Several people have asked me recently why I started my weekly newsletter and what's the difference between accessing your readers on social media platforms and sites such as Bloglovin vs sending them a newsletter. So today I'm going to share my top six reasons for starting my weekly newsletter (through MailChimp)!
1. Access. Plain and simple, the accessibility of your readers through their emails is the number one reason why I started a newsletter! Sure, I can post on Facebook and Twitter all day long, but not only will I be going up against algorithms, I'll also be competing with thousands of other blogs and brands doing the same exact thing. A very small percentage of my readers ever see my social media updates, but a very large percentage of my email list sees my updates because most people check their email daily.
2. Newsletters cover more ground in less space. I personally don't like to subscribe to an RSS feed or get emails every single time someone posts a new update on their blog. Newsletters, on the other hand, don't overwhelm my inbox and they give me a nice recap of the blog I love, so I wanted to do the same for my readers. I send out a weekly recap of what I posted during the week, and then I also add in some things from around the web that I think might inspire or assist them in some way. I also can throw in a weekly "throw back" and share an old post, which is a great way to revive awesome reads from months or years ago that new readers haven't seen. I feel like my newsletter is much more beneficial for my readers than my posts just constantly showing up in their inboxes.
3. Instant audience. You may not think about this now, but in the future, if and when you want to start making more money from your blog by selling something (books, courses, consulting, printables, etc) you have an instant audience with whom you can share your new product with and get the ball rolling!
4. You can get personal. Having a newsletter gives you the chance to get more personal with your readers. It's sharing the little things with others that builds relationships, which in turn builds a loyal readership base. You can also share exclusive content with them, like printables you've made or special content you've written. All of this grows your readership.
5. Brings in more subscribers. Speaking of exclusive content, a newsletter gives you the opportunity to do just that, which brings in more subscribers. It takes a lot for someone to just subscribe to your blog for no other reason than to get an update every single time you make a new post. But offer them something in return, and you get way more action. My email list has quadrupled in a month and a half because I offered my readers something in return for subscribing. I've only had one person unsubscribe after they got their freebie, but I've brought back lots of new readers who otherwise might've never returned.
6. Increases engaged readership. The awesome thing about having an email list and sending them updates on your blog is that it increases pageviews. I used to have a simple RSS feed subscription list, but some of my readers that I knew personally would mention that they'd read my posts only in their emails, meaning they never even had to click over to my blog to read it. The point of a newsletter is to engage your readers and bring them back to your blog. I have seen a definite increase in pageviews since starting my newsletter.
Those are my top six reasons! Every week I probably spend about 15-20 minutes putting my newsletter together, which considering the benefits it brings my blog makes it totally worth it. I hope you found these tips useful; feel free to leave any questions or comments below!
[Tweet "6 reasons why your blog needs a newsletter! #bloggingtips"]
Alycia
Very interesting points. I know I definitely don't have time for a newsletter right now, I barely have time to write a blog post. But this is a great reminder why I should start one in the future!!! 🙂
Jessica Dimas
Oh no Alycia! Yeah you sound really busy!
Mrs. AOK
I feel like you were directing this at me… because I keep putting this off. I really want to get a newsletter going, but I dunno, Fearlicia, again!
I *have* done a newsletter in the past but it was in no way weekly, I would say sporadically. And when I say sporadically, I mean I only did it twice. 😀
It's on my list.
XOXO
Jessica Dimas
Hahahaha! I wasn't directing this at you but now that you mention it, I really hope you start one again because I'd love to get a newsletter from your blog every week! And you have a link up which means you could offer your subscribers something like an early link up or let them know first when it goes live
Meg O.
Ughhhhhh I keep dragging my feet on this because it seems like it will be one more thing to do. I think once summer rolls around I will probably finally bite the bullet and do this. A lot of non bloggers read my blog (more than I expected) and email is a great way to reach them.
Tiffany @ A Touch of Grace
Some day my dear, some day I will do a newsletter. I love your newsletter and I think it's a really great way to engage non-bloggers especially. You have taken this blog to the next level this year for sure! It's been so exciting to watch everything evolve for you.
Jessica Dimas
Thanks Tiffany!! And yeah, I figured it was time for me to finally start getting a bit more serious if I was going to spend so much time doing it lol
Chelsea
Ah, I love all of these blogging tips you have been posting! This is super helpful! One of the things I really want to work on is changing my newsletter. I started it a year ago and just don't know where it is going. It needs a total makeover! So thank you for inspiring me and helping me think of some ways to give it an update!
