How to Build a Newsletter Email — SOP

Purpose

We use a Claude Project to build Maryland Local Businesses email newsletters.

The Claude Project already contains the newsletter template, layout, fonts, colors, and formatting rules. Do not edit or recreate the template manually. Your only job is to tell Claude which businesses should be included in each newsletter edition.

One-Time Setup

Bookmark and open the Claude Project:

https://claude.ai/project/019e83a1-ccaa-7757-b754-2eadbac8dbbd

The template and instructions are already loaded inside the Project. No additional setup is required.

Newsletter Creation Process

Step 1 — Pick the Businesses

Choose 3 or 4 businesses for the newsletter edition.

For each business, copy the listing URL from:

https://www.marylandlocalbusinesses.com

Example listing format:

https://www.marylandlocalbusinesses.com/product/business-name/

Step 2 — Paste the Links into Claude

Open a new chat inside the Claude Project.

Paste the business links and use this format:

Build a newsletter with these businesses, in this order:

https://www.marylandlocalbusinesses.com/product/business-one/

https://www.marylandlocalbusinesses.com/product/business-two/

https://www.marylandlocalbusinesses.com/product/business-three/

Claude will automatically read each listing and pull the following details:

• Business name

• Category

• County

• Photo

• Description

• Button link

Do not paste these details manually unless you need to override something.

Step 3 — Copy the Finished HTML

Claude will return the complete newsletter HTML file.

Copy or download the HTML and save it for use in the CRM email builder.

Optional Tweaks

Only use these when you want to override something Claude pulled automatically.

Use a Specific Photo

For Business Two, use this photo instead: [paste photo URL]

Change the Description

For Business One, make the description say: [your text]

Reorder the Businesses

List the business URLs in the exact order you want them to appear.

Claude will follow the order provided.

Sending the Newsletter Through the CRM

Step 4 — Add the Client as a Contact

Before scheduling the newsletter, make sure the client has been added as a contact in this subaccount:

https://app.marylandlocalmarketing.com/v2/location/zg1ccpDwaCG5r1KJsPra/contacts/smart_list/All

Confirm the client’s contact information is correct before sending or scheduling the email.

Step 5 — Clone Last Month’s Newsletter

Open the CRM email list:

https://app.marylandlocalmarketing.com/v2/location/zg1ccpDwaCG5r1KJsPra/marketing/emails/scheduled

Find the most recent newsletter and clone or duplicate it.

This keeps the subject style, sender, and email settings consistent. You will only replace the newsletter content.

Step 6 — Replace the HTML Code and Confirm Sender Email

Open the cloned email in the email builder.

Go to the custom HTML/code section.

Delete the old newsletter code.

Paste in the new HTML from Claude.

Update the subject line and newsletter date.

Confirm the sender email is set to:

[email protected]

Step 7 — Preview and Schedule

Open the preview.

Send yourself a test email.

Check the following:

• Layout looks correct

• Images display properly

• Buttons work

• Business order is correct

• Subject line and date are updated

• Sender email is set to [email protected]

Once everything looks correct, set the send date and time.

Schedule the email.

Final Checklist

Before scheduling, confirm:

• The client was added as a contact in the correct subaccount

• 3 or 4 businesses are included

• Business URLs were pasted in the correct order

• New HTML was copied from Claude

• Old CRM HTML was fully replaced

• Subject line was updated

• Date was updated

• Sender email is set to [email protected]

• Test email was reviewed

• Newsletter is scheduled