Mortgage Women

Inbox, But Make It Interesting

How interactive newsletters are turning “just another email” into referrals, relevance, and actual engagement

Inbox,  But Make It Interesting
Inbox,  But Make It Interesting

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Episode 

Inbox, But Make It Interesting

Mortgage loan officers today are working in one of the noisiest digital environments the industry has ever seen. Every borrower, every realtor, every past client, and every lead is constantly flooded with messages. Podcasts, social feeds, breaking news, interest-rate alerts, email blasts, text campaigns, and “market updates” all start sounding the same.

In that kind of climate, staying top-of-mind isn’t just about showing up — it’s about showing up in a way that makes people actually want to engage with the content.

This is where newsletters, and especially interactive newsletters, go from “nice to have” to “non-negotiable.”

PR and marketing specialist Danielle Octavia Taute said it perfectly in her LinkedIn article “Interactive Newsletters vs. Static Newsletters”

“The most powerful newsletters today aren’t just good emails,” she posits. “They’re strategic brand amplifiers.”

And she’s right. When done well, a newsletter becomes one of the most valuable pieces of marketing an MLO can produce.

This article has two core goals:

1. To underscore why every MLO should consistently send a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter to their database and referral partners.
2. To show why interactive newsletters...not static ones...are the key to standing out, creating engagement, and building long-term trust in today's market.

Let’s break this down.

Why Newsletters Still Matter (and Why They Matter More in 2025)

There’s a misconception that newsletters are outdated. The truth? Newsletters have quietly become one of the most effective tools for building trust and maintaining visibility, especially in relationship-driven industries like mortgage lending.  

Dustin Owen, host of The Loan Officer Podcast (TLOP), breaks this down beautifully in one of his most widely shared clips. When discussing how to generate five times more loans from the clients you already have, he cites newsletters as one of the simplest and most overlooked ways to leverage your database.

“The most powerful newsletters today aren’t just good emails — they’re strategic
brand amplifiers
.”
> Danielle Octavia Taute,
PR and marketing specialist

To drive it home, he shared a powerful story about an MLO who started with:

  • 100 newsletter readers
  • A 20% open rate

Nothing flashy. Nothing special. Just a starting point.

But he stayed consistent. He showed up every month. He educated. He told stories. He added value.

Three years later, that same loan officer had:

  • Over 7,000 readers
  • A 70% open rate

That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because newsletters create connections. Connections build trust. Trust leads to conversations. And conversations lead to closed loans.

A monthly or bi-monthly newsletter is more than an email; it’s a digital nudge that keeps you top-of-mind long after the loan closes. It builds familiarity, reinforces your expertise, and keeps your audience thinking of you when questions or opportunities arise.

Think of your newsletter as the heartbeat of your brand: a consistent rhythm that keeps your presence alive in the minds of borrowers and referral partners.

Static vs. Interactive Newsletters: Why the Difference Matters

A traditional (static) newsletter pushes information outward—a one-way broadcast.

An interactive newsletter sparks engagement. It’s designed for participation. It invites your audience to click, vote, watch, choose, react, or explore. And in return, it gives you meaningful data.

This shift mirrors the way today’s consumers prefer to learn: through short, visual, immersive, and interactive experiences. The more interactive the content, the longer readers stay, the more they connect with you, and the more likely they are to remember and trust you.

Some of the most effective interactive elements include:

1. Videos

Short 30–60 second videos answering a question or breaking down a concept. Even better?
Use interactive video platforms such as AdventR or Mindstamp that allow viewers to click mid-video for:

  • Quizzes
  • “Choose your scenario” paths
  • Save-for-later buttons
  • Request-a-call triggers

2. Polls

  • “Which local spot serves the best weekend brunch?”
  • “What’s do you feel is your biggest challenge in owning a home?”

These micro-engagements boost click rates and give you insight into your database.

3. Quizzes

People love testing themselves—even more when the quiz teaches them something valuable.

  • “Test Your First-Time Homebuyer IQ”
  • “Is It Time to Refi? Take This 30-Second Quiz”

Most CRMs already come with form builders. You just embed the link. No fancy tech needed.

These turn your newsletter into a lightweight advisory tool.

In short:
Static newsletters inform.
Interactive newsletters transform.

Why Interactivity Works So Well in Mortgage Marketing

1. Engagement skyrockets

Interactive newsletters get more clicks, more scrolls, and more time spent reading. When people participate, they naturally build a deeper connection with you.

2. You gain real-time insight into your audience

Imagine knowing:

  • What your readers are worried about
  • Which topics they’re confused by
  • What questions keep coming up
  • What style of content they respond to most

That’s the power of interactive elements. They become your mini-market research machine.

