The savviest sales pros boost their game by subscribing to premium sales newsletters. But with overwhelming options flooding inboxes today, how do you determine the best publications worth your precious time? Which industry thought leaders consistently move the revenue needle? In this comprehensive guide, we cut through the noise to showcase the top-performing sales newsletters dominating in 2023. From Gong to Selling Power, unlock exclusive strategies and insights from global sales experts that promise skyrocketing results. Let’s dive in!
Why Sales Newsletters are Critical for Business Success
In today’s highly competitive business landscape, sales newsletters have become an indispensable tool for companies looking to gain an edge. From individual sales reps to enterprise organizations, leveraging a strategic sales newsletter provides a multitude of benefits that directly translate into greater success.
Keeping Up with the Latest Sales Strategies and Trends
The world of sales is constantly evolving. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. To stay ahead of the curve and maximize sales effectiveness, it’s critical to continuously educate yourself on the latest methodologies, techniques, and tech tools reshaping the sales profession.
Sales newsletters are the most efficient way to absorb the freshest sales strategies and trends all in one place. Rather than tediously hunting across the web and attending conferences, sales pros can turn to their inbox to get curated insights from thought leaders.
- Leveraging AI to qualify leads
- Crafting video sales pitches
- Managing remote teams
- Optimizing CRMs and sales tools
- Connecting on social media
- Personalizing outreach
Digesting these tips and tactics ensures sales teams stay up-to-date on the latest knowledge and science-backed approaches for boosting revenue. According to Forbes, over 63% of high-performing sales teams consume sales content regularly through newsletters and training materials.
Sales newsletter pros also benefit from discovering new tools and software optimizing sales. For example, solutions featured like Outreach.io](https://www.outreach.io/) for automating workflows or [Gong for conversation intelligence can transform sales performance overnight. Learning about these technologies early gives a competitive advantage.
Building Trust and Thought Leadership
Publishing and contributing to a sales newsletter boosts personal or brand credibility and trust with readers. Demonstrating sales knowledge establishes thought leadership.
According to a LinkedIn study, 77% of B2B buyers are more likely to trust thought leaders and value their opinion. A consistent sales newsletter allows sales experts to flaunt their skills while providing value to an audience.
For individuals, newsletters are essentially long-form blogging positioned as more exclusive and premium content. This perceived exclusivity enhances overall brand equity as an expert. Even a G2 report found 60% of B2B buyers said thought leadership swayed their buying decisions.
At an organizational level, an authoritative sales newsletter strengthens trust in the company and products. Buyers see tangible proof of sales knowledge, making them more likely to believe marketing pitches and claims. A corporate newsletter sets businesses apart from competitors without one.
Educating and Training Your Sales Team
Ongoing sales training and coaching is mandatory for teams to excel. But it’s difficult providing quality educational materials on top of demanding sales quotas and responsibilities.
This is where developing or subscribing to a sales newsletter adds tremendous value. Relevant sales newsletters essentially act as a virtual mentor accessible anywhere at any time.
Data shows sales reps embracing training perform better:
- Sales reps receiving 31+ hours of training make 50% more calls than untrained reps according to Reliance Group
- Corporate Visions found sales reps consuming sales content are 5% more likely to exceed quotas.
Distributing an insightful sales newsletter throughout the sales team ensures everyone stays in sync. Reps gain exposure to new methods for outreach, closing, and problem-solving. Sales managers and directors can also identify gaps and opportunities for coaching based on newsletter content.
Here are some examples of critical sales topics and templates every rep should master according to top sales newsletters:
| Topic | Templates & Examples |
| Cold Emails | Outreach’s Cold Sales Email Templates Cold Outreach Emails by ConnectAndSell |
| Social Selling | Social Selling Examples |
| Discovery Calls | 7 Sales Call Scripts |
| Presentations | Sales Presentation Templates |
| Negotiations | HBR Negotiation Tips |
Equipping sales reps with these proven templates and processes via a newsletter ultimately results in higher revenues. Reps spend less time creating collateral and more time selling.
Driving Leads and Sales Conversions
Sales and marketing alignment is critical for any high-performing business. However, these teams often lose visibility into what the other is doing day-to-day. This causes wasted efforts as sales and marketing initiatives fail to mesh.
