How a Writer Can Turn Passive Newsletter Subscribers into a Thriving Community

by Kate Huff @KateOliviaHuff

Have you ever written a newsletter you feel really great about…only to hear crickets?

No replies. No clicks. Not even a “Loved this!” from that one aunt who always replies or a “Got your newsletter today” from your bestie? 

If you have, you know it’s frustrating. And you’re not alone. A lot of time and effort go into putting together a newsletter. If you’ve written one for a while, you may wonder why your readers aren’t engaging like they used to. If you’re new to the newsletter world, you may wonder why your readers aren’t engaging like you thought they would. 

Reality is, newsletter engagement doesn’t just happen; you have to put effort into creating the space for it to happen. Thankfully, with a few intentional tweaks, you can change the tide of newsletter engagement. You can spark genuine conversations, build stronger connections, and turn those pesky passive readers into active fans that respond every single month. 

But let’s be real. Why does it even matter? Is it even worth your time? 

YES! It is worth your time and energy!

When your readers open, click, and reply, it’s more than a nice ego boost. It’s literally the key to your newsletter’s success. 

5 Reasons Newsletter Engagement Matters

• 1. Better Deliverability: Email platforms (like Gmail) watch how people interact with your emails. More opens, clicks, and replies tell the algorithms that people want to read your content, and it keeps you out of spam. Nothing is worse than having every Gmail subscriber go to a spam folder!

• 2. Stronger Relationships: Engaged readers are more likely to trust you, support your work, and buy from you. Your newsletter becomes a conversation with individuals, not just a salesy email to a large group of people.

• 3. Higher Conversions: Are you selling a book, product, or idea? Engaged readers with higher interaction boost the chances they’ll take action and buy your book.

• 4. Audience Insight: Engagement data (like which links people click or what topics they respond to) helps you discover what your readers care about.

• 5 Sustainable Growth: Readers who are invested in you, your story, and why you’re emailing them will be more likely to forward your email, share your content, or recommend you to others, growing your list organically. 

In short, engagement turns your subscriber list into a genuine community. And a community will carry your work further than any social media post ever could.

Now that you understand why engagement is so important, what can you do to increase your newsletter engagement? 

5 Newsletter Tweaks to do TODAY to Increase Engagement 

1. Ask Better Questions

Specific questions get specific answers. Instead of generic questions like, “What’s your favorite book?” try, “What’s a book you’ve read twice on purpose?” Swap “Any vacations planned this summer?” for “What’s one special thing you’re looking forward to this month?” The more specific the question, the easier it is for your subscribers to answer. 

2. Make It Personal

Use your reader’s first name if possible. Most providers give the option to include their name (with a “fallback” option if you haven’t collected everyone’s names). Make sure you are speaking in your voice and always write like you’re talking to one person. Because on the other side of the screen, you are.

3. Invite the Reply

If you want responses, ask for them! Try, “I’d love to hear what you think. Hit reply and tell me.” Sometimes readers need permission to respond.

4. Show Up Consistently

Show up regularly (whatever that means for you: weekly, monthly, etc. ). People engage with what they’re used to. Consistency builds trust and trains readers to expect and look forward to your emails. 

5. Reward Engagement

Shout out a reader reply in your next email. Highlight a reader’s comment in your next newsletter or offer a small incentive for people who respond to a survey. (I often give away $10 Amazon Gift Cards!) Show your readers that their engagement matters. 

The more your newsletter feels like a genuine back-and-forth conversation, the more your readers will lean in, share their thoughts, and look forward to hearing from you. Over time, those little moments of connection build trust, loyalty, and a sense of belonging. And one day, you’ll open your inbox to find a reply that says, “This is exactly what I needed today.”

That’s when you realize you’re not just sending emails anymore. You’re leading a community. A community that shows up for you, supports your work, and helps your message travel further than any algorithm ever could. And here’s the best part. You don’t need thousands of subscribers to get there. You only need the ones you have to feel seen, heard, and valued.

I’d love to issue a challenge today. Choose one of the tweaks above and try it in your next newsletter. Be intentional, invite your readers in, and watch what happens. 

After you do it, send me a quick email at newslettersmadesimpl@gmail.com and let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear about your wins, big or small!

TWEETABLE

How a Writer Can Turn Passive Newsletter Subscribers into a Thriving Community from @KateOliviaHuff on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Kate Huff is a storyteller at heart and loves finding Gospel elements in all stories, especially fairytales. She believes fairytales that explain the Gospel in clear and captivating ways have the power to change the world, one person at a time. Her first manuscript is currently with an agent, and she’s working on her second fiction novel along with a few non-fiction projects. 

Kate works as a freelance content writer and newsletter specialist. She has over twenty years of experience crafting content, specifically newsletters, across diverse sectors, including non-profits, sales, and fundraising. She helps authors and entrepreneurs create compelling newsletters that connect with their audiences and offers tailored content creation services, as well as training on how to build newsletters and grow subscriber bases.

You can find her at WWW.KATEOLIVIAHUFF.COM or on most socials as @kateoliviahuff. Sign up for Newsletters Made Simple for Authors at HTTPS://REBRAND.LY/NEWSLETTERS-MADE-SIMPLE for simple tips to take your newsletter from good to great!