3. You position yourself as an educator...not just a loan officer

Consumers gravitate toward MLOs who teach, inform, and empower. Interactivity enhances your reputation as a trusted guide.

4. You grow your brand footprint organically

Every newsletter becomes another piece of digital real estate reinforcing your expertise. Over time, you’re not just recognizable; you’re trusted.

Choosing Newsletter Topics That Build Trust (Not Fatigue)

Consistency matters...but consistency with intention matters more.

Connections build trust.
Trust leads to conversations. And conversations
lead to closed loans
.

A strategic newsletter should focus on themes that strengthen relationships and reflect your brand as a resource.

Great topic series include:

  • First-Time Homebuyer Education: mortgage basics, myths, readiness signs
  • Community Spotlights: local neighborhoods, events, market pockets
  • Financial Literacy: credit tips, budgeting, interest rate explanations
  • Seasonal Homeowner Tips: winterizing, spring cleaning, insurance reminders
  • Real Estate Investing: beginner tips, rental insights, cash-flow basics
  • Market Updates: quick, digestible, value-packed summaries

When you follow a series model, readers begin to anticipate your newsletter rather than ignore it.

Your Newsletter: The Foundation for a Long-Term Video Strategy

If you want to grow an online presence but aren’t ready to jump onto TikTok or Instagram Reels, the newsletter becomes your safest launchpad.

Connections build trust.
Trust leads to conversations. And conversations
lead to closed loans
.

Here’s why:

  • It’s private
  • It’s targeted
  • It’s low-pressure
  • It builds your confidence
  • It helps you refine your voice on camera

Short, helpful videos—30 to 90 seconds—fit beautifully inside newsletters. They don’t need professional production. They just need substance and clarity.

A Confidence-Boosting Bridge for MLOs Who Avoid Social Media

If posting publicly intimidates you, newsletters offer a gentle on-ramp.

Every video you debut in your newsletter becomes:

  • A future Instagram post
  • A future LinkedIn snippet
  • A future YouTube Short
  • A future snippet embed in your website
  • A future clip for a realtor partner

In other words:

Newsletter → Video → Social Media = Instant content pipeline

This system is less overwhelming and gives you consistent content without reinventing the wheel.

And if you don’t want your videos on YouTube?
Platforms like Vimeo and Wistia offer beautiful, clean, ad-free hosting perfect for newsletters.

Your Newsletter Can Strengthen Referral Partnerships

This is one of the most overlooked benefits.

Featuring your referral partners in your newsletter:

  • Elevates their expertise
  • Exposes them to your audience
  • Makes them feel valued
  • Gives them a reason to share your content
  • Builds long-term loyalty

Feature short clips or articles from:

  • Realtors
  • CPAs
  • Attorneys
  • Title/escrow officers
  • Home inspectors
  • Appraisers

When you shine a light on them, they naturally shine a light back.

If You Don’t Know What to Say: Let AI Step In

AI has changed the game for MLOs who struggle with content creation.

Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude can help you:

  • Brainstorm topics
  • Write scripts
  • Summarize market updates
  • Draft full newsletters
  • Create quiz questions
  • Generate interactive content ideas
  • Rewrite content into different tones

AI is not replacing your voice. It’s giving you a starting point so content creation feels effortless instead of daunting.

How to Start a Newsletter Without Getting Overwhelmed

Step 1: Launch a LinkedIn Newsletter

It’s the easiest place to begin:

  • No design needed
  • Built-in audience visibility
  • Simple posting
  • Highly shareable
  • Great for establishing expertise

LinkedIn becomes your low-pressure “practice zone.”

Step 2: Migrate Into Your CRM

Once you build consistency, move your newsletter into your CRM where you can:

  • Segment audiences
  • Automate delivery
  • Track engagement
  • Embed polls and quizzes
  • Personalize content

This is where interactivity truly starts to shine.

Step 3: Focus on the “Who,” Not the “How”

You don’t need to become a CRM specialist, automation expert, copywriter, or designer.

If you don’t already have access to a marketing specialist, start by asking friends and family for referrals, or explore gig platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find someone who can handle the setup for you.

Your role is the voice.
Their role is the execution.

Final Thoughts: Interactive Newsletters Aren’t the Future...They’re the Present

In a market where everyone is fighting for attention, interactive newsletters give mortgage professionals a powerful edge. They blend education, engagement, and personality in a format readers genuinely enjoy.

They help you:

  • Stay top-of-mind
  • Strengthen relationships
  • Build authority
  • Generate conversations
  • Increase referrals
  • Grow your social presence organically

And most importantly—they help your audience feel supported, informed, and connected.