Circulating an insightful sales newsletter to the marketing team helps create alignment. Marketers digest the same educational content as sales reps, gaining a deeper understanding of sales priorities and metrics. Marketers can then develop better targeted, sales-enabled campaigns.
According to Salesforce research, marketing and sales alignment generates:
- 208% increase in marketing-generated revenue
- 38% higher win rates
- 36% increase in customer retention
Furthermore, optimizing marketing content and offers based on sales newsletter learnings directly drives more qualified leads and conversions. If the newsletter demonstrates certain messaging or offers resonate with customers, marketers can integrate these insights to improve funnels and landing pages.
Below are examples of key insights from sales newsletters marketers can act on:
- Featured sales technology like email tracking software to enhance workflows
- Top-performing lead magnet offers to gate content andcapture data
- Recommended social media tactics to boost brand awareness
- Customer pain points and objections to address in collateral
- New competitor landscape and pricing models to stay competitive
- Up-and-coming trends that dictate tone, channels and partnerships
This type of tight collaboration between sales and marketing forged by a newsletter cultivates explosive revenue growth.
In summary, sales newsletters provide an invaluable competitive advantage for businesses through keeping teams trained on cutting-edge tactics, establishing thought leadership, and nurturing sales and marketing alignment. Prioritizing consistent, high-quality sales content shapes companies into agile, sales-driven powerhouses ready to capitalize on new opportunities.
Creating a High-Impact Sales Newsletter
Developing a stellar sales newsletter is both an art and a science. The best newsletters artfully blend educational content with visually-striking formats optimized for lead generation. Let’s explore proven strategies for selecting topics, promoting engagement, and growth-hacking distribution.
Choosing the Right Sales Newsletter Topics
Nailing down novel, relevant sales topics is the foundation for an engaging newsletter subscribers eagerly await. While sales newsletters can cover a wide range of subjects, these categories consistently perform well according to analytics from Substack, Revue and Feedblitz:
Sales Methodologies and Approaches
Detailing new or refined sales methodologies helps reps tailor their outreach. For example, explain a personalized approach for specific verticals and ideal customer profiles versus a broad one-size-fits-all style. Outline updated closing techniques making objections disappear. Provide a framework illustrating the modern buyer journey.
Negotiation Tactics
Negotiation tips are evergreen favorites for sales audiences. Share unconventional strategies for negotiating discounts or concessions without impacting margins. Give examples of negotiating positive outcomes from seemingly hopeless scenarios. Tactics incorporating psychological and linguistic techniques resonate well.
Objection Handling
Arm reps with responses and scripts for overcoming common sales objections like pricing complaints or satisfaction with competitors. Come from an educational stance, not combative. Frame objections as opportunities to provide more compelling information on value versus challenges to simply dismiss.
Sales Technology and Tools
With an endless influx of new sales technology, regular updates on the latest tools prove useful. However, focus on practical recommendations for leveraging tech versus mere novelty hype-building. For instance, demonstrate how integrating chatbots or AI can concretely impact lead conversion rates or reduce administrative tasks.
Leadership and Motivation
Vulnerability and authenticity humanize expert advice, forging loyalty. Let your personality shine through. Share personal stories and failures rising to leadership. Give tactical tips on time management, self-care, and mental toughness when sales are slow. Everyone connects over universal experiences.
Industry News and Trends
Curating news with sales ramifications provides valuable context helping reps better understand and empathize with customers and inform pitches. Is increased regulation disrupting clients? How do rising interest rates factor into negotiations? Commentary on mergers, technologies and innovations shaping client needs gives sales an edge.
Interviews with Top Sales Leaders
Profiles of successful sales pros in the newsletter heroically showcase role models to emulate. Reps learn best practices that catapulted leaders to the top. Interview formats also build anticipation and chemicals like oxytocin and dopamine associated with social interaction and learning.
Optimizing Your Sales Newsletter for Maximum Impact
Captivating topic selection is only half the battle. Optimize formatting and presentation to boost engagement and recall. Follow research-backed principles of instructional design and visual communication for greater newsletter impact.
