How to Launch a Newsletter That Grows Your Consulting Business
A newsletter is one of the best tools for growing your consulting business. It gives you a direct way to share your expertise, build trust, and stay top of mind with potential clients. When done well, it can help you connect meaningfully with your audience while showcasing the value of your services. Here’s how to get started and turn your newsletter into a powerful growth tool.
Start with your goal
Before you think about content or design, you need to be clear on why you're starting a newsletter. What do you want it to do for your business? For consultants, a newsletter can help you:
Nurture warm leads by keeping potential clients engaged with useful insights that showcase your expertise.
Generate new leads by offering a free resource, like a guide or checklist, in exchange for email sign-ups.
Build authority in your niche by sharing high-quality content consistently and positioning yourself as a thought leader.
Drive traffic to your website by promoting blog posts, case studies, or service pages.
Knowing your main goal will keep you focused and make it easier to create content, target the right people, and measure success.
Define your audience
Great newsletters feel personal when they’re written with a specific reader in mind. Think about your ideal clients. What challenges are they facing? What kind of advice or information would they find valuable?
As a consultant, your audience might include:
Business owners looking for expert advice
Decision-makers seeking strategies to improve their organization
Professionals who want to stay updated on trends in your industry
Former clients who could use your services again or recommend you to others
Prospective clients researching solutions to their problems
When you understand your audience, it’s easier to create content that speaks directly to them.
Plan your newsletter content
Your newsletter should offer value, solve problems, and reinforce your expertise. Here are some ideas to inspire your content:
Actionable tips: Share step-by-step advice to help your audience solve common challenges. For example, a marketing consultant might offer tips to improve email open rates.
Case studies: Highlight success stories that show how your services deliver results.
Industry insights: Share your perspective on trends, challenges, or developments in your field to position yourself as an expert.
Resources: Provide templates, checklists, or guides that your audience can use right away.
Personal stories: Share behind-the-scenes updates or lessons learned to build a connection with readers.
Solutions to common problems: Address recurring pain points in your niche, like team productivity or leadership strategies.
Promotions or special offers: Occasionally include discounts, event invitations, or free resources to encourage engagement.
A mix of educational, inspiring, and promotional content will keep your newsletter fresh while building trust with your audience.
Decide on frequency and format
Before you launch, figure out how often you'll send your newsletter. Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly all work as long as you stay consistent. Choose a frequency that fits your schedule so you can keep it going over time.
Next, decide on the format. Will each issue focus on one topic or include multiple sections? Will it feature original content, curated resources, or both? Choose a format that’s easy to create and stick to it. The simpler it is, the more likely you are to stay consistent.
Pick the right platform
Choose a platform that works for your needs. I like Flodesk, but there are a number of great platforms for managing your subscribers and creating professional-looking emails.
When you set up your platform, create a welcome email that sends automatically to new subscribers. Use this email to introduce yourself, explain what readers can expect from your newsletter, and offer something valuable right away. This sets a positive tone and builds trust from the start.
Before you launch, have at least two or three issues ready to go. This gives you a buffer and ensures you're not scrambling to write under pressure.
Promote your newsletter
Start by sharing your newsletter with people who already know you, such as former clients, networking contacts, or colleagues. Let them know why it’s worth subscribing and what value they’ll get.
Then, think about how your newsletter fits into your overall content strategy. If you blog, record podcasts, or post on social media, your newsletter should be the natural next step for anyone who wants more from you. Make it easy to find and subscribe across all your platforms.
Track your success
Once your newsletter is live, track performance to see what’s working. Use these key metrics to measure success:
Open rate: Shows how many people are reading your emails. Low open rates may mean your subject lines need work or your content is missing the mark.
Click-through rate: Tracks how many readers are engaging with your content by clicking links. This shows whether your newsletter inspires action, like visiting your website.
Subscriber growth: Measures how well your promotion is working and whether people find your content valuable enough to sign up.
Conversion rate: The ultimate metric. This measures whether readers are taking meaningful actions, like booking a consultation or signing up for a service.
Unsubscribe rate: While some drop-off is normal, a high rate could signal that your content isn’t meeting expectations.
Regularly reviewing these metrics will help you refine your approach and make your newsletter as impactful as possible.
Turn your newsletter into a growth engine
A well-planned newsletter can be one of the most valuable tools in your consulting business. By setting clear goals, understanding your audience, and staying consistent, you’ll build a resource that strengthens your brand, grows your network, and supports your business goals.
Need help launching a newsletter that works for your business? Book a free strategy call and let’s create a plan together.