Start with one newsletter.
Add one video.
Embed one poll.
Then build from there.

Your future clients and future referrals will remember the loan officer who showed up with value, not noise.

Lorraine Giron is the founder of Standout Mortgage Marketing.

Mortgage loan officers today are working in one of the noisiest digital environments the industry has ever seen. Every borrower, every realtor, every past client, and every lead is constantly flooded with messages. Podcasts, social feeds, breaking news, interest-rate alerts, email blasts, text campaigns, and “market updates” all start sounding the same.

In that kind of climate, staying top-of-mind isn’t just about showing up — it’s about showing up in a way that makes people actually want to engage with the content.

This is where newsletters, and especially interactive newsletters, go from “nice to have” to “non-negotiable.”

PR and marketing specialist Danielle Octavia Taute said it perfectly in her LinkedIn article “Interactive Newsletters vs. Static Newsletters”

“The most powerful newsletters today aren’t just good emails,” she posits. “They’re strategic brand amplifiers.”

And she’s right. When done well, a newsletter becomes one of the most valuable pieces of marketing an MLO can produce.

This article has two core goals:

1. To underscore why every MLO should consistently send a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter to their database and referral partners.
2. To show why interactive newsletters...not static ones...are the key to standing out, creating engagement, and building long-term trust in today's market.

Let’s break this down.

Why Newsletters Still Matter (and Why They Matter More in 2025)

There’s a misconception that newsletters are outdated. The truth? Newsletters have quietly become one of the most effective tools for building trust and maintaining visibility, especially in relationship-driven industries like mortgage lending.  

Dustin Owen, host of The Loan Officer Podcast (TLOP), breaks this down beautifully in one of his most widely shared clips. When discussing how to generate five times more loans from the clients you already have, he cites newsletters as one of the simplest and most overlooked ways to leverage your database.

“The most powerful newsletters today aren’t just good emails — they’re strategic
brand amplifiers
.”
> Danielle Octavia Taute,
PR and marketing specialist

To drive it home, he shared a powerful story about an MLO who started with:

  • 100 newsletter readers
  • A 20% open rate

Nothing flashy. Nothing special. Just a starting point.

But he stayed consistent. He showed up every month. He educated. He told stories. He added value.

Three years later, that same loan officer had:

  • Over 7,000 readers
  • A 70% open rate

That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because newsletters create connections. Connections build trust. Trust leads to conversations. And conversations lead to closed loans.

A monthly or bi-monthly newsletter is more than an email; it’s a digital nudge that keeps you top-of-mind long after the loan closes. It builds familiarity, reinforces your expertise, and keeps your audience thinking of you when questions or opportunities arise.

Think of your newsletter as the heartbeat of your brand: a consistent rhythm that keeps your presence alive in the minds of borrowers and referral partners.

Static vs. Interactive Newsletters: Why the Difference Matters

A traditional (static) newsletter pushes information outward—a one-way broadcast.

An interactive newsletter sparks engagement. It’s designed for participation. It invites your audience to click, vote, watch, choose, react, or explore. And in return, it gives you meaningful data.

This shift mirrors the way today’s consumers prefer to learn: through short, visual, immersive, and interactive experiences. The more interactive the content, the longer readers stay, the more they connect with you, and the more likely they are to remember and trust you.

Some of the most effective interactive elements include:

1. Videos

Short 30–60 second videos answering a question or breaking down a concept. Even better?
Use interactive video platforms such as AdventR or Mindstamp that allow viewers to click mid-video for:

  • Quizzes
  • “Choose your scenario” paths
  • Save-for-later buttons
  • Request-a-call triggers

2. Polls

  • “Which local spot serves the best weekend brunch?”
  • “What’s do you feel is your biggest challenge in owning a home?”

These micro-engagements boost click rates and give you insight into your database.

3. Quizzes

People love testing themselves—even more when the quiz teaches them something valuable.

  • “Test Your First-Time Homebuyer IQ”
  • “Is It Time to Refi? Take This 30-Second Quiz”

Most CRMs already come with form builders. You just embed the link. No fancy tech needed.

These turn your newsletter into a lightweight advisory tool.

In short:
Static newsletters inform.
Interactive newsletters transform.

Why Interactivity Works So Well in Mortgage Marketing

1. Engagement skyrockets

Interactive newsletters get more clicks, more scrolls, and more time spent reading. When people participate, they naturally build a deeper connection with you.

2. You gain real-time insight into your audience

Imagine knowing:

  • What your readers are worried about
  • Which topics they’re confused by
  • What questions keep coming up
  • What style of content they respond to most

That’s the power of interactive elements. They become your mini-market research machine.

