Don’t Let Your Newsletter Get Deleted
I’m a big fan of newsletters – I subscribe to way too many of them. Really…my email seems to be overflowing.
The downside: Electronic emails can easily get deleted or lost among other emails.
This morning, I nearly deleted a newsletter but guess what? I didn’t. Ages ago, I signed up for Dan Oshinsky’s email newsletter. He runs the Inbox Collective. Its purpose is to help you to write better electronic newsletters.
I was just getting ready to hit “delete” when his subject line caught my attention:
The best advice I ever got about newsletters.
Dan surveyed more than 20 newsletter editors/writers for their advice. It’s a great post and you can read it here.
Here’s a big take away:
Consistency is key.
People like to know when they can expect to see your newsletter. Really. They look forward to it. But you have to make it worth their while to read it.
Other newsletter nuggets:
Have a point of view. “Point of view is the writer’s way of deciding who is telling the story to whom. Establishing a clear point of view is important because it dictates how your reader interprets characters, events, and other important details.”
Insert your personality into your newsletter. Make it fun, make it something that people want to read.
Make it skimmable. Bold, italicize, and/or underline important points.
Figure out your newsletter’s purpose (yes, even your newsletter has a purpose). Is it to just give out announcements? Is it to tell your story in a new way? Is it a call to action?
Ask yourself: what’s the benefit of this newsletter to my reader? Consider the newsletter from your readers’ perspective.
And because it made a difference to me this morning, think about your subject line. How can you persuade someone to click and open your email?
Get even more ideas by reading this Inbox Collective article.
Your newsletter, whatever form it takes, tells a story. It’s a story about you, your church or nonprofit, and how your organization is changing lives.
Sure, your newsletter can be a place to share announcements, but that's kind of boring. Your newsletter is an opportunity to increase generosity, to gain fans, and to shine a light on the amazing purpose to which God has called you.
Make some changes if need be…but don’t let your newsletter get deleted anymore.
It’s too important.
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Bonus Content: Here are two unsolicited movie reviews. I love the movies. Only a few years ago (OK, maybe a few more than that), my third grade-self envisioned accepting a well-earned Academy Award. They like me! They really like me!
Here are the two I highly recommend:
The Wild Robot. This Pixar movie may be the thing Americans need just before the election. A beautiful story about family, differences, and interdependence – the stars are a robot and woodland creatures. No doubt, there’s a message in there for the church too. Bring hankies. Only in theaters.
Will and Harper. In this Netflix documentary, Will and his friend, Harper share a road trip – one where Will discovers how Harper must navigate the world as a trans woman. There are some hard scenes, but they are balanced by the goodness in many people they encounter. Harper’s story will break your heart and uplift you. And they both will make you laugh.
Photo credit: Tumisu @pixabay.com
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Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise millions of dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. She just listened to Pharrell Williams’ interview on Fresh Air. So now she’s Happy.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
Schedule a meeting now.
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