Advice for Writers: Newsletter Must Haves Every Writer Should Use

Newsletters can be really fun. But putting one together is sometimes a bit daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. To help you out, I put together two checklists. The first is the bare minimum you need in your newsletter. The second list includes some extra things you can add if you want to take your newsletter to the next level. Let’s take a look!

Bare Minimum Necessities

Newsletters don’t have to be super complicated. The most important thing about your newsletter is that it communicates who you are as a person and as an author, and lets people know you exist. In every newsletter you write, make sure you include the following:

Updates

Your newsletter updates can be as simple as sharing what you’ve been writing or what fun outing you went on recently. Including pictures can be a great way to engage your readers and help them get to know you. However, it isn’t a requirement. I have seen a few authors with great newsletters that include only the occasional photo.

Book and Website Links

Each newsletter needs to contain a way for your readers to find out more about you and your products. A really easy way to do this is to include a links section in your newsletter template that is all set up with your book links and website link. This way, your readers will always know where to go to find out more and buy your books without requiring you to remember to add links to every email.

Call to Action

In each email, you also need to include a call to action. This can be anywhere in the newsletter, but it’s often included at the end. Your call to action can be anything from “Let me know what you think about this newsletter” to “What did you read this week?” and everything in between! It’s great to ask people for reviews and to buy your books. But make sure you do this only about a third of the time.

Next Level Newsletters

If you end up loving your newsletter and want something a little more exciting or just want to make yours a little more you, here are three things you can add to take your newsletter to the next level!

Book Photo Banner and Branding

Branding your newsletter is a great way to make it stand out in people’s minds. Once you find your brand, people will be able to recognize your newsletter as soon as they open it, even if they just clicked it by accident. This can be a great way to pull people in and remind them you have great things for them to read. A great place to start with branding is your email header. Adding photos of your books, a tagline, and fonts that fit your vibe and book branding is a great way to make a memorable email style.

Hobby Section

Including a section that is all about your hobbies is not only fun for your readers, but it’s fun for you, too! This section can be completely free of sales lines and book pitching and provides a great place for you to just be you. Even if you must sell your book in a different part of the email, including a hobby section where you share what projects outside of writing you are currently working on can give your readers something they can relate to, help readers fall in love with your creative personality, and give you a place in your newsletter where you never need to sell something!

Fun and Games

If you really like to engage with readers, you can add polls! Polls can be a great way to add a call to action that isn’t salesy and include readers in your writing process. Some authors will ask their newsletter readers to vote on character names, book titles, craft projects, and more! It can be super fun for readers and really helpful for you too!

Have Fun

As always, have fun! Newsletters don’t have to be a chore. Sometimes it takes some practice and adjustment before you find something that works for you. Remember that newsletters don’t have to be complicated, and if it is easier on you, you are more than welcome to go with the updates, book links, and call to action. That simple format can become a brand in and of itself! Have fun!