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Building a mailing list is the lifeblood of every online creator.
Standing at 415 subscribers and going 8 weeks strong, my newsletter "Weekly Wisdom" is my crowning achievement.
I wanted to share my 25 tips on growing a newsletter
- A Megathread -
Standing at 415 subscribers and going 8 weeks strong, my newsletter "Weekly Wisdom" is my crowning achievement.
I wanted to share my 25 tips on growing a newsletter
- A Megathread -
1. Proofread like never before
Put it through Grammarly, get an extra set of eyes on it.
Newsletters are not like blog posts, they cannot be edited after you send it out.
They are unlike Tweets, people are deeply reading them and looking for lessons and inspiration.
Put it through Grammarly, get an extra set of eyes on it.
Newsletters are not like blog posts, they cannot be edited after you send it out.
They are unlike Tweets, people are deeply reading them and looking for lessons and inspiration.
2. Have an identity
This does not mean you have to only have one niche.
I have an overarching theme of the student mindset, but this covers different themes.
An identity is how you write, how you analyze, and how you perceive, having a consistent identity is key.
This does not mean you have to only have one niche.
I have an overarching theme of the student mindset, but this covers different themes.
An identity is how you write, how you analyze, and how you perceive, having a consistent identity is key.
3. Subject Lines Define Open Rates
Many people have "hacks" to increase your open rate
In reality, if you have an eye-catching and simple subject line, your open rate will naturally improve.
Simply getting rid of "Weekly Wisdom #" at the start increased my open rate by 8%
Many people have "hacks" to increase your open rate
In reality, if you have an eye-catching and simple subject line, your open rate will naturally improve.
Simply getting rid of "Weekly Wisdom #" at the start increased my open rate by 8%
4. Consistency wins
As @david_perell says "B+ content and A+ consistency is the winning formula for email newsletters."
Show up on the days you promise and get something in your audience's inbox.
A week missed means you lose momentum and disappear from their memory.
As @david_perell says "B+ content and A+ consistency is the winning formula for email newsletters."
Show up on the days you promise and get something in your audience's inbox.
A week missed means you lose momentum and disappear from their memory.
5. Stats don't mean everything
I know I tweet about my newsletter following, but that is not my top metric. Nor is it open rates.
What do I value?
The number of email responses. The number of tweets that tell I am improving. Seeing my newsletter being shared by others.
I know I tweet about my newsletter following, but that is not my top metric. Nor is it open rates.
What do I value?
The number of email responses. The number of tweets that tell I am improving. Seeing my newsletter being shared by others.
6. Set goals for newsletter
@khemaridh has a saying where you need to publish 25 newsletters before you see results.
For me, I cannot wait to get to that number.
The growth is exponential the more you publish. Set a goal for the long term so do not stop until you get there!
@khemaridh has a saying where you need to publish 25 newsletters before you see results.
For me, I cannot wait to get to that number.
The growth is exponential the more you publish. Set a goal for the long term so do not stop until you get there!
7. Ideas are everywhere
Part of my newsletter is based on curation. I am often asked how do I get links?
The answer.
I record everything that resonates with me. Whether in @NotionHQ or in a journal.
It is easier to write from abundance.
Part of my newsletter is based on curation. I am often asked how do I get links?
The answer.
I record everything that resonates with me. Whether in @NotionHQ or in a journal.
It is easier to write from abundance.
8. Encourage communication
My goal is to build two-way traffic.
In most of my newsletter's I aim to encourage others to reply to me.
My ideas only get better when I hear from different perspectives.
Get your audience comfortable with the notion that they can email you.
My goal is to build two-way traffic.
In most of my newsletter's I aim to encourage others to reply to me.
My ideas only get better when I hear from different perspectives.
Get your audience comfortable with the notion that they can email you.
9. Be human and personal
If you want your audience to communicate with you, you can't be seen as a stranger behind the screen pumping advice to them.
You want to give them touching stones where you have human and personal experiences.
Make them feel through your content.
If you want your audience to communicate with you, you can't be seen as a stranger behind the screen pumping advice to them.
You want to give them touching stones where you have human and personal experiences.
Make them feel through your content.
10. Think long-term
What do you want to build in the long-term?
Food for thought:
Do you want to sell affiliate products?
Do you want to have a premium subscription?
Do you want to build a course through the email list?
Do you want to build a community of individuals?
What do you want to build in the long-term?
Food for thought:
Do you want to sell affiliate products?
Do you want to have a premium subscription?