Jessica Dimas
Thanks Chelsea, I'm glad you're finding them helpful! I didn't know you had a newsletter! I will definitely sign up for it! And I'm glad to help 🙂
Kristy
Yep, I definitely think it's beneficial. Now just to get my hiney to do it. 😉 Did you start your newsletter when you were on Blogger? I think it will be a while before I make the switch to WP, but I definitely feel like I could do this. It's like a little pow wow of people. Who doesn't want to be in a pow wow? Great tips!
Jessica Dimas
I actually started just a couple of weeks before I switched over. I got serious all at once lol. I definitely wouldn't wait!
Sarah
Hi from SITS sharefest! I always struggle with what to put in my newsletter. I have a beauty blog, and I feel like I get repetitive. Any tips?
Jessica Dimas
Hiiii Sarah, so glad you made it over here!! Well personally in my newsletter I just recap with my most recent posts, a throwback post (so 4 posts total cause I post 3x a week) and then I head over to Pinterest and look for things I've pinned that I wanted to read myself and share it with them. Maybe you could do something similar? There's so much inspiration on Pinterest, I always find a million things I want to share 🙂
Bev
I've had my newsletter going for quite awhile and while I always find it a pain to do, it's such a valuable tool. It's enabled me to have repeat customers for my jewelry and drive traffic to my blog & website. Great post!
Jessica Dimas
Yeah it can definitely have its painful moments lol. But like you said, it's so valuable. That's really cool to know its brought you repeat customers! I'm writing a book and I hope my blog readers are some of my first book readers too 🙂
Miss Sara
I publish my newsletter only 1x a month. It gives ME a platform to share a more personal "letter" with my readers and also highlight petitions that need support. I enjoy some of the newsletters that I receive from other sites as well. I believe every blog needs one. 🙂
Jessica Dimas
That's a really good idea too! Yeah I love the opportunity it gives to get more personal with your readers. I don't always do that but I like that the option is there 🙂
Heather Lynn
Hey!
I'm so happy that I found this through SITS Sharefest.
I've been very back and forth about doing a Monthly Newsletter. Almost 3 years ago, I broke my foot... Which turned into me developing a chronic pain condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. It's now in both feet and arms
Heather Lynn
Uh oh... Did my whole comment show up? Or did it cut off after Reflex Sympathetic Dystropy? Lol that will be awkward if it cut off..
Jessica Dimas
Lol no it didn't, but you made me laugh saying that 🙂 Wow that sounds really intense!!! So how do you manage? You were mentioning how you've held off on starting a newsletter, is it because you try to only do the necessary in regards to your blog because of your condition?
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom
I was so freaked out to start a newsletter. I thought it would be so time consuming but it's not bad at all. I love the "personal" side of it. I've been sharing stuff on there that I don't share on my blog.
These are great reasons you've shared here Jessica.
You are totally kicking it in the blogging world right now. You're my hero!
Wishing you a super awesome weekend and thanks for joining the Saturday SITSgirls Twitter party! It was fun to "see" you there!
xoxo
Jessica Dimas
Yeah it's really not at all!! I freaked out because I was scared to get that personal, like I wouldn't know how to fill it out or something! I love your newsletters for that very reason, I love how you share your personal life in your newsletters! And you calling me your hero just made my day!!!
Jaime Buckley
Heck you two---I'm trying to figure out what to do myself--'cause I'm ALWAYS personal....CRAP! (blows raspberries)
What am I supposed to do now? Be solemn.
(can you imagine the replies? "Jaime, what's wrong? Are you okay? Speak to us...SPEAK TO US!!!)
*sigh*
Jessica, I know you're right. For 2.5 years, I did a newsletter for 1080 professionals in the business world and ran webinars...all with a very strict format. An opening though, a main article, a powerful tip to help them make more sales and then my own thoughts on current issues.
Yup, it got shared. In fact, I think about 27-30% of the increase came form professionals sharing my newsletter with co-workers. Not bad. Sooooo, now I'm thinking, heck--how do I craft a new way for my fictional site?
Gosh, sorry...I just jumped in and interrupted your girl's conversation.
(oops)
Jess
This is something we really need to look into. Thanks for all the great blogging tips recently! I'll have to bring up the newsletter with my sister (and blogging partner 🙂 at our next "meeting" 🙂 -Jess
Jessica Dimas
Yes, it's so worth it!! 🙂
Gentle Joy
This is great information.... I have wanted to start a newsletter for a while, but haven't taken the time to figure out how to get it started.... this convinces me that it is a good idea. Thank you. 🙂
Jessica Dimas
It's definitely a good idea, and it does take an hour or two to figure out and mess around with, but after that it's very easy to set up every week 🙂
Simone Jones Tyner
Great advice! I've been wanting to do this but struggling with what to offer as an incentive.
