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I send out an e-bulletin every couple of months. It's a plain text e-mail newsletter to forum members, although I'm considering moving over to HTML. I'm thinking about selling an ad per newsletter. What do you think? Should it be a text ad? If I move over to an HTML format, should it be a button or banner ad? I would prefer to limit this to one ad per e-mail for maximum benefit for advertisers ... what do you think an appropriate price would be? $0.10 per subscriber? As much as $0.50 per subscriber? Or maybe just $0.01 per subscriber? This is entirely new territory for me so I'm not sure of the going rates.

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Useful, practical checklist and a simple pricing framework to use if you want to run one sponsored slot per issue.

Short plan tied to the thread: asked whether to move to HTML and how to price; , and raised flat-fee and frequency points. Start by treating the ad as a product: define format, KPI promises, reporting, and a short contract (insertion order) so advertisers know exactly what they buy.

What to offer and how to measure: support 1–2 simple formats (a short native text sponsor line that works in plain-text, and an HTML banner/button for richer creative). Promise measurable deliverables: unique clicks, click-through rate, and conversions (if you can track them). HTML lets you track opens and link clicks more reliably; plain-text is simpler and can land differently in inboxes, so be explicit about which metrics you can and cannot guarantee. (campaignmonitor.com)

How to price (practical, test-first approach): offer simple pricing options (CPM, CPC, or a flat sponsorship) but present a formula buyers understand: price = average unique clicks × advertiser CPC target. Start with an introductory rate, run 3–6 paid tests to collect real click data, then move to flat-rate packages (3–6 insertions) once you can show performance. Benchmarks published by newsletter operators commonly show CPMs in the low tens of dollars for many niche newsletters, but results vary widely by audience and vertical—use your test results, not assumptions, to set final rates. (newsletteroperator.com)

Operational and legal checklist: include creative specs and deadlines, tracking/UTM links and a dedicated landing page, a make-good clause (if delivery < agreed metric), exclusivity rules, and a clear unsubscribe/opt-out policy to stay compliant with CAN-SPAM and similar laws. Segmenting your list (sell targeted slices) can command higher CPMs once you collect that data. (ftc.gov)

Quick next steps: run a low-cost trial ad, collect click and conversion data, build a one-page media kit (audience size, typical open/CTR, sample creative), then publish a simple IO and rate card. Keep sponsorships tightly aligned with reader benefit so editorial trust and long-term engagement stay strong.

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Member Avatar for danielle183

I send out an e-bulletin every couple of months. It's a plain text e-mail newsletter to forum members, although I'm considering moving over to HTML. I'm thinking about selling an ad per newsletter. What do you think? Should it be a text ad? If I move over to an HTML format, should it be a button or banner ad? I would prefer to limit this to one ad per e-mail for maximum benefit for advertisers ... what do you think an appropriate price would be? $0.10 per subscriber? As much as $0.50 per subscriber? Or maybe just $0.01 per subscriber? This is entirely new territory for me so I'm not sure of the going rates.

wat about every week/

Member Avatar for selbourne

what about per newsletter sent out.

Member Avatar for mddv

I think you should just charge a standard rate per newsletter and send out the newsletter every fortnight. This way people know what they have to pay and it does make life easier for you and the advertiser having a standard price.

Member Avatar for amyjlai

I send out an e-bulletin every couple of months. It's a plain text e-mail newsletter to forum members, although I'm considering moving over to HTML. I'm thinking about selling an ad per newsletter. What do you think? Should it be a text ad? If I move over to an HTML format, should it be a button or banner ad? I would prefer to limit this to one ad per e-mail for maximum benefit for advertisers ... what do you think an appropriate price would be? $0.10 per subscriber? As much as $0.50 per subscriber? Or maybe just $0.01 per subscriber? This is entirely new territory for me so I'm not sure of the going rates.

Hello,
I was searching online for anything related to online e-newsletter advertising and found your question. Did you get any response or come to any decisions? We are looking to start an e-newsletter for our association and are interested in selling ads as well.

Member Avatar for jennypitts

I send out an e-bulletin every couple of months. It's a plain text e-mail newsletter to forum members, although I'm considering moving over to HTML. I'm thinking about selling an ad per newsletter. What do you think? Should it be a text ad? If I move over to an HTML format, should it be a button or banner ad? I would prefer to limit this to one ad per e-mail for maximum benefit for advertisers ... what do you think an appropriate price would be? $0.10 per subscriber? As much as $0.50 per subscriber? Or maybe just $0.01 per subscriber? This is entirely new territory for me so I'm not sure of the going rates.

If see no problems in including more than one sponsor or ad per newsletter. I think you should offer the advertisers text ad as first option but not limit them of submitting a banner or button when you move to HTML. About the price; I would charge a flat price per ad instead of an amount per subscriber. It will make it easier to manage. But that is up to you!

Member Avatar for mayurms

I was searching for email marketing and i found your question on google, i am already a member of this site so i think you should try it with low cost to check how it goes, you should think from both the end, yours and the advertisers. If advertisers are getting a good ROI then you can confidently start charging high or just go with a decent rate. If you are going to do that then let me know, i am ready for that. Also sending one newsletter per month would be a good idea. Some people might not like multiple newsletters per month.

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