At BarCamp last month, I attended a session given by Julia Anderson of Unmatched Style. She shared some tips for people who are getting started with HTML newsletters. I’ve listed four of them below.
Have a goal in mind – This sounds simple but is often overlooked. Why are you starting an e-newsletter? What do you want from your readers?
Don’t forget your mobile readers – More and more people are going mobile. In any e-news tool you use, you should see an option to make your e-news mobile-friendly so people can read it on the go. In other words, include a “plain text” option.
Include a call-to-action – What should people do when they finish reading your e-newsletter? Make a donation? Volunteer? Visit your website?
Use text for important information – Images will drop off in some email programs or if people choose not to view them. It’s a good idea to include vital information, such as your organization name, as text instead of an image.
There’s a lot more to e-newsletters than these steps, but hopefully I at least conveyed a few of her key points. And of course, I have to make a shameless plug for a newsletter starting in February from the Palmetto Technology Hub. If you’re interested in nonprofits and technology, make sure you check it out.