Clear, Actionable Advice and Takeaways
Resist vague conceptual pontification. The most empowering insights equip reps with concrete actions to implement. Summarize key advice from each article with succinct memorable takeaways. Guide readers with step-by-step instructions for executing techniques.
Relevant Examples and Case Studies
Illustrate tips with real-world examples, anecdotes and case studies. This contextualizes advice into tangible scenarios reps encounter daily, increasing retention and perceived value. Where applicable, feature examples from your company and clients with permissions.
Visually Engaging Images, Graphics and Videos
Text alone rarely captivates modern readers. Embed relevant colorful images, data visualizations, info graphics and video clips to reinforce key points visually. Visually shared that articles with images receive 94% more views than text-only content. Pictures also forge emotive connections and excitement.
Mobile and Email-Friendly Formatting
With busy sales reps frequently reading on mobile, responsive design is mandatory. Use short paragraphs and bullet points rather than dense blocks of text. Similarly optimize formatting for inboxes by ensuring critical info remains visible in email previews.
Calls-to-Action to Drive Leads and Conversions
Always include strategically placed calls-to-action in the newsletter like signup links, downloads, or promo codes. This nudges readers towards immediately enacting techniques they just learned, boosting conversions. Track CTA performance to double down on what resonates.
Promoting Your Sales Newsletter Effectively
Even phenomenal newsletter content misses the mark without promotion. Leverage several integrated strategies to maximize reach and subscriptions for awareness.
Leveraging Social Media
Social platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter enable targeting warm sales audiences. Post snippets from your newsletter with clickthrough links. Research from Social Media Today indicates 77% of B2B organizations now use social media for lead generation.
Guest Contributors and Partnerships
Securing big-name guest contributors lends credibility while tapping into their audiences. Similarly, coordinating content swaps and partnerships with non-competitive sales organizations expands dissemination through existing followings.
SEO Optimization
Although newsletters live in inboxes, SEO remains crucial. Ensure keywords are sprinkled throughout along with meta descriptions. Publish a blog/webpage version for crawling. Content upgrades like gated offers also capture lead data.
In summary, meld educational, actionable advice with sleek presentation for maximum sales newsletter potency. Prioritize concise takeaways, relatable stories, striking visuals and prominent calls-to-action consistently across each issue. With these best practices made second nature, your newsletter will rapidly ascend subscriber counts and revenue impact.
Key Metrics and Tools for Measuring Sales Newsletter Success
Sales newsletters live and die by their ability to drive measurable revenue impact. To continually optimize performance, track several key metrics along with leveraging analytics tools pinpointing areas for improvement.
Open and Click-Through Rates
Open and click-through rates (CTR) are essential newsletter health indicators revealing reader engagement. While vanity metrics, consistently strong rates signal captivating content people take action on.
Strive for open rates above 20% in line with industry benchmarks. Meeting this target confirms you’re grabbing attention.
Click-through rates vary based on calls-to-action but typically fall around 2-5%. For example, a newsletter prompting readers to download content should see higher CTR than issues leading to blog posts.
Monitor both open and CTR over time as lagging rates suggest repetitive or irrelevant content. Drops also indicate problems like delivery issues, misleading subject lines or incompatible mobile optimization.
Review rates both in aggregate and segmented by subscriber cohorts. Check for variances across customer lifecycle stage, company size, or seniority. This uncovers specific groups disengaging to refine targeting.
Sales Pipeline and Revenue Impact
While open and click-through rates signal engagement, pipeline and revenue metrics confirm real sales outcomes. This fully-attributed data is invaluable.
Directly integrate your newsletter signup forms, content offers and CTA links with your CRM and marketing automation software. Then sales can track:
- Newsletter signup source on leads: indicates topics and messaging resonating in outreach
- Content downloads to new MQLs: shows collateral generating interest
- Closed deal attribution: reveals newsletter influenced opportunities
With these insights, identify and double down on the specific newsletter content, offers and calls-to-action advancing deals. Furthermore, use revenue attribution to calculate ROI on producing the newsletter.
According to Salesforce research, sales reps receiving training content are 5x more likely to exceed quotas. Quantifying your newsletter’s pipeline impact proves its value.