3. You position yourself as an educator...not just a loan officer

Consumers gravitate toward MLOs who teach, inform, and empower. Interactivity enhances your reputation as a trusted guide.

4. You grow your brand footprint organically

Every newsletter becomes another piece of digital real estate reinforcing your expertise. Over time, you’re not just recognizable; you’re trusted.

Choosing Newsletter Topics That Build Trust (Not Fatigue)

Consistency matters...but consistency with intention matters more.

Connections build trust.
Trust leads to conversations. And conversations
lead to closed loans
.

A strategic newsletter should focus on themes that strengthen relationships and reflect your brand as a resource.

Great topic series include:

  • First-Time Homebuyer Education: mortgage basics, myths, readiness signs
  • Community Spotlights: local neighborhoods, events, market pockets
  • Financial Literacy: credit tips, budgeting, interest rate explanations
  • Seasonal Homeowner Tips: winterizing, spring cleaning, insurance reminders
  • Real Estate Investing: beginner tips, rental insights, cash-flow basics
  • Market Updates: quick, digestible, value-packed summaries

When you follow a series model, readers begin to anticipate your newsletter rather than ignore it.

Your Newsletter: The Foundation for a Long-Term Video Strategy

If you want to grow an online presence but aren’t ready to jump onto TikTok or Instagram Reels, the newsletter becomes your safest launchpad.

Connections build trust.
Trust leads to conversations. And conversations
lead to closed loans
.

Here’s why:

  • It’s private
  • It’s targeted
  • It’s low-pressure
  • It builds your confidence
  • It helps you refine your voice on camera

Short, helpful videos—30 to 90 seconds—fit beautifully inside newsletters. They don’t need professional production. They just need substance and clarity.

A Confidence-Boosting Bridge for MLOs Who Avoid Social Media

If posting publicly intimidates you, newsletters offer a gentle on-ramp.

Every video you debut in your newsletter becomes:

  • A future Instagram post
  • A future LinkedIn snippet
  • A future YouTube Short
  • A future snippet embed in your website
  • A future clip for a realtor partner

In other words:

Newsletter → Video → Social Media = Instant content pipeline

This system is less overwhelming and gives you consistent content without reinventing the wheel.

And if you don’t want your videos on YouTube?
Platforms like Vimeo and Wistia offer beautiful, clean, ad-free hosting perfect for newsletters.

Your Newsletter Can Strengthen Referral Partnerships

This is one of the most overlooked benefits.

Featuring your referral partners in your newsletter:

  • Elevates their expertise
  • Exposes them to your audience
  • Makes them feel valued
  • Gives them a reason to share your content
  • Builds long-term loyalty

Feature short clips or articles from:

  • Realtors
  • CPAs
  • Attorneys
  • Title/escrow officers
  • Home inspectors
  • Appraisers

When you shine a light on them, they naturally shine a light back.

If You Don’t Know What to Say: Let AI Step In

AI has changed the game for MLOs who struggle with content creation.

Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude can help you:

  • Brainstorm topics
  • Write scripts
  • Summarize market updates
  • Draft full newsletters
  • Create quiz questions
  • Generate interactive content ideas
  • Rewrite content into different tones

AI is not replacing your voice. It’s giving you a starting point so content creation feels effortless instead of daunting.

How to Start a Newsletter Without Getting Overwhelmed

Step 1: Launch a LinkedIn Newsletter

It’s the easiest place to begin:

  • No design needed
  • Built-in audience visibility
  • Simple posting
  • Highly shareable
  • Great for establishing expertise

LinkedIn becomes your low-pressure “practice zone.”

Step 2: Migrate Into Your CRM

Once you build consistency, move your newsletter into your CRM where you can:

  • Segment audiences
  • Automate delivery
  • Track engagement
  • Embed polls and quizzes
  • Personalize content

This is where interactivity truly starts to shine.

Step 3: Focus on the “Who,” Not the “How”

You don’t need to become a CRM specialist, automation expert, copywriter, or designer.

If you don’t already have access to a marketing specialist, start by asking friends and family for referrals, or explore gig platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find someone who can handle the setup for you.

Your role is the voice.
Their role is the execution.

Final Thoughts: Interactive Newsletters Aren’t the Future...They’re the Present

In a market where everyone is fighting for attention, interactive newsletters give mortgage professionals a powerful edge. They blend education, engagement, and personality in a format readers genuinely enjoy.

They help you:

  • Stay top-of-mind
  • Strengthen relationships
  • Build authority
  • Generate conversations
  • Increase referrals
  • Grow your social presence organically

And most importantly—they help your audience feel supported, informed, and connected.

Start with one newsletter.
Add one video.
Embed one poll.
Then build from there.

Your future clients and future referrals will remember the loan officer who showed up with value, not noise.

