From a copywriter who’s sent over 260 newsletters weekly

I’ve sent an email newsletter weekly to my email list since 2020. Some weeks, even more. That’s not even counting when I up the frequency of list emails sent during a pre-launch or launch phase, when I have additional resources and content to share, or just more to say (I have a lot of opinions lol). That’s a grand total of over 260 newsletters weekly just for my own brand.

There’s also the thousands of email newsletters I’ve written for clients in my copywriting studio over the years. And I’ve yet to put everything I know about sending a newsletter weekly to my email list in a single place like this. So that’s what this is. Welcome to the Holy Grail of emailing a newsletter weekly to your subscribers for your small business.

In this post, I’ll cover:

• What is a newsletter?
• Why you shouldn’t sleep on email marketing for your small business any longer.
• How to write a weekly newsletter.
• Beginner-friendly email marketing strategies you can try to grow.
• My recommended weekly newsletter formatting.
• And weekly newsletter ideas to try for yourself.

Plus a free download: You can grab my Newsletter Weekly Prompt Pack here and get started emailing a newsletter weekly to your list—there’s 52 ideas in that pack. Literally an email newsletter every week without you having to think about what to say.

What is a newsletter?

First, what is a newsletter? You probably have a general idea of what a weekly newsletter is if you’ve landed on this blog post. But to summarize, a newsletter is a marketing channel for your business. Small businesses, personal brands, and freelancers can leverage email marketing to send a newsletter—weekly, often—to their subscribers.

The goal of a weekly newsletter is to warm your audience, getting them ready to buy when the time is right (or when you schedule a launch, for example).

By emailing a newsletter weekly, you do a few beneficial things for your business:

• Stay relevant and top of mind for subscribers.
• Engage more personally with your audience than social media—right in their inbox!
• Start to build a genuine community versus more passive followers on socials.
• Offer valuable insight that shapes the perception of your brand/business.
• Get in the habit of talking to your ideal customers, so you can better sell to them when the time is right.

Among other things.

Why do I need an email list?

You need an email list in 2025 and beyond. Full stop. Some benefits of an email list include:

• It’s easier to transition services or offers because you already have an engaged list of subscribers.
• No more fighting with algorithms or feeding the social media monster daily.
• More personal connections with potential customers via their inbox.
• The opportunity to show what you know with longer form content.
• You own your subscriber list, so you can keep emailing them even if meta breaks tomorrow.
• No more relying on just referrals to grow your business and get clients.
• Potential to increase conversions (sales!) by warming this list first.

And so many more.

Make this the year you finally check your email marketing goals off the list instead of pushing them to the side again.

How to write a weekly newsletter

Now that you know the value of an engaged email list, how do you write a weekly newsletter that people actually want to read? I have a few tips on how to write a weekly newsletter that you can implement asap. Even if your list is tiny (or non-existent) right now, save these to try with your first few subscribers and watch the difference it makes.

Experiment with your style

Failures and setbacks are just data. So don’t be afraid to try things. The more you experiment with your style to see what resonates, the more data you collect. The more data you have, the better choices you can make.

So consider this your permission to (strategically) try things with your email list. See what your audience resonates most with. The format. The topics. The messaging. Try until you find something that stands out as the clear winner.

Choose a consistent schedule

Your schedule could be monthly in the beginning, or every other week. Although I do recommend sending newsletters weekly at least—yes, even at first with a tiny list—consistency is better than choosing something you can’t stick with, and giving up before you see results.

Keep it simple at first

Your first weekly newsletters don’t need to be overly complicated. They can be short and sweet—a few paragraphs, a couple tips. Your email marketing strategy can get more complex and in depth as you grow. Maybe you’re even able to get guidance from a consultant or support in the form of someone writing your newsletters weekly for you at some point!

Don’t be afraid to give valuable information

Some people worry about giving away too much for free. While yes, this is possible, you don’t need to stress. Not everyone will open every email. And even if you share similar facts behind a paywall within your offers, those facts aren’t the same as legitimate transformations you facilitate.

You can give people a roadmap, but the real value is in your personal touch.

