Want to learn how to start an email newsletter that generates income?
As someone who grew their newsletter from 0 to 1500 subscribers in just two months with The Efficient Entrepreneur (formerly Guardians of AI), I’ll show you exactly how to create an email newsletter that stands out and attracts paying subscribers.
Quick Start Guide: How to Create a Newsletter in 10 Steps
- Choose your niche and target audience
- Develop a unique value proposition
- Plan your content strategy
- Select a newsletter platform
- Design your template
- Set up pricing tiers
- Create a landing page
- Promote your newsletter
- Engage with subscribers
- Track and optimize performance
Let’s dive deep into each step to help you start a successful newsletter business.
1. How to Choose Your Newsletter Niche
Starting a free email newsletter begins with finding the right niche. Here’s how to do it effectively:
- Leverage Existing Audiences: Already have a Facebook Group, Discord channel, or Udemy course? Consider what valuable content you could provide to that community regularly.
- Use AI for Research: Tools like ChatGPT can help transform broad topics into focused niches by identifying specific pain points and opportunities.
- Validate Market Demand: Research existing newsletters in your space to ensure there’s both interest and room for growth.
Pro Tip: The best newsletter niches combine your expertise with an underserved market need.
2. Crafting Your Unique Value Proposition
To set up a newsletter that stands out, you need a compelling value proposition:
- Define what makes your insights unique
- Establish a consistent format readers can expect
- Study successful newsletters like The Rundown AI and The Prompt Warrior for inspiration
3. Creating Your Newsletter Content Strategy
A successful email newsletter needs a solid content plan:
- Develop an editorial calendar
- Decide on publication frequency (weekly/bi-weekly/monthly)
- Create content templates for consistency
- Plan content themes and recurring sections
4. Choosing the Best Newsletter Platform
After testing multiple platforms, I recommend Beehiiv for these reasons:
- Quick monetization through their ad network
- Cost-effective pricing structure
- Built-in growth tools
- Professional templates
- Robust analytics
Note: I’ve tried medium articles, substack, convertkit, etc. in the past.
Platform Comparison:
- Beehiiv: Best for monetization
- Substack: Good for writers
- ConvertKit: Ideal for course creators
- MailChimp: Better for ecommerce
Start your 30-day trial with Beehiiv and get 20% OFF for 3 months.
Disclaimer: That’s my affiliate link, if you use that – I make money.. of course, at no cost to you.
5. Newsletter Design Best Practices
Your newsletter design should be:
- Visually engaging
- Clean and professional
- Mobile-responsive
- Brand-consistent
- Easy to scan
6. Set Up Your Payment Structure
Multiple revenue streams available:
- Educational products
- Paid subscriptions
- Sponsored content
- Affiliate marketing
- Premium content tiers
7. Building an Effective Landing Page
Your newsletter landing page should include:
- Clear pricing tiers
- Clear value proposition
- Sample content
- Social proof
- Easy sign-up process
8. Promote Your Newsletter
Grow your subscriber base through:
- Social media marketing
- Content marketing
- Cross-promotion
- Referral programs
- Paid advertising (Meta Ads recommended after 10K subscribers)
Don’t be shy about sharing your expertise and the value that your newsletter provides. You can also use paid Meta Ads, etc.
Majority of the really big (100K+ subscribers) newsletters do it – but you can do that at a later stage it. I haven’t done it myself – I plan to do it after hitting the 10K mark.
9. Subscriber Engagement Tips
Keep readers engaged with:
- Regular feedback polls
- Interactive content
- Community features
- Personalized touches
- Consistent communication
10. Analytics and Optimization
Track these key metrics:
- Revenue per subscriber
- Open rates
- Click-through rates
- Conversion rates
- Subscriber growth
Here’s why I recommend Beehiiv
As someone who’s experienced rapid growth with my own newsletter, I can attest to the power of using the right platform. Here are some insider insights on why Beehiiv stands out:
- Quick Monetization: After just 2-3 newsletter editions, you’ll start receiving advertisement offers through Beehiiv’s robust ad network (of course, you’d need to be on a paid plan).
- Cost-Effective: With 5-6 newsletter editions per month and around 100 subscribers, your subscription cost starts paying for itself.
- Additional Revenue Streams: Beehiiv’s unique “boosts” feature allows you to earn money by recommending other newsletters to your subscribers.
- Growth-Focused Tools: Opt for the growth plan to get all the features and start tracking crucial metrics for your newsletter’s from the very beginning.
Ready to start ? Sign up for Beehiiv’s 30-day trial and get 20% OFF for 3 months.
FAQ: Common Newsletter Questions
Q: How do I start a free email newsletter? A: Begin with a free platform like Beehiiv’s basic plan, define your niche, create valuable content, and promote to your existing network.
Q: How much does it cost to start a newsletter? A: You can start for free, but professional platforms cost $30-100/month. Most newsletters become self-sustaining after reaching 100+ subscribers.
Q: How long until I can monetize my newsletter? A: With Beehiiv, you can start receiving ad offers after 2-3 editions, though building a sustainable income typically takes 3-6 months.
Ready to Start Your Newsletter?
Start your 30-day Beehiiv trial and get 20% off for 3 months
Need more guidance? Connect with me on LinkedIn for personalized advice on growing your newsletter business.