your brand. In order to write great newsletters, you need

to start with the end in mind. That means, you need to know what it is you want your

readers to DO when they read your newsletter. This is your call to action and every newsletter

needs one. Examples of a call to action can be to:

Use a coupon code RSVP to an upcoming event

visit your website to read about new products once you've established your call to action,

try to think about how you can lead readers to it without sounding too pushy.

Next step - the subject line. Like you, your subscribers likely scan their

email inbox looking to clean it out and delete unwanted mails. Don't give them an excuse

to delete your newsletter! When writing your subject line, use these rules of thumb:

People are more likely to open emails with a timely or enticing premise in the title.

Good subject lines are attention-grabbing and thought-provoking. Our August Newsletter

won't do the trick. Your subject line should be between 5

and 7 words long. Don't use all capital letters and be

wary of using exclamation points. They can make your email look like spam and many email services will block it.

What's the best practice? Before you hit send, read the subject line to yourself and

decide - would I open this email? Next, choose great images for your newsletter.

They should be relevant to your business, interesting or beautiful to look at. (Or you

can just use kittens or babies.) Pictures are a great way to catch your readers' attention

and encourage them to keep reading. When coupled with a catchy title, they can go a long way in increasing open rates.

What's the best practice? - Use compelling, original images in high resolution. Or kittens.

Content is key to achieving your goal! Not sure how to produce good content? Here are

a few tips: Make sure your newsletters share either

timely, educational or valuable content. Don't write fluff just to fill the page.

Break your newsletter up into short paragraphs with headers. Long paragraphs can cause readers'

eyes to quickly glaze over. Get to the point. Write only as much as you need to get the

message across. Keep jargon out. Don't try to show off;

it's not a term paper. Use a casual, but professional tone. Be friendly and informative.

What's the best practice? Fill your emails with interesting and relevant

articles, tips, links to great websites or inspirational ideas. Vary the content in each

of your newsletters to keep them fresh. Write content worth reading.

Finally, when sending out your newsletter, remember to think about timing and frequency.

Don't exhaust your subscribers with constant emails. They'll unsubscribe. On the other

hand, if you promised a monthly newsletter chock full of tips or coupons, keep your promise

and stick to a regular schedule. Send out newsletters in the morning, ideally

on a work day. That way, they have the best chance of being read. Emails sent on Friday

afternoon can easily get buried in your subscribers' inboxes over the weekend.

What's the best practice? Send out your newsletter once a month or once

a season on a Monday or Tuesday morning. Ready to get started? Check out Wix's ShoutOut

and start creating great newsletters!