Suggested Newsletter Format

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Understanding the importance of formatting email messages in a professional manner, online marketers format newsletters in a way that reflects seriousness about products and services. The following suggests an acceptable format (plus a few content ideas) that you can use to design professional-looking newsletters as well.

Newsletter Name
http://www.yourweb site.com | mailto:you@youremailaddress.com

Today’s Date

Your Subscription Info:
NOTE: This is a 100% Opt-In Newsletter. You subscribed at http://www.yourweb site.com/subscribe. If you would like to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yourweb site.com/unsubscribe, enter your e-mail information, tick “unsubscribe,” and then press the submit button.

——————
In This Issue:
——————

• Welcome
• A note from [Your Name]
• Feature Article
• Letters/Questions
• Recommended eBook: [Title]
• Marketing Tip of the Week: [Title]
• Special Opportunity: [Title]
• Q&A Help!
• Site of the Week: [Title]
• Your Feedback
• Thought for the Week
• What’s Coming Next Week
• Resources
• In the News
• Last week’s poll results
• This week’s Poll
• Classified Advertising
• Disclaimer
• Contact Information
• Copyright Information

——————

Welcome!
[text here]

——————
A note from [Your Name]
Opening remarks; a current event, updates to the site, etc.

Feature Article:
Title:
Author:
Web site:
[text here]

Letters/Questions from Subscribers:
[text here]

Recommended eBook: [Title]
[Description]
[Link]
[Link to download]

SPECIAL Opportunity: [Title]
[text here]

Q&A
[text here]

Site of the Week: [Title]
[text here]

Your Feedback:
[Feedback instructions]

Thought for the Week:
[text here]

Coming Next Week:
[text here]

Resources
[text here]

In the News
[text here]

Last Week’s Poll Results
[text here]

This Week’s Poll
[text here]

Classifieds
[text here]

Disclaimer
[text here]

Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information:
[text here]

Contact Information:
Your Name: [name]
Address (optional): [address]
City, State zip code (optional)
Phone number (optional) [phone]
Your email [email address]
Your web site URL [www.yourdomain.com]

Copyright Information
[NEWSLETTER NAME] is Copyright © 2003 [your name]. All rights reserved.

Please feel free to forward this issue in its complete format to anyone interested. Previous issues available at [URL].

Notes

Current events can be found in our Newsletter Format News section.

Notice the space provided to include un-subscribe requests. CAN-SPAM Federal Law specifies that subscribers have an easy method of removing themselves from online mailing databases. When online marketers receive this request, subscribers must be promptly removed. Marketers are also advised to establish a privacy policy for their newsletters. Privacy policies outline the newsletter’s intentions and practices towards protecting the email addresses of subscribers.

Privacy policies usually include:

• ~ what information is collected and who it is shared with
  Example: [COMPANY] collects IP addresses to gather demographic information. They are not shared with anyone.
• ~ who collects and owns the information
  Example: [COMPANY] owns all information collected. [COMPANY] does not sell, share or rent this information to others.
• ~ if and how information is shared with others
  Example: [COMPANY] does not share demographic information with partners and advertisers.
• ~ security measures taken (both online and off-line) to protect information
  Example: [COMPANY] takes every precaution to protect users’ information through SSL encryption.
• ~ company name, e-mail address, phone number
  Example: [COMPANY] voluntarily corrects, updates, or removes personal data.

External Resources:

1. Stunning HTML Email That Just Works
2. Email Marketing 101: Tips and guidelines
3. Poor Richard’s E-mail Publishing