For years, I avoided starting a newsletter.
As a writer on the side, my focus was always on writing short books (and the occasional blog post here or there).
I used to stay away from newsletters because I never enjoyed the idea of being forced to write on a specific schedule.
But I changed my mind.
After starting my first newsletter several months ago, I realized that the pros outweigh the cons.
In fact, I just launched my second newsletter recently.
Here are a few reasons why:
1. You Own Your Audience with a Newsletter
Email is still king. Social media algorithms control who sees your content, but with email, you have direct access to your audience. This is not a new idea, but when someone signs up to your newsletter, they’re giving you permission to email them 1x or 2x per week. And if your content is good, they’ll open your emails. No other channel guarantees that reach for you.
2. You Don’t Have to Spend a Lot of Time Creating Newsletters
One of my biggest misconceptions about newsletters was that they were going to take up a lot of my time. But I learned that they don’t have to. I simply repurpose content I’ve already created, curate links to interesting articles, or use ChatGPT to help draft content quickly in my own style.
3. You Can Use Tools to Templatize Your Newsletter
Platforms like Beehiiv make the process even easier. I use it to publish my weekly “AI for Leaders” newsletter, and it takes me less than an hour a week to put it together. I’m in the process of templatizing my latest “Leadership 80/20” newsletter as well because that has been a huge timesaver.
4. You Can Monetize Newsletters via Ads
If your subscriber base grows, ad revenue via ads becomes an option. I started earning revenue (nearly $1,000 so far) from sponsors looking to get in front of my audience. Beehiiv makes this easy.
5. You Can Monetize Newsletters via Your Own Products
Beyond ads, newsletters can drive sales for your own products or services. My last cohort, which sold for $1,500, was filled primarily through email subscribers. Your email list includes followers who are already interested in what you have to say, making them much more likely to convert into paying customers when you promote a course, ebook, or other offering.
Want to check out my newsletters?
Here are the links to both (they’re free)
- My first newsletter (AI for Leaders): https://www.aiworktalk.com/
- My second newsletter (Leadership 80/20): https://www.leadership8020.com/
Interested in starting your own newsletter?
I’m using Beehiiv for both newsletters and the platform is fantastic (they have a ton of awesome features).
I’m on a paid account, but I already made my money back via their sponsored ad network.
If you’d like to try them out, use my affiliate link below, and you’ll get 30 days free & 20% off your first 3 months of any paid plan.