10 Back-to-School Newsletter Ideas for a Fresh Academic Year

The new school year brings not only the excitement of fresh beginnings but also excellent commercial prospects for businesses. This occasion calls for vibrant and engaging email campaigns that will make your audience go, “Wow, I want to have that!”.

Join us today to explore 10 back-to-school newsletter ideas that will help you connect with your subscribers and drive sales. Let’s dive right in and discover how to make your emails as successful as possible!

Do I Even Need Back-to-School Emails?

At first glance, back-to-school emails might seem rather small-scale and niche, useful only for very specific industries (like the education sector, for example). 

The good news is, that’s not the case at all!

These emails are way more versatile and effective than they might appear. And to illustrate this point, here are 3 perfect reasons to create and send your own back-to-school campaigns.

Reason #1. They’re Suitable for Various Businesses

That’s right: back-to-school emails aren’t about textbooks or classroom supplies only! Almost any business can harness the potential of back-to-school campaigns, maximizing revenues during this fruitful period. For instance:

• Apparel stores might promote sales for both uniforms and clothing items for after-school activities.
• Food companies might come up with brand-new breakfast or school lunch options.
• Tech providers might highlight special offers on gadgets and software that are crucial for modern education.
• And much more!

Reason #2. They Provide Increased Engagement & Revenue Boost 

The back-to-school period is one of the busiest shopping seasons. With the new school year around the corner, families are on the lookout for deals and essential items (which makes them more receptive to promotional emails).

A strategic back-to-school campaign that contains relevant offers and useful information is more likely to be opened. In turn, this can boost traffic to your store or website.

Reason #3. They Can Amp Up the Relevance of Your Offers

Back-to-school newsletters address the immediate needs and concerns of your audience. And when your content aligns with what your recipients are thinking about, it naturally becomes more impactful.

Combine the timely nature of these emails with personalization based on past purchase behavior or demographic data to make them even more relevant. For example, a clothing retailer might send individual recommendations based on the styles and sizes that customers purchased earlier.

4 Essentials of Back-to-School Newsletters

An effective back-to-school campaign involves more than just announcing a sale or special offer. So, which elements of back-to-school newsletters should you pay attention to? 

Below are 4 essentials to keep in mind:

1. Target audience. First, determine the exact audience for your emails and offers. Are you targeting parents who want to prepare their kids for the school year? Or maybe college students who are about to enter a new stage of life? The approach to the campaign differs significantly depending on the answer.

2. Subject lines. For 64% of recipients, the subject line determines whether they open or discard an email. This is one of the most prominent elements, and powerful enough to even influence the results of your campaign. Devote more effort to crafting subject lines that are not only attention-grabbing but also compelling and informative.

Need a pinch of inspiration? Blocks offers an AI assistant that will instantly generate subject lines and pre-headers based on the contents of your template!

3. Effective combination of text and visuals. Regardless of whether you offer school supplies or dorm room accessories, the entire content of your email must hit the mark to be effective. Create a tandem of a compelling email copy and alluring visuals, and remember: most of the time, a striking image is worth a thousand words.

When it comes to gorgeous visuals, you can count on Blocks. Visit the Image Center to check out the vast gallery of free-to-use images and select a picture or an animated GIF that’s perfect for your email.

Alternatively, make use of our email builder’s AI capabilities and generate any image you wish in a matter of seconds!

4. Proofreading. Thoroughly check your email templates before sending out the campaign. Make sure that no spelling or grammar mistakes slip through, links to your resources (like social media channels) work properly, and all the information is up-to-date.

10 Practical Back-to-School Newsletter Ideas

And now, let’s explore 10 effective ideas for your back-to-school emails. Use them to maximize your success and boost your profits during this special time of the year!

A Sense of Fresh Start

The end of summer marks a period of transition and renewal that brings a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. Highlight these sensations in your back-to-school newsletters and evoke positive emotions in your audience.

Design the templates to embody the excitement of new beginnings. Don’t just share your offerings; instead, use uplifting language and visuals to tell a story that will motivate the recipients to greet the season with a smile.

For instance, take a look at one of the best back-to-school newsletter examples by Stitch Fix that specifically emphasizes the “First-Day Feeling”.

Special Back-to-School Savings

Did you know that 48% of people are likely to stay away from brands that don’t offer discounts? Buyers love a good deal, especially during the back-to-school shopping rush. An opportunity like this should not be missed: show off your enticing discounts and attract more customers!

Percentage-off deals might work like a charm when you offer competitive pricing. However, you can take a step further and create special promotions that provide even greater savings! For instance, in the email example below, High Sierra offers up to 50% off its backpacks and extra perks for buying 2 backpacks at the same time.