Lorraine Giron is the founder of Standout Mortgage Marketing.

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Mortgage loan officers today are working in one of the noisiest digital environments the industry has ever seen. Every borrower, every realtor, every past client, and every lead is constantly flooded with messages. Podcasts, social feeds, breaking news, interest-rate alerts, email blasts, text campaigns, and “market updates” all start sounding the same.

In that kind of climate, staying top-of-mind isn’t just about showing up — it’s about showing up in a way that makes people actually want to engage with the content.

This is where newsletters, and especially interactive newsletters, go from “nice to have” to “non-negotiable.”

PR and marketing specialist Danielle Octavia Taute said it perfectly in her LinkedIn article “Interactive Newsletters vs. Static Newsletters”

“The most powerful newsletters today aren’t just good emails,” she posits. “They’re strategic brand amplifiers.”

And she’s right. When done well, a newsletter becomes one of the most valuable pieces of marketing an MLO can produce.

This article has two core goals:

1. To underscore why every MLO should consistently send a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter to their database and referral partners.
2. To show why interactive newsletters...not static ones...are the key to standing out, creating engagement, and building long-term trust in today's market.

Let’s break this down.

Why Newsletters Still Matter (and Why They Matter More in 2025)

There’s a misconception that newsletters are outdated. The truth? Newsletters have quietly become one of the most effective tools for building trust and maintaining visibility, especially in relationship-driven industries like mortgage lending.  

Dustin Owen, host of The Loan Officer Podcast (TLOP), breaks this down beautifully in one of his most widely shared clips. When discussing how to generate five times more loans from the clients you already have, he cites newsletters as one of the simplest and most overlooked ways to leverage your database.

“The most powerful newsletters today aren’t just good emails — they’re strategic
brand amplifiers
.”
> Danielle Octavia Taute,
PR and marketing specialist

To drive it home, he shared a powerful story about an MLO who started with:

  • 100 newsletter readers
  • A 20% open rate

Nothing flashy. Nothing special. Just a starting point.

But he stayed consistent. He showed up every month. He educated. He told stories. He added value.

Three years later, that same loan officer had:

  • Over 7,000 readers
  • A 70% open rate

That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because newsletters create connections. Connections build trust. Trust leads to conversations. And conversations lead to closed loans.

A monthly or bi-monthly newsletter is more than an email; it’s a digital nudge that keeps you top-of-mind long after the loan closes. It builds familiarity, reinforces your expertise, and keeps your audience thinking of you when questions or opportunities arise.

Think of your newsletter as the heartbeat of your brand: a consistent rhythm that keeps your presence alive in the minds of borrowers and referral partners.

Static vs. Interactive Newsletters: Why the Difference Matters

A traditional (static) newsletter pushes information outward—a one-way broadcast.

An interactive newsletter sparks engagement. It’s designed for participation. It invites your audience to click, vote, watch, choose, react, or explore. And in return, it gives you meaningful data.

This shift mirrors the way today’s consumers prefer to learn: through short, visual, immersive, and interactive experiences. The more interactive the content, the longer readers stay, the more they connect with you, and the more likely they are to remember and trust you.

Some of the most effective interactive elements include:

1. Videos

Short 30–60 second videos answering a question or breaking down a concept. Even better?
Use interactive video platforms such as AdventR or Mindstamp that allow viewers to click mid-video for:

  • Quizzes
  • “Choose your scenario” paths
  • Save-for-later buttons
  • Request-a-call triggers

2. Polls

  • “Which local spot serves the best weekend brunch?”
  • “What’s do you feel is your biggest challenge in owning a home?”

These micro-engagements boost click rates and give you insight into your database.

3. Quizzes

People love testing themselves—even more when the quiz teaches them something valuable.

  • “Test Your First-Time Homebuyer IQ”
  • “Is It Time to Refi? Take This 30-Second Quiz”

Most CRMs already come with form builders. You just embed the link. No fancy tech needed.

These turn your newsletter into a lightweight advisory tool.

In short:
Static newsletters inform.
Interactive newsletters transform.

Why Interactivity Works So Well in Mortgage Marketing

1. Engagement skyrockets

Interactive newsletters get more clicks, more scrolls, and more time spent reading. When people participate, they naturally build a deeper connection with you.

2. You gain real-time insight into your audience

Imagine knowing:

  • What your readers are worried about
  • Which topics they’re confused by
  • What questions keep coming up
  • What style of content they respond to most

That’s the power of interactive elements. They become your mini-market research machine.

3. You position yourself as an educator...not just a loan officer

Consumers gravitate toward MLOs who teach, inform, and empower. Interactivity enhances your reputation as a trusted guide.

