Do you wonder what kind of newsletter content to send your customers during winter?
You’re not alone. Many business owners like you feel the same way, too.
But why is there so much concern about newsletter ideas in winter?
Selling during winter is difficult for many businesses worldwide. Although the start of winter (December) brings good tidings, it is soon followed by a “drought” in which people suddenly become frugal and don’t spend like they used to.
In December, people are ready to buy and spend money on gifts to commemorate the end of another year and Christmas. It is not uncommon to see stores filled to the brim and online delivery companies working overtime to ensure everyone gets their gifts or packages on time.
In January, many people will store away their credit cards and limit their spending. Many do this because they have made New Year’s resolutions to be more careful with money. Others are drained from all the Christmas shopping.
In February, people usually feel more ‘alive,’ especially around Valentine’s Day, and are more eager to receive related communication from you.
As an email marketer or small business owner, it’s important to adjust your email content to the situation and occasion that your customers are facing. That said, let’s examine winter celebrations and themed newsletters closer.
Winter Newsletter Ideas by Months
Winter season is full of great occasions for celebrating – starting early with Black Friday and ending right before spring with Single’s Awareness Day. Not to mention all that free time from the school year (except for some occasional classroom newsletters).
Let’s look at the 12 biggest winter holidays and newsletter examples from companies that know how to party:
December Newsletter Ideas
December is officially the first month of winter. This month, you have the biggest celebrations of the year – Christmas and New Year.
While it’s only natural to put all your energy into creating content for these two celebrations, there are also two other occasions you cannot miss. Let’s explore all four of them:
BFCM Weekend
Well, you got us. Black Friday is officially at the very end of fall. But we still put it here. Why? It’s when most people start seriously thinking about the winter holidays, and 60% of US consumers start their Christmas shopping.
Thinking about it, Veil, a sportswear company, launched a Black Friday through Cyber Monday (BFCM) sale that’s hard to resist:
Why we love it:
- The photograph used is original and grabs attention;
- The use of simple text also adds to the email’s uniqueness;
- Calling it ‘Final reminder’ adds a sense of urgency.
Here are 18 more Black Friday email examples to increase sales, boost customer engagement, and stand out from other brands.
St. Nick’s Day
Falling on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day officially starts the winter holiday season.
It’s not celebrated nationally across the US, making it even more worthwhile to greet your celebrating customers. It’s sure to put a smile on their faces, and you’ll also manage to quiet the usual inbox noise during this time.
For example, Citizenry, a home decor company, had an ingenious idea to use St. Nick’s Day as a reminder to take care of Christmas presents until it’s too late:
Why we love it:
- Reminding users that it’s the last opportunity to buy gifts creates urgency;
- The lighthearted humor works well in creating a festive mood;
- The CTA is super straightforward and actionable.
Christmas Day
Ah, the most magical day of the year! Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, Christmas brings joy to us all. It’s the perfect time to spread warmth and cheer by greeting your cherished customers with wishes.
So, don’t hold back. Let your creative spirit run wild and make your presence jolly in their inbox.
Take a cue from Rifle Paper Co. They’ve gone the extra mile, offering delightful ideas on what to stuff into those Christmas stockings. And to top it all off, they’ve sprinkled in a fun GIF for that extra festive touch:
Why we love it:
- The design is minimal but festive, thanks to the use of color;
- The GIF adds intrigue to the email and looks engaging;
- By giving ideas on what to put in the stockings, the content is helpful for the customer.
Want your winter newsletter to be great but don’t have time or resources for that? No worries, Sender has your back with its free email templates and a simple drag-and-drop email builder.
Best part? It’s free for 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails per month!
For ultimate Christmas mood and inspiration, grab these 20+ Christmas newsletter ideas & examples.
New Year
After all, the New Year is always an exciting time later. To some, it symbolizes a new beginning toward something better. Capitalize on this positive feeling and wish your audience a happy, healthy, prosperous, and whatever-they-wish-it-to-be new year.
Avaline, an organic wine company, went forward and wanted to lift a glass to the future of their community members:
Why we love it:
- The email starts with greetings only then leads to the sales message;
- The greetings are concise but warm and integrate the product.
