A new email marketing platform infographic moosend.com seeks to help you create the ultimate newsletter with a checklist of things to include. Appropriately titled “The Ultimate Email Newsletter Checklist for Retailers,” the infographics has some suggestions on how you can make your newsletter stand out.

An email newsletter allows your business to connect with your customers, establish you as an expert in your field, and build a long-term relationship with your audience. But creating the right newsletter takes work.

Does email marketing still work?

Yes, it does, and it has an excellent return on investment. But to be successful, you need to personalize and optimize your email campaigns.

According to eMarketerthe share of total revenue attributed to email marketing increased from 17% in 2016 to 21% in 2017.

How to Create an Email Newsletter

In an official post on the moosend blog, content writer Ine Alexakis said you need to make sure the emails you create matter and don’t make mistakes. With that in mind, here is the checklist to help you get there.

Create the best content

It all starts with formatting your content. This means a well-edited, cohesive, consistent email with no typos.

Alexakis says, “Spelling and punctuation play an important role in every published document and online newsletter campaigns are no exception.” If there are errors in your newsletter, it won’t be too much for readers to relate them to the way you run your business.

Other suggestions in this section of the infographic include adding personalization, A/B testing, sending from a “reply-to” account, and occasionally sending emails from different addresses depending on the event.

Target the right audience

Send your newsletter to the right lists and segments. As Alexakis says, you can’t be everything to everyone, so choose segments carefully.

On the subject of contacting, make sure to always update your lists and check that your contacts are registered.

Adjust for best results

At this stage of creating your newsletter, you need to make a few more adjustments and ensure that your images and general layout are consistent.

Add standardized buttons, customize the title, check your links and put your alt tags in place.

You also need to optimize your content to make it usable on different platforms, including being compatible with smartphones and tablets.

Take a look at Mooseend’s infographic below for the rest of the checklist.

Image: Moosend