4. You grow your brand footprint organically

Every newsletter becomes another piece of digital real estate reinforcing your expertise. Over time, you’re not just recognizable; you’re trusted.

Choosing Newsletter Topics That Build Trust (Not Fatigue)

Consistency matters...but consistency with intention matters more.

Connections build trust.
Trust leads to conversations. And conversations
lead to closed loans
.

A strategic newsletter should focus on themes that strengthen relationships and reflect your brand as a resource.

Great topic series include:

  • First-Time Homebuyer Education: mortgage basics, myths, readiness signs
  • Community Spotlights: local neighborhoods, events, market pockets
  • Financial Literacy: credit tips, budgeting, interest rate explanations
  • Seasonal Homeowner Tips: winterizing, spring cleaning, insurance reminders
  • Real Estate Investing: beginner tips, rental insights, cash-flow basics
  • Market Updates: quick, digestible, value-packed summaries

When you follow a series model, readers begin to anticipate your newsletter rather than ignore it.

Your Newsletter: The Foundation for a Long-Term Video Strategy

If you want to grow an online presence but aren’t ready to jump onto TikTok or Instagram Reels, the newsletter becomes your safest launchpad.

Connections build trust.
Trust leads to conversations. And conversations
lead to closed loans
.

Here’s why:

  • It’s private
  • It’s targeted
  • It’s low-pressure
  • It builds your confidence
  • It helps you refine your voice on camera

Short, helpful videos—30 to 90 seconds—fit beautifully inside newsletters. They don’t need professional production. They just need substance and clarity.

A Confidence-Boosting Bridge for MLOs Who Avoid Social Media

If posting publicly intimidates you, newsletters offer a gentle on-ramp.

Every video you debut in your newsletter becomes:

  • A future Instagram post
  • A future LinkedIn snippet
  • A future YouTube Short
  • A future snippet embed in your website
  • A future clip for a realtor partner

In other words:

Newsletter → Video → Social Media = Instant content pipeline

This system is less overwhelming and gives you consistent content without reinventing the wheel.

And if you don’t want your videos on YouTube?
Platforms like Vimeo and Wistia offer beautiful, clean, ad-free hosting perfect for newsletters.

Your Newsletter Can Strengthen Referral Partnerships

This is one of the most overlooked benefits.

Featuring your referral partners in your newsletter:

  • Elevates their expertise
  • Exposes them to your audience
  • Makes them feel valued
  • Gives them a reason to share your content
  • Builds long-term loyalty

Feature short clips or articles from:

  • Realtors
  • CPAs
  • Attorneys
  • Title/escrow officers
  • Home inspectors
  • Appraisers

When you shine a light on them, they naturally shine a light back.

If You Don’t Know What to Say: Let AI Step In

AI has changed the game for MLOs who struggle with content creation.

Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude can help you:

  • Brainstorm topics
  • Write scripts
  • Summarize market updates
  • Draft full newsletters
  • Create quiz questions
  • Generate interactive content ideas
  • Rewrite content into different tones

AI is not replacing your voice. It’s giving you a starting point so content creation feels effortless instead of daunting.

How to Start a Newsletter Without Getting Overwhelmed

Step 1: Launch a LinkedIn Newsletter

It’s the easiest place to begin:

  • No design needed
  • Built-in audience visibility
  • Simple posting
  • Highly shareable
  • Great for establishing expertise

LinkedIn becomes your low-pressure “practice zone.”

Step 2: Migrate Into Your CRM

Once you build consistency, move your newsletter into your CRM where you can:

  • Segment audiences
  • Automate delivery
  • Track engagement
  • Embed polls and quizzes
  • Personalize content

This is where interactivity truly starts to shine.

Step 3: Focus on the “Who,” Not the “How”

You don’t need to become a CRM specialist, automation expert, copywriter, or designer.

If you don’t already have access to a marketing specialist, start by asking friends and family for referrals, or explore gig platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find someone who can handle the setup for you.

Your role is the voice.
Their role is the execution.

Final Thoughts: Interactive Newsletters Aren’t the Future...They’re the Present

In a market where everyone is fighting for attention, interactive newsletters give mortgage professionals a powerful edge. They blend education, engagement, and personality in a format readers genuinely enjoy.

They help you:

  • Stay top-of-mind
  • Strengthen relationships
  • Build authority
  • Generate conversations
  • Increase referrals
  • Grow your social presence organically

And most importantly—they help your audience feel supported, informed, and connected.

Start with one newsletter.
Add one video.
Embed one poll.
Then build from there.

Your future clients and future referrals will remember the loan officer who showed up with value, not noise.

Lorraine Giron is the founder of Standout Mortgage Marketing.

