So what type of newsletter do you want to send anyway? Or maybe more than one type in a sequence.

Here's a quick breakdown of the basic types of newsletters you could send and how you might use them to maintain and build a relationship with your subscribers.

Most common: "email newsletters" (or what I also refer to as informational or news-style email newsletters). I call them news-style emails for it seems that all types of newsletters, whether a postcard email or informational email, are called "email newsletters").

So, yes, quality content is key with this type newsletter — content, content....
what to say, how to say it, and when do you have time to develop quality content.  But there isn't much else better for maintaining a good business relationship with your clients. You may or may not be at a point where you have compiled good content, but most organizations understand the value informational newsletters.

A lot is going on within your inbox, usually more so than a website. Several window panes may be visible other than the obvious email listing, like editor and tools bars, menu items along top and side, calendar and scheduling information, and then maybe the email viewing pane, often a small portion of the display space down at the bottom corner. Your email will be competing with other input, even the reader's real work.

This aspect should affect the way you intend to become noticed, and first and foremost keep in mind your email is invading someone's personal space. So develop a newsletter that first tells who you are, why you're sending the email and what it's about, even before the reader loads images. You'll have more success with your recipients opening your email in the first place or coming back to it when they can.

First, I can imagine that some believe sending an HTML newsletter is an immediate turn-off due to so many bad html email newsletters. Understandable. But compare the two emails illustrated here, both of which are mostly text, and decide what would be more alluring and pleasant to read. One is more likely to be read in the first place.

Why would I ever want to encourage great looking plain text emails when one of my goals is to offer splendid looking HTML newsletters? Well yes, HTML newsletters rule. When done well, they are simply the best visual and contextual form of communication. Yet simplicity offers a breath of fresh air; so I say, take advantage of it.

Have you ever received plain text emails? Maybe one of the companies you've worked for is set up only for plain text emails or you know someone who prefers to receive plain text emails.

Take a look at these possibilities, and when setting up your HTML newsletter through Bluebird Courier, take advantage of the plain text user-interface to actually "design" your text.