Tell relatable stories in your newsletter weekly

Don’t be afraid to show your subscribers who you really are! This is especially important if you have a personal brand. People buy who they know, like, and trust. They want to feel connected in some way. So tell stories in your weekly newsletters as a way to connect.

Write to your ideal clients in your newsletter weekly

When writing your newsletters weekly, you need to write to a specific audience segment. Think of them. What do they want to hear from you? What’s relevant? What might help them? What will make them comfortable to purchase from you?

Send a newsletter weekly with these beginner-friendly email marketing strategies

Even if you’re not an email marketer, there are some simple strategies you can try as a beginner. Of course, there are more complex things you can add into your email marketing strategy as you grow.

Focus on storytelling over selling

Yes, it helps to have some copywriting skills. But honestly, anyone can write simple stories so don’t let that scare you. You’ll get better over time!

Offer a lead magnet to grow your list

A common way to collect more subscribers is offering a free lead magnet in order to get them on your list. This mutually beneficial exchange is an incentive of course, but it also shows them what to expect from being on your list. You’re just so good that you offer up quick wins, insights, and valuable information for free. They love the free download they get. You grow your list. Both of you get to stay in touch. Win win!

Lead magnets could be free downloads, like checklists and other tools, templates, a masterclass, webinar, or mini course.

Grab Lead Magnets Made Easy for more help with strategizing and building your first lead magnet.

Write an automated nurture sequence

If you make a lead magnet, you’ll also want some kind of automated welcome or nurture sequence to introduce new subscribers to your world. Instead of just sending the lead magnet, you can share more about who you are, how they will know if they’re in the right place, how you can help, and more.

Grab the Opt-In Friendly Emails for nurture sequence template options you can easily plug into your business.

Tech tools to email newsletters weekly

ActiveCampaign is my go-to recommendation for your email automation platform. It’s more robust than other options. However, because of the power it has and data it provides, there’s a bigger learning curve than with other options. I’ve never personally used these, but freelancer and service providers often like Kit and Flodesk as well.

If you have plans to sell digital products and courses, ActiveCampaign may be the best fit.

My recommended format to email a newsletter weekly

There’s a few things to consider with your weekly newsletter format. You need to know the answer to the following questions for yourself. Try to keep the weekly newsletter format consistent.

• What’s the promise or premise of being on your list? What do they get and why is it something they need?
• What types of content do you usually send? Do you want to share quick tips or more thoughtful advice? Or both?
• How often do you plan to send a newsletter? Weekly is common for personal brands and freelancers, and all you really need to commit to at first.
• What’s your writing style? Long or short? Conversational or jargon-filled? I recommend keeping it easy to ready, but length matters less—that decision should be based on your audience’s preferences.

Beyond these answers, most weekly newsletters will include a few sections:

• An engaging hook.
• The story that keeps them reading.
• The transition or tie in to your core message.
• The CTA, which isn’t necessarily an ask to purchase something. It could be another action.
• Relevant links—to your blog, additional resources, etc.

Your weekly newsletters should look and sound like your brand, and be consistent with the work you do with clients. Subscribers should know who they’re working with even before they formally meet you. Reading your newsletter weekly is often the first introduction these days.

Ideas to email a newsletter weekly for personal brands and freelancers

Need some ideas of the types of topics you could write about in your newsletters each week? Here’s a few to get started.

• Behind the scenes of your business and life.
• Personal and professional routines that help you serve clients.
• Brand education and what it’s like to work together.
• Client case studies and wins.
• Tips and advice to help them get quick wins.
• Conversation starters and feedback requests.

If you’re ready to get consistent with your email marketing, The Newsletter Weekly Prompt Pack is a resource you need in your toolkit. It includes 52 weeks of email prompts that you can write in 30 minutes or less each week. Learn more and download for free here.

The Newsletter Weekly Prompt Pack is for freelancers and service-providers who aren’t natural marketers. It includes direction on how to structure your weekly email newsletters, prompts to easily plug your own stories into, and subject line swipes for inspiration.

I’ve seen email marketing cause too much stress for too many online business owners. My goal is to make it easier for you. You might even like email marketing after using the Newsletter Weekly Prompt Pack.

Happy emailing!

Watch the video instead! Email a newsletter weekly