How to Create an Christmas Newsletter Template That’s Not Awful
Creating a Christmas-themed newsletter that resonates with a diverse team is both an art and a science. It’s not just about spreading festive cheer—it’s about creating a thoughtful, inclusive, and functional piece of communication that engages your entire audience.
Here’s how to go beyond the ordinary to craft a standout template:
Start with the Message, Not the Theme
When it comes to internal communications, purpose always trumps aesthetics. Before you even think about design:
- Define Your Goals:
- Are you sharing year-end reflections?
- Providing essential information like shift schedules or office closures?
- Celebrating achievements or company milestones?
- Understand Your Audience:
- Does everyone in your organisation celebrate Christmas?
- Are some team members working through the holidays, and how can you acknowledge them?
- Set the Tone:
- Strike a balance between festive and professional. Avoid tone-deaf statements like “Enjoy your time off!” if not everyone has the luxury of a break.
Pro Tip: Use a theme like “Seasonal Connections” or “Closing the Year with Gratitude” to reflect inclusion and avoid the assumptions that everyone observes or has positive sentiments of Christmas.
Craft Thoughtful and Inclusive Content
The heart of your newsletter is its content. It’s your chance to connect with employees in a meaningful way.
Content Tips:
- Celebrate Achievements:
- Highlight team milestones and individuals personal and professional accomplishments.
- Use inclusive language, like “Together, we’ve achieved…” instead of singling out specific groups.
- Provide Practical Information:
- Include clear details on office hours, holiday shifts, or emergency contacts.
- Add links to key resources, like HR portals or shift-planning tools.
- Share a Year-End Reflection:
- Include a message from leadership thanking employees for their hard work.
- Highlight company progress and what’s ahead in the new year.
- Acknowledge Diversity:
- Mention other seasonal celebrations if they are relevant, such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Year traditions.
- Recognise that not everyone may celebrate holidays in the same way, and keep the tone open and inclusive.
Address the Entire Workforce
Remember, not everyone gets time off or celebrates Christmas in the same way. Your newsletter should reflect empathy and inclusivity.
Ideas:
- Spotlight Non-Holiday Initiatives: Include recognition for teams working during the break.
- Provide Support Resources: Link to mental health or HR services for those who may find the season stressful.
- Celebrate Contributions: Acknowledge the efforts of frontline staff, shift workers, or those in critical roles.
Design with Elegance, Not Excess
Tired of the same old red-and-green overload? Focus on creating a visually appealing yet understated design that compliments your Brand.
Key Design Principles:
- Sophisticated Colour Schemes: Instead of the usual red and green, try:
- Icy blue and white for a winter feel.
- Gold and silver for a festive but neutral look.
- Muted jewel tones (e.g., emerald green, burgundy) for a rich, seasonal palette.
- Balanced Layouts: Use white space generously to avoid clutter and make the content digestible.
- Minimalistic Festive Elements: Incorporate small, tasteful touches such as snowflake dividers, a modern holiday banner, or a single seasonal icon in the footer.
How to Create the Design in NewZapp
NewZapp’s user-friendly tools make it easy to design templates that look great and perform well:
- Start with a Template:
- It’s up to you if you want to create a new email from scratch with a blank template or if you’d prefer to make a copy of the previous email.
- Adjust the Layout:
- Use a single-column structure for clarity, or opt for two columns to balance text with visuals.
- Drag and drop content blocks for headings, text, images, and buttons.
- Customise Colours and Fonts:
- You can do with in the individual containers or the entire structure the blocks are within. Simply select what area you’d like to change the background colour of and select the colour options on the left.
- Use the colour picker to apply your chosen palette to the background, buttons, and headings.
- Add Subtle Accents:
- Access the Image Gallery to find festive but professional icons, or upload your own graphics.
- Use divider blocks for clean separations between sections—NewZapp offers decorative options like dotted or striped dividers.
Optimise for User Experience
A well-designed newsletter is more than just pretty—it’s intuitive and functional.
Best Practices:
- Make It Scannable:
- Use bullet points, short paragraphs, and clear headings.
- Break up dense text with images or dividers.
- Include Clear CTAs:
- Example buttons: “View Your Schedule,” “Submit Feedback,” or “Celebrate with Us!”
- Position CTAs in prominent areas, such as the top or end of sections.
- Test for Mobile and Accessibility:
- Ensure font sizes are readable (16px+ for body text).
- Use NewZapp’s preview tool to check responsiveness on mobile devices.
How to Test in NewZapp
- Preview Your Design:
- Click the Preview button IN THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREENto see how your newsletter looks on desktop and mobile.
- Send a Proof Email:
- Use NewZapp’s proof email function to ensure everything renders correctly in your inbox.
- Check Links and Interactivity:
- Test all links and interactive elements to confirm they work as expected.
Conclusion
An exceptional Christmas newsletter is more than festive—it’s meaningful, inclusive, and well-designed. By carefully curating your message, design, and content, you can create a communication piece that feels relevant to everyone on your team.
With NewZapp and NewZapp, you have all the tools you need to craft a professional, engaging, and reusable template. Start today, and show your team you value their contributions, no matter how or when they celebrate.
Ready to elevate your internal communications? Book a NewZapp demo and explore the power of NewZapp!
Adam Baldock-Apps
Growth Marketing Manager
Passionate Marketing and Growth leader. Driving Digital Innovation and Brand Growth, expert in Tech and SaaS Marketing.
