Email Newsletters: The New Blogging and How to Automate Them with FluentCRM

Blogging was once the cornerstone of online engagement, but in 2025, email newsletters are stealing the spotlight.

With social media algorithms throttling reach and SEO battles growing fiercer, newsletters offer a direct, personal way to connect with your audience.

They’re not just an add-on—they’re the new blogging, delivering content straight to your subscribers’ inboxes.

Better yet, tools like FluentCRM, a WordPress plugin, make it easy to turn your blog posts into automated monthly newsletters, saving time while boosting engagement.

Here’s why email newsletters are the future and how to set up automation with FluentCRM to keep your audience hooked.

Why Email Newsletters Are the New Blogging

Blogging revolutionised content creation in the 2000s, letting anyone share ideas online.

But today, newsletters are taking over as the smarter way to build and retain an audience.

Here’s why:

• Direct Connection: Unlike blog posts, which rely on search engines or social shares, newsletters land in your audience’s inbox. Open rates average 20–30%, compared to organic social reach often below 5%.
• Owned Audience: You control your email list, not a platform. If Instagram or Google changes its algorithm, your blog traffic could tank, but your email subscribers stay with you.
• Higher Engagement: Subscribers opt in, making them more invested. Litmus reports 80% of marketers saw increased email engagement in 2024, outpacing blog-driven metrics.
• Trust and Authenticity: In an era of AI-generated content, newsletters let you share personal, authentic stories, fostering trust that blog comments or social likes can’t match.

Newsletters aren’t just a trend—they’re a return to what blogging promised: a direct, meaningful relationship with your audience.

The Power of Automation with FluentCRM

Creating a monthly newsletter manually can be time-consuming, especially if you’re already juggling blog posts and social media.

Enter FluentCRM, a self-hosted WordPress plugin that automates the process.

With its “Latest Posts Block” and recurring campaign feature, FluentCRM pulls your recent blog posts into a beautifully designed newsletter, sent on your schedule—no extra work required.

Why FluentCRM? It’s fast, integrates natively with WordPress, and lets you own your data without relying on pricey SaaS platforms like Mailchimp.

Plus, it’s free to start, with premium features for advanced automation. Let’s dive into how to set it up.

Step-by-Step Guide to Automating Monthly Newsletters

Follow these steps to turn your blog posts into a monthly newsletter using FluentCRM.

This guide assumes you have a WordPress site and FluentCRM installed (free version is fine to start).

1. Install and Set Up FluentCRM
   • Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New, and search for “FluentCRM.” Install and activate it.
   • Run the setup wizard (FluentCRM > Dashboard), entering your business name, address, and logo for email footers. This ensures GDPR compliance and professional branding.
2. Create a Subscriber List
   • In FluentCRM, go to Contacts > Lists and create a list (e.g., “Blog Subscribers”).
   • Add subscribers via CSV import, WordPress user sync, or opt-in forms (use FluentForms for advanced forms). You can also enable a comment subscription checkbox to capture blog commenters.
3. Set Up a Recurring Campaign
   • Navigate to FluentCRM > Email Campaigns > Recurring Campaigns and click Create New Recurring Campaign.
   • Name your campaign (e.g., “Monthly Blog Roundup”) and set the frequency to Monthly. Choose the day (e.g., 1st of the month) and time (e.g., 9:00 AM). Optionally, disable auto-send to review drafts before sending.
   • Select Blog Posts published within the last 30 days as the content trigger. This ensures your newsletter includes only the latest posts.
4. Define Recipients
   • Choose your “Blog Subscribers” list or use tags for hyper-targeting (e.g., subscribers interested in specific categories). FluentCRM’s segmentation tools let you refine your audience.
   • Click Create Recurring Campaign to proceed.
5. Design the Newsletter
   • In the email editor, add a generic subject line (e.g., “Your Monthly Blog Roundup”) and pre-header (e.g., “Catch up on our latest posts!”).
   • Click the plus (+) icon and select the Latest Posts Block. This automatically fetches your recent posts, including titles, excerpts, featured images, and URLs.
   • Customise the block to show 3–5 posts, sorted by date, and filter by category if needed. Add an evergreen intro (e.g., “Here’s what we’ve been writing about this month!”) using the block editor, which feels like writing a blog post.
   • Save and test the email to ensure it looks great on desktop and mobile.
6. Launch and Monitor
   • Activate the campaign. FluentCRM will now send your newsletter monthly, pulling in new posts automatically.
   • Check analytics (FluentCRM > Dashboard) to track open rates, click-through rates, and subscriber engagement. Use insights to tweak future campaigns.

With these steps, your blog posts become a polished newsletter without manual effort.

Tips for Engaging Newsletters

Automation saves time, but engagement drives results. Here are tips to make your newsletters irresistible:

• Personalise Content: Use FluentCRM’s dynamic smart codes to insert subscriber names or other details in the subject line or body.
• Keep It Concise: Highlight 3–5 posts with short excerpts and clear calls-to-action (e.g., “Read the full post”). Avoid overwhelming readers.
• Add Value: Include newsletter-exclusive content, like a personal note, a quick tip, or a subscriber-only offer, to reward your audience.
• Optimise Design: Use FluentCRM’s block editor to add images, columns, or buttons for a clean, branded look. Test on mobile devices.
• Build Trust: Be transparent about frequency and content. Honour unsubscribes promptly and comply with GDPR/CAN-SPAM laws.

These practices turn your newsletter into a trusted, eagerly awaited touchpoint.

Conclusion

Email newsletters have eclipsed blogging as the ultimate tool for building a loyal, engaged audience.

They offer direct access, control, and a personal touch that blogs alone can’t match.

With FluentCRM, you can automate the process, turning your blog posts into monthly newsletters effortlessly.

Start today: install FluentCRM, set up your recurring campaign, and watch your audience grow stronger with every inbox delivery.

Your newsletter isn’t just content—it’s your new blog, delivered straight to the people who matter most.

Ready to make newsletters your superpower? We can help – contact us and let us help you create your first automated campaign. Your audience is waiting!