Newsletters instead of websites: for local news start-ups

Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on August 31, 2007 at 10:49 AM

When considering the start-up of an online, news or information, venture, a big flashy website may not always be the best way. E-mail newsletters can be more appropriate, depending on the frequency of news and available resources.

“We're not updating our information multiple times a day like the big websites; we update it weekly. So e-mail makes the most sense for engaging an audience,” said Brad Day, founder of Weekend Sherpa, an online venture compiling week-end outings and ideas.

The e-mail format also makes it easier for users to scan or read – as long as there aren’t too many elements.

With a relatively small outreach – but this can work with a bigger audience too – a regular email grows more personal ties with the reader.

Not to mention the quasi-null costs of an email newsletter, compared to the design and maintenance of a techy website.

Source: Online Journalism Review