70 August Newsletter Ideas for Captivating Content
Paulius, SEO Team Lead
On August 6, 1762, The Earl of Sandwich asked for a meal between two slices of bread and thus, the sandwich was born.
Now there are enough types of sandwiches to celebrate a different one every day of the month! While I personally would love a daily sandwich-themed August newsletter, your subscribers may get a bit bored of reading about toasties and foot-longs every day.
Luckily for you, National Sandwich Month is just one August newsletter idea to choose from in this round-up.
From wholesome month-long events, like Family Fun Month, to our favorite whacky daily events, like Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbours Porch Day, there’s an upcoming event for everyone to celebrate this August.
Remember that relevance is key. Pick newsletter topics that relate to your business in some way—even if it is as simple as adding a P.S. to remind your readers of the special day.
Some of these days hold special cultural and/or religious significance, so if you choose to refer to them in your email marketing strategy, remember to be sensitive and considerate.
Use this as a guide to help plan your email newsletter ideas for August. We encourage you to experiment and to keep it Lite!
5 hand-picked August newsletter themes
1. Olympics newsletter theme
The Olympics runs from July 26 to Aug 11, 2024. Capitalize on the excitement with an Olympic-themed newsletter that inspires your subscribers.
Newsletter idea: Deepen the connection with your audience by running a challenge during the Olympics. Inspire people to get in champion shape and test their fitness. Or try a daily quiz that tests the mental strength of your audience.
Fitness app Freeletics used its newsletter to challenge subscribers to perform 200 burpees. It incentivized participation by adding those who completed the challenge to a prize draw.
2. Back-to-school newsletter theme
For a large majority of students across the world, August is the time to prepare to head back to the classroom in September. But back-to-school time is about more than just stationery and label makers—it’s also about making the switch from summer mode to study mode.
Newsletter idea: Inspire subscribers to unlock the inner student buried under beach towels and summer nights and take part in an online course. Add a back-to-school discount or coupon to sweeten the deal. Online courses are great for everyone! Not just full-time students.
Google embraces the back-to-school season by encouraging potential students to learn job-ready skills with their online courses.
3. Family Fun Month newsletter theme
August is Family Fun Month, which is a time to celebrate quality time with loved ones before the chaos of the school year takes over.
Newsletter idea: Create a family fun month automation series that sends out a weekly newsletter for a new and exciting family activity for each week in August. Like backyard camping, DIY craft projects or kid-friendly recipes.
TimeOut shares some summer vacation movie ideas to occupy kids in the weeks before heading back to school.
4. Black Business Month
Created in the US in 2004 by historian John William Templeton and engineer Frederick E. Jordan Sr, Black Business Month is a time to shine a light on Black-owned businesses and all they represent in the effort to strive toward diversity and equality.
Newsletter idea: Highlight your favorite Black-owned businesses that you think your subscribers would resonate with or enjoy. Prepare early and make it a series using email automation.
Reel Paper Co. masters relevance in their Black business newsletter. As a sustainable brand themselves, they chose to highlight sustainable Black-owned businesses.
5. Perseid Meteor Shower
The Perseid Meteor Shower, one of the brightest celestial displays, starts in mid-July, but peaks around August 11-13. Visible from any location on Earth, it promises a mesmerizing spectacle of shooting stars, especially in dark, clear skies.
Newsletter idea: Send an automated email series counting down to the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower, including viewing tips and fun facts.
HomeAway provides a great example of using celestial events in your email marketing. To celebrate a solar eclipse, they sent out an email reminding readers of the best time view, and linked properties in ideal viewing locations.
Awesome August email subject line examples
Savor the Taste of Paris: Try Our Winning Delicacies
Score Big with Our Exclusive Offers
Sprint to These World Record Savings
Head back to school with Google Career Certificates (Google)
Back-to-school essentials (Vitruvi)
Get 55% off Grammarly Premium for back-to-school (Grammarly)
5 easy art ideas for indoor family fun (HomeAway)
10 things you need for a fool-proof (and cheap) family fun day
Family Fun Month week 1: How to make DIY piñatas
7 Black-owned businesses in sustainability (Reel Paper Co.)
77 Black-owned businesses to support right now (The Strategist)
How you can support local Black businesses in August
Light up the night: Star-inspired decor for Perseid Meteor Shower viewing
Unleash the power of the Perseid Meteor Shower in your next story
Make a wish upon a star ✨ help us make a difference during the Perseid Meteor Shower
4 August newsletter ideas for month-long events
1. International Dog Month
Dogs are the number one most common household pet in the world—and for good reason! Dogs make everything better. So when better to celebrate our furry friends than in the dog days of summer?
