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Before we jump into a quick term clarification so that everyone can follow:

Newsletter = A weekly email you send everyone that signed up for it via software.

Algorithm = The code that dictates what you see online or on social media.

When thinking about how to help the biggest biodiversity heroes, I had to look into different marketing channels.

I considered launching a podcast, joining social media networks, creating a newsletter, etc. For a long time, I thought newsletters were a dying medium, though. But after some deep research, I changed my mind.

I am not going to bore you with hours of research. Here are my 6 key findings about the benefits of newsletters and why you should start one for your community!

6 Reasons why you should start a newsletter or focus more on it

1. You own your community

In comparison to your social media audience, you own the community. What do I mean by that?

Let’s take Twitter. In the past months, they massively changed their algorithm. There were even rumors that they closed down. Imagine you would have a massive community on Twitter.

If Twitter goes down, your community disappears. Your community is loaned.

People constantly change their favorite social media, but what remains? Their e-mail.

Building up your newsletter audience ensures you keep ownership of this community no matter what happens. You are 100% in control.

2. You don’t depend on constantly changing algorithms

Talking about algorithms. They change all the time.

Let’s take Instagram. Instagram was, for a long time picture based. Now the platform is going hard on video.

Leaving you now with the problem of learning how to create eye-catching videos.

If you don’t come up with a solution, sooner or later, your audience won’t see your content anymore.

So if people don’t constantly like your content, they will stop seeing it.

This is massively different from newsletters.

Yes, you have competition with other newsletters here too, but people don’t sign up for as many newsletters as they follow accounts on social media.

Meaning that even if they don’t read your newsletter, they will still see your name popping up on a weekly basis. Remembering them of your existence.

3. Newsletters tools get considerably better

Newsletter tools have started to develop too, and are reaching the next level.

Some exciting new kids on the block are emerging that redefine the newsletter game.

The Double Your Impact newsletter is, for example, hosted on Beehiiv. They come with refreshing new features that will help you to increase your audience.

To name a few: full customization, referral possibilities, paid subscriptions, ad network, etc.

4. You can get a new revenue stream

Thanks to tools like Beehiiv or Substack, you can now decide to monetize your newsletter. Thereby creating another revenue stream for your nature business / NGO.

Depending on how big your audience gets, this can double your impact with time.

If you manage to get 2000 subscribers and are charging them 5€, that would mean 120 000€ to your cause yearly.

2000 sounds like a lot? That’s 6 subscribers per day. You got this!

5. You create stronger relationships with your customer base

Newsletters are the perfect place to provide additional value to your donator/customer base.

Here you can give them exclusive insights they don’t get on any of your other channels.

After all, they provided you with their e-mail, so in exchange, they want something the others don’t get.

You can provide behind the scene, project updates, unique insights, etc., to keep them informed and entertained.

Step by step, you will build a stronger relationship that will hopefully lead them to support you financially sooner or later.

6. You can recycle or highlight content

“I don’t have time for this!“ Trust me, I get it. You don’t want yet another channel to entertain.

So what you can do instead is to recycle content.

You create one long piece of content. For example, something like what you are reading now.

You take this content and turn it into different formats, which you can then share on your social media.

👋Having trouble choosing between LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and co? Check out our 7 useful tips on how to choose the right social media platform!

Here are some examples of how to recycle your newsletter content:

• Take quotes;
• Make a summary post;
• Create a short video;
• Slideshows;
• Etc.

The content stays the same, you will just change its look of it.

🦊 Good to know: on Beehiiv, you can show your previous newsletters. Thereby using it as a sort of blog. Here is an example with the Wild Business Mates Beehiv page.

Your turn: enjoy the benefits of newsletters by following these key tips

Block yourself a timeslot for next week. What about Tuesday? Usually not as busy as Mondays. Then, follow these seven key steps to create a newsletter successfully:

1. Choose a tool.
2. Personalize the experience.
3. Define the content you want to include.
4. Decide how often you want to send one.
5. Implement a newsletter subscription on your website.
6. Write your first newsletter.
7. Promote it.

Here is a little cheat sheet to take away before starting your newsletter:

• Recommended tool: Beehiiv.
• Alternatives: Substack & Mailchimp.
• Set up time: 3 hours.
• Maintaining time: 2h per week.
• Frequency of newsletter: Minimum once a month, ideally once a week.

Build your own audience and create lasting relationships with your supporters.

See you next week. Have a wild one!

Oliver

Whenever you are ready, there are 2 ways Wild Business Mates can help you:

1. 1-to-1 business consulting. Detailed and personalized consulting to double the impact of your biodiversity venture in the shortest possible time.
2. Wild Business Mates in Action. Wild Business Mates help you to execute in areas you are struggling with. Tech, Marketing, Sales, Communication, etc.