Do you want to build a course through the email list?
Do you want to build a community of individuals?
11. Join a mastermind group.
They keep you accountable for what you publish each week.
They allow you to share effective strategies.
They expose you to their audiences.
Just look at this happy bunch https://twitter.com/thisiskp_/status/1279887134997065730
They keep you accountable for what you publish each week.
They allow you to share effective strategies.
They expose you to their audiences.
Just look at this happy bunch https://twitter.com/thisiskp_/status/1279887134997065730
12. Make a landing page
I made a landing page 2 days ago. Since then over 25 people have subscribed. That's 6.25% of all signups in just two days.
People love aesthetics, social proof, and descriptions.
https://mailchi.mp/17191b99a127/brandonzhang
I made a landing page 2 days ago. Since then over 25 people have subscribed. That's 6.25% of all signups in just two days.
People love aesthetics, social proof, and descriptions.
https://mailchi.mp/17191b99a127/brandonzhang
13. Switching Topics
You can pivot, you can expand outside your comfort zone. Just be sure to explain to your audience why.
Make sure that the pivot is long-term. Whenever you are thinking of change. Ask yourself, can I do this for the next 52 weeks.
You can pivot, you can expand outside your comfort zone. Just be sure to explain to your audience why.
Make sure that the pivot is long-term. Whenever you are thinking of change. Ask yourself, can I do this for the next 52 weeks.
14. Write your newsletter early
Set aside time 2-3 days before your publishing date to write the newsletter.
Your first draft will not be perfect, but that's why we revise.
Do not think of your newsletter like an email, its a product. @thisiskp_ @cullinmcgrath
Set aside time 2-3 days before your publishing date to write the newsletter.
Your first draft will not be perfect, but that's why we revise.
Do not think of your newsletter like an email, its a product. @thisiskp_ @cullinmcgrath
15. Set up funnels
This is a future goal of mine.
Funnels allow for consistent connection with your reader. You appear in their inbox numerous times and a pace you can dictate.
Build funnels to imprint your brand and message into their minds.
This is a future goal of mine.
Funnels allow for consistent connection with your reader. You appear in their inbox numerous times and a pace you can dictate.
Build funnels to imprint your brand and message into their minds.
16. Make it easy to subscribe
I don't use pop-ups, but I have subscribe links on many of my blog posts and podcast episodes.
Make sure the messaging and imagery are consistent.
It is not spam, think of it as making it easier for people to reach you and your content.
I don't use pop-ups, but I have subscribe links on many of my blog posts and podcast episodes.
Make sure the messaging and imagery are consistent.
It is not spam, think of it as making it easier for people to reach you and your content.
17. Add unsubscribe option every newsletter
Some people may eventually grow uninterested. They will part ways peacefully by unsubscribing.
By making it an ordeal to unsubscribe you will make yourself viewed acrimoniously.
Unsubscribes are not the end of the day.
Some people may eventually grow uninterested. They will part ways peacefully by unsubscribing.
By making it an ordeal to unsubscribe you will make yourself viewed acrimoniously.
Unsubscribes are not the end of the day.
18. Each new edition has room for improvement
This point made by @5harath made during our mastermind spoke to me.
What are you doing each week to make your newsletter better?
- Add a new section
- Improve the formatting
- Bring in guests for interviews
This point made by @5harath made during our mastermind spoke to me.
What are you doing each week to make your newsletter better?
- Add a new section
- Improve the formatting
- Bring in guests for interviews
19. Educate yourself
You can feel free to appear as a learner yourself. You do not have to be the perfect expert every time.
View the newsletter as an opportunity to educate yourself. This can also hold you accountable for things you want to learn. Share your learning journey
You can feel free to appear as a learner yourself. You do not have to be the perfect expert every time.
View the newsletter as an opportunity to educate yourself. This can also hold you accountable for things you want to learn. Share your learning journey
20. Learn New Skills
To improve my newsletter, I learned:
• Networking
• Web Design
• Graphic Design
• Email Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
To improve my newsletter, I learned:
• Networking
• Web Design
• Graphic Design
• Email Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
21. Roadmap your newsletter
For long newsletters, let the reader easily jump through.
Add a table of contents they can skip around on. People view newsletters as resources, make them easy to be personalized.
Some people may be interested in certain sections each week.
For long newsletters, let the reader easily jump through.
Add a table of contents they can skip around on. People view newsletters as resources, make them easy to be personalized.
Some people may be interested in certain sections each week.
