13 Tips To Create Professional Looking Newsletters
1. Design Scannable NewslettersAccording to studies by usability expert, Jakob Nielsen, about 50 percent of readers skimmed or partly read the newsletters. Only 23 percent of readers read the newsletters all the way through. The remaining 27 percent were never opened. Make the text easy to scan by:
2. Insert Line BreaksImprove the readability of your newsletter by formatting it with hard line breaks at 60/65/70 characters per line. 3. Include Newsletter Title In The Subject FieldInclude your newsletter title at the beginning of the subject field. This will help the reader differentiate your newsletter from junk emails. It will also allow them to filter your newsletter into a separate folder with the use of filters. 4. Make Your Subject Field Sell!Advertise the most enticing story of each issue in the subject field. You literally have seconds to grab the readers attention, so make it count. 5. Include A Table Of ContentIf the newsletter is long, include a table of contents at the top. This will allow readers to scan the topics to see if anything in the newsletter catches their interest. 6. Fix Long LinksLong hyperlinks may be broken when you format text emails, you may want to ensure you use short links or use a redirect to avoid potential issues. 7. Avoid Spam Filters That Flag The Certain WordsDo not use words that you think may cause an issue with spam filters. Use alternative wording instead. 8. Avoid Spam Filters That Flag Chain LettersSome spam filters are flagging emails that asks readers to forward the newsletter on as chain letters. Avoid using the word “forward” and any of the following words in the same sentence, “all, anyone, every, friends, many, others, people.” Instead of “forward,” try using “pass,” “share,” or “send.” 9. Reduce Remove Request EmailsThere are two methods to reducing the number of remove email requests from your subscribers:
10. Design User-Friendly HTML NewslettersFormat your newsletter to mobile friendly or at least readable on small screens. 11. Create HTML Friendly NewslettersGmail, AOL, etc, protect users by eliminating potential security hazards. Avoid these tags in your newsletter HTML:
In addition, the following HTML tags are the only ones supported by AOL email clients:
12. Include Text Version of HTML EmailInclude a link to a text version of your newsletter hosted on your website or newsletter systems site. 13. Spell Check Your ContentAll modern editors include spell check so this should not be an issue, however, grammer is a whole ‘nother topic. BONUS:FREE TRIAL iContact Newsletter SystemCall 877-627-2492 to discuss your marketing plan today. |
Author: Michael Wong is the editor of GoDefy.com – the world’s first internet marketing comparison shopping search engine and Mike’s Marketing Tools. Michael is also the author of the leading SEO book and numerous marketing tips. Visit his web sites at http://www.goDefy.com & http://www.Mikes-Marketing-Tools.com
Edited by Earth Skater 2/5/15