2025 is here! What are your January marketing plans? Whether you send newsletters monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly, January should be on your editorial calendar for your next newsletter. The question becomes, what in the world do you write about?
The mad rush between Black Friday and Christmas can leave you feeling a bit burnt out. I get it!
Don’t worry; you don’t have to dive too deep into your creative well. In this blog post, I have shared an excellent collection of January newsletter ideas for 2025 and beyond that touch on all the holidays and special occasions, from the tall to the small.
Table of Contents
19 Newsletter Ideas for a Productive Start to Your January
Now, let’s get right to it.
1. Trigger FOMO with an exclusive New Year’s Sale
You counted down with deals right through the end of the year, so why not start 2025 off with more deals? You can launch an exclusive sale between December 31st and January 2nd, as seen in this New Year sale email template by EngageBay.
Let’s be real. Most people are fatigued after holiday shopping, and they’re trying to start the new year by recovering their finances. It takes an attention-grabbing, limited-edition sale to get them in the mood to shop, and an exclusive deal will do that.
You can also use this time to practice gratitude. No sales, no links – just an authentic, heartfelt thank you to your customers for supporting you another year.
After all, without customers, you wouldn’t still be in business.
In a similar vein, you can produce a newsletter full of tips geared toward helping your customers start their year off right. This is an especially great idea if you’re part of a health or fitness company, as everyone knows losing weight is a top resolution.
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2. Honor MLK Day
January 15th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a United States federal holiday that honors MLK’s birthday and the amazing accomplishments he achieved for racial equality in his lifetime.
Since it’s a day off for many people, they won’t check their emails as often as they would during a workday. That’s okay; you can still send an email in honor of Dr. King.
Have fun designing your email using images and quotes from MLK, but make sure you’re not using anything with a copyright. Running a special holiday sale is another popular idea for this day. Try out this Martin Luther King Jr. Day sale email template by EngageBay.
3. Spread awareness (and donations) for National Blood Donor Month
January is National Blood Donor Month, a great cause. According to the American Red Cross Blood Services, the need for platelets or blood in the United States is once every two seconds, with up to 29,000 red blood cell units required.
Even if you can’t donate blood yourself, you can inspire your subscribers to take action. Share infographics like the one in your newsletter to educate your subscribers on the importance of blood donations.
Want to go the extra mile? Collaborate with your local blood donation agencies and offer an exclusive discount code or special incentives for customers who can show proof of donation.
4. Acknowledge International Stop Spam Day
No one likes getting spammed, but it can happen to the best of us. A company may unscrupulously sell its email list elsewhere, and suddenly, you begin receiving dozens of messages you did not ask for.
Maybe you’ve even been guilty of sending out a spam message or two in your early days of email marketing, although you would never dream of making such an egregious error now. Being aware of email laws around the world goes a long way.
January 2nd is International Stop Spam Day. This is a great day to reach out to your audience and let them know more about the measures your business currently has in place to stop spam and make your emails a more enjoyable experience.
5. Test your customer’s knowledge on Trivia Day
January doesn’t have to be boring for email newsletters when you can wholeheartedly embrace Trivia Day on January 4th. Make it fun by sending a trivia quiz in your emails.
You could give away a new product or service or offer winners a freebie or exclusive discount code. Whatever prize you select, make sure it’s appealing, or you might get limited participation.
6. Do a good deed on Play God Day
Here’s a holiday you probably wished you had known about long before now. It’s Play God Day every January 9th. This day encourages you to do a good deed and make the world a better place. Or you can simply make someone’s day better by giving out special discounts.
One solid way to do this is by adding an interactive element like “spin the wheel” to your website. It adds a fun touch and also increases customer engagement. Offer discounts, free shipping, or even small giveaways as a reward. Check out the example below for inspiration.
7. Find something new to do during National Hobby Month
If you missed some of these other occasions but still need to send out your January newsletter, don’t stress. The entire month is National Hobby Month, a great opportunity to connect with your audience.
If your business sells any type of hobby products or supplies, this month is a can’t-miss. You can offer deals and sales all month or host some giveaways or contests. You should drive up sales by engaging regularly with your audience.
Even if you don’t specialize in any products or services that one would consider hobby-specific, you could still include a blurb about this month’s occasion in your next newsletter. Perhaps you offer tips for starting a new hobby.
8. Encourage more activity on National Take the Stairs Day
Diet fixes, weight loss plans, and exercise routines are a primary focus in January. If you belong to the fitness and health niche, you can embrace the spirit of National Take the Stairs Day, which falls on the second Wednesday of January.
