You’ve seen creators, founders, and even media companies launching newsletters. Some turn them into six-figure side hustles. Others into multi-million-dollar exits.
And yet, when you think about starting your own, the doubts creep in:
What if nobody subscribes?
What if I run out of things to write?
What if it never makes money?
Here’s the truth: you don’t need millions of followers to build a profitable newsletter. You need a clear system that takes you from idea → launch → growth → monetization.
This guide walks you through exactly how to start a newsletter that doesn’t just survive — but actually becomes a business.
The #1 mistake beginners make? Writing “for everyone.”
When you try to reach everyone, you reach no one.
Instead, narrow down your focus:
Topic: What subject do you care about (and can talk about for 100+ issues)?
Audience: Who are you helping? Be specific. “Marketing managers at SaaS companies” beats “anyone interested in marketing.”
Value: What transformation or benefit will subscribers get?
👉 Example: Milk Road didn’t cover “everything crypto.” They simplified daily crypto news for busy professionals. That clarity made them a $3M exit in under two years.
Action step: Write one sentence:
“This newsletter helps [WHO] achieve [OUTCOME] by [HOW].”
That’s your positioning.
Step 2: Choose the Right Platform
Your platform is your foundation. Choose wisely, because migrating later is painful.
Here are the best options today:
Beehiiv → Built for newsletter operators. Growth features (referrals, boosts, paid tiers).
Substack → Easiest for writers. Built-in discovery, simple paid subscriptions.
Kit → Ideal if you’ll sell digital products or courses alongside your newsletter.
Mailchimp → General-purpose, great integrations, but heavier setup
👉 Pro tip: Don’t get stuck comparing fonts or templates. Pick a platform aligned with your business model (ads? paid subs? products?).
Step 3: Build a Signup Page That Converts
Your signup page is where strangers decide if they’ll give you their email. Most people get this wrong.
Bad signup page:
“Sign up for my newsletter.” (vague, boring)
No clear benefit.
Multiple CTAs (“follow me on Twitter, buy my book, oh and maybe subscribe”).
High-converting signup page:
Clear value proposition → “Get 1 actionable SEO tip every Friday.”
Short copy (scan-friendly).
Social proof (logos, testimonials, subscriber count).
1 strong CTA.
👉 Example: The Rundown AI grew to 500k+ subs by offering a simple, irresistible promise: “Daily AI news in 5 minutes.”
Action step: Write your headline using this formula:
“Get [RESULT] in [TIMEFRAME] without [BIG PAIN].”
Step 4: Pre-Write Your First 5 Issues
Most newsletters die after three sends because the creator runs out of steam.
Avoid this by drafting 5 issues before you launch.
Issue 1 → A strong personal story or positioning piece.
Issue 2 → A practical, tactical “quick win.”
Issue 3 → A curated list of useful resources.
Issue 4 → A case study or lesson learned.
Issue 5 → Another tactical, high-value post.
This gives you momentum and ensures early subscribers stick around.
👉 Consistency > intensity. It’s better to send weekly for a year than daily for a month.
Step 5: Launch and Get Your First 1,000 Subscribers
Don’t overthink. Your first 1,000 subs will likely come from:
Your personal network → Share with friends, colleagues, and LinkedIn/Twitter.
Communities → Reddit, Discord, niche Slack groups.
Content repurposing → Turn your newsletter issues into LinkedIn posts, tweets, or short videos.
Guest features → Appear on podcasts, blogs, or other newsletters.
👉 Example: Extra Points (college sports newsletter) got its first 10k subscribers by showing up in niche Facebook groups and Twitter threads.
Action step: Write a simple launch announcement → what your newsletter is, who it’s for, why it’s different. Share it everywhere.
Step 6: Grow Beyond 1,000 Subscribers
Once you have traction, layer on scalable growth levers:
Referral programs (Beehiiv makes this easy).
Cross-promotions with other newsletters.
Lead magnets (templates, checklists, guides).
Paid ads once you know your subscriber value.
👉 Morning Brew famously scaled past 1M subs by using a clever referral system. Readers who referred friends earned merch and access.
Don’t wait until you have 50k subs. Start testing monetization from day one.
Revenue Models:
Sponsorships & Ads → Sell placements once you have an engaged list.
Affiliate Marketing → Recommend tools/products you use.
Paid Subscriptions → Premium content tiers (Substack, Beehiiv).
Digital Products & Courses → Templates, e-books, workshops.
Services → Consulting, coaching, freelancing offers to readers.
👉 Example: Stratechery launched as paid-only. Today, it’s a multi-million-dollar solo media company.
Action step: Choose ONE model to test by month three.
Step 8: Build Systems for the Long Run
A newsletter is a business, not a hobby. To scale:
Content Calendar → Plan 4–6 weeks in advance.
Templates → Use repeatable structures (story → tip → resource).
Analytics → Track open rates, click rates, conversions.
Automations → Welcome sequences, surveys, lead nurturing.
👉 Tools like Beehiiv, ConvertKit, and Mailchimp make automation easy, so you spend less time in the weeds.
Turn Your Audience Into a Profitable Newsletter
We build, grow, and monetize your newsletter — so you can earn without the hassle.
Also available for 100% revenue share, zero upfront costs.