Newsletter idea: Start the month off by sharing a story about your own four-legged bestie, or a famous dog from history and ask for subscriber submissions to be featured throughout the month.
2. Happiness Happens Month
Back in the year 2000, the Secret Society of Happy People (yes, that’s really a thing) decided to dedicate the whole month of August to the active pursuit of happiness. To observe, one must simply choose to think about happiness and the things that make them happy!
Newsletter idea: Share the small pleasures that make you happy every day. Include a survey block to ask subscribers what makes them happy.
3. National Sandwich Month
BLTs, paninis, grilled cheese, hoagies, rubens, clubs, gyros… There really is a sandwich out there for everyone. The cool part? Different cultures enjoy sandwiches in their own unique way! National Sandwich Month is a time to appreciate the lunchbox staples so many of us grew up on.
Newsletter idea: To celebrate National Sandwich Month, add a block to the end of each August newsletter you send to highlight a new, delicious sandwich recipe.
4. Romance Awareness Month
Romance isn’t strictly reserved for February 14. In fact, the whole month of August is dedicated to love, relationships and romance. 🌹
Newsletter idea: Share date night ideas for your loved-up subscribers or your favorite romance novels that anyone can enjoy.
3 August newsletter ideas for week-long events
1. Simplify Your Life Week (August 5 - August 11, 2024)
Similar to spring cleaning, Simplify Your Life week is all about decluttering your life—both physically and psychologically—to reduce stress and anxiety.
Newsletter idea: Offer a printable weekly planner that will help subscribers simplify their lives with dedicated times for social media breaks, meditation, naps, and other stress-reducing tasks that fit into any workday.
2. International Clown Week (August 1 - August 7)
Celebrated in the first week of August every year since the 1950s, International Clown Week is dedicated to bringing cheer to the hard-working clowns that do it so well.
Newsletter idea: Clown around with your newsletter design in an effort to spread joy to your subscribers. Use plenty of color and playful GIFs to brighten someone’s day.
3. Bargain Hunting Week (August 12 - August 18, 2024)
Bargain Hunting Week is observed during the second week of August each year and is all about the thrill of finding something amazing at a great price.
Newsletter idea: This is the perfect opportunity for e-commerce stores to offer surprise limited-time coupons or bundles to simulate the same excitement as digging through a bargain bin and finding an absolute gem.
51 daily events to inspire your August marketing campaigns
August 1, 2024
National Girlfriends Day: Celebrate the bond of friendship by sharing a story about your best girlfriends
Raspberry Cream Pie Day: Share a raspberry cream pie-inspired recipe with your subscribers
August 2, 2024
Coloring Book Day: Offer an eye-catching printable coloring-in book for adults to de-stress and relax
Ice-Cream Sandwich Day: Paired well with National Sandwich Month, use this day to share a fun recipe for ice-cream sandwiches
International Beer Day: Survey your subscribers to find out their favorite brew
August 3, 2024
Grab Some Nuts Day: I know what you’re thinking… but this day is all about the bountiful legumes, nuts and seeds that provide us with vital healthy fats. Share some nutty recipes with your subscribers today
National Watermelon Day: Celebrate this juicy gift of nature by sharing some creative watermelon recipes, like these vegan “tuna” steaks
August 4, 2024
Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: Share your winning chocolate chip cookie recipe with subscribers
National Sisters Day: Shine a spotlight on your sister or a pair of famous sisters that have inspired you
August 5, 2024
Underwear Day: Highlight your favorite sustainable or socially conscious underwear brand
Work Like a Dog Day: Set a short challenge for subscribers to work towards with the tenacity and focus of a working dog
August 6, 2024
Fresh Breath Day: Provide subscribers with some tips on oral hygiene and keeping it fresh throughout the day
Wiggle Your Toes Day: Share some desk exercises your hard-working subscribers can use to keep the blood flowing to their little phalanges
Cycle to Work Day: Encourage your subscribers to ditch the diesel and cycle to work instead. Create a special coupon code for those who want to participate
August 7, 2024
Purple Heart Day (US): Share the story of a veteran close to you (with their permission)
Lighthouse Day: A lighthouse is a beacon of safety and security. Use this as a metaphor and ask your subscribers what their personal lighthouse is
August 8, 2024
Sleep Under the Stars Night: Paired well with Family Fun Month celebrations, provide subscribers with a checklist of everything they’ll need for a backyard camping night under the stares
Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbors Porch Day: Set a challenge for subscribers to sneak (or gift) zucchini and other fresh produce onto the porches of their neighbors. Ask them to tag you on social media so you can share the best entries in your next newsletter
August 9, 2024
National Book Lovers Day: Share your favorite reads with subscribers or start an email book club
August 10, 2024
National Lazy Day: Encourage subscribers to take it easy and take a tongue-in-cheek approach by sending a rich-text, no fuss, no design newsletter
National S’mores Day: Share some creative s’more-inspired recipes like this S’moretini from Brit + Co
August 11, 2024
National Presidential Joke Day (US): Share your favorite presidential “ha ha” moments, modern or historic
August 12, 2024
National Middle Child Day: Add a quiz to your newsletter to find out which subscribers suffer from “middle child syndrome”
August 13, 2024
International Left-Handers Day: Share some fun facts about lefties and include a survey to see how many left-handed people are subscribed to your newsletter
August 14, 2024
Navajo Code Talkers Day (US): Share the story of the Indigenous Americans who were instrumental in the US’s World War II efforts
August 15, 2024
Relaxation Day: Share tips with subscribers on easy ways to unwind and relax without spending big bucks
August 16, 2024
National Tell a Joke Day: Include some of your best knee-slappers in your newsletter to make subscribers laugh (or groan)
August 17, 2024
Nonprofit Day: Highlight your favorite nonprofit with links for subscribers to donate
Black Cat Appreciation Day: Show some love to these misunderstood felines and share a pic of your own ebony fur-baby
National I LOVE My Feet Day: Our feet carry us everywhere, share tips with subscribers on how to give back to our hardest-working appendages (e.g foot masks, self-massage tips, etc.)
