How to design and send your first newsletter on GetResponse

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-19

Quick Answer

Creating your first newsletter on GetResponse involves using their drag-and-drop Email Creator to design your campaign, adding your content and images, then scheduling or sending immediately to your chosen contact list. The entire process takes about 15-20 minutes from start to finish.

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Prerequisites

Active GetResponse account
Email list with at least one subscriber
Newsletter content ready (text and images)
Sender domain verified

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access the Email Creator

Log into your GetResponse account and navigate to Email Marketing from the main dashboard. Click the Create Email button, then select Newsletter from the campaign types. Choose Drag and Drop Editor to access the visual Email Creator tool.

The drag-and-drop editor is more user-friendly for beginners than the HTML editor option.

Select a Newsletter Template

Browse through GetResponse's template library by category or use the search function. Click Preview to see how templates look on desktop and mobile. Once you find a suitable design, click Select Template to load it into the editor. You can also start with a Blank Template for complete customization.

Choose templates that match your brand colors and have a layout suitable for your content type.

Customize Your Newsletter Design

Use the drag-and-drop interface to modify your template. Click on text blocks to edit content, replace placeholder images by clicking Change Image, and adjust colors using the Style panel. Add new elements by dragging them from the left sidebar - including text blocks, images, buttons, and social media icons. Modify the header to include your logo and brand colors.

Keep your design mobile-friendly by testing the mobile preview regularly as you make changes.

Add and Format Your Content

Replace template text with your newsletter content by clicking on text blocks. Use the formatting toolbar to adjust font size, colors, and alignment. Insert images by clicking Add Image and uploading from your computer or selecting from GetResponse's stock library. Add call-to-action buttons by dragging a Button element and customizing the text and link URL.

Write compelling subject lines and preview text to improve open rates - you can edit these in the campaign settings.

Configure Newsletter Settings

Click Next to access campaign settings. Enter your Subject Line and Preview Text. Set your From Name and From Email (use a verified domain). Choose your target Contact List or segment. Configure Google Analytics tracking if desired, and set up A/B testing options if you want to test different versions.

Use personalization tokens like {{first_name}} in your subject line to increase engagement.

Preview and Test Your Newsletter

Click Preview to see how your newsletter appears on different devices. Use the Send Test feature to send a preview to your own email address. Check for formatting issues, broken links, and typos. Verify that all images load correctly and buttons link to the intended destinations. Make any necessary adjustments in the editor.

Always send a test email to multiple email providers (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) to ensure compatibility.

Schedule or Send Your Newsletter

Once satisfied with your newsletter, choose your sending option. Select Send Now for immediate delivery, or click Schedule to set a specific date and time. GetResponse will show you the optimal sending time based on your audience. Review the final summary showing recipient count, subject line, and sending time, then click Send Newsletter to confirm.

Tuesday through Thursday between 10 AM and 2 PM typically have the highest open rates for newsletters.

Monitor Campaign Performance

After sending, go to Email Marketing > Reports to track your newsletter's performance. Monitor key metrics including open rate, click-through rate, unsubscribes, and bounces. Click on individual metrics for detailed insights, including which links were clicked most and subscriber engagement patterns. Use this data to improve future newsletters.

A good open rate for newsletters is typically 20-25%, while click-through rates around 2-5% are considered average.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Images not displaying in the newsletter

Ensure images are under 1MB in size and use supported formats (JPG, PNG, GIF). Upload images to GetResponse's media library instead of linking to external URLs. Check that image URLs are secure (HTTPS) if linking externally.

Newsletter looks different in various email clients

Use GetResponse's Email Preview feature to test across different clients. Avoid complex CSS styling and stick to web-safe fonts. Keep layouts simple and use tables for better compatibility with older email clients.

Low open rates for sent newsletters

Improve your subject lines by making them more compelling and personal. Clean your email list to remove inactive subscribers. Ensure your sender name and email are recognizable to recipients. Test different sending times using GetResponse's Perfect Timing feature.

Newsletter stuck in spam folders

Verify your sender domain in Account Settings > Sender Authentication. Avoid spam trigger words in subject lines and content. Include a clear unsubscribe link and your physical address. Gradually warm up new sender domains by starting with smaller send volumes.

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