Mortgage loan officers today are working in one of the noisiest digital environments the industry has ever seen. Every borrower, every realtor, every past client, and every lead is constantly flooded with messages. Podcasts, social feeds, breaking news, interest-rate alerts, email blasts, text campaigns, and “market updates” all start sounding the same.

In that kind of climate, staying top-of-mind isn’t just about showing up — it’s about showing up in a way that makes people actually want to engage with the content.

This is where newsletters, and especially interactive newsletters, go from “nice to have” to “non-negotiable.”

PR and marketing specialist Danielle Octavia Taute said it perfectly in her LinkedIn article “Interactive Newsletters vs. Static Newsletters”

“The most powerful newsletters today aren’t just good emails,” she posits. “They’re strategic brand amplifiers.”

And she’s right. When done well, a newsletter becomes one of the most valuable pieces of marketing an MLO can produce.

This article has two core goals:

1. To underscore why every MLO should consistently send a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter to their database and referral partners.
2. To show why interactive newsletters...not static ones...are the key to standing out, creating engagement, and building long-term trust in today's market.

Let’s break this down.

Why Newsletters Still Matter (and Why They Matter More in 2025)

There’s a misconception that newsletters are outdated. The truth? Newsletters have quietly become one of the most effective tools for building trust and maintaining visibility, especially in relationship-driven industries like mortgage lending.  

Dustin Owen, host of The Loan Officer Podcast (TLOP), breaks this down beautifully in one of his most widely shared clips. When discussing how to generate five times more loans from the clients you already have, he cites newsletters as one of the simplest and most overlooked ways to leverage your database.

“The most powerful newsletters today aren’t just good emails — they’re strategic
brand amplifiers
.”
> Danielle Octavia Taute,
PR and marketing specialist

To drive it home, he shared a powerful story about an MLO who started with:

  • 100 newsletter readers
  • A 20% open rate

Nothing flashy. Nothing special. Just a starting point.

But he stayed consistent. He showed up every month. He educated. He told stories. He added value.

Three years later, that same loan officer had:

  • Over 7,000 readers
  • A 70% open rate

That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because newsletters create connections. Connections build trust. Trust leads to conversations. And conversations lead to closed loans.

A monthly or bi-monthly newsletter is more than an email; it’s a digital nudge that keeps you top-of-mind long after the loan closes. It builds familiarity, reinforces your expertise, and keeps your audience thinking of you when questions or opportunities arise.

Think of your newsletter as the heartbeat of your brand: a consistent rhythm that keeps your presence alive in the minds of borrowers and referral partners.

Static vs. Interactive Newsletters: Why the Difference Matters

A traditional (static) newsletter pushes information outward—a one-way broadcast.

An interactive newsletter sparks engagement. It’s designed for participation. It invites your audience to click, vote, watch, choose, react, or explore. And in return, it gives you meaningful data.

This shift mirrors the way today’s consumers prefer to learn: through short, visual, immersive, and interactive experiences. The more interactive the content, the longer readers stay, the more they connect with you, and the more likely they are to remember and trust you.

Some of the most effective interactive elements include:

1. Videos

Short 30–60 second videos answering a question or breaking down a concept. Even better?
Use interactive video platforms such as AdventR or Mindstamp that allow viewers to click mid-video for:

  • Quizzes
  • “Choose your scenario” paths
  • Save-for-later buttons
  • Request-a-call triggers

2. Polls

  • “Which local spot serves the best weekend brunch?”
  • “What’s do you feel is your biggest challenge in owning a home?”

These micro-engagements boost click rates and give you insight into your database.

3. Quizzes

People love testing themselves—even more when the quiz teaches them something valuable.

  • “Test Your First-Time Homebuyer IQ”
  • “Is It Time to Refi? Take This 30-Second Quiz”

Most CRMs already come with form builders. You just embed the link. No fancy tech needed.

These turn your newsletter into a lightweight advisory tool.

In short:
Static newsletters inform.
Interactive newsletters transform.

Why Interactivity Works So Well in Mortgage Marketing

1. Engagement skyrockets

Interactive newsletters get more clicks, more scrolls, and more time spent reading. When people participate, they naturally build a deeper connection with you.

2. You gain real-time insight into your audience

Imagine knowing:

  • What your readers are worried about
  • Which topics they’re confused by
  • What questions keep coming up
  • What style of content they respond to most

That’s the power of interactive elements. They become your mini-market research machine.

3. You position yourself as an educator...not just a loan officer

Consumers gravitate toward MLOs who teach, inform, and empower. Interactivity enhances your reputation as a trusted guide.