Surveys and Polls
Interact with subscribers and gather direct feedback via quick surveys and polls inserted into issues.
Pose rating questions to gauge content relevancy, entertainment and actionability on a five-point scale. Ask forced-choice A/B questions comparing preferences among topic options, formats and frequency.
Solicit open-ended suggestions on improvements and burning sales questions readers want addressed. This qualitative data contextualizes quantitative engagement metrics, uncovering why readers act as they do.
Survey analytics integrated with email providers like Mailchimp also lets you segment and filter responses across subscriber cohorts. Spot gaps in value deliver for roles, industries and company sizes.
Polls and surveys provide the voice of customers to tailor content aligned with reader needs and preferences. Sales leaders cite poor sales content quality as a top training challenge. Eliminate this with direct reader feedback loops.
Email Marketing Analytics Tools
Dedicated email analytics platforms offer advanced tracking and segmentation unavailable in basic email providers. Leverage these tools for maximizing newsletter productivity.
- Litmus – Previews newsletter rendering across clients to ensure consistent delivery and branding. Provides readability analysis.
- MailChimp – Features A/B testing capabilities to compare subject lines, content and designs. Integration with Salesforce tracks attributable pipeline by campaign.
- GetFeedback – Embeds customizable surveys into newsletters to capture subscriber feedback.
- Email Analytics by Zipify – Connects email performance directly to shopping behavior and revenue. Identifies reader purchasing habits.
- Omnisend – Offers integration with ecommerce platforms to gauge newsletter content effectiveness at each buying stage.
As analytics reveal peak-performing content, replicate these proven email formats, offers and calls to action. Eliminate consistently low-scoring components dragging down open or CTR rates.
With keen data-driven insights, sales leaders can fine-tune newsletters to maximize subscriber engagement, pipeline opportunity, and revenue growth quarter over quarter.
Turning Your Sales Newsletter into a Business
Launching a sales newsletter as a side hobby can organically blossom into a booming business itself. Let’s explore proven money-making approaches to transform your publication into a profit-driving asset.
Offering Premium Subscriptions and Content
Loyal engaged readers will gladly pay for premium content and perks. Segment subscribers and gate your most exclusive value behind paid memberships.
Popular newsletter platforms like Substack](https://substack.com/) and [Revue make launching subscription offerings simple. You set pricing levels then deliver subscriber-only issues and content.
According to 2021 creator economy data from Substack](https://on.substack.com/p/stats-and-data-about-substack-and), writers earn an average of $9,500 per month at $5/month subscriber pricing. Top performers like Morning Brew and [The Hustle generate millions in recurring revenue.
When structuring subscriptions, consider multiple tiers offering graduated access. For instance:
- Free – Receive main newsletter issues
- Basic – $9/mo – Access private discussion forums
- Pro – $19/mo – Includes virtual events and Q&As
- Premium – $39/mo – Direct 1-on-1 advisory time
To further monetize, develop premium research reports, templates, workshops and courses exclusively for paid members. These digital products command higher price points with near 100% margins.
Syndicating Content
License and sell your top-performing newsletter content via syndication agreements. Repurposing content unlocks new monetization channels.
Sales sites like SalesHacker](https://www.saleshacker.com/), HubSpot and [Capterra purchase newsletter articles to republish. Rates average $200-300 per piece depending on length, originality and audience exclusivity.
You retain ownership of content and are typically required to include backlinks and branding. Syndication provides passive revenue from work already completed while expanding reach.
For maximum visibility, compile selections of your best articles into an ebook. Then sell or distribute this lead magnet in exchange for newsletter signups. This strategy helped Close.com rapidly grow subscribers.
Consulting and Advisory Services
Monetize your sales expertise and audience by offering personalized consulting, coaching and corporate training packages. These premium services provide immense value.
Structure tiered advisory retention packages such as:
- Bronze – $750/mo – Monthly strategy call
- Silver – $1,500/mo – Weekly check-ins and custom content
- Gold – $5,000/mo – Unlimited real-time support and project work
Alternatively, sell specialized workshops and corporate sales coaching at hourly rates between $100-500 based on your expertise and demand. For example, present a half-day seminar on social selling techniques for $3,000.
