Members don't open digests because they're just a list of links
When your community digest is just a list of links, members quickly lose interest and stop opening it. The open rates drop, and the digest becomes background noise in their inboxes. Community managers notice fewer replies, fewer clicks, and members saying they have not seen important updates.
Common symptoms include declining digest engagement, poor newsletter open rates, and feedback that the content feels repetitive or impersonal. This makes it tough to drive participation and reduces the impact of your best community updates.
Digests that only list links fail to capture attention because they lack context, personality, and a clear reason for members to click. People are busy and overloaded with emails, so if a digest looks like a generic roundup, it is easily ignored. Psychologically, readers want to know what is in it for them and why they should care about each item.
Common mistakes include curating content without summaries, not highlighting community voices, and failing to add visual or thematic variety. Some platforms limit customization, making it hard to add engaging elements like member highlights, personal notes, or clear calls to action. As a result, the digest becomes just another unread notification.
If boring digests are not fixed, vital community updates go unseen and engagement drops. Members will miss opportunities to participate, connect, or learn, which can lead to overall community stagnation. From a business perspective, poor digest quality reduces ROI on your community platform and can harm member retention and satisfaction.
To improve digest engagement, rework your newsletter to include summaries, highlights, and calls to action that give context to each link. Add personal touches, such as a note from the community manager, member spotlights, or a quick poll. Use visuals or emojis to break up the text and make sections easier to scan.
Test different formats and track open and click rates to see what resonates. Highlight the most valuable or urgent content at the top, and give members a reason to read by teasing exclusive insights or upcoming events. Make every digest feel curated and relevant, not just a list of what happened.
StickyHive makes it easy to create engaging digests with templates that go beyond basic link lists. Add member highlights, personal intros, and visually appealing sections with just a few clicks. Automated recommendations help you surface what matters most, saving you time and boosting digest engagement. Try StickyHive to transform your digests and keep your community connected.
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