- An image with two smiling women allures the gaze.
Want to nurture your leads effectively? Check out these New Year newsletter ideas to amaze your leads.
January Newsletter Theme
January comes with many expectations and high hopes. Almost everyone has set some New Year’s resolutions that they hope to carry out throughout the year.
Also, many enter the new year with a significantly depleted wallet or bank account because of all the gift-sharing, merriment, and parties in December.
Even though your customers might be limited on funds, they’ll still appreciate you trying to create strong relationships with them (and all the New Year greetings).
And therein lie some newsletter ideas for you:
New Year’s Day Newsletter
While your customers still have “Happy New Year!” ringing in their ears, you can become a part of their fresh, new start.
To make their New Year’s Day even more special, give them content they’ll appreciate, whether it’s fun, heartfelt wishes, or useful means to make positive changes.
For this occasion, Headspace sent out their audience an offer to make their new year the best year:
Why we love it:
- The email opens with a huge promise but gives means to support its’ claim;
- The brand talks about benefits to the customer throughout;
- The free trial offered perfectly fits the bill.
It’s best to learn from the best. That’s why we’ve gathered 30 digital marketing campaign examples from top brands.
Capitalize on New Year Resolutions
New Year’s resolutions never get old. Every year, people swear by their teeth that they will change and improve the quality of their lives and relationships with others. Many people fall along the way, but many also achieve their goals.
Many people achieve their goals because they get help. Even businesses can offer that help. And that was precisely what the team at Open did:
Why we love it:
- Social proof provides credibility to the brand’s message;
- A free challenge works as additional motivation to the users;
- Bullet points ease the readability and explain why users should take the challenge upon themselves.
Post-Holiday Sales Newsletter
Feeling a touch of those winter blues after the big holiday season is only natural. But here’s the good news – people can find happiness in life’s little moments.
This is where your company can truly shine as a beacon of happiness. Why not celebrate those little joys together with your audience? Whether it’s something small or simple, if it brings a hint of positivity to your subscribers’ lives, it’s worth celebrating.
For instance, take a page from the supplement brand Feel’s playbook. They invited their subscribers to embark on a mindfulness journey, encouraging them to appreciate the beauty in the world around us:
Why we love it:
- The email design is minimal but far from boring;
- A well-chosen picture evokes a fitting emotion;
- The content is helpful to the reader and condensed in the email to intrigue them to read more.
If the big holiday season has left you motivated for more, try some of the 19 holiday marketing ideas & examples of promotion. Don’t stop the party!
Make a Year-in-View Report
The new year offers a chance to reflect on the previous year, think of how far you have come, and look ahead to where you are going.
It doesn’t have to contain anything salesy like this one from Better Brand:
Why we love it:
- Both the brand’s team and audience get a shoutout, creating a sense of a tightly-knit community;
- Color blocks separate different topics of the email;
- There’s no CTA, making the email the opposite of salesy.
February Newsletter Theme
Slowly, we move into the third month of the year – February. Many people consider it to be the month of love. But there’s so much more to it. Here are some occasions with and beyond Valentine’s Day to send a newsletter on:
Black History Month
Did you know that the second month of the year has become synonymous with Black History Month? It’s an annual observance in the US that celebrates and recognizes African Americans’ achievements, contributions, and history. This month, people highlight African Americans’ vital role in shaping the nation’s cultural, social, political, and economic landscape. The month serves as a time to honor and remember the Black community’s struggles, accomplishments, and cultural heritage.
Epic for Kids did excellent work last year, explaining and illustrating the most critical moments from African-American history to educate children:
Why we love it:
- The illustrated design appeals to children audience;
- Rather than fitting everything in one newsletter, the brand teased the most essential parts of the content;
- The CTA is above the fold and easy to click on.
National Groundhog Day
Will it? Or won’t it? On February 2nd, Americans and Canadians traditionally spend the day glued to their TVs, watching a rodent come out of its den (not) to look at its shadow. National Groundhog Day is as weird as it sounds – and a perfect opportunity to have fun with your audience.
