15 Newsletter Examples that Increase Engagement
Newsletters remain one of the most effective communication tools for businesses. With an average ROI of $42 for every $1 invested, email marketing outperforms almost any other channel. In this guide, we show you concrete examples and strategies to create newsletters that your subscribers actually want to open.
What is a Newsletter?
A newsletter is an email sent periodically to a list of subscribers. Its purpose can vary:
- Inform: Industry news, product updates
- Educate: Tutorials, guides, practical tips
- Sell: Promotions, launches, exclusive offers
- Retain: Valuable content that maintains the relationship
Key Email Marketing Statistics 2025
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Average open rate | 21.5% |
|---|---|
| Average CTR | 2.3% |
| Email marketing ROI | 4200% |
| Channel preference | 73% prefer email for brand communications |
| Ideal frequency | 1-2 times per week |
Types of Newsletters
1. Curated Content Newsletter
Compile the best articles, resources, and news from your industry.
Example: Tech NewsletterWhy it works:textSubject: The 5 tech news you can't miss this week Hi [Name], This week in the tech world: 1. OpenAI launches GPT-5 with multimodal capabilities Summary + [Read more] 2. Apple introduces the new M4 chip Summary + [Read more] 3. AI regulation in Europe: what you need to know Summary + [Read more] 4. Chilean startup raises $50M for expansion Summary + [Read more] 5. Tutorial: How to implement authentication with passkeys Summary + [Read more] See you next week, The [Company] team
- Saves the reader time
- Positions the brand as an expert
- Creates an opening habit
2. Educational Newsletter
Teach something new in each edition. Ideal for SaaS, consultants, and B2B companies.
Example: Digital Marketing NewsletterWhy it works:textSubject: How we increased conversions 340% (real case) Hi [Name], Last week one of our clients asked us: "Why don't my landing pages convert?" We analyzed their page and found 3 critical errors: ERROR 1: CTA not visible enough - The button was gray on a light background - Solution: High contrast + action text ERROR 2: Too many form fields - Asked for 8 fields to download an ebook - Solution: Only email and name ERROR 3: No social proof - No testimonials or client logos - Solution: We added 3 logos and 2 testimonials RESULT: Conversion went from 2.1% to 9.3% Want us to analyze your landing page for free? [Request free analysis] Best, [Author name]
- Real and specific story
- Clear problem + solution
- CTA with concrete value
3. Product Newsletter
Communicate updates, new features, and improvements to your product.
Example: SaaS ChangelogWhy it works:textSubject: New: Automations + 3 improvements you requested Hi [Name], This month we launched features you asked for: NEW: Automations Now you can create automatic flows: - Send welcome when someone subscribes - Reminder if they don't open in 3 days - Automatically segment by behavior [See how it works - 2 min video] IMPROVEMENT: Faster editor Loads 50% faster on slow connections. IMPROVEMENT: New dark theme For those who work at night. FIX: CSV export bug Now works correctly with special characters. Thanks for your suggestions! [Product] Team P.S. Have ideas to improve? Reply to this email.
- Transparency in development
- Acknowledges user feedback
- Invites participation
4. Sales/Promotional Newsletter
Communicate offers, discounts, and purchase opportunities.
Example: Fashion E-commerceWhy it works:textSubject: Today only: 40% off everything (ends at midnight) [Name], this is not a drill. TODAY ONLY: 40% off ENTIRE store Code: FLASH40 Valid until: Today at 11:59 PM TOP SELLERS: [Image] Urban Pro Sneakers - $89.99 -> $53.99 [Image] Winter Plus Jacket - $129.99 -> $77.99 [Image] Everyday 25L Backpack - $49.99 -> $29.99 [SHOP NOW WITH 40% OFF] Free shipping over $50 Free returns for 30 days Don't regret it tomorrow, [Brand]
- Real urgency (deadline)
- Specific prices with discount
- Clear and prominent CTA
5. Welcome Newsletter
The first email a new subscriber receives. Crucial for establishing the relationship.
Example: Online Course PlatformWhy it works:textSubject: Welcome! Your welcome gift is inside Hi [Name]! Thanks for joining our community of 50,000+ students. Your welcome gift: FREE COURSE: "Productivity in 7 days" [Access free course] WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US: - 1 weekly email with practical tips - Early access to new courses - Exclusive discounts for subscribers 3 POPULAR ARTICLES TO GET STARTED: 1. How to learn any skill in 20 hours 2. The Pomodoro method explained (with template) 3. 5 apps I use every day to be more productive LET'S CONNECT: InstagramLinkedIn Reply to this email if you have any questions. We're here to help! [Founder's name] Founder of [Company]
YouTube
- Delivers immediate value
- Sets expectations
- Humanizes the brand
6. Re-engagement Newsletter
Recover inactive subscribers before losing them.
