Lesson 10 - Reflection and Practical Service
In this activation, you will work on the theme of Mastery. You have learned and practiced storytelling throughout the guide. As you worked through writing a summary of all of your blogs, you may have noticed how much different the first activation felt to now.
There are two great benefits to writing your experiences:
- Personal reflection - Thinking deliberately about your faith journey
- Practical service - Providing your talents and skills to spread the Word
How can you effectively share your experiences with your friends, family, and people you have yet to meet?
An email campaign is a great tool to reach out, but simply sending a link to your blog or a couple of excerpts is not the most effective.
Activation 10
In this activation, we will start to write the conclusion of your capstone blog. Once you have that completed, we will examine how to create an effective email campaign for this project and any practical service in the future.
The theme of your conclusion is Mastery. You can return to Lesson 5 for help in writing a clear conclusion, but speak honestly about what you have learned and provide words of encouragement to someone in need of the Word.
MASTERY Philippians 4:13: I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Why is email important?
Once a blog is published, you will want people to find your story. Email is direct outreach from you to friends, family, supporters, and others. Email is also personal so it helps to stand out to your audience. When you build an effective campaign, people will look forward to reading your messages.
So let’s look at how to create an email campaign and schedule all of your communication. Just like in the topic cluster supports the long form blog, sharing the first 8 blogs and your capstone blog can be an extended email campaign.
There are a number of key techniques to writing an email or newsletter:
- Remember to personalize your emails with the subscriber's name whenever possible
- Use clear and compelling subject lines that catch your audience’s eye
- Keep the content concise and engaging.
- Ask people you meet if they would like to stay in touch via email. The simple way to grow a list is to ask.
Using an editorial calendar, you can create enthusiasm and keep your audience engaged over a course of weeks or even months. This is especially important when you are encouraging someone who is on the fence, still dealing with doubt, or simply needs a steady stream of optimism.
Here is a sample Editorial Calendar to help you plan your capstone email campaign:
Email 1: Introduction and Blog Teaser
Subject: Welcome to [Your Name]'s Blog Series!
Content: Introduce yourself and your blog series. Explain the purpose and value of the upcoming emails. Tease the first blog post and highlight the benefits readers will gain from reading it.
Email 2: Blog 1 Announcement
Subject: Discover [Blog Title]: [Teaser]
Content: Introduce the first blog post in the series. Share a brief summary of what readers can expect to learn or gain from reading it. Include a clear call-to-action to encourage readers to click on the link and read the full blog post.
Email 3: Blog 1 Follow-Up
Subject: Dive into [Blog Title]: [Teaser]
Content: Remind subscribers about the first blog post and its relevance. Highlight any key points or takeaways from the post. Encourage readers who haven't already done so to click the link and read the full blog post.
Email 4: Blog 2 Announcement
Subject: Get Insights from [Blog Title]: [Teaser]
Content: Introduce the second blog post in the series. Briefly outline what readers will learn or discover from the upcoming post. Emphasize the value and relevance of the content.
Email 5: Blog 2 Follow-Up
Subject: Uncover [Blog Title]: [Teaser]
Content: Remind subscribers about the second blog post and its significance. Highlight intriguing aspects or key insights from the post. Encourage readers to click the link and delve into the full blog post.
Email 6: Blog 3 Announcement
Subject: Discover [Blog Title]: [Teaser]
Content: Introduce the third blog post in the series. Provide a preview of the valuable information readers will gain from reading it. Spark curiosity and interest in the upcoming content.
Email 7: Blog 3 Follow-Up
Subject: Learn from [Blog Title]: [Teaser]
Content: Remind subscribers about the third blog post and its educational content. Highlight any unique perspectives or practical tips shared in the post. Encourage readers to click the link and explore the full blog post.
Email 8: Portfolio Page Finale
Subject: Explore [Your Name]'s Impressive Portfolio!
Content: Conclude the email campaign by introducing your portfolio page. Emphasize the value and range of your work. Provide a clear call-to-action to visit your portfolio page and explore your projects and achievements.