5 ideas for an April newsletter

Ready to kick off a new quarter on a solid email marketing foot? 

The best newsletters relate to what’s happening in your subscribers’ worlds. Emails around a holiday, season, or cultural event are an easy avenue for connecting, so slide in at least one per month. 

What have we got for April? While the calendar isn’t as robust with opportunities as other months, there’s still significant potential to drive engagement by launching a promotional campaign. 

Reach out to subscribers with any of our five April newsletter ideas. A few qualify as candidates for multi-email campaign efforts. 

We plucked examples “from the wild” to highlight what we like about them. We also give alternative angles and email subject line examples for each marketing opportunity. 
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#1 Play along with April Fools’ Day

To send an April Fools’ message or not? 

Luckily, getting in on the mischief doesn’t hinge on engineering an elaborate prank.   

You could: 

• Weave together jokes or puns pertinent to your brand. For example, an office supply store quips, “We don’t have any good jokes about paper. They are all tearable.” An image of notebooks accompanies a call-to-action (CTA) button labeled “Shop Notebooks.”  
• Toy with a lighthearted prank. Handcrafted Italian shoe brand M. Gemi photoshopped designer shoes onto dogs to debut its “Furlize” line. The CTA transported subscribers to the website, where the brand confirmed it was a hoax and offered a hefty discount on its real “Felize” shoe instead. 
• Go the anti-humor route. Our search yielded many “this is not a joke” emails, usually advertising an April Fools’ Day sale. How about this one for a twist? Grab attention with a head-scratching subject line like, “Don’t buy anything from us today.” Then follow through with a message along the lines of, “We’re serious. Wait for our big sale happening on ___.”  

Take a look at Tog24’s clever approach to the April Fools’ Day email:

What we like: 

1. A playful promotion. There are two parts to the equation. Part 1: The subject line (We pity the fool | Who doesn’t pack us) sets the stage. Part 2: The hero image and overlaid text close the loop.     
2. Two prominent CTAs. Easily browse waterproof essentials by gender. 

April Fools’ Day subject lines 

• Knock, knock … 
• With __, we don’t fool around
• Psst! This is not a joke … 
• Up to __% off! (we’re not kidding)
• Anti-April Fools’ sale
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#2 Support the environment for Earth Day

Shoppers deeply care about protecting the environment. Nielsen IQ data shows that 78% rank a sustainable lifestyle as important, and 30% are more likely to purchase products with sustainability credentials.    

Therefore, Earth Day (April 22) should grab the attention of all brands. Those with identities steeped in eco-conscious practices might block off an entire “Earth Week” on the April email calendar or surrender to a month-long campaign.  

‍Earth Day emails are an excellent opportunity to highlight how your brand cares for the earth. You could: 

• Highlight eco-friendly products and describe why 
• Explain your company’s sustainability efforts, such as materials sourcing, packaging, or shipping initiatives
• Share green lifestyle tips 
• Run a sale and donate partial proceeds to an environmental charity

What if your brand isn’t hardcore eco-friendly, and you fear the “greenwashing” label? Decathlon shows how to make the movement relevant while staying true to your brand. 

What we like: 

1. The lifestyle hero image. The photo doesn’t feel staged but rather a captured moment in time. That makes the scene — and therefore the brand — more relatable. Isn’t it easy to mentally swap out the models and replace them with your gang?
2. An authentic Earth Day connection. Decathlon serves outdoor enthusiasts. Its statement, "There’s no better way to celebrate than getting outside,” aligns perfectly. 
3. Inspiration. Product suggestions grouped by category provide ideas for marking the day.     

Earth Day subject lines

• Save some green on Earth Day
• 🌎 Why Earth Day is every day for us
• Gear up for Earth Day 
• Shop sustainable fashion
• How we’re doing our part for the environment
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# 3 Influence refund spending on Tax Day

This year, 58% of Americans expect to receive a tax refund. Many will pay down debt or shovel it into savings. 

But others are looking to invest their refunds into the economy. The National Retail Federation reports spenders will put money toward: 

• Everyday expenses (30%)
• Major purchases (10%)
• Home improvement (10%)
• A “splurge” (10%)
• Vacation (10%)

(PS: A 5WPR 2024 research report found that consumers tend to splurge most on electronics, technology, health, and wellness.)

