In past years websites were able to generate continued engagement with newsletters and listservs, often with forums hosted on site to expand engagement and return.

Newsletters and Listservs have been hit hard by new standards in email (think DMARC among others) and an growing reliance on virus/email scrubbing softwares either integrated in OS, email softwares, or ISPs. But these still work (if one plays by the new rules). HOWEVER....

Social media is taking over that role, though most times on a third party which is NOT the website itself.

For those that use this kind of personal engagement, what is working best for you?

Do you offer the engagement as part of the user experience, if so, how and...

If you are using social media, what is your return/use of the website as opposed to the sm side?

Additionally, do you see a reduction in interest in this type of engagement by users for what you have to offer? Or does your user base like the personal attention and sign up?

I ask these questions as it does appear that "junk mail", "bulk mail", and the like are getting hammered at all levels of the net structure.

In my case I've seen 15 of 30 newsletters/listserves ranging from 25 to 10 years of age slowly die on the vine over the last 4 years. Of those that remain the engagement (on the broadcast/group style) have seen traffic diminish by 80% (at least!) with that number seen (and known to have) moved to the SM side (where I put it in place). (FB is that side) But there aren't that many "new" users there as without the full-throat website the potential user isn't quite sure what the heck is going on.

Your experiences, if you use these methods, are of great interest to ME. Perhaps others, too. Your thoughts are appreciated.