Top Back-to-School Goods

When parents and students are in full preparation mode, it’s a perfect moment for a curated line-up of your top back-to-school products! Show your irresistible must-haves, and consider organizing the goods into categories (such as “For Elementary School” or “For College”) to navigate the readers.

At Blocks, we know how important a strong first impression is during the bustling back-to-school season. With this in mind, we present our customizable back-to-school newsletter templates, tailored to meet a variety of business needs: from highlighting a selection of courses to unveiling the latest products!

Unconventional Approach to Back-to-School Newsletters

Back-to-school email campaigns don’t have to be all about academics or good grades. Think creatively and promote items that students can enjoy during extracurricular activities, or even outside of school!

For example, if we’re talking about school clubs, your email may showcase sports equipment, musical instruments, or art supplies. Feature these offers to make your back-to-school emails even more interesting and diverse, appealing to a broader audience.

Here’s how Quiksilver does that in its back-to-school newsletter, specifically highlighting that it’s not just about student achievements in classes.

Urgency & Limited-time Offers

One more great idea for your back-to-school newsletters is to infuse them with a sense of urgency. When properly done, it can drive higher open and click-through rates, leading to increased conversions. 

Here’s how you can leverage the power of urgency and encourage immediate action from your target audience:

• use a countdown timer to highlight the deadline for discounts
• showcase the most alluring limited-time offers
• use phrases like “Hurry, while supplies last!” and motivate the recipients to act quickly

This back-to-school newsletter by Garmin shows how this can be done. It sets the tone with the subject line that reads “Back to School Sale Ending Soon” and fuels the sense of urgency all the way through.

Contests & Giveaways

Hold a contest or giveaway tied to the beginning of the back-to-school season. This will not only boost engagement but also expand your reach (since almost 95% of the time users share the promotion immediately after they register).

For example, invite the subscribers to participate in a fun competition or to simply make a purchase for the required amount and become a giveaway participant. And of course, offer attractive prizes such as gift cards or exclusive merchandise.

Here’s a great back-to-school newsletter example by Minted that features a themed giveaway with a chance to win classroom essentials. It’s informative, visually appealing, and effective.

Back-to-School Special Events

Create excitement and foster a sense of community by organizing back-to-school events and inviting your subscribers to celebrate the upcoming school year together. Events can take place in 2 formats:

1. In-person gatherings (for example, special shows at your shop, back-to-school parties, or local community events).
2. Online activities (from virtual workshops and live-streamed sessions to special online shopping occasions).

Promote the upcoming events through your emails, include every detail to help the subscribers stay informed, and consider offering something exclusive to the attendees.

The email by Maggiano’s Little Italy shows an excellent example of this back-to-school newsletter idea. It invites parents and kids for a Back To School Breakfast, informing the subscribers about the date, time, and fun activities that will take place.

Back-to-School Fashion Trends

The change of seasons brings a wardrobe renewal, which is especially relevant for the beginning of a school year. Clothing retailers and fashion brands, this is your golden opportunity to shine!

Design your email campaigns around exclusive collections that feature current trends in school uniforms, casual wear, and accessories. Show off your latest apparel and invite students and their parents to greet the back-to-school season in style.

For an illustration, check out this email by Macy’s that features new styles for “classroom and playground”.

Products for Study Space Makeover

A comfortable study space can greatly enhance the education process and student’s productivity. Feature goods that help create an ideal study environment: desk lamps, ergonomic chairs, and decorative items. Additionally, you may include tips on how to set up an efficient study space, and perhaps offer a bundled items kit at a special price.

As an example, this email by Vitruvi features its desk diffuser that serves both as a decor item and an uplifting stimulant to stay focused during studies.

Health Tips & Products

The last (but very important) idea on the list is to highlight the themes of health and wellness in your newsletters. Providing valuable health information positions your brand as a compassionate and knowledgeable resource.

To make your email more useful for the readers, include tips on staying healthy during the school year, such as:

• advice for proper health care in and out of schools
• nutritious lunch ideas to remain energetic all day long
• stress management strategies to maintain student wellbeing and overcome challenges

And if you offer health-related products like sanitizers or vitamins, show them prominently in your emails. For instance, this excellent back-to-school email example by mojo features gummies to beat burnout.

In Conclusion

With these top-notch back-to-school newsletter ideas, your email campaign will have the highest chance of becoming a hit! Put them into action and capture attention even in the most crowded inboxes:

• highlight the excitement of a new beginning in your emails
• offer your top-of-the-line goods that appeal to students and parents alike
• showcase discounts and bundles to drive customer activity
• instill a sense of urgency into your subscribers and inspire them to act fast
• encourage social engagement with the help of contests and special events
• provide tips and feature goods to help students stay healthy and organize their study space
• include school and outdoor apparel in line with current fashion trends
• create unique and unusual offers that still incorporate the back-to-school themes