4. You grow your brand footprint organically

Every newsletter becomes another piece of digital real estate reinforcing your expertise. Over time, you’re not just recognizable; you’re trusted.

Choosing Newsletter Topics That Build Trust (Not Fatigue)

Consistency matters...but consistency with intention matters more.

Connections build trust.
Trust leads to conversations. And conversations
lead to closed loans
.

A strategic newsletter should focus on themes that strengthen relationships and reflect your brand as a resource.

Great topic series include:

  • First-Time Homebuyer Education: mortgage basics, myths, readiness signs
  • Community Spotlights: local neighborhoods, events, market pockets
  • Financial Literacy: credit tips, budgeting, interest rate explanations
  • Seasonal Homeowner Tips: winterizing, spring cleaning, insurance reminders
  • Real Estate Investing: beginner tips, rental insights, cash-flow basics
  • Market Updates: quick, digestible, value-packed summaries

When you follow a series model, readers begin to anticipate your newsletter rather than ignore it.

Your Newsletter: The Foundation for a Long-Term Video Strategy

If you want to grow an online presence but aren’t ready to jump onto TikTok or Instagram Reels, the newsletter becomes your safest launchpad.

Connections build trust.
Trust leads to conversations. And conversations
lead to closed loans
.

Here’s why:

  • It’s private
  • It’s targeted
  • It’s low-pressure
  • It builds your confidence
  • It helps you refine your voice on camera

Short, helpful videos—30 to 90 seconds—fit beautifully inside newsletters. They don’t need professional production. They just need substance and clarity.

A Confidence-Boosting Bridge for MLOs Who Avoid Social Media

If posting publicly intimidates you, newsletters offer a gentle on-ramp.

Every video you debut in your newsletter becomes:

  • A future Instagram post
  • A future LinkedIn snippet
  • A future YouTube Short
  • A future snippet embed in your website
  • A future clip for a realtor partner

In other words:

Newsletter → Video → Social Media = Instant content pipeline

This system is less overwhelming and gives you consistent content without reinventing the wheel.

And if you don’t want your videos on YouTube?
Platforms like Vimeo and Wistia offer beautiful, clean, ad-free hosting perfect for newsletters.

Your Newsletter Can Strengthen Referral Partnerships

This is one of the most overlooked benefits.

Featuring your referral partners in your newsletter:

  • Elevates their expertise
  • Exposes them to your audience
  • Makes them feel valued
  • Gives them a reason to share your content
  • Builds long-term loyalty

Feature short clips or articles from:

  • Realtors
  • CPAs
  • Attorneys
  • Title/escrow officers
  • Home inspectors
  • Appraisers

When you shine a light on them, they naturally shine a light back.

If You Don’t Know What to Say: Let AI Step In

AI has changed the game for MLOs who struggle with content creation.

Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude can help you:

  • Brainstorm topics
  • Write scripts
  • Summarize market updates
  • Draft full newsletters
  • Create quiz questions
  • Generate interactive content ideas
  • Rewrite content into different tones

AI is not replacing your voice. It’s giving you a starting point so content creation feels effortless instead of daunting.

How to Start a Newsletter Without Getting Overwhelmed

Step 1: Launch a LinkedIn Newsletter

It’s the easiest place to begin:

  • No design needed
  • Built-in audience visibility
  • Simple posting
  • Highly shareable
  • Great for establishing expertise

LinkedIn becomes your low-pressure “practice zone.”

Step 2: Migrate Into Your CRM

Once you build consistency, move your newsletter into your CRM where you can:

  • Segment audiences
  • Automate delivery
  • Track engagement
  • Embed polls and quizzes
  • Personalize content

This is where interactivity truly starts to shine.

Step 3: Focus on the “Who,” Not the “How”

You don’t need to become a CRM specialist, automation expert, copywriter, or designer.

If you don’t already have access to a marketing specialist, start by asking friends and family for referrals, or explore gig platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find someone who can handle the setup for you.

Your role is the voice.
Their role is the execution.

Final Thoughts: Interactive Newsletters Aren’t the Future...They’re the Present

In a market where everyone is fighting for attention, interactive newsletters give mortgage professionals a powerful edge. They blend education, engagement, and personality in a format readers genuinely enjoy.

They help you:

  • Stay top-of-mind
  • Strengthen relationships
  • Build authority
  • Generate conversations
  • Increase referrals
  • Grow your social presence organically

And most importantly—they help your audience feel supported, informed, and connected.

Start with one newsletter.
Add one video.
Embed one poll.
Then build from there.

Your future clients and future referrals will remember the loan officer who showed up with value, not noise.

Lorraine Giron is the founder of Standout Mortgage Marketing.

This article published in the 
February
 
2026
 issue.
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