When it comes to deciding, "blog vs newsletter", it's all about your audience and content. As a writer, it can be hard to decide which one to use to promote your book or writing business. Instead of trying to decide which one to do, you can get a better outcome by doing both.
If you’re curious about the difference between a newsletter vs blog, then continue reading to learn more. We'll discuss these tools, their advantages, and how to use them to grow your readership.
But first, let's define what each one is!
What is a blog?
A blog is a personal website or webpage businesses or individuals can use. On a blog, individuals and businesses share their insights and opinions on specific topics.
Many blogs answer questions about certain topics or share information, experiences, or expertise.
Because blogging has become popular and helpful over the years, it is not uncommon for people to build a full-time career in blogging.
For authors and writers, blogs can be a helpful addition to your website.
What is a newsletter?
A newsletter is an email that is sent to people who subscribe to an email list. You likely have a good idea of what a newsletter is as you may already receive frequent newsletter emails from other businesses.
The primary purpose of a newsletter is to share information about a business or company, specifically with those interested in or investing in said business or company.
It’s also a way for authors and writers to share information with their readers. Some examples of ideas that can be shared in a newsletter are new articles, book release dates, and other valuable insights for loyal customers and supporters.
Difference between blog vs newsletter
When it comes to a blog vs newsletter, there are some similarities. However, there are also many differences.
The audience they reach
One of the main differences between a newsletter vs blog is the audience. Specifically:
Blogs are written for a large audience
Blogs are for the general public. As a writer, having a blog helps you have an online presence and catch the attention of readers who may not know about you.
Because a blog is open to the general public, it’s important that blog authors use SEO to help people find their blog on the internet.
Newsletters are for a dedicated group of readers
The audience for newsletters is more exclusive. As mentioned, newsletters are sent to email subscribers, which are people who specifically signed up for the newsletter.
Since newsletters are sent to a specific group of people, it allows you to share personalized information and establish trust with readers.
The depth of topics discussed varies between a blog vs newsletter
The topics of newsletters vs blogs are also very different.
Blogs answer people's questions and discuss general topics
Blogs focus on general topics and answer questions people are searching for.
For example, you might search for a topic such as “how to make chicken noodle soup from scratch.” The results could include a blog from a particular chef with various recipes.
Or as another example, if you wrote a book about how to travel the world while on a budget, your blog may contain information about your budget trip to Bali.
Newsletters contain personal stories and exclusive information about events and products
On the other hand, newsletters include personal stories, news events, and product release dates in your inbox.
Newsletters focus on building relationships with subscribers. As a writer, some of the topics you could include in yours are:
- Upcoming events such as book signings or book release dates.
- Recent blog posts or links to recently published articles.
- Tips, tricks, and resources for other writers.
- Flash sales of your book or other digital products.
- Helpful tips for your clients.
- Frequently asked questions or advice.
- Behind-the-scenes content.
- Testimonials and reviews.
Outcomes for blogs and newsletters
One important aspect to note about a blog vs newsletter is that they have different outcomes.
Blogs seek to increase traffic and audience
Blogs help expose you to a larger audience. The goal is to get a high number of visitors to your blog to increase your monetization chances.
When you create blog posts optimized for SEO, you are likely to attract organic traffic to your site.
Newsletters focus on sales and advertising
Sign-ups to a newsletter with be based on a percentage of your organic traffic. And the people who take the extra step to sign up for your newsletter are likely more interested in what you have to offer than a general blog visitor.
Because newsletters are directed toward people interested in your business, they can lead to more direct sales. Therefore you can use newsletters for advertising your book or other services.
Keep in mind that amounts of viewers on your blog can grow through organic searches and SEO methods. Growing your email list requires more direct action, such as asking people to sign up sometimes in exchange for a freebie or other offer.
By knowing the specific results you want from a newsletter vs blog, you can better determine which type of content you will create for either one.
Longevity differences
There are a couple of main differences between blogs and newsletters regarding longevity. Here's what you need to know.
Blogs can last for many years
There’s the saying that nothing lasts forever, yet blogs can withstand the test of time. When you publish a blog on the internet, it will stay there for as long as the internet exists.
Or for as long as you're running your website unless you decide to take it down. And if you keep it maintained and traffic, you can continue to have a steady stream of visitors to it.
