How to name your newsletter

Choosing a name for your email newsletter is an important decision for any membership business! Captivating newsletter names are essential for capturing your audience's attention and ensuring the success of your email marketing efforts and membership.

Here at Memberful, we understand the significance of email newsletters including well-crafted newsletter names; that’s why we integrate with reliable email companies such as Mailchimp and Mailerlite. Indeed, we even offer our own newsletter functionality, called Posts, which lets you send emails to your members.

Newsletter names serve as the first point of contact between your brand and your members. They provide a snapshot of the content and style your audience can expect, setting the tone for your email communication. A compelling newsletter name can help to:

• Establish brand identity and recognition
• Give an idea of the voice and tone of your content
• Intrigue and engage your audience
• Reflect the value and relevance of your membership

In this guide, we'll share insights and actionable tips to help you devise newsletter names that resonate with your target audience, driving higher open and engagement rates, and forging a deeper bond with your members.

1. Know your audience inside out

Understanding your target demographic is the foundation of crafting a compelling newsletter name. Conduct thorough market research to uncover their preferences, pain points, and interests. This invaluable insight will guide you in creating titles that resonate on a personal level.

Your newsletter could be a simple direct response to the questions your audience members are asking. For example, your newsletter could ask the question, "What's the latest in food technology?" – this not only makes it clear what the audience wants, but a question is a great way to pique people's curiosity. This could also help to shape the newsletter name.

2. Be clear, concise and assertive

A concise newsletter title ensures that your subscribers immediately grasp the content's essence. Avoid ambiguity or jargon, and opt for straightforward language that aligns with your brand's messaging.

Use a strong verb to convey the tone and purpose of your newsletter. For example, the newsletter Morning Brew uses the verb "brew," which suggests that the newsletter is a fresh and therefore informative read.

Incorporate emotional triggers into your newsletter names to evoke a response from your subscribers. Whether it's excitement, curiosity, or a sense of urgency, emotional resonance can lead to higher email open rates.

3. Inject personality and creativity

Infuse your newsletter name with the unique personality of your brand. Whether it's through humor, wit, or a touch of quirkiness, a distinct tone can set your emails apart from the competition.

Brainstorm a list of words or phrases that describe your newsletter. This could include the topics you cover, your target audience, or your unique selling proposition. Use a quote to add some personality and depth to your newsletter name. For example, the newsletter The Spoon uses a quote from the food writer Anthony Bourdain: "Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable. But it is always worth it."

4. Leverage keywords and feedback

Integrate relevant keywords into your newsletter names to enhance discoverability in search engines. Conduct keyword research to identify terms that resonate with your audience and align with your content.

Choose words that are relevant to your target audience, creative, and easy to remember. Once you have a list of words, start combining them to create different name possibilities. Be creative and experiment with different combinations.Once you have a few name possibilities, test them out on friends, family, or colleagues. Get their feedback on which names they like the best and why. Importantly, it should also be a name that you're happy with and that you can see yourself using for the long term.

5. Test and iterate

A/B testing different newsletter names can provide valuable insights into what resonates best with your audience. Experiment with variations to optimise open rates and click-throughs.

Study successful competitors in your industry to glean insights into their newsletter naming strategies. Identify commonalities and differentiators, and adapt these learnings to enhance your own approach.

Stay attuned to changing trends and preferences within your target audience. Regularly analyze performance metrics and be prepared to adapt your newsletter naming strategy accordingly.

Successful newsletter names and brands

If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some examples of great newsletters and successful newsletter companies. These newsletters and companies have gained success through their unique approaches to content, engaging writing styles, and a deep understanding of their target audience's interests and preferences. Each one has found a niche and delivers value to their members and subscribers in a way that keeps them coming back for more.

The Skimm

The Skimm is a widely popular daily newsletter that provides a concise, easy-to-read roundup of the day's top news stories. It's known for its conversational tone and ability to distill complex information into digestible snippets. For more information, go to The Skimm home page >.

Punchbowl News

Punchbowl News is a political news outlet founded by journalists Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan. They were formerly known for their work at Politico. The Punchbowl News daily newsletter reports on political events and developments in the United States. For more information, go to the Punchbowl News home page >.

The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a media company founded by Jonah Goldberg, Stephen F. Hayes and David French in 2019. They provide independent, fact-based reporting and analysis on politics, culture, and policy. For more information, go to The Dispatch home page >.

Morning Brew

Morning Brew is a daily newsletter focused on business, finance, and technology news. It's highly engaging and often includes witty commentary and insights. They also offer specialized newsletters like Retail Brew and Marketing Brew. For more information, go to the Morning Brew home page >.

Cheap Old Houses

Cheap Old Houses, founded by Elizabeth Finkelstein, showcases historic homes across the United States that are available for sale at low prices. The project has gained a large following for its charming photographs and descriptions with the location, price, and details for buyers. For more information, go to the Cheap Old Houses home page >.

Thrillist

Thrillist's newsletter focuses on travel, food, and entertainment recommendations. It's known for providing readers with insider tips and recommendations for experiencing cities and destinations. It also sounds like a list of thrills! For more information, go to the Thrillist home page >.

Daily Stoic

Daily Stoic sends daily newsletters about stoicism, an ancient philosophy used by everyone from George Washington to the New England Patriots. It's been well-received by people seeking guidance for living a more balanced, resilient and virtuous life. For more information, go to the Daily Stoic home page >.

These are just a few examples, and there are many other great newsletter names out there!

Email-only membership business?

Many Memberful customers use email newsletters as the focal point, if not the only, asset of their membership business. Although this works really well but there may be a couple of extra considerations.

It’s still crucial to choose a name that is relevant to your target audience, creative, and easy to remember; but you may want to do the below before you jump in:

• Make sure the name is available as a domain name and social media handle. This will make it easy for people to find your newsletter online.
• Avoid using trademarked names or names that are too similar to other newsletters. This could lead to legal problems later on.
• Don't change your newsletter name too often. This can confuse your subscribers and make it harder for them to find your newsletter.

Conclusion: How to create fantastic newsletter names

A well-crafted newsletter name is a powerful tool in your membership-building arsenal – indeed it may be the main focus of your entire business.

By understanding your audience, employing clarity and creativity, and strategically integrating keywords, you can raise your email campaigns game and take your membership community to new heights. Embrace the power of personalization, emotional resonance, and competitor analysis to refine your approach.

Remember, success in email distribution begins with a name that captivates and compels. And success with email leads to a successful membership business. Good luck!