Use April 15 — the final day to file 2023 taxes — to your advantage. 

How can you step in and funnel some of the spending your way? Does your inventory include luxe products? Do you have furniture or decor to spruce up a space? Do you carry travel essentials?

Check out how Man Crates takes a crack at it.

What we like: 

1. A clever subject line. “ 🤑 Tax Day blues? These gifts are a guaranteed return.”
2. Juxtaposing gift card type with tax frustration. Man Crates parallels each gift card with an exasperating aspect of filing taxes. 

Tax Day subject lines

• Tax season stressing you out? We’ve got a cure
• Go ahead — spoil yourself with that tax 💰return
• Tax Day deals on our ____
• Taxes filed? Reward yourself 
• Goodbye tax season, hello retail therapy!
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#4 Help them prep for outdoor living

Now that spring is officially here, it’s time to think about summer, right? Warming temperatures and the sun’s reappearance have a knack for turning our thoughts to the hot days ahead.  

You can bet consumers have dreams of dining alfresco, relaxing in their garden oasis, and making memories around the fire pit. Use an April newsletter to inspire subscribers to elevate their outdoor spaces and realize their visions. 

April is a ripe time for promoting: 

• Gardening tools and supplies for beautifying lawns and flower beds
• Patio furniture, decor, and dinnerware for outdoor entertaining
• Grilling paraphernalia for backyard BBQs 
• Outdoor games and sports equipment 

Take a look at the email example from Year & Day.  

What we like: 

1. Bold hero image. The product photography immediately communicates the email’s focus, punctuated by the playful text overlay, “Set a California Mood Anywhere.” 
2. The California thread. Breezy copy sets the mood. We can envisage how the brand’s outdoor collection lends a touch of the West Coast.     

Outdoor living prep subject lines

• Get your patio summer-ready with 25% off
• Time to make your backyard dreams come true
• 🪻Start planning now for your best garden ever
• 3 things you need to make an outdoor oasis
• Are you ready for BBQ season? ♨️
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# 5 Early Mother’s Day promos

Mother’s Day ranks among the year's top five U.S. consumer spending events. Since it’s such a big gift-giving holiday — the average consumer spent $274 in 2023 — plan early and reserve at least one April newsletter for it. 

Many brands can turn Mother’s Day email marketing into a coordinated campaign that kicks off in April and carries into May. It could look like: 

• Email #1: Opt-out email. Be sensitive that Mother’s Day is hard for some people. Give subscribers the option to check out. 
• Email #2: Gift guide. Help shoppers find the gift they’re looking for by curating products according to a classification, such as price point, relationship type or product category.
• Email #3: Shipping deadline reminder. Inform subscribers of cut-off dates so gifts arrive on time. 
• Email #4: Mother’s Day sale. Tout your sales promotions, whether a sitewide sale or discounts on select collections. 
• Email #5: Gift card recommendation. There are always last-minute shoppers!   

Here’s an early Mother’s Day promotion from Stance.

What we like: 

1. Brand tone. It begins with “Gifts for a most special lady” and follows suit with an ode to mom. Stance puts its vibrant personality on display.  
2. Easy-to-find CTA. A black button on a white background stands out. Bonus: the CTA language communicates the precise destination.

Early Mother’s Day subject lines

• Exclusive: Early Mother’s Day deals!
• Gifts under $50 she'll love ❤️
• Don’t miss out on our full selection of Mother’s Day gifts
• Our top 5 gifts for moms
• Get a head start on spoiling mom 
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Give a boost to your April newsletters with Seguno 

The first step to taking Q2 email marketing by the horns is deciding what newsletters will bridge connections with your audience.  

How many of our five April email ideas resonate with your subscribers and are moldable to your brand? Whichever you choose, ensure you tailor content to suit your subscribers’ interests. 

What will motivate them to hop over to your website? Adding user-generated content could have swaying power. Or you might entice by doing double duty with a product launch email that coincides with an April newsletter idea. 

Seguno has email templates to get you started: 

• April Fools’ Day email templates
• Tax Day email templates
• Earth Day email templates
• Mother’s Day email templates 

Now, get creating and happy emailing!