Newsletters don't stick around as long
Newsletters, on the other hand, can have a short lifespan. Because newsletters get sent to specific people, they can either live in their inboxes forever, get buried as more emails are received, or get deleted altogether.
However, depending on the email platform you use, you can keep a copy of your newsletter that can be later resent or repurposed.
Newsletter vs blog: How they can benefit each other
When you come to the crucial decision of choosing between a blog vs newsletter, you may be tempted to choose just one. However, these two marketing tools can work in partnership to better support your business.
And we highly recommend you leverage both for an effective growth strategy! Here's why:
Blogs help you get subscribers for your newsletter
As mentioned before, blogs help expose you to a bigger audience. Once someone finds your blog and loves it, you can entice them to sign up for your newsletter.
When they sign up, they can receive more of the same great content that's on your blog but with more exclusive information.
These are readers who are highly vested in your business that you can later market other products to.
Your newsletter reminds readers about blog posts
Additionally, when you’re writing to your email subscribers, you can remind them of the great blog posts you wrote if they didn’t get a chance to read them when first published.
Blogs and newsletters can work in tandem to support one another!
Key tips for establishing a blog
You now understand how having a blog and a newsletter can be beneficial. But it’s important to know a few things before starting either. Here's what you should know about starting a blog.
Consider your audience
You want to consider what type of readers you want to attract with your blog content. Are you looking to attract small businesses, sci-fi readers, or other freelance writers?
When you have an idea of your ideal audience, you can write blog posts specifically for them.
Do your research
Next, you’ll want to start doing your research. What types of topics is your ideal audience looking for?
What kind of questions are they asking? Which types of problems are they looking to solve?
The answer to these questions can become blog posts.
When you write your blog, you want to offer valuable content. By providing reliable information, people will come back to your blog repeatedly.
Ensure your topics are well-researched, informative, and helpful to your audience.
Learn SEO
Search engine optimization is one of the key differences between a blog vs newsletter. It's also an important aspect of your blog writing.
You can write valuable and amazing content on your blog, but if no one can find it, it won’t make a difference.
Learning to edit your writing for SEO will increase the chances of your blog being found on Google or other search engine sites.
Stay consistent
Having a blog is a commitment. The best way to see results and reap the benefits is by consistently writing and posting.
Creating new material also helps to boost your SEO and helps to establish your business as a reliable source of information.
Key tips for establishing a newsletter
The tips for a blog vs newsletter are similar but also different. Following specific techniques for writing a newsletter may keep people from unsubscribing. Although people will unsubscribe, you want to lessen the possibility as much as possible.
Write for your subscribers
Whoever is signed up on your email list expects something from you. If you’re an author, this could be updates on your next book release, a schedule of upcoming events, or even tips and motivation as it pertains to a certain topic.
Your subscribers could also appreciate you sending published articles or personal stories you’ve written.
Whatever the expectation, you must understand what your audience is looking for to ensure they open your emails regularly.
If you’re unsure what your audience wants, remember you can always ask them by sending out a simple survey or poll in an email.
Create valuable and concise content
People receive several emails a day. So if someone takes the time to open your email, you don’t want to overwhelm or bore them with long, useless information.
Try to keep your emails concise. Don’t hide the important information underneath a bunch of fluff writing. Keep your writing engaging and important.
Keep up with your newsletter consistently
Consistency is essential in all areas of business. A newsletter is a great way to establish trust between you and potential clients.
Thus, sporadically sending emails can communicate the wrong message to your subscribers.
They may take inconsistency as you not taking your business seriously, or they may think that you are unreliable.
Keep in mind consistency doesn’t mean sending emails every day or even every week. Start with a schedule that works for you, even if it’s sending your newsletter bi-weekly or once a month.
As your list grows and you become more confident with your writing, you can increase the frequency of sending emails.
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So blog vs newsletter? Leverage both!
In the business of writing, it’s all about connecting with potential clients. The two best ways to do that are with a newsletter and a blog.
Remember, when it comes to a newsletter vs blog, you don’t have to decide between the two; use them to promote each other.
When new readers discover your blog, you can invite them to sign up for your newsletter. You can also use your newsletter to promote your blog as well.
Either way, be sure to dedicate time and thoughtfulness to creating your content. And always keep your audience in mind as you write both your blog and newsletter; Both of which will be sure to help your business grow!