How to Send Your First Newsletter with Brevo

Sending your first newsletter is a defining moment in any email marketing journey. It’s where strategy meets execution — where your message, your audience, and your tools all come together. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) has become a popular choice for beginners and growing businesses because it removes much of the complexity while still offering professional-grade features.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to send your first newsletter with Brevo, step by step, while also sharing expert insights on why each step matters. This isn’t just about clicking buttons — it’s about setting the right foundation for long-term deliverability, engagement, and growth.


Why Brevo Is a Strong Choice for Your First Newsletter

Before diving into the setup process, it’s important to understand why Brevo works so well for beginners.

Brevo stands out because:

  • It allows unlimited contacts, even on free plans
  • You pay based on emails sent, not subscribers
  • The interface is clean and intuitive
  • It combines email marketing, CRM, automation, and SMS in one platform
  • Deliverability is strong when best practices are followed

For first-time newsletter senders, these advantages remove common barriers like pricing pressure and technical overwhelm.


Step 1: Prepare Before You Create the Newsletter

Most beginners rush straight into designing emails. That’s a mistake.

A successful newsletter starts before you open Brevo’s editor.

Define the Purpose of Your Newsletter

Ask yourself:

  • Is this a welcome newsletter?
  • A weekly update?
  • Educational content?
  • Promotional or product-focused?

Your purpose determines:

  • The tone of the message
  • The length of the email
  • The call-to-action (CTA)

For your first newsletter, keep it simple and value-focused.


Know Your Audience

Even if your list is small, clarity matters.

Identify:

  • Who subscribed and why
  • What problem they want solved
  • What kind of content they expect

Brevo allows segmentation later, but clarity now prevents generic messaging.


Step 2: Set Up Your Sender Information in Brevo

Sender identity directly affects trust and open rates.

Create a Professional Sender Profile

In Brevo:

  • Go to Settings → Senders
  • Add:
    • Sender name (e.g., Jawad from Fozur Online)
    • Email address (preferably domain-based)

Avoid:

  • noreply@
  • generic or unfamiliar names

People open emails from humans, not systems.


Authenticate Your Domain (Very Important)

Domain authentication improves inbox placement.

Brevo provides:

  • SPF
  • DKIM

Follow their setup instructions with your domain provider.
This step alone can dramatically reduce spam placement.


Step 3: Build or Import Your Contact List

Your newsletter is only as good as the list you send it to.

Use Permission-Based Contacts Only

Your list should include:

  • Website subscribers
  • Lead magnet signups
  • Customers who opted in

Never use:

  • Purchased lists
  • Scraped emails

Brevo is strict about list quality — and rightly so.


Organize Contacts with Lists or Tags

Before sending your first newsletter:

  • Create a list like “Newsletter Subscribers”
  • Or apply a tag such as newsletter-optin

This keeps targeting clean and scalable.


Step 4: Create Your First Newsletter in Brevo

Now comes the hands-on part.

Navigate to the Campaign Builder

In your Brevo dashboard:

  • Go to Campaigns → Email Campaigns
  • Click Create an Email Campaign

Give your campaign a clear internal name (for reporting later).


Write a Strong Subject Line

Your subject line decides whether the email gets opened.

Best practices:

  • Keep it under 50 characters
  • Make it specific
  • Focus on value, not hype

Examples:

  • “Welcome to Our Newsletter – Here’s What to Expect”
  • “3 Simple Tips to Improve Your Email Marketing”

Avoid:

  • Clickbait
  • ALL CAPS
  • Excessive emojis

Add Preview Text

Preview text supports your subject line.

Use it to:

  • Expand the promise
  • Add curiosity
  • Clarify the value

Many inboxes display this — don’t waste it.


Step 5: Design Your Newsletter Using Brevo’s Editor

Brevo’s drag-and-drop editor is one of its strongest features.

Choose a Template or Start from Scratch

For your first newsletter:

  • Use a simple pre-designed template
  • Or start with a clean layout

Less design often performs better than over-designed emails.


Structure Your Newsletter for Readability

A proven structure:

  1. Friendly opening
  2. Clear main message
  3. One primary CTA
  4. Soft closing

Keep paragraphs short.
Use whitespace.
Avoid clutter.


Personalize Where It Matters

Use personalization tags like:

  • First name
  • Location (if available)

Example:

“Hi {{ contact.FIRSTNAME }}, thanks for joining us!”

Even light personalization improves engagement.


Step 6: Add a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Every newsletter should guide readers toward one main action.

Examples:

  • Read a blog post
  • Download a resource
  • Visit a landing page
  • Reply to the email

Make your CTA:

  • Clear
  • Visible
  • Action-oriented

Avoid multiple competing CTAs in your first newsletter.


Step 7: Review Compliance and Footer Settings

Brevo automatically includes compliance elements, but always double-check.

Your footer should include:

  • Physical business address
  • Unsubscribe link
  • Preference management link

This builds trust and keeps you compliant with email laws.


Step 8: Test Your Newsletter Thoroughly

Never skip testing.

Send a Test Email

Check:

  • Formatting on desktop and mobile
  • Broken links
  • Spelling or grammar errors
  • CTA functionality

Brevo makes it easy to send test emails to yourself or teammates.


Preview in Multiple Devices

Many subscribers read emails on mobile.
Make sure:

  • Text is readable
  • Buttons are clickable
  • Images load properly

Step 9: Choose the Right Sending Strategy

Send Immediately or Schedule

For your first newsletter:

  • Send during business hours
  • Avoid late nights or weekends initially

Once you gather data, you can optimize timing.


Start with a Smaller Segment (Optional but Smart)

If your list is large:

  • Send to your most engaged contacts first
  • Monitor results
  • Then expand

This protects deliverability.


Step 10: Send Your First Newsletter

Once everything is reviewed:

  • Click Send or Schedule
  • Brevo will handle delivery and tracking

This moment is important — but it’s just the beginning.


Step 11: Analyze Performance in Brevo

After sending, head to the Campaign Analytics section.

Key metrics to monitor:

  • Open rate
  • Click-through rate
  • Bounce rate
  • Unsubscribes

Don’t obsess over numbers — look for patterns.


Expert Insights: What Beginners Often Get Wrong

Mistake 1: Overloading the Email

Too much content overwhelms readers.

Focus on one idea.


Mistake 2: Selling Too Soon

Your first newsletter should build trust, not push sales aggressively.


Mistake 3: Inconsistent Sending

Newsletters work best when readers know what to expect.

Consistency beats frequency.


How Brevo Helps You Improve Over Time

As you grow, Brevo allows you to:

  • Segment subscribers based on behavior
  • Automate welcome newsletters
  • A/B test subject lines
  • Track long-term engagement
  • Integrate SMS and CRM data

You don’t outgrow Brevo quickly — it grows with you.


Final Thoughts: Your First Newsletter Is a Foundation

Your first newsletter doesn’t need to be perfect — it needs to be intentional.

By using Brevo thoughtfully:

  • You protect deliverability
  • Build trust with subscribers
  • Create a repeatable system for growth

Email marketing success isn’t about sending more emails — it’s about sending better ones. And Brevo gives you the tools to do exactly that

Similar Posts