Short answer: Yes—but only if they’re done right.
This month’s Q&A came from a client who asked:
- Are email newsletters still worth it in 2025?
- Do people even read them anymore?
- How often should I send one—and is there a best time?
If you’ve been thinking about starting a newsletter—or trying to get more out of the one you’ve already got—you’re probably not just wondering about open rates.
You’re likely asking:
- Is this even worth my time?
- Will anyone actually read this?
- What would I even say?
Many business owners I work with want a newsletter to do more than fill a checkbox. They want it to build trust. To stay connected with potential clients in a way that doesn’t feel forced. And to gently remind people what they offer, without sounding like they’re always selling.
They’ve tried sending occasional updates or batching content when they can. But without a clear structure or rhythm, it’s hard to know if it’s working—or even if it’s worth continuing.
Let’s break this down in a way that helps you decide how a newsletter can support your business—and how to make it feel doable, not draining.
Takeaways for Skimmers (I see you! 👀):
- Email newsletters still work—especially when they’re consistent, helpful, and feel personal.
- Start with a frequency you can maintain—once a month, every other week, or weekly if you have the capacity.
- Timing matters, but not as much as value. Try Tuesday–Thursday mornings, test what works for your audience, and stay consistent once you find it.
- Content doesn’t need to be original every time. A mix of tips, stories, curated links, or insights from client work can build connection and trust.
- You own your email list. Unlike social media, email gives you direct access to your audience—so use it to connect, not just promote.
Do People Still Read Newsletters?
They do—when they feel like it’s worth opening.
I can say that as a business owner and as a reader. Some newsletters land in my inbox weekly. Others, daily. And when they’re valuable? I always make time to read them. Maybe not right away—but if I know it’s consistently helpful, I’ll come back to it. I’ve saved plenty just because I know they’re worth opening when I do have a moment.
Consistency plays a big role in that. When someone shows up regularly with content that helps me think, plan, or feel less alone in business—I start to trust them. I expect their email. And that relationship builds, even if we’ve never spoken.
The same goes for your audience. If your newsletter consistently offers something helpful, human, or interesting—it will be read.
I’ve seen newsletters work especially well for service-based businesses that want to:
- Keep a warm connection going with leads who aren’t quite ready yet
- Stay top of mind without showing up on social every day
- Share insights, ideas, or lessons that position them as a trusted voice
- Offer gentle reminders about how they help, without it feeling pushy
When your newsletter feels like something people want to receive, it becomes a way to build real trust—without having to constantly chase attention.
What Makes a Good Newsletter in 2025?
Today’s best newsletters aren’t flashy or overdesigned. They’re focused, personal, and valuable. I have even seen newsletters that are simply a well-curated list of resources from other thought leaders or industry sites. But you know what? They are still putting the most valuable content in one place – and saving their readers time in the process.
So, the goal is not to build the fanciest newsletter. It’s to create something people look forward to opening—and maybe even forwarding to a friend.
The best newsletters I’ve seen (and the ones I always open) tend to have a few things in common:
- They offer clear value. A quick tip, a thoughtful reflection, a helpful resource—something you can use or think about right away.
- They sound like a real person. No corporate voice. No filler. Just someone sharing what they know or what they’re seeing.
- They show up consistently. Not daily unless you’ve got the capacity—but often enough that your audience remembers you. (And yes, even a once-a-month rhythm can build trust.)
- They feel relevant. The content connects to where your audience is at, what they’re trying to figure out, or the challenges they’re actively navigating.
If your newsletter helps someone make a decision, feel seen, or take a small step forward—you’re doing more than enough. That’s the kind of content people come back to.
How Often Should You Send a Newsletter?
Start with what you can realistically stick with.
→ Once a month is great if it’s thoughtful and consistent.
→ Every other week works well if you want to stay present without it becoming a full-time job.
→ Weekly is doable if you have the capacity—and something meaningful and the space to share that often.
Before deciding, think about your bandwidth.
- Do you have the space to create something thoughtful that often?
- Can you repurpose content from other areas—like blog posts, podcast episodes, client questions, or social media?
You don’t need to commit to a big, overwhelming schedule.
You just need a rhythm that fits your business—and that you can maintain without dreading it.
There’s no one perfect time or day to send it, either. What matters more is showing up regularly with content that’s worth reading.
Is There a Best Time to Send?
Not exactly—but there are some patterns worth paying attention to.
In the past, I’ve found that Tuesdays and Wednesdays around 10 a.m. tended to perform best for me and my clients. But more recent data has started to shift that story.
The team at Neil Patel analyzed over 1.4 billion emails and found that:
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays tend to be the best-performing days
- The best time? Between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
- And the highest-performing combo? Thursday between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Other platforms, like MailerLite and OptinMonster, are showing similar results—pointing to Thursday mornings as the current sweet spot.
That said, results can vary depending on your industry, your audience, and what you’re sending.
So rather than locking into one “perfect” time, test it:
→ Try sending at different times and watch your open and click-through rates
→ Pay attention to what day and time people are not just opening—but clicking and engaging
→ Don’t forget to factor in your subject lines—they make a huge difference
Once you find what works, stick with it.
Consistency builds familiarity.
When people start expecting your newsletter at the same time and trust that it’s worth opening, you’re already ahead.
What Should You Include in Your Newsletter?
This is one of the most common questions I get—usually followed by:
“But what do I say?”
“I don’t want to be repetitive…”
“I’m afraid I’ll run out of content.”
Let’s take the pressure off.
A good newsletter isn’t about being original every single time—it’s about being thoughtful, helpful, and consistent.
Here are some things you can include that your audience will actually want to read:
- A tip, lesson, or insight from your work with clients
- A personal reflection about what you’re learning in business or life
- A short story that ties into the service you offer
- Answers to common questions you hear from leads or clients
- A curated list of helpful resources (your content or others’)
- A reminder of how you help—without being pushy
- A link to something new (a blog post, podcast episode, free guide, etc.)
If you’re stuck, try this:
Think of one client conversation you had this week.
→ What did they ask? What were they struggling with? What helped them move forward?
Turn that into a quick note for your audience.
When your newsletter sounds like something you’d send to a client or colleague you genuinely want to help—it’s going to connect.
Email Newsletters: Still One of the Smartest Moves You Can Make
You don’t need a fancy layout.
You don’t need to send it every week.
You just need a plan that’s consistent, thoughtful, and aligned with how you want to show up.
Newsletters work best when you treat them like a conversation—not a campaign.
If you focus on being helpful, honest, and human, your audience will come to recognize your name in their inbox—and actually want to open it.
Bottom line:
Email is one of the few marketing channels you own without needing to worry about changing algorithms.
If you use your newsletter to build connection—not just to promote—you’ll create more trust, more loyalty, and more action over time.
And that doesn’t require sending more often. It just requires sending with purpose.
Want support with your email strategy?
If you’ve been meaning to get a newsletter going—or you’ve started but feel like it’s not quite landing—I can help.
This is one of my favorite areas to support clients in. From strategy to personalization, automation to segmentation—we can build an email system that supports your business and your bandwidth.
If you want help mapping out your newsletter or improving what you already have, you can always reach out by scheduling a free, no-pressure call here.
Want to submit a question for next month’s Q&A? Drop it in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to hear what you’re curious about.
