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- How to Start a Newsletter
Launch, Grow, and Monetize Your Audience—No Coding Required
What We have stored for you:
Own Your Audience: Social media algorithms can bury your posts, but email lands directly in inboxes.
High ROI: Email marketing can yield an average of $36 for every $1 spent, making it one of the most cost-effective channels.
Scalable Income: Whether it’s ads, affiliates, or premium subscriptions, newsletters open multiple revenue streams.
True Creative Control: A newsletter can be as casual or polished as you want—no elaborate video setups required.
If you need more convincing, check out our article on Why Start a Newsletter for real success stories (Morning Brew, Milk Road, etc.) and deeper insights.
Step 1: Choose the Right Platform
Many platforms exist—Substack, ConvertKit, Mailchimp—but Beehiiv stands out for creators who want serious monetization and growth features baked in.
Beehiiv vs. Substack (Quick Overview)
Similarities: Both offer blogging + newsletter hosting, free plans, and built-in monetization.
Differences:
Substack: Takes a 10% cut of membership revenue. It focuses on a minimalist interface, “one-stop” content ecosystem (podcasts, social features, mobile app).
Beehiiv: Offers better SEO, advanced customization, and robust growth tools (integrated referral program, Ad Network, “Boosts”).
Pricing: Substack’s 10% revenue share can be costly if you grow big. Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from membership revenue and has plan tiers that scale with your newsletter.
Bottom Line:
Beehiiv is ideal if you want to treat your newsletter like a business—with superior audience-growth, monetization, and design tools.
Substack is fine for simple content publishing or hobbyists prioritizing an all-in-one ecosystem with minimal fuss.
Exclusive Beehiiv Deal
*Get a 30-day free trial + 20% OFF for 3 months: here
Step 2: Set Goals & Define Your Audience
Before diving into templates and posts, clarify what you want from your newsletter:
Pick a Niche
Could be broad (daily business news) or hyper-specific (Keto bodybuilding tips).
Choose a topic you’re both passionate about and that has an interested audience.
Set Your Newsletter Frequency
Weekly is a common sweet spot. Some people do daily if they’re sharing quick news or deals; others do monthly for deep dives.
Consistency builds trust—pick a realistic cadence.
Identify Success Metrics
Growth Goals: e.g., “Reach 1,000 subscribers in 3 months.”
Engagement Goals: e.g., “Maintain a 40% open rate or 5% CTR.”
Monetization Goals: e.g., “Earn $500/month from ads by end of Q2.”
Pro Tip
Use SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This keeps you focused and motivated as you grow.
One key to a high-performance newsletter is looking polished—even if you’re a solopreneur or newbie.
Landing Page
Beehiiv has a no-code editor to design a landing page that matches your brand.
Highlight your unique value: “Get weekly insider tips on AI marketing” or “Daily travel deals under $200.”
Newsletter Template
Choose between HTML (visually rich) or plain text (more personal) formats.
Beehiiv’s custom editor lets you tweak colors, fonts, and layouts without code.
Mobile Responsiveness
Over half of email opens happen on mobile. Make sure your layout, fonts, and images look good on a phone screen.
Always send a test email to yourself (or friends) on different email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo).
Design Tips
Balance text with visuals.
Make your primary CTA (button or link) stand out with a bright color or bold text.
Stick to a consistent color scheme (2–3 main colors).
Step 4: Create & Publish Your First Post
Ready for the fun part—writing your first newsletter issue!
Outline Your Content
Hook: A compelling or curiosity-driven subject line (e.g., “3 Surprising Ways to Save on Flights This Week”).
Body: Provide value. Could be short tips, a personal story, curated links, or a deep dive.
CTA: “Reply with questions,” “Share with a friend,” or “Check out our sponsor.”
Use Beehiiv’s Editor
Drag-and-drop text, headings, images, and buttons.
Explore features like Referral Program, Ad Network, or Paywall Break if you plan to monetize soon.
Preview & Test
Beehiiv’s test feature shows how your email looks in browsers and inboxes.
Check for typos, broken links, or weird spacing. A clean final draft builds trust.
Schedule or Send Immediately
If you’ve promised a weekly cadence, schedule it for the same weekday/time.
Beehiiv handles the rest—domain warming, deliverability, and sending.
Step 5: Build & Segment Your Audience
Now that you’ve published, you need subscribers. Start with a lead capture form—Beehiiv’s built-in forms are easy to embed on your site or share as standalone pages.
Import Existing Contacts (Optional)
If you have a list from another platform, import them (with permission only) into Beehiiv.
Segment them based on interest or engagement for personalized sends.
Promote Everywhere
Social Media: Pin your signup link on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
Collaborations: Do cross-promotions with similar newsletters; each of you endorses the other.
Referral Program: Offer an incentive (like a bonus guide or early access) if someone refers 1–3 new subscribers.
Segmenting
Tag subscribers by interest if they click certain links.
Send specialized content to your most engaged readers for higher open rates.
Whether you have 500 or 50,000 subscribers, there are multiple ways to earn from your newsletter:
Beehiiv Ad Network
Plug in to get matched with sponsors. You earn money by placing ads in your newsletter.
Great for early-stage creators wanting easy ad integration.
Paid Subscriptions
Substack popularized this; Beehiiv supports it too. Offer exclusive content for a monthly or annual fee.
Affiliate Marketing
Recommend tools or products you love, earn a commission on each sale.
Great for niche newsletters where you can provide specific product reviews.
Digital Products or Services
Sell e-books, online courses, or consulting calls. Your subscribers already trust your expertise.
Sponsored Posts
Partner directly with brands to feature a product or service in your newsletter.
Often higher-paying than simple display ads, especially if you have a highly engaged audience.
Step 7: Scale with Automation & Analytics
Once you’re rolling, you’ll want to streamline your operations:
Automations & Sequences
Welcome Series: A short 2–3 email flow that orients new subscribers.
Drip Campaigns: Educational content over a set period, e.g., a “5-Day Challenge.”
Sales Funnels: If you’re promoting a higher-ticket item, walk subscribers through a multi-step pitch.
Analytics
Track open rates, CTR, unsubscribes, and conversion rates for paid offers.
Identify your best-performing subject lines and replicate the style.
Use A/B testing (Beehiiv has this built-in) to compare different versions of emails, times, or calls to action.
Optimize & Refine
Prune inactive subscribers every so often. A lean, engaged list can rank better in inboxes.
Poll your subscribers or ask for feedback occasionally. Engaged subscribers are more likely to stay loyal.
That’s the entire roadmap: from picking your niche and platform to designing, sending, growing, and monetizing. The best part? You can do it all on Beehiiv.
Ready to Build Your Newsletter Empire?
Sign Up for Beehiiv → Here.
Then come back and subscribe to GoLetter Insider for weekly tips on design, monetization, and exclusive success stories from top creators.
Remember
Your newsletter isn’t just a marketing channel—it can become a community of loyal fans and a profitable business if you nurture it right. Now’s the time to launch, experiment, and grow on your own terms.
Ready, Set, Grow!
— The GoLetter Team
Disclaimer: We earn a commission from Beehiiv if you sign up through our link, and in turn you get a 30-day free trial + 20% OFF for 3 months to jump-start your newsletter journey, but that doesn’t affect our genuine recommendation. We truly believe Beehiiv is the best choice for creators aiming to treat their newsletter like a thriving business.