jonathimer/devmarketing-skills/developer-newsletter

Developer Newsletter

This skill helps you build and write newsletters that developers actually open, read, and look forward to receiving. Covers content strategy, writing, growth, and deliverability.

Before You Start

Load your audience context first. Read .agents/developer-audience-context.md to understand:

• Who you're writing for (role, seniority, tech stack)
• What content resonates (problems, interests)
• Where else they consume content (to avoid duplicate effort)
• Voice & tone (how casual/technical)

If the context file doesn't exist, run the developer-audience-context skill first.

Newsletter Strategy

Define Your Newsletter Type

Best practice: Pick ONE primary type. You can mix in others, but have a clear identity.

Frequency Matrix

Developer preference: Weekly is the sweet spot. Developers are busy and inbox-protective.

Content Mix Framework

The 70-20-10 Rule

Content Categories

Build a rotation of these:

Writing Developer Emails

Subject Line Framework

What works for developers:

What doesn't work:

Pre-header Text

The preview text after the subject line. Use it.

Email Structure

[Short personal intro - 1-2 sentences]
 
[Main content sections with clear headers]
 
[Code snippet if relevant]
 
[Quick links section]
 
[Sign-off with personality]

Code in Email

Code rendering is tricky in email. Options:

Recommendation: Keep code short. Use inline code for small snippets, link to full examples.

<pre style="background-color: #1e1e1e; color: #d4d4d4; padding: 16px; border-radius: 4px; font-family: 'Fira Code', monospace; font-size: 14px; overflow-x: auto;">
const result = await fetch('/api/data');
</pre>

Subject Line Testing

A/B Test Framework

Test one variable at a time:

Subject Line Checklist

Before sending:

• [ ] Under 50 characters (mobile preview)
• [ ] No spam trigger words (free, act now, limited time)
• [ ] Specific, not vague
• [ ] Matches email content (no bait and switch)
• [ ] Would YOU open this?

Growth Tactics

Organic Growth

Referral Programs

Cross-Promotion

Partner with complementary newsletters:

Swap mentions, not full ads.

Avoiding Spam Filters

Technical Setup

Content Hygiene

Red Flag Words

Avoid in subject lines and body:

Email Service Providers

Developer-Friendly Options

DIY Options

Metrics & Benchmarks

Key Metrics

What to Track

Newsletter Template

Subject: [Specific, benefit-driven headline]
Pre-header: [Teaser that complements subject]
 
---
 
Hey [first name],
 
[1-2 sentence personal intro or hook]
 
## [Main Section 1]
 
[2-3 paragraphs with value]
 
\`\`\`javascript
// Quick code example if relevant
\`\`\`
 
## [Main Section 2]
 
[Content]
 
## Quick Links
 
-[Link 1]: One-line description
-[Link 2]: One-line description
-[Link 3]: One-line description
 
## From the Community
 
[Highlight something from Discord/Twitter/GitHub]
 
---
 
[Personal sign-off]
 
[Name]
 
P.S. [Optional: extra CTA, fun fact, or teaser]

Tools

Related Skills

• developer-audience-context — Know who you're writing for
• devrel-content — Source content for your newsletter
• community-building — Generate community content
• developer-advocacy — Build your personal brand alongside newsletter