This day gives you an opportunity to remind your subscribers that small changes (like choosing stairs over an elevator) can have a big impact on their health. You can add a simple, eye-catching graphic like the one below to your email that quickly highlights the benefits of taking stairs.
Remember to schedule your email in the morning so your subscribers remember to be more physically active throughout the day.
9. Get cozy during National Hot Tea/Oatmeal/Soup Month
It gets freezing cold in January in most parts of the world. That’s why this month happens to be National Soup Month, National Oatmeal Month, and Hot Tea Month.
If your business produces any of these edible goodies, use this opportunity to your advantage. However, even if your company specialty is as far removed from food as possible, you can still incorporate these monthlong occasions into your email marketing by capitalizing on the cozy, wintry vibe they bring.
10. Go green for Houseplant Appreciation Day
Houseplants are easy to love, even if you don’t have a green thumb. They make us happy and make our home look pretty; the cleaner air is another added benefit.
Celebrate the wonder of indoor plants on January 10th, which is the National Houseplant Appreciation Day. Nurseries, home improvement stores, and gardening supply stores have a goldmine on their hands.
Share fun houseplant trivia, introduce your houseplants and where you place them (and why), offer plant care tips, or treat your subscribers with special coupons as Greedings did on Earth Day.
11. Plan for the year ahead on Make Your Dream Come True Day
January is a month for planning the future, and January 13th is a great time to embrace those aspirations on Make Your Dream Come True Day.
What can your company do to help your customers accomplish their dreams? You could share inspirational quotes and songs, write a heartfelt yet brief message about the importance of dreams, or provide tips on planning and chasing dreams.
12. Launch a contest around Dress Up Your Pet Day
Most people dress up their pets and take a camera roll of photos around Halloween, but who says you have to retire the costumes when October ends? I don’t, and neither does the calendar, as January 14th is Dress Up Your Pet Day.
By the way, that’s the only holiday on the calendar on the 14th, so you might as well take advantage of it. Have a contest!
If you’re part of a pet care or supplies company, you can give away pet supplies as a prize, like a year of free service or a dog-walking kit, complete with a leash, clippers, and harness.
13. Keep focused on Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day
January can be a long month. As much as I love the blank slate it represents, it’s depressing to take down the holiday lights and be in the dark when night falls before 5 o’clock.
Unsurprisingly, by the 17th, the excitement and anticipation of a new year has worn off. It’s kind of back to same ol’, same ol’, which is why it’s no surprise this day is Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day.
Now, depending on what kind of industry you’re part of, you can help your audience slack off sinfully, such as if you’re a pizza joint or a bakery. You can also provide motivation to keep your audience on track.
For instance, if you’re a fitness brand, you might run a sale this week for those who need the extra fire to stick to their resolutions.
14. Celebrate Chinese New Year
2025 is the year of the snake! Chinese New Year occurs every January, far away enough from traditional New Year’s Day that you’ll be longing for a celebratory occasion to send an email to your customers.
You can use this celebration to warmly wish your subscribers a happy Chinese New Year, keeping it at that. And if you are running a special sale for this holiday, check out EngageBay’s Chinese New Year Sale Email Template.
15. Say something nice on Compliment Day
Here’s a freebie if you haven’t engaged with your email list this month as you wish you could have. Compliment Day is on January 24th.
It’s free to give a compliment, and it will make your customers smile.
You can phrase your compliment after the one above or create your own. Try not to be too specific unless you have unique compliments for each of your audience segments.
You can also compliment your customers by offering a 24-hour discount for the holiday!
16. Make someone smile on Global Belly Laugh Day
On the same day as Compliment Day, January 24th, you can celebrate Global Belly Laugh Day. This is another positive day, except you share a joke instead of complimenting someone.
Put your light zingers away. Global Belly Laugh Day is about the kind of side-splitting humor that leaves you gasping for breath. Use your best jokes, but keep them PG, and don’t touch on any sensitive topics like religion or politics.
17. Promote your policies on Data Privacy Day
As we near the end of the calendar, we reach Data Privacy Day on January 28th. Data privacy is a bigger concern than ever due to breaches and leaks.
Internally, use this day to update your company’s privacy policy, especially when it comes to consumer data. Send an email alerting your customers about the changes to your policy so they understand what you’ve done.
You should also include an opt-out link in the email. You never want to lose subscribers, but it’s better they leave than report you for spam.
18. Send a smile on Fun at Work Day
Even if you love what you do, work can be boring. But that’s okay, it’s supposed to be. It’s work! January 28th is a chance to blur the lines between your personal and professional life with Fun at Work Day.
