Tired of readers skipping your sponsored newsletter ads? Learn how to make sponsorships feel like a natural part of your content—not an interruption. This post highlights Ann Handley’s brilliant “pop quiz” strategy and shows how you can use it to keep readers engaged and sponsors happy.

You’ve done the hard work: created a lead magnet, built a landing page, and finally got someone to join your email list.

But there’s one step that can make or break your relationship with that new subscriber—and it often gets overlooked.

That step is your welcome email.

This is the most important email you’ll ever send. It sets expectations, builds trust, and plays a critical role in email deliverability—a key factor in whether your emails end up in the Primary inbox or lost in the Promotions tab.

Let’s break down why it matters, and how to make sure yours gets opened, clicked, and replied to.