Example: Subscription ServiceWhy it works:textSubject: We miss you (and we have something for you) Hi [Name], It's been 60 days since you opened our emails. We want to know: are you still interested in receiving our content? OPTION A: Yes, I'm still interested [Keep me subscribed] And we'll give you 20% off your next purchase: IMBACK20 OPTION B: I'm no longer interested [Unsubscribe me] No hard feelings. Thanks for the time we shared. If you don't click either option, we'll automatically unsubscribe you in 7 days to keep your inbox clean. With love, The [Company] team
- Direct and honest
- Gives control to the user
- Offers incentive to stay
7. Community Newsletter
Share user stories, success cases, and community-generated content.
Example: Fitness AppWhy it works:textSubject: Maria lost 33lbs in 6 months (her story) Hi [Name], Today I want to introduce you to Maria, from Los Angeles. 6 months ago Maria weighed 180lbs and couldn't climb stairs without getting out of breath. Today she weighs 147lbs and ran her first 10K race. HER SECRET: "It wasn't a magic diet. It was consistency. I used the app every day, even if it was just 15 minutes. The community kept me motivated when I wanted to give up." HER 3 TIPS: 1. Start smaller than you think you need 2. Find an accountability partner 3. Celebrate small victories CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK: 30 days of 15 minutes of exercise 2,847 people have already joined [Join the challenge] Your story could be next. Reply to this email and tell me how you're doing. Coach [Name]
- Powerful social proof
- Relatable story
- Invites participation
8. Company News Newsletter
Communicate internal news, new hires, achievements, and culture.
Example: Growing StartupWhy it works:textSubject: We raised $10M Series A (and what it means for you) Hi [Name], We have exciting news: We just closed our $10 million Series A, led by Sequoia Capital. WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU: - New features we'll launch in 2025 - Expansion to 5 new countries - 24/7 support (yes, finally!) - Current prices stay the same OUR NUMBERS: - 50,000 active users - 99.9% uptime in 2024 - NPS of 72 (well above average) - Team of 25 -> 60 people WE'RE HIRING: - Backend Engineers (remote) - Customer Success Manager (LATAM) - Head of Marketing (hybrid LA) [See all positions] Thanks for being part of this journey. This is just the beginning. [CEO's name] CEO & Co-founder
- Transparency builds trust
- Communicates concrete benefits
- Leverages for recruiting
Best Practices for Newsletters
1. Effective Subject Line
The subject line determines if your email gets opened or ignored.
Formulas that work:| Formula | Example |
|---|
| Number + Benefit | "5 ways to double your sales" |
|---|---|
| Question | "Are you making this mistake?" |
| Urgency | "Last chance: ends today" |
| Curiosity | "What no one tells you about..." |
| Personalization | "[Name], your report is ready" |
| FOMO | "Only 3 spots left" |
- ALL CAPS
- Too many emojis
- Spam words (FREE!!!, Urgent!!!)
