Newsletters - How Often to Send?

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone! I have a mailing list and have been sending out a newsletter every other month. I'm wondering if I should increase the frequency? For people who send newsletters via email to customers and subscribers to your list, how often do you send them?

Thanks!
Lauren

[Former_Member]

I don't do newsletters yet, but I plan on it. I would say every 2-4 weeks is good depending on your shop. You want to keep your customer thinking about your items without spam.

My opinion is that every other month is a bit too long.

[Sidneyandcharlotte]

Shootlikeagirl and others who do newsletters: do you include promo codes, and if so, have you found that you are doing repeat business due to the newsletter promo? I would hesitate to do anything too frequent.

[Former_Member]

I do generally include something about whatever I am promoting at the moment-- whether it is a sale or new merchandise. I think the newsletter acts as a little "reminder" to people that my prints and greeting cards exist and are for sale. I tend to get repeat customers, even more than new people, so I am trying to nurture my existing customers. But, I also don't want to overdo it and be perceived as spam or be something that they will tune out.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Zehland]

It really depends on a lot of factors. The most important thing is that people sign up for it and you let them know what to expect when they do.

I send out a main newsletter once per month - that includes my entire business because I have a website and eBay store as well as Etsy shop. That is my big mailing list.

Then I have a niche mailing list which I send out 3-4 times per month - a quick notice that special paintings and prints will be available at a certain date and time. But the number of people on that list is much smaller and I know they look forward to receiving it. I would never mail the big list that often.

If you have good content that people will look forward to read, then you can send it once per month. You are right that you have to be careful not to turn people off or tune them out. You don't want to just pitch, pitch, pitch. You want to offer something of value to them. If people tell you they enjoy your newsletter, that is a good sign!