares
The big problem with a newsletter is that one has to have a list – and that is really tough to build.
On my sense, authority is the most important for email newsletter…
The Email Newsletters is really good way. But we may need to tell the user how to unsubscribe it.
Sometimes, too many emails may bother user and they will be treat as spam mail. So there should a obvious way how to un-unsubscribe the email.
harrylu recently posted..Infinite Reach Broadband
Initially I was hesitant in using Email-newsletter marketing methods but I have acheived more than I expected with this method. I have realized is that in Email marketing the content is the most important thing to achieve success.
george recently posted..Physical Therapist Assistant-job description, salary, career
Twitter: rancorinfotech
says:
Useful article Shanna,
That’s why lot of bloggers prefer to use “MailChimp” as they get great service free of cost. If done correctly email marketing can help you to grow your exposure and reach.
Aasma recently posted..Mobile Recharge Software
Aasma,
Not allways is a good thing to choose for low price. If is cheap, belive me.. there is a reason for that. I’ve used that product for a long, long time, and i know what i saying.. If you want something with more features and without headakes like chimp, use please aweber. They’re the best!
Twitter: prosperouscoach
says:
Shanna, thanks for illuminating the many benefits of an email newsletter. I have been sending my newsletter, The Prosperous Entrepreneur, for five years now and often see an uptick in traffic, sales, and consultation requests after sending out my latest version. I use 1shoppingcart which I must admit does not have the best customizable templates. Some of my clients use mailchimp, with their beautiful array of templates and options. I also think Aweber has many great options.
Suzanne recently posted..Stretch Yourself in the New Year – Goal Setting for the Motivated Financial Advisor
Twitter: Ajayudayagiri
says:
Email news letters provide awesome service of publicizing the website. But, sometimes it may irritate the subscribed readers with repeated mails of their uninterested topic. And the cost of the email services is also a bit high in these days.
Reviewriter recently posted..Optinskin review | A Best Plugin To Increase Email Subscriptions
Twitter: GlynisJolly1
says:
Hi Shanna
I’m one of those who budget says I couldn’t spend any money so, of course, I use MailChimp. There are a few others out there that are trying to mimic MailChimp but they have a ways to go yet. The time element, I don’t feel, should be a hassle. After all, the whole point of a blog is to get people to it for whatever your reason is. The newsletter promotes that.
Glynis Jolly recently posted..Do You Want to Learn to Dress to Impress?
Twitter: marcie_hill
says:
Thank you for sharing this post as I am seriously considering starting a newsletter next year. I do have a small following but I’m going to use the tips from the post 5 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Blog to build this list. Much appreciated.
Marcie recently posted..7 Ways to Use Music to Overcome Blogger’s Block
I’ve always been a bit wary on the benefits of email newsletters purely because I just delete the spammy ones I get without even opening them. I guess I’ve just been looking at the small picture the last few years if you send out 10′s of thousands of emails you would only need a small percentage of the receivers to click them to make it worthwhile!
Twitter: foodloves
says:
Good point, John. Also — the higher quality of content you provide, the less likely your newsletters feel like spam to your readers. There are many spammy newsletters I delete right away, but there are a handful I look forward to reading. Quality is key.
Twitter: foodloves
says:
Thanks, everyone, for the positive feedback! Maybe 2013 will have us all starting blog newsletters to build our audiences!
Yet another great post by you, am really enjoying my daily visits to your blog. Regards.
Marcel Spitz recently posted..Lessons from a Genius and a Virgin
Hello Dear
really what a useful post really this is very beneficial post for marketer this is great way i think one of the most important think targeting audience really thanks for the sharing me
The message is just very ample! Thanks!
Your article helps me, thank you so much.
Thank you for your sharing. I want to post quickly but I do not know the way. Your article helps me, thank you so much
I think it deserves more 5 stars. Thanks !!
This is very informative and brief information given in the post which is very helpful for me.Thanks for sharing it.
nice artical great contant to be read in the entire artical got expand knowledge in this regarding feald to be apply in my antird thinking.
Thanks for posting.so nice and mind blowing post
I have been looking for something like this.nice artical great contant to be read in the entire artical got expand knowledge in this regarding feald to be apply in my antird thinking.Thanks for post this helpful post i need this post from more days. and i get so excellent massage.
I was not able to find any proper course on internet marketing.Atlast i have found one
With over 25 years experience providing and teaching Expert Energy Healing Massage Therapy Treatments, I can best resolve your issues primarily focused on the Head, Neck and Shoulders.
SPIRITUS means ‘breath’ in Latin. Our feelings ride on the breath; subsequesntly
during any face/body treatment emotional crystallizations dissolve thus facilitating
the healing process.
Twitter: howtospecialist
says:
Interesting aspects about using a newsletter service. If we can attract many subscribers, I really think this technique could help us improve the goals.
Jack recently posted..Cold Frame Building Plans
Twitter: freedommmc
says:
Very good post Shanna thanks for sharing,
Yeah I have learned this lesson this year the hard way.
There is a big opportunity being missed when people fail to capture an email and build their list.
The ability to follow up with a potential lead is the life blood of any business.
Your Online Business must have a constant and steady stream of new business opportunities in it’s pipeline or sales funnel or what ever term you wan to use.
The only way to do this is with an email management system Aweber is my fav so far.
Jacko recently posted..Want to earn extra money? Join the club – Friday is your last Chance to join HIC
I like the Aweber services, I am using from last six month and happy with that.
But i hear mailchimp also works good.
Thanks
Nikita recently posted..diamond ring under $1000
Before trying to use e-mail marketing, we should know for sure our target audience (people’s preferences, interests and wishes). Only in this case this process can be effective
Julia Spencer’s recent post.. How to Act to Make Your Brand Facebook Page More Engaging
Twitter: blogformatting
says:
That’s a great point, Julia! You should always write your email newsletter with your target audience in mind so that it’s worth your time and not another dreading thing to your already big TODO list. This will also make your audience time worthwhile :)
Delia recently posted..Conquering I cannot blog: I have no idea where to start from