5 Steps to Create Your Email Plan

Today we are sharing with you what I believe is the most important lesson in our Email Communication that Works course: How to Create Your Email Newsletter Plan

Why is it so important?

Because as Benjamin Franklin once said…

People don’t plan to fail… They fail to plan.

In this lesson, we share with you the 5 Steps to Create Your Email Plan, but we also provide 3 sample plans – one for a church, one for a business, and one for a ministry.

If you prefer to read the highlights…

5 Steps to Create Your Email Plan

1. Define your audience. Who are you trying to reach with your email newsletters? What are they interested in? Why do they subscribe? How can your emails help them?

2. Determine your goals. What do you hope to achieve with your email newsletters? Your email goals should be directly related to your church, ministry or business’s overall goals.

3. Develop a content strategy. Create a plan for the type of content you will include in your email newsletters. This could include educational content, special offers, or links to register for upcoming events. For each goal, there should be content designed to reach that goal.

4. Establish a schedule. Decide how often you will send email and create a consistent schedule. This could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on your goals and audience. If you’re working with a team, determine content deadlines.

5. Determine responsibilities. If you have a team working on your emails, determine who is responsible for each aspect of the email. Who will edit and send them? Who will create the educational content? Who will create graphics? Who will provide info about upcoming events or special offers?

By following these steps, you can develop an effective plan for your email newsletters that engages your audience, achieves your goals, and strengthens your relationships with your subscribers.

To see examples of a church email plan, a business email plan, and a ministry email plan, you’ll have to watch the video above.

Part of a Larger Communications Plan

Your email plan should be a part of a larger communications plan that includes your website (whether you create it with a website builder or get a custom designed website) where visitors can subscribe, and your emails can link to so subscribers can get more info. And it should include search engine optimization, so that people searching for what you provide can find you and subscribe.

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Comment and Discuss

• Does your organization have an email plan? Why or why not?
• What comments or questions do you have about creating an email plan?

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