August 18, 2024
National Fajita Day: Share a spicy fajita recipe with subscribers (pro tip: people love vegan options too!)
August 19, 2024
National Potato Day: Survey your subscribers on their favorite way to eat potatoes and share the most popular recipes
World Honey Bee Day: Celebrate the bees that support our environment and share links to charities that endeavor to save them
August 20, 2024
National Radio Day: Share a list of podcasts related to your niche. Or start one of your own!
August 21, 2024
National Senior Citizens Day: Offer a special seniors discount or curate a list of restaurants, etc. that offer discounts on Senior Citizens Day
August 22, 2024
National Bao Day: Create a list of the best bao places around your city or share an at-home recipe for these delicious steamed snacks
National Be An Angel Day: This day is all about spreading kindness. Share with subscribers how you will be an angel today and encourage them to do the same
August 23, 2024
Cuban Sandwich Day: Paired excellently with Sandwich Month, you can feature the best Cuban combo in your newsletter
August 24, 2024
National Waffle Day: Include creative waffle recipes in your email campaign
August 25, 2024
National Kiss and Make Up Day: Inspire readers to move on from past quarrels with your own personal story of reconciliation
National Second Hand Wardrobe Day: Remind readers of the damaging effects of fast fashion and organize a clothing swap or link to local “Buy Nothing” Facebook groups
August 26, 2024
National Got Checked Day: In support of breast cancer awareness, ask your subscribers: “Got checked?”
National Women’s Equality Day: Create a call-out to subscribers with instructions on how they can support women’s equality no matter their gender
August 27, 2024
Just Because Day: Just Because Day is an opportunity to have a sale and give back to subscribers “just because”
August 28, 2024
National Bow Tie Day: Encourage subscribers young and old, bi-pedal or quadrupedal to get dapper with the world's most distinguished neck accessory
National Thoughtful Day: Inspire subscribers to complete a thoughtful act and watch the ripple effect thoughtfulness has on a community
August 29, 2024
National Lemon Juice Day: Add some zest and a pop of yellow to your newsletter and share your favorite way to enjoy this sour citrus juice
August 30, 2024
National Beach Day: Create a downloadable list of your favorite secret beaches
Grief Awareness Day: Show up for grieving subscribers and remind them it’s okay to take time to process any kind of loss
August 31, 2024
National Eat Outside Day: Give subscribers a checklist of what to take with them for the perfect picnic
National Matchmaker Day: Play matchmaker by bundling two of your new products to create the “perfect match”
7 historic events in August:
August 1, 1944: Anne Frank penned her last diary entry.
August 5, 1962: Marilyn Monroe died at age 36 from an overdose of sleeping pills.
August 9, 1974: Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency as a result of the Watergate scandal.
August 15, 1969: The first Woodstock festival was held in a field near Yasgur's Farm, New York.
August 16, 1977: Elvis Presley was pronounced dead at age 42.
August 18, 1920: The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote.
August 31, 1997: Princess Diana died at age 36 from internal injuries suffered in a high-speed car crash.
August is calling
Since August marks our entrance into the latter half of 2024, enjoy the fun, low-key newsletter content ideas that will captivate subscribers before the chaos of the holiday season takes over inboxes across the globe.
Do you have a favorite idea from our list, or perhaps a fresh one we didn't cover? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. We love hearing from our creative community!
As always, keep it relevant and keep it Lite. See you in September!