This day can be whatever you make of it, as long as it’s enjoyable. Perhaps you could host a contest for the silliest workplace in America or offer a sale to make them smile 🙂
19. Celebrate January’s fun foodie days
Food-themed observances are scattered throughout January, giving you excuse after excuse to take a mouthwatering bite. Here’s the full list:
- National Spaghetti Day on January 4th
- Bean Day on January 6th
- Bittersweet Chocolate Day on January 10th
- National Hot Tea Day on January 12th
- National Bagel Day on January 15th
- National Popcorn Day on January 19th
- National Buttercrunch Day on January 20th
- National Cheese Lover Day on January 20th
- National Blonde Brownie Day on January 22nd
- National Pie Day on January 23rd
- Beer Can Appreciation Day on January 24th
- Chocolate Cake Day on January 27th
- National Cornchip Day on January 29th
So, how do you write an email newsletter based around a yummy day? Well, let’s use Bittersweet Chocolate Day as an example.
If you’re part of a confectionary, dessert company, or chocolate shop, this may be one of your best opportunities to drive more sales until Valentine’s Day.
Even if you’re not involved with sweets, a thematic giveaway, as seen here, is sure to whet your customers’ appetites in more ways than one!
Best Practices for January Newsletters
The best tip for sending a newsletter is to send it with intentionality. Carefully plan your content and email design. Make sure your emails are welcomed and relevant to your subscribers.
1. Personalize and segment your emails
Your subscribers aren’t all the same. So why should your newsletters be? Segment your audience based on their demographics, past purchases, or even their email engagement. Run A/B tests to find out which tone and subject lines each subscriber segment engages with.
Add personalized touches like tailored product recommendations or greetings that make your readers feel like they are having a conversation.
2. Share customer stories
Who doesn’t love a good story? Share inspirational stories from your customers to connect with your subscribers on a deeper level.
For instance, if you’re a fitness brand, share inspiring customer success stories tied to New Year’s resolutions in your newsletter. Similarly, a lifestyle brand might show someone’s “fresh start” journey.
Stories from real customers will always feel more relatable and help your subscribers form an emotional connection with your brand.
3. Promote seasonal products with a January twist
There’s something magical about January. Winter vibes are at a peak, and most people are geared up for a fresh start. Tap into the spirit of January with your promotions with themes like “New Year, New You” for wellness products or “Stay Cozy” for winter essentials. A timely email might be just the push someone needs to make a purchase.
4. Maintain a consistent brand voice
January may bring change, but your brand voice should stay consistent. Whether your brand is playful, professional, or somewhere in between, make sure your tone matches your brand identity.
But avoid going overboard with New Year clichés and try to show genuine emotion. Your subscribers will notice when it feels forced.
Wrapping Up
January has many exceptional opportunities for sending newsletters, from New Year’s Day to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Chinese New Year, Make Your Dream Come True Day, and who can forget National Pie Day!
No matter your industry or specialty, you can use these fun holidays and special occasions to nurture your audience.
To send cool newsletters and email campaigns, try EngageBay for free. It’s a marketing automation and CRM software (all-in-one) loved by thousands of small business owners and solopreneurs 🙂
Don’t forget to check out our library of 1,000+ free email templates to kickstart your email campaigns!
FAQ
1. How to start a January newsletter?
Think about what your audience cares about in January: New Year’s resolutions, winter sales, or upcoming holidays. Then, plan your content around it. If you’re a beginner, check out our guide on how to create a newsletter.
2. What are some common mistakes to avoid?
A good rule of thumb while sending emails is to maintain balance. Don’t go overboard with too much text or design. Avoid sending too many emails. Nobody likes cluttered inboxes! Also, avoid generic messages. Your audience wants content that feels relevant to them.
3. What are the best metrics to track newsletter performance?
Focus on open rates (are your subject lines working?), click-through rates (is your content engaging?), and conversion rates (did subscribers take action?). EngageBay lets you effortlessly track all these metrics in one place.
4. How do I choose a newsletter topic?
Think seasonal and practical. What’s on people’s minds in January? New Year goals, winter deals, or even quirky holidays like National Houseplant Appreciation Day. Keep it fun and useful, but also make sure you choose topics that are relevant to your business.
5. How can I create a sense of urgency in January newsletter promotions?
Try limited-time offers, countdowns, or phrases like “Only 2 days left!” People love a little FOMO. But be very careful; it’s easy to sound spammy or pushy if you overdo it.
Content updated for freshness and SEO by Swastik Sahu