While time-intensive, leveraging your knowledge for high-dollar customized engagements maximizes income potential. Promote services selectively to qualified subscribers who will benefit most.
Virtual Events and Webinars
Hosting virtual events allows reaching unlimited global audiences while learning invaluable first-hand insights on your readership.
Promote multi-day online sales conferences featuring expert guests and panels. Structure paid packages:
- Free – Watch select sessions live
- Premium – $199 – Access replays + extras
- VIP – $499 – Includes virtual workshop and Q&A
For quicker turnarounds, host live or pre-recorded premium webinars locked behind subscriptions. For example, an exclusive deep dive on cold calling objection handling.
Surveys show 52% of B2B attendees prioritize access to premium content previously gated. Unique online events represent engaging touchpoints delighting audiences.
Partnering with Relevant Companies and Brands
Newsletters attracting premium sales audiences offer lucrative sponsorship and partnership upside for brands.
Common approaches include:
- Paid placements – Feature sponsor’s content, offers or ads
- Affiliate commissions – Earn revenue share for referrals
- Sponsored giveaways – Co-branded promotions and contests
- Licensed content – Brands pay to republish articles
- Joint webinars – Collaborate on virtual events
- Product reviews – Get compensated for honest product tests and feedback
When structuring partnerships, ensure arrangements align with your audience interests. Only promote sponsors authentically bringing value, not distracting from core content. Transparency builds trust.
For sought-after niche audiences, multiple monetization avenues exist for converting niche newsletters into thriving businesses themselves. Diversify income through subscriptions, premium services, syndication and strategic mutually-beneficial partnerships. Content worth paying for can generate remarkable revenues.
The Future of Sales Newsletters
While sales newsletters are firmly established today, expect ongoing innovation elevating interactivity, personalization, mobility and artificial intelligence integration. Let’s glimpse the newsletter landscape on the horizon.
Interactive and Personalized Content
Passive one-way content distribution will fade as two-way conversational experiences take hold. Sales pros demand engagement and relevant advice tailored to their needs.
Newsletters are already integrating real-time chatbots providing subscriber support. Look for enhanced intelligent bots proactively making content recommendations based on reader histories and preferences via AI algorithms.
Polls, surveys and quizzes will also permeate issues, aligning content with reader knowledge levels and interests. Expect personalized segment targeting mentoring newcomers versus challenging veterans.
Even mundane formatting will modernize with features we now take for granted on the web. For example, clickable tabs organizing content categories or expandable sections hiding deeper discussions.
As personalization advances, newsletters will act as virtual sales assistants versus simple content feeds, conversing with readers daily.
Video and Multimedia Integration
Text-centric newsletters will increasingly incorporate rich multimedia engaging modern readers through multiple modalities.
Short embedded video explainers bring concepts to life via visuals, animation and energy. Staff webcam testimonials personalize advice. Podcast clips pique interest in full-length episodes.
Interactive data visualizations, calculators and assessments simplify applying techniques. For instance, an ROI calculator for proving proposal value.
Even basic images and graphics boost memorability and clarity compared to dense paragraphs alone. Every issue should contain visuals adhering to core multimedia design principles.
Smooth mobile integration will be paramount as professionals access newsletters away from desks. Ensure multimedia loads responsively across devices and networks. Provide transcripts and descriptions as needed for accessibility.
Optimized for Mobile and On-Demand Access
Speaking of mobility, sales pros demand consuming content anytime from anywhere. Newsletters stuck in email inboxes don’t cut it.
Expect robust mobile apps dedicated to sales newsletters mirroring consuming podcasts or social media. Download issues or stream on-demand without WiFi. Listen hands-free. Easily save and share snippets.
Platforms will leverage push notifications to alert readers of breaking industry news or newly published issues. Break out of crowded inboxes.
Shift content from dated scheduled issues to continuous real-time publishing. Readers want updates on-demand not waiting on weekly or monthly cycles, especially for urgent industry happenings.
Mobile optimization also means structuring advice into micro-modules and bites versus long-form overviews. Short episodic segments shine on small screens.
