Declan -
(I love your name!
)
One other thing I think you might want to focus on is letting your personality *shine* in your newsletter. Let your subscribers get to know you. The things you do, the plans you have for them. If you're a funny guy, let it show. If you're passionate about your list, let it show.
Of course, I'm just a newbie, but I think it works...
Shel