Writing something worth reading is hard.
Writing something people will PAY to read is even harder.
In 2020, I launched my paid newsletter, Daily Writing Habits, and made $10,000 yr 1 (a little less than ~$1,000 per month).
9 tips for starting a paid newsletter of your own 👇💸
Writing something people will PAY to read is even harder.
In 2020, I launched my paid newsletter, Daily Writing Habits, and made $10,000 yr 1 (a little less than ~$1,000 per month).
9 tips for starting a paid newsletter of your own 👇💸
1/ Give 99% away for free / monetize the last 1%
Most writers treat their paid newsletter as 99% paid, 1% free.
Do the opposite.
Make your paid newsletter your Greatest Hits. But keep creating free & compelling content elsewhere.
dailywritinghabits.substack.com/p/give-away-99…
Most writers treat their paid newsletter as 99% paid, 1% free.
Do the opposite.
Make your paid newsletter your Greatest Hits. But keep creating free & compelling content elsewhere.
dailywritinghabits.substack.com/p/give-away-99…
2/ Speak directly to the reader (like a pen pal)
One of the greatest sales copywriters ever, Gary Halbert, started every newsletter with "Dear Friend,"
I loved that—so I stole it.
I imagine I'm writing every letter to 1 person.
Make it personal.
One of the greatest sales copywriters ever, Gary Halbert, started every newsletter with "Dear Friend,"
I loved that—so I stole it.
I imagine I'm writing every letter to 1 person.
Make it personal.
3/ Short newsletters = daily, long newsletters = weekly
Don't try to do daily, long newsletters.
Also don't think 1 short newsletter every week or 2 weeks is going to be valuable enough for readers.
Don't try to do daily, long newsletters.
Also don't think 1 short newsletter every week or 2 weeks is going to be valuable enough for readers.
4/ Only launch a paid newsletter if you have an audience elsewhere
This is Mistake #1 for most writers. There's no discovery function on Substack, so readers randomly finding your newsletter is slim to none.
Start free somewhere else, then move your free audience paid.
This is Mistake #1 for most writers. There's no discovery function on Substack, so readers randomly finding your newsletter is slim to none.
Start free somewhere else, then move your free audience paid.
5/ If you want to grow, all efforts need to point to your paid newsletter.
A big reason my paid newsletter only did $10k year 1 is because I rarely push readers to it—because I have other products I'd rather point people to.
So, don't. All roads should lead to your newsletter.
A big reason my paid newsletter only did $10k year 1 is because I rarely push readers to it—because I have other products I'd rather point people to.
So, don't. All roads should lead to your newsletter.
6/ Your bio is where most people will discover your newsletter.
Your Substack link (or w/e platform) should be in your bio. Your bio itself should say, "I write about X every Wednesday, subscribe here 👇"
Make your social bios a Call To Action.
Here's an example:
Your Substack link (or w/e platform) should be in your bio. Your bio itself should say, "I write about X every Wednesday, subscribe here 👇"
Make your social bios a Call To Action.
Here's an example:
7/ For every 3 paid newsletters, send 1 free to your entire list
Or, find the ratio that works for you.
But the majority of people who subscribe are going to be freebies. So you want to keep sending them tastes of your content—and encourage them over time to go paid.
Or, find the ratio that works for you.
But the majority of people who subscribe are going to be freebies. So you want to keep sending them tastes of your content—and encourage them over time to go paid.
8/ Even when you send paid newsletters, duplicate your post and also send the first 1/3rd to your Free list
This is something I do and it has worked extremely well.
Send a snippet of a paid post to your free list with a Subscribe To Keep Reading button.
Example:
This is something I do and it has worked extremely well.
Send a snippet of a paid post to your free list with a Subscribe To Keep Reading button.
Example:
9/ In conclusion: paid should be a 2ndary focus to your free content
If you have no at-scale / free content strategy, building a paid newsletter is going to be an uphill battle.
Ex: master Twitter threads, first. Then take all that attention and direct it to your paid letter.
If you have no at-scale / free content strategy, building a paid newsletter is going to be an uphill battle.
Ex: master Twitter threads, first. Then take all that attention and direct it to your paid letter.
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