For instance, Avon offered a discount no matter what the groundhog decides:
Why we love it:
- The brand put a fun spin on the occasion’s principle;
- The design is simple, drawing attention to the central visual message;
- The GIF illustrates the festivity and boosts engagement.
Valentine’s Day
It’s the biggest day in the second month of the year, celebrated by people worldwide with flowers and chocolates. That’s right, it’s Valentine’s!
However, the second part might not be as accurate today as it once was since Valentine’s has become a day to honor love, friendship, and admiration for those close to us rather than just about loving couples.
Whomever or whatever you celebrate on Valentine’s, send your subscribers a newsletter that’ll put a ring on it. We know we loved what Fable sent us:
Why we love it:
- The brand reminds the users to buy flowers and gives them the means to do so;
- It’s a creative decision to make the email as a postcard;
- Free shipping is offered as an additional incentive to buy now.
It doesn’t have to be all hearts and cupids every year. Look at these 15 popular Valentine’s Day email marketing ideas and transform your Love Day marketing campaigns.
Check these Valentine’s Day templates that Sender offers for free. Just add your text and images and you’re good to go!
Singles Awareness Day
Right after Valentine’s, on the 15th of February, Singles Awareness Day is a shoutout to all the happy-to-be-independent baddies or arduous romance searchers!
On this day, remind your single customers to pamper themselves with love and gifts. After all, they deserve it as anyone else.
Understanding that, Karl Lagerfeld launched a sale where only you matter and sent a newsletter to accompany it:
Why we love it:
- The message “Treat Yourself” is empowering and motivating to act;
- The choice to use black and white design makes it original;
- The countdown clock creates a sense of urgency.
If Singles Awareness Month isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other days to celebrate. Let alone these 100+ February newsletter ideas.
Winter Newsletter Templates
Like daylight during the cold season, creating a winter newsletter can take just a few hours! You already have the inspiration, and soon, you’ll find a copyable winter newsletter template to turn into a captivating copy.
Choose your design, upload your text, drag-and-drop elements like pre-made headers, and… voilà! You have a magical winter newsletter.
Are you eager to begin? Just copy and paste one of these winter newsletter templates:
Christmas Sale Newsletter Template
Subject line: 🎁 Exclusive Christmas Sale: Don’t Miss Out! 🎄
Dear [Customer’s Name],
Get into the holiday spirit with our exclusive Christmas Sale! 🌟
🎉 Enjoy up to 40% OFF on select items.
🎁 Find the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
🚚 Free shipping on orders over $50.
[Shop Now]
New Year’s Day Newsletter Template
Subject line: 🎉 Happy New Year from [Your Company]! 🎉
Dear [Customer’s Name],
Wishing you a year filled with joy, success, and countless new adventures! 🌟
Thank you for being part of the [Your Company] family. Here’s to an amazing 2024 together!
Cheers to a fabulous New Year!
Warmest wishes, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Your Company]
Valentine’s Day Newsletter Template
Subject line: Don’t Forget Valentine’s: Show Your Love!
Dear [Customer’s Name],
The day of love is just around the corner, and we want to make sure you’re all set to spread love and joy to your special someone.
Don’t wait until the last minute! Explore our curated selection of heartfelt gifts that will make this day unforgettable. From romantic surprises to thoughtful gestures, we’ve got you covered.
[Shop Valentine’s Gifts]
Singles Awareness Day Newsletter Template
Subject line: 🌟 Celebrate You on Singles Awareness Day! 🌟
Hello [Customer’s Name],
We believe in celebrating YOU, and Singles Awareness Day is the perfect occasion! 💖
Treat yourself to some self-love with our exclusive sale: 🛍️ Enjoy 20% off sitewide! 💝 Use code: SELFLOVE20 at checkout.
Shop now and make this Singles Awareness Day all about YOU! 🎉
[Shop Here]
Excel in Winter Newsletter Ideas
Are you still wondering what to include in your winter newsletter? By now, your head is likely full of content ideas and templates you can use this winter.
Remember that the newsletter should be more about your customers than you. Also, remember to test different newsletter versions to find the best one.
Author bio
Vesta Oldenburg is a content writer specializing in email marketing strategies. In her daily work, creativity intertwines with a strategic mindset to create content that captivates its readers.