Newsletters are a powerhouse tool for businesses and creators—they offer a direct line to your audience, delivering content right into their inboxes. However, it’s this very appeal that’s led to saturation. Standing out has become increasingly challenging.
How do you create a newsletter and keep it from getting lost in the shuffle? You need a channel that shares this direct-line advantage: SMS marketing.
This guide shows you how to harness the potential of newsletters and amplify their impact through SMS for unparalleled reach and engagement.
The foundation of any successful newsletter strategy is, of course, the newsletter itself. The following key elements will make your newsletter a must-read for subscribers.
Before you type a single word, consider why you’re creating a newsletter in the first place. Are you looking to:
The more specific your purpose, the more focused your newsletter will be.
Honing in on your specific readership bolsters the resonance of your newsletter. Consider your target audience’s pain points, interests, and demographics like age, location, and profession.
Your newsletter’s impact rests on your ability to connect with readers. Craft it with a laser focus on the potential value you can provide your specific audience.
The content of your newsletter needs to be consistently engaging and relevant to keep subscribers opening it time after time. Types of content that work well in newsletters include:
In every newsletter, include a clear call to action so readers have an opportunity to engage. To get inspired, look at newsletter examples from successful brands in your industry. These can spark ideas to apply to your own newsletter.
A well-designed newsletter not only looks good but is also easy to read. Keep these best practices in mind as you create a newsletter that suits your brand:
Tools and platforms like Mailchimp, Substack, and Canva can help you create a visually appealing newsletter.
Your subject line is the first thing readers see when it hits their inbox. Make it count by:
Your subject line is a promise of what’s inside when the user clicks. Make sure you deliver—it’s how you build trust with your audience.
Knowing how to create a newsletter is just the first step. The real challenge is ensuring it lands in the right inboxes. Fortunately, the right strategies can help grow your subscriber list and keep it healthy.
Once you have a solid list, keep it up-to-date by removing inactive subscribers, using re-engagement campaigns, and making it easy for people to unsubscribe.
Remember, it’s not just about the numbers. While a large subscriber list is ideal, the goal is to maintain a clean, engaged list of subscribers who look forward to your newsletter.
With its immediacy and personal nature, SMS is a perfect channel for your newsletter promotion strategy. The key is using it effectively for maximum impact.
First, it’s important to grasp why SMS marketing is so effective:
Using SMS for your newsletter effectively complements your email marketing strategy. Just keep in mind that building your SMS list requires a specific approach—one that balances enthusiasm with respect for privacy.
Read more about SMS vs. email marketing here.
These thoughtful practices will keep your SMS strategies on the right track.
Familiarize yourself with regulations like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act in the US or the General Data Protection Regulation in the EU, and get subscribers’ consent to receive messages from you.
Not only is this beneficial for the health of your subscriber list and your brand image, but it’s also just good SMS etiquette, and is a legal requirement.
Encourage people to text a simple word to your number, include an SMS option with email sign-ups, or feature QR codes that send people to subscriber forms.
Mention your SMS list in the newsletter itself, as well as on social media and in your other marketing campaigns.
Use subscribers’ first names in messages and reference past behavior for a personal touch, minding the timing of your messages to boost engagement.
Used strategically, text messages can keep your audience connected and engaged. Leveraging SMS for newsletter promotion is best accomplished with these strategies:
Taking a data-driven approach to SMS newsletter marketing efforts allows you to refine your strategies as you go. This way, you can stay on top of performance and deliver more value to your subscribers.
Keep track of these key metrics.
| Metric | What It Measures |
| Open Rates | The percentage of subscribers who open your newsletter |
| Click-through rates | How many readers click on links in your newsletter |
| Conversion rates | The percentage of readers who take a desired action |
| Bounce and delivery rates | Messages successfully or unsuccessfully delivered |
| Unsubscribe rates | The percentage of readers who opt out |
Researching industry averages can give you an idea of how to measure success, but only you can determine what works for you and your brand.
Subtext specializes in unlocking the full potential of SMS marketing for newsletter promotion. Our SMS platform is purposefully designed to capitalize on the immediacy and high engagement rates of text messaging, elevating your newsletter’s reach and impact.
Subtext’s powerful features make it simple to promote your newsletter via SMS.
Easily import your email list and grow SMS subscribers at the same time. You can also schedule SMS promotions to align with newsletter releases in a way that works with your schedule.
Send quick texts about upcoming newsletter content. Use polling features to gather feedback, which you can use to inform future issues.
Create targeted SMS campaigns encouraging text subscribers to sign up for your email newsletter. Subtext offers varied messaging options, including templates and drip sequences.
Segment audiences by interactions with both SMS and newsletter content. Track SMS metrics and compare them with newsletter performance to optimize your strategy.
At Subtext, we've redefined how to create a newsletter promotion by integrating the personal touch of SMS. Explore our case studies to see how businesses effectively use Subtext for audience engagement.
Book a demo to see how Subtext can enhance your strategy today!