AI-Driven Insights and Recommendations
Artificial intelligence will reshape newsletters like all other digital mediums, providing users an intelligent experience.
Algorithms will track reader interactions then self-improve content recommendations and issue formatting based on real-time feedback. AI evaluates changing preferences to continually refine value delivery.
For newsletter creators, AI streamlines resource-intensive processes like evergreen topic research, article drafting, image selection and design choices. Repurpose top content automatically. Let AI manage drudgery.
Chatbots scale community conversations as readership grows, fielding repetitive questions. Nominally customize at scale.
Look for sales thought leaders to consult advanced AI like Anthropic to spill industry insights and trends we didn’t even know we should ask about. AI excels at revealing the unknown unknowns and patterns human analysts miss.
In summary, maximize readership and revenue by innovating newsletters ahead of evolving reader expectations. Deliver subscriber-first experiences personalized for each sales pro through interactive formats viewable anywhere in the moments that matter most to them. Boldly invest in leading-edge technologies like AI to unlock growth. The future of newsletters is bright for those who dare to reimagine what’s possible.
Key Takeaways
- Sales newsletters provide continuous value to sales teams through ongoing education, building trust and thought leadership, nurturing team alignment, and driving revenue.
- Choose compelling topics covering sales methodologies, negotiation, leadership, technology, interviews and more. Present advice clearly with examples, visuals and calls to action.
- Promote your newsletter via social media, SEO optimization, contributors and partnerships. Measure success based on open rates, clickthroughs, pipeline impact and reader surveys.
- Monetize through premium subscriptions, syndication, events, services, and sponsorships. Convert your publication into a thriving business itself.
- The future will see highly interactive issues with personalized recommendations, multimedia integration, mobile optimization, and AI-driven insights.
- Leading newsletters like Gong, The Close, Selling Power and Sales Management Association deliver proven results.
- Consistent sales training and education is mandatory for reps and teams to excel. A strategic newsletter provides this at scale.
- Subscribe to the top newsletter(s) aligned with your role, company size and industry to stay competitive in the evolving sales profession. Then execute tips daily.
Adopting a sales newsletter fuels continuous learning and development for entire revenue organizations. Consider launching one internally or follow numerous world-class external options for your daily sales knowledge gain.
Here are some frequently asked questions about sales newsletters:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I subscribe to a sales newsletter?
A: Sales newsletters provide continuous education on the latest methodologies, tools, and strategies to boost your sales skills and results. They offer an efficient way to stay updated versushunting content across the web.
Q: What makes a great sales newsletter?
A: The best newsletters deliver actionable, science-backed advice from credible experts. Content balances strategic frameworks with tactical examples and templates. Issues incorporate visuals and interactivity for maximal retention and engagement.
Q: How do I choose the right sales newsletter?
A: Consider your role (rep, manager, executive), company size, industry, and sales process maturity. Then select newsletters publishing content matching your needs. For example, early stage startups may prefer broad sales fundamentals versus large enterprises demanding strategic leadership insights.
Q: What metrics indicate a successful sales newsletter?
A: Key indicators include open and clickthrough rates, pipeline and revenue attribution, subscriber growth, reader surveys, and low unsubscribe rates. Strive for over 20% open rate and high ROI.
Q: How much do sales newsletters cost?
A: Most reputable sales newsletters are free, monetized through ads, sponsorships and premium subscriptions. Some organizations charge membership fees between $5-$20 monthly for access. Enterprise training newsletters can cost over $100 annually.
Q: How often are sales newsletters published?
A: Frequency varies, but popular options publish daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Determine ideal cadence based on workload and reader preferences. Avoid large inconsistent gaps between issues.
Q: Can I start my own sales newsletter?
A: Anyone can self-publish a newsletter focused on selling advice. Use platforms like Substack, Revue or Mailchimp. Consistency and high-quality content are key. Monetize through subscriptions, services and sponsored content once readership grows.
Q: What is the future of sales newsletters?
A: Expect ever-increasing personalization, multimedia integration, mobility, interactivity and AI utilization. Sales pros demand content on-demand optimized to their needs and role. Advanced technologies will reshape consumer experiences.