- Misleading subjects
2. Email Structure
text1. HOOK (First 2 lines) - Capture immediate attention - Answer "why should I read this?" 2. BODY (Main content) - One topic per email - Short paragraphs (2-3 lines) - Bullet points for scanning 3. CTA (Call to action) - One main CTA per email - Visible and clear button - Action text ("Download now", not "Click here") 4. CLOSING (Signature + P.S.) - Personal signature, not just logo - P.S. with second CTA or reminder
3. Frequency and Timing
Recommended frequency by type:| Newsletter Type | Frequency |
|---|
| News/Curated | Daily or weekly |
|---|---|
| Educational | Weekly |
| Promotional | 2-4 times/month |
| Product | When there's news |
| Community | Weekly or biweekly |
| Day | Open Rate | Best for |
|---|
| Tuesday | 21.8% | B2B, educational |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 21.6% | General |
| Thursday | 21.4% | E-commerce |
| Saturday | 20.1% | B2C, lifestyle |
4. Personalization
Not just the name. Personalize by:
typescript// Basic: Name only const basic =Hi ${name},; // Intermediate: Name + behavior const intermediate =Hi ${name}, we noticed you were interested in our article about ${lastArticleRead}.; // Advanced: Segment + history + preferences const advanced =Hi ${name}, As a ${role} in ${industry}, we know ${painPoint} is a challenge. That's why we created this guide specifically for you.;
5. Mobile Optimization
60% of emails are opened on mobile. Make sure to:
- Maximum width: 600px
- Font size: Minimum 16px
- Buttons: Minimum 44x44px (touch area)
- Images: Always include alt text
- Preheader: Complement the subject (first 100 characters)
Key Metrics for Measuring Success
Main Metrics
| Metric | Formula | Benchmark |
|---|
| Open Rate | Opens / Sent x 100 | 15-25% |
|---|---|---|
| CTR | Clicks / Sent x 100 | 2-5% |
| CTOR | Clicks / Opens x 100 | 10-15% |
| Bounce Rate | Bounces / Sent x 100 | <2% |
| Unsubscribe Rate | Unsubscribes / Sent x 100 | <0.5% |
| Spam Rate | Complaints / Sent x 100 | <0.1% |
How to Improve Each Metric
Low open rate:- Improve subject lines
- Better segment the list
- Send at better times
- Clean inactive subscribers
- Clearer and more visible CTA
- More relevant content
- Fewer distractions
- Better segmentation
- Review frequency
- Improve content quality
- Segment by interest
- Ask preferences
Sending Newsletters with Zavu
Initial Setup
typescriptimport Zavudev from "@zavudev/sdk"; const client = new Zavu({ apiKey: process.env.ZAVU_API_KEY, });
Send Simple Newsletter
typescriptasync function sendNewsletter( subscribers: Array<{ email: string; name: string }>, subject: string, htmlContent: string ) { const results = await Promise.all( subscribers.map((subscriber) => client.messages.send({ to: subscriber.email, channel: "email", subject: subject, text: extractTextFromHtml(htmlContent), htmlBody: htmlContent.replace("{{name}}", subscriber.name), replyTo: "newsletter@yourcompany.com", }) ) ); const sent = results.filter((r) => r.message.status === "queued").length; console.log(Newsletter sent to ${sent}/${subscribers.length} subscribers); return results; }
Segmented Newsletter
typescriptinterface Subscriber { email: string; name: string; segment: "new""inactive"; interests: string[]; } async function sendSegmentedNewsletter(subscribers: Subscriber[]) { const templates = { new: { subject: "Welcome! Your getting started guide", template: "welcome-newsletter", }, active: { subject: "This week at [Company]", template: "weekly-newsletter", }, inactive: { subject: "We miss you - See what you missed", template: "reengagement-newsletter", }, }; for(const subscriber of subscribers) { const { subject, template } = templates[subscriber.segment]; await client.messages.send({ to: subscriber.email, channel: "email", subject: subject, htmlBody: await renderTemplate(template, { name: subscriber.name, interests: subscriber.interests, }), metadata: { segment: subscriber.segment, campaign: "weekly-newsletter-2025-01", }, }); } }
"active"
Webhook Handling for Metrics
typescriptapp.post("/webhooks/email", (req, res) => { const { event, data } = req.body; switch (event) { case "message.delivered": await trackMetric("delivered", data.messageId); break; case "message.opened": await trackMetric("opened", data.messageId); break; case "message.clicked": await trackMetric("clicked", data.messageId, data.url); break; case "message.bounced": await handleBounce(data.to, data.bounceType); break; case "message.complained": await handleSpamComplaint(data.to); break; } res.sendStatus(200); });
Complementary Tools
For Design
- Canva: Free email templates
- Figma: Custom design
- MJML: Framework for responsive emails
For Content
- Notion: Plan editorial calendar
- Hemingway: Simplify writing
- Grammarly: Grammar check
For Optimization
- Mail-tester: Check spam score
- Litmus: Preview on multiple clients
- Email on Acid: Compatibility testing
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. No Clear Strategy
Before sending, define:- Goal of each newsletter
- Specific audience
- Success metrics
- Editorial calendar
2. Low Quality List
- Don't buy lists
- Implement double opt-in
- Clean inactives regularly
- Segment by engagement
3. Ignoring Unsubscription
- Visible unsubscribe link
- Simple process (1 click ideal)
- Offer options (frequency, types)
- Thank at the end
4. Only Sending When Selling
The 80/20 rule:- 80% valuable content
- 20% promotional
5. Not Testing
Always test before sending:- Subject (A/B testing)
- Mobile view
- Working links
- Images with alt text
Conclusion
Newsletters remain a powerful tool when done right:
Keys to success:Email isn't dead. Only boring emails are.