Discover how to start and monetize an email newsletter from scratch, even with a small subscriber base. Learn about building a website, creating engaging content, using automation, growing your list organically and through paid methods, and multiple monetization strategies including sponsorships, paid subscriptions, events, and more.
Imagine making $5,000 every time you send out your email newsletter. What if there were multiple ways to monetize a newsletter, and you didn't even need thousands of subscribers to make a substantial income? This comprehensive guide will walk you through starting a newsletter from zero knowledge to generating hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Tyler is a newsletter expert who runs a profitable newsletter with about 120,000 subscribers. He generates around $500,000 in revenue annually from this side project, dedicating only about five hours a week. Most of this revenue is profit due to minimal costs, primarily the platform fee for Beehive and a small team.
Tyler emphasizes that you don't need a massive subscriber list to make good money. Even with 500 to 5,000 subscribers, if you have the right offer for the right audience, you can make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
Tyler recommends using Beehive, a platform that allows you to host both your newsletter and website simultaneously. Beehive offers:
You can create a clean landing page focused on collecting emails, which is crucial for growing your list.
There is no such thing as too niche in the internet age. Tyler explains that targeting a specific audience, such as CFOs or fans of a particular band, can be highly valuable. Smaller, targeted lists can command higher advertising rates and offer unique monetization opportunities.
Choose a newsletter template that fits your style and content. Tyler prefers unique designs that stand out, like his Windows 98-themed newsletter. You can opt for image-heavy or plain text emails depending on your brand.
Automations help welcome new subscribers and engage them effectively. For example, you can send a welcome email immediately after signup and follow up if they haven't opened any emails after a week. Automations can also segment your audience based on behavior and preferences.
Start by promoting your newsletter on your social media channels like Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). Beehive also offers a recommendation network where newsletters recommend each other to grow organically.
For faster growth, use Beehive's Boost feature, a pay-to-play marketplace where you can pay for verified subscribers and get money back if the subscriber is not engaged. This risk-free growth method allows you to scale your list efficiently.
Tyler shares several ways to monetize your newsletter:
You can charge sponsors between $5,000 and $7,000 per newsletter send, depending on your list size and engagement. Tyler earns $20,000 to $30,000 per month from sponsorships alone.
Offer premium content behind a paywall. Beehive supports paid subscriptions without taking a cut of your revenue.
Tyler hosts quarterly mastermind events for founders, charging $10,000 per ticket. This generates about $80,000 annually.
Earn money by recommending other newsletters and get paid for every verified subscriber you send to them.
If your newsletter showcases your expertise, you can convert subscribers into consulting clients, which can be highly lucrative even with a smaller list.
For niche audiences, selling merchandise or organizing fan experiences can be a valuable revenue stream.
Tyler is a big advocate of segmenting his list and using surveys to gather first-party data. This allows him to:
For example, Tyler's surveys reveal that 60% of his audience are business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs, which helps him target relevant sponsors and offers.
Tyler reinvests revenue from sponsorships and Boost into paid ads and Boost campaigns to grow his list further. As the list grows, he can charge more for sponsorships, creating a positive feedback loop that fuels exponential growth.
Starting a newsletter can be simple and profitable with the right tools and strategies. Platforms like Beehive make it easy to launch, grow, and monetize your newsletter without needing technical expertise.
Whether you want to build a newsletter about your favorite band, a niche industry, or your personal brand, the key is to find the right audience and offer them value. Monetization can come from multiple streams, including sponsorships, paid subscriptions, events, consulting, and more.
Tyler Den, co-founder of Beehive and former second employee at Morning Brew, is a testament to the power of newsletters as a business model. His experience shows that with dedication and smart strategies, you can turn a newsletter into a six-figure or even seven-figure income.
Start your newsletter journey today and unlock the potential of email marketing as a profitable side hustle or full-time business!
