Engaging E-Newsletters Eric H. Doss Director of Communications, Charleston Atlantic Presbytery
New to E-Newsletters? Mailchimp is the Answer
Caveats E-Newsletters aren’t a silver bullet You’re only as good as your list Communication has to be strategic and focused Communication must be consistent
Legal Concerns CAN-SPAM Act: Not required for religious organizations, but… Must ask to be added Must honor unsubscribes
Why E-Newsletters? Cost Reach Rich Media Highest response rates Analytics: If you can’t measure it, it doesn’t exist!
Newsletter Strategy What is your goal? Must be consistent in: Tone and voice Content Timing Newsletter is a spoke: Website is the hub
Best Practices Remember your goals Draft your content Create Good Content: Timely, Useful, Educational, Complete Content has to be readable Pay attention to your subject line Images/Rich Media Calls to Action: Don’t assume!
Best Practices: Part Two Consistent Schedule Measure: A/B testing and Analytics Link to your website and social media Offer opportunities for engagement Optimize delivery time Use responsive design
BAD Newsletter Examples: What Do I Do?
BAD Newsletter Examples: HOLY FONTS BATMAN
Good Newsletters
Analytics Dashboard
Detailed Reports
Resources MailChimp-Free for 2000 contacts/12,000 s per month MailChimp MadMimi- Free for 2500 contacts/12,500 s per month MadMimi MailChimp Guide CAN SPAM Compliance