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Writes email newsletter editions with subject line formulas, section structure, link placement, and growth tactics. Activates on 'newsletter', 'weekly digest', or 'open rates'.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/memstack:newsletterThe summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
*Produces an email newsletter edition with subject line formulas, section structure, personalization, link placement strategy, growth tactics, and engagement optimization.*
Produces an email newsletter edition with subject line formulas, section structure, personalization, link placement strategy, growth tactics, and engagement optimization.
When this skill activates, output:
Newsletter — Writing email newsletter edition...
Then execute the protocol below.
| Context | Status |
|---|---|
| User says "newsletter", "email newsletter", "weekly digest" | ACTIVE |
| User says "subscriber growth" or "open rates" | ACTIVE |
| User wants to write a newsletter edition or start a newsletter | ACTIVE |
| User wants a lead magnet with email capture | DORMANT — use Lead Magnet |
| User wants a full content automation pipeline | DORMANT — use Content Pipeline |
| Mistake | Why It's Wrong |
|---|---|
| "Newsletter = company updates" | Nobody cares about your company news. Deliver value: insights, tips, curated content. |
| "Generic subject line" | "[Company] Monthly Newsletter" gets 10% opens. Curiosity-driven subjects get 35%+. |
| "No consistent format" | Readers want predictable value. A consistent structure builds habit and trust. |
| "Too many links" | More than 3-5 links per section dilutes clicks. Feature one primary link prominently. |
| "No growth strategy" | "Build it and they will come" doesn't work. Actively promote every issue. |
If the user hasn't provided details, ask:
- Topic/niche — what's the newsletter about?
- Audience — who reads it? (role, industry, experience level)
- Frequency — weekly, biweekly, or monthly?
- Type — curated links, original essays, tips, industry news, or mixed?
- Current state — new or existing? (subscriber count, open rates)
- Monetization — free, paid, or sponsored?
Subject line formulas:
| Formula | Template | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Curiosity gap | [Topic]: The [thing] nobody talks about | "Pricing: The metric nobody tracks" |
| Numbered value | [X] [things] to [outcome] this week | "5 tools to ship faster this week" |
| Question | Why [common practice] [doesn't work / is wrong]? | "Why your landing page isn't converting?" |
| Personal | I [did thing] — here's what happened | "I quit meetings for a month" |
| Direct value | How to [outcome] (in [constraint]) | "How to write copy that converts (in 20 min)" |
| Current event | [Event/trend]: What it means for [audience] | "GPT-5: What it means for developers" |
Subject line rules:
Newsletter format template:
# [Newsletter Name] — [Edition Title or Number]
## Intro (2-3 sentences)
[Personal note, context for this edition, or a hook that frames the content]
---
## [Section 1: Primary Content] (60% of newsletter)
[Your main value — original insight, deep dive, or featured piece]
[Include one primary CTA link]
---
## [Section 2: Quick Hits / Curated] (25% of newsletter)
### [Item 1 title]
[1-2 sentence summary + link]
### [Item 2 title]
[1-2 sentence summary + link]
### [Item 3 title]
[1-2 sentence summary + link]
---
## [Section 3: Closer] (15% of newsletter)
[Personal sign-off, question for readers, or community highlight]
---
[Footer: Unsubscribe | Forward to a friend | [Social links]]
Section type options (pick 2-4 per edition):
| Section | Content | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Dive | Original essay or analysis (500-800 words) | Demonstrate expertise |
| Quick Hits | 3-5 curated links with one-line summaries | Deliver breadth of value |
| Tool/Resource | Featured tool with your take on it | Practical value |
| Tip of the Week | One actionable tactic they can use today | Quick win |
| Community Spotlight | Reader question, testimonial, or submission | Build community |
| Sponsor Section | Sponsored content (clearly labeled) | Monetization |
| Poll/Question | Ask readers something — drives replies | Engagement signal |
Intro paragraph rules:
Body content rules:
Personalization techniques:
| Technique | Implementation | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| First name in subject | "Hey {first_name}, [subject]" | +10-15% open rate |
| Segment by interest | Tag subscribers → send relevant content | +20-30% click rate |
| Reference past behavior | "Since you read about [topic]..." | Higher engagement |
| Reader-submitted content | Feature reader questions or wins | Community loyalty |
Link placement hierarchy:
| Position | Purpose | Click Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Above the fold (first 100 words) | Primary CTA or featured link | Highest |
| End of main section | Deeper reading link | High |
| Quick hits section | Curated resource links | Medium |
| Closer | Social follow or referral link | Low |
Rules:
?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=edition-[N]Subscriber acquisition channels:
| Channel | Tactic | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website | Email capture in header, footer, and exit-intent popup | Steady baseline |
| Social media | Share a highlight from each edition with subscribe link | 5-15 subs/post |
| Twitter/X threads | End threads with "I go deeper in my newsletter: [link]" | 10-50 subs/thread |
| Cross-promotion | Swap recommendations with similar-sized newsletters | 50-200 per swap |
| Referral program | "Refer 3 friends → get [bonus]" | 10-20% of new subs |
| Gated content | Best content behind email signup (lead magnet) | High conversion |
| Guest posts | Write for others, link to newsletter in bio | 20-100 per post |
Retention metrics to track:
| Metric | Target | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Open rate | >35% | <20% |
| Click rate | >3% | <1% |
| Unsubscribe rate | <0.5% per send | >1% |
| Reply rate | >0.5% | 0% (no engagement) |
| Growth rate (net) | >5% monthly | Negative (losing subs) |
Optimal send times:
| Audience | Best Day | Best Time | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business / B2B | Tuesday-Thursday | 9-10 AM local | Morning inbox check |
| Creators / Solo | Tuesday or Saturday | 8-9 AM local | Before the day fills up |
| Developers | Wednesday | 10 AM local | Mid-week engagement peak |
| General / Consumer | Sunday or Tuesday | 9-10 AM local | Weekend reading or fresh week |
Pre-send checklist:
# [Newsletter Name] — Edition [#]
**Subject:** [Subject line]
**Preview text:** [90 characters]
**Send date:** [Date, Time, Timezone]
---
[Full newsletter content following the structure from Step 3]
---
## Metrics to Track
- Open rate target: [X]%
- Click rate target: [X]%
- Primary CTA link: [URL]
Newsletter — Complete!
Edition: [#/Title]
Subject line: "[Subject]"
Sections: [Count]
Links: [Count] ([1] primary, [X] secondary)
Word count: [X]
Next steps:
1. Load into your email platform
2. Preview on mobile (most opens are mobile)
3. A/B test the subject line (send 2 variants to 20% each, winner to 60%)
4. Schedule for [optimal time]
5. After sending: share a highlight on social media with subscribe CTA
npx claudepluginhub cwinvestments/memstack --plugin memstackCreates, curates, and grows email newsletters across 6 formats (curated, story-driven, educational, interview, data-driven, personal update) with editorial structure, content sourcing, commentary writing, and subscriber growth guidance.
Plans complete newsletter issues from topics or ideas, including research, drafts, subject lines, hooks, and social promotion posts. Activates on 'plan a newsletter' or similar requests.
Guides iterative newsletter writing from insights, ideas, or YouTube transcripts in Ben Van Sprundel's voice. Step-by-step process requiring user input at each stage.