Why Newsletters are Essential for Your Small Business

Did you know there are over 4 billion email users worldwide, and over 300 billion emails are sent each day? And in Australia alone, almost 90% of internet users check their email every day.

And for small businesses, who are constantly fighting for the attention of their audience, email newsletters are often an overlooked marketing tool. Which is a shame because it’s one of the most powerful marketing tools you can have.

When you have an email newsletter, you control the relationship with your audience. You decide what you are going to communicate to them, when you are going to do so and you own your customer data. 

Why is this more important than social media for instance? With social media, you don’t own your audience. You are building your audience on a platform someone else has control over. So if Facebook or Instagram go down or you get locked out of your account (it happens, it happened to me), you can’t communicate with your audience - whether that’s for a short period of time or much longer. And what impact would that have on your business?

While they might seem old-fashioned, newsletters remain a valuable asset for any small business.

Here's why you should consider incorporating them into your marketing strategy:

Direct Access to Your Audience

Unlike social media posts that battle algorithms, newsletters land directly in your subscribers' inboxes, a space they intentionally check. For Australians, email is the preferred channel of communicating with businesses for 60% of internet users. This prime real estate gives you a higher chance of capturing their attention and sharing your message.

Build Relationships and Trust

Newsletters allow you to nurture relationships with your audience beyond just pushing sales. Share valuable content, industry insights, or even customer spotlights. This content-driven approach fosters trust and positions you as an expert in your field.

Keep Your Brand Top-of-Mind

In the ever-growing sea of businesses, staying top-of-mind is crucial. Regular newsletters ensure your brand stays fresh in your audience's memory, increasing the likelihood they'll consider you when they need your products or services.

Drive Traffic and Sales

Newsletters aren't just about building relationships. They can also be powerful sales tools. Promote new products, highlight special offers, or share exclusive content to drive traffic to your website and ultimately boost sales.

Gain Valuable Insights

Newsletters are a two-way street. Include surveys, polls, or feedback forms in your emails to gather valuable data about your audience's preferences and interests. This information can be used to refine your marketing strategy and tailor your content to better serve their needs.

Getting Started with Newsletters

Convinced about the power of newsletters? Here are some quick tips to get you started:

Build an email list

Offer incentives like discounts or exclusive content in exchange for email addresses. You can sign up for mine here.

Choose a user-friendly email marketing platform

Many affordable options offer easy-to-use templates and analytics tools.

Craft engaging content

Focus on providing value and avoid being overly promotional.

Maintain a consistent schedule

Decide on a frequency that works for you and your audience, and stick to it.

Remember, building a successful newsletter takes time and effort. But with consistent dedication, it can become a cornerstone of your small business marketing strategy, fostering stronger relationships, driving sales, and propelling your business forward.

For help with building your newsletter strategy, get in touch with me, I’d love to help. And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter here.