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Abstract

world. It doesn’t let you draw outside of the lines unless you jailbreak it with code and the design is pretty.I can’t vouch for ConvertKit — because I never used it — but it seemed a little extra to me. Too many features were available that I didn’t need. Also, I’m 99% sure readers can’t view previous newsletters, which was a pass for me.The platform you choose to house your newsletter on matters a lot. If you choose one that’s easy to create a nice design, your readers will notice and might stay for more. If you choose one that’s over-the-top and you can’t control, your readers will also notice that.<h1 id="cbd9">Consistency is key</h1>I post once a week on my newsletter. I schedule it to go out on Monday mornings and try my best to stick to that schedule.The reason why this matters is two-fold:<ul><li>It helps readers get an idea of when they can expect to see the newsletter.</li><li>It helps you — the writer — remember you have to write the newsletter.</li></ul>Over the last 3 months, I’ve spent every Sunday night creating a newsletter. It’s part of my weekly routine at this point. I eat dinner, watch an episode of Breaking Bad, and write the newsletter before bed.Additionally, there will be ups and downs when writing your newsletter. Some weeks you’ll gain subscribers and get a lot of people to open your email. Other weeks, virtually no one will open it and your subscriber count will be stagnant.Being consistent with your publishing will help you push through the good weeks and the bad ones.<h1 id="e456">A need for your newsletter does NOT matter</h1>This is something that doesn’t really matter. My mom has a newsletter for her book club called “Romcom Moms” and it has around 100 subscribers. If you think there was a need for that email list then you’d be dead wrong.My only suggestion is to make sure it’s something your passionate about.I’m passionate about making extra money with side hustles and helping other people in similar positions do the same. I like it when readers thank me for helping them find freelancing positions or new opportunities that they read about in the newsletter.So don’t worry about finding the perfect niche for your newsletter. It probably doesn’t exist.<h1 id="a7d2">Hit your readers with a lot of value</h1>A major factor I had at the front of my mind when starting a newsletter was to provide value to my readers.Anything I add to the newsletter is an attempt at giving readers a reason to open next week’s email.

Options

I try to be different, I try to be edgy, and at the end of the day, I’m just throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks.Here’s a pro tip: After you have a couple subscribers, ask them what they want to see in the future.Sounds crazy, I know.The replies I received from asking people what they wanted to see have led the way for more ideas in the newsletter.Also, don’t be afraid to try something you see in other newsletters. Like the idea of adding a random tweet to your newsletter or embedding a YouTube video? Give it a try and see if people click on it.<h1 id="b480">Don’t be afraid to promote it somewhere</h1>This last one seems obvious, but to me, it