Hey hey! I want to understand where you’re stuck at your newsletter and figure out how I can help you better.

This can happen in 2 ways -

1. A group webinar (I'll also explain the complete newsletter creation process here)

2. A 1:1 call (This will be more focused towards your specific needs)

If that’s something you’re up for, please choose what will be most suitable for you:

How you write your content is as important as what you write about.

If it jumps around with no flow, readers lose interest.

When you have structure, your message is clear, easy to follow, and more engaging.

You have to keep subtly guiding them to the next step.

And when people enjoy your content, they’re more likely to act on your calls-to-action, like clicking links, sharing the email, or buying a product.

Today, we’ll look at exactly that!

Understanding Your Audience and Setting Goals:

Before you can organize your content, you need to know who you're writing for. Different audiences have different needs, so identifying your target readers is essential.

For example, if your audience is made up of young professionals, they might be interested in quick tips or life hacks.

Meanwhile, a group of business owners might prefer in-depth case studies or industry news.

Now, think about what they actually like to see in your newsletter. What kind of content gets the most clicks or opens? Do your readers prefer:

• Product recommendations

• News and updates

• Case studies

• How-to guides

You can look at which type of emails performed well in the past or ask them through surveys and polls.

You also need to assess why does your newsletter exist.

• Is it community-building? Maybe your goal is to engage a group of like-minded people.

• Is it educational? Are you trying to teach your audience something new?

• Is it promotional? Are you aiming to sell products or services?

If your newsletter is educational, you’ll focus more on tips, how-tos, and insights.
If it’s promotional, you might spotlight new products, discounts, or services.

But any of this won’t work if you’re not providing value. 

Whatever your purpose, you need to deliver content that’s valuable, interesting, and relevant:

• Educate: Teach readers something new or solve a common problem.

• Entertain: Make your newsletter fun and engaging to read, maybe through humor or storytelling.

• Inform: Keep readers updated on trends, news, or developments in your niche.

This way, you’ll have a clear framework for organizing your content and ensuring each piece contributes to the overall purpose.

Creating a Strong Newsletter Structure

Structure is key because it helps your readers know what to expect and makes the content easier to digest. For this:

Use a Consistent Format:

When you use a consistent format, they know what to expect each time they open your newsletter, which makes it easier to engage with your content.

You could do:

• Introduction

• Key Content

• CTA

• Sign-off

• Poll

Or, you could:

• Introduction

• Curated links

• Key Content

• Takeaways

• CTA

The formats are endless; you have to experiment and find out what works best for you!

💡You can study newsletters in your industries to get inspired by what’s working.

Include Sections for Regular Features

Adding regular sections to your newsletter gives it structure and provides variety. Here are a few ideas:

• Tips of the Week: Share quick, actionable tips that your audience can implement right away.

• Reader Spotlight: Feature one of your readers and their feedback or story. This builds community and encourages engagement.

• Curated Resources: Share helpful links, tools, or articles from around the web that complement your newsletter’s theme.

These consistent sections make your newsletter predictable in a good way.

Variety in Content Types

A newsletter that’s all text can feel overwhelming or monotonous, so mix it up:

• Long-form content: Use this for deep dives, case studies, or in-depth guides.

• Snippets: Include shorter sections, like quick updates or curated links, to break up the heavier content.

• Visuals: Add infographics, images, or even GIFs to add color and break up the text. Visuals are not only eye-catching but also help to illustrate key points quickly.

This balance keeps your newsletter interesting and prevents readers from getting bored or overwhelmed.

Organizing Content for Easy Skimming:

Make your content easy to skim so that readers can quickly find the information that interests them. For this:

Break Content into Sections:

No one wants to read a long wall of text. Breaking your content into sections makes it digestible and helps readers easily follow along.

Start by using clear headings and subheadings to separate different topics or ideas.

This structure makes it easy for readers to jump to the section that interests them the most.

Bullet Points and Lists

Bullet points and numbered lists are your best friends when organizing content for quick reading.

They also highlight the most important takeaways, making it easier for your readers to remember and act on them.

Use of White Space:

White space is simply the empty areas around your text and images, and it’s incredibly important for making your newsletter easy to read.

It gives your content some breathing room. When you use white space effectively, it:

• Makes your layout clean and organized

• Helps guide the reader’s eyes to important points

• Improves readability, especially on mobile devices

Use white space to separate sections, between paragraphs, and around images.

This helps readers focus on what’s important without feeling like they’re drowning in text.

Bonus Tip:

This has helped us tailor our content according to our audience across all our newsletters - taking reader feedback seriously.

When readers feel like their opinions matter, they’re more likely to stay engaged with your content. Plus, their feedback can offer insights into how you can further improve your newsletter.

It could be as simple as, for instance, moving the Key Takeaways section from the introduction to conclusion for Marketing Monk.

The reader who suggested this personally emailed us, thanking that their feedback was considered. And that wasn’t the only time this happened.

It’s been a game changer for us at the agency - you can also give it a try!

P.S. If you are stuck with your newsletter growth at any point, reply to this and I can help you out! 📈