Building a Newsletter Business

12 min read

Newsletters are hot again. The barrier is low, but building something sustainable takes more than signing up for Substack.

Revenue Models

Paid subscriptions (Substack model). Sponsorships (The Hustle model). Affiliate revenue (Morning Brew model). Course/product launches. Often a combination.

List Growth

Content that gets shared. Lead magnets. Cross-promotions with other newsletters. Social media presence. SEO for evergreen topics. Referral programs.

Realistic Timeline

1,000 subscribers: 3-6 months if consistent. 10,000 subscribers: 12-18 months. First meaningful revenue: Usually around 5,000+ subscribers. Full-time income: 25,000+ for paid, 50,000+ for sponsored model.

What Most Get Wrong

Inconsistent publishing. No clear value proposition. Trying to monetize too early. Generic content that doesn't stand out. Underestimating time required.