Jessica Dimas
Do you have any advice type posts that you could combine into a PDF format? My top blogging tips incentive is really a post that I published and just elaborated on and added a few things to. Or do you know how to make printables or spreadsheets? People love those!!
Debbie
Hi Jessica, I've just signed up with Tiny Letters as I have been toying with starting a monthly news letter. I wasn't sure (and still am not) how to go about it, but after reading your post I realize that it will be beneficial to my blog and will be time well spent.
Thank you for sharing what you have learned.
#SHINEbloghop
Jessica Dimas
Thanks Debbie! It will DEFINITELY be time well spent!!
Gabriella
Thank you for sharing this! It took me most of the day (I have a 2 year old.), but I finally finished and published my first newsletter. Your post was very informative. #sitsblogging
Jessica Dimas
Yayyyy!!!!! I'm so glad my post was helpful for you. I made a few tweaks in mine the first few weeks but now I can update it in less than 15 minutes, it's so great and worth all of the effort! xo
Rebecca
Let's face it, you bring up great points and a newsletter is only going to benefit your blog....but I'm too busy right now! Shoot me! :[ When things begin to slow down a bit (does that ever happen?) I want to get on the newsletter train too! Pinning (Ps. Thanks for linking up to the #ShineBlogHop, cohost alert! Lol)
Jessica Dimas
Hahahaha I totally understand! I'll be here whenever you decide to get on the newsletter train to answer any questions you may have 🙂
Monica Booth
I don't have a newsletter for my blog yet, but it's something that I've been wondering if I should start. Thanks for the information! I actually just subscribed to your newsletter so I can see how you do it. I'll also take a look at some of the many newsletter tutorials that can be found in the blogosphere :).
Jessica Dimas
I have found it totally worth it!! People subscribe pretty often, much more than when I just had a regular feed burner. And I love that I can see the actual traffic that comes over and what people are clicking on in my newsletter, it really helps give me an idea of what posts are really resonating with people!
Keri
Such good advice! I have been working on this so it was very helpful! Thanks!!
Jessica Dimas
Glad you liked the post Keri!
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup
Thanks so much for sharing this info., Jessica.
It's given me something to think about for sure.
Pinning and sharing!
Jessica Dimas
Glad you liked it, Heather!
Cindy Hasko
I never thought about this. Great info and good to know. I will keep this in mind, for sure. This is helpful. Thanks!! xo
Jessica Dimas
Thanks Cindy, glad you found it helpful!
Heaven
Thanks for this informative post! I actually signed up for MailChimp just last week but was put off when they required my mailing address be on every outgoing post. I'm pretty private that way. What are your thoughts on this and did you look into any other hosting sites?
Jessica Dimas
Yeaaaah...that part sucks. I didn't look into other hosting sites, but I do know that a lot of ppl either get PO boxes or use even use a fake address!
Crista
I took your advice on this - THANK YOU.
Jessica Dimas
Woohoo! Awesome!
Elizabeth
Hi! When I started my blog about 1 year ago, I used Simple Subscribe - it was perfect- and then it got buggy in January so I jumped shop and found MailPoet. There are many things I really like about MailPoet but my newsletter/recent post goes to Promotions for my gmail subscribers; and I have a lot of gmail subscribers. I just want a newsletter plugin that let's my subscribers know there is a new post - in their primary inbox, like Simple Subscribe did. What would you recommend?
Jessica Dimas
Hi Elizabeth! Sorry to have taken so long to reply, I was in Mexico with limited wifi for 10 days. Hmmmm, I actually don't know about that. I use MailChimp for my newsletter and on my blog I use the Magic Action Box plugin, as well as the Genesis eNews Extended widget for newsletter sign up. But I only send my newsletter usually once a week and I have to do that manually.
Stacee
Great post. I've known about the importance of a newsletter for a while and this only affirms it. I am just going to have to carv out more time to make it happen. Aahhhhhh. There is so much. Whoever said - blogging is easy? Slowly but, surely it is all coming together. Thanks for the info. I love your blog!
Jessica Dimas
Hahaha I know, right?! Well, luckily once you set up a template for your newsletter, it's really possible get it done in like 15 minutes or less. Although I'm always changing my template LOL, ugh. Blogging is so deliciously haunting 😛
Isaly Holland
I considering doing a weekly newsletter. I want to do like a mail chimp campaign for my weekly posts every Saturday so people can see what I wrote about throughout the week.
xoxo
Isaly Holland
http://www.memoriesbyisaly.com