If you’ve ever stared at a blinking cursor while trying to write your weekly newsletter and thought, “What in the whole enchilada am I supposed to say?” — today’s episode is your permission slip to stop overthinking and start structuring your emails in a way that works for you and your audience.

I’m breaking down the two classic newsletter formats (and why I don’t follow either), the hybrid structure I swear by, and the eight must-have elements your weekly emails need if you want them to be opened, read, clicked, and shared.

Whether you're brand new to email marketing or finally ready to clean up the spaghetti-at-the-wall approach we all start with — this episode gives you practical steps to build a bingeable, forwardable, valuable email your people will look forward to every week.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

1. The two traditional newsletter formats — and why a hybrid approach wins
2. Why story-driven writing builds connection (and how to use it well)
3. How to structure “predictable sections” and weekly “boxes” your audience can rely on
4. The three core goals every email should have (and how to choose yours each week)
5. How many links to include — and the right balance between your content vs. other people's
6. Eight essentials you must include in your weekly newsletter
7. How to write subject lines + preview text that actually get opened
8. My #1 habit that instantly elevates the quality of your emails (and makes them sound human)

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

RESOURCES:

1. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
2. Listen to Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 of the "How To Grow Your Email List" Series
3. Download the free “How to Grow Your Email List” Workbook
4. Get Sam's book "When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy"
5. Listen to Epi 262. The 6 Weekly Anchors Behind My $8M Business
6. Watch my email walkthrough training
7. Click here to be notified when new episodes of On Your Terms® come out
8. Click here to watch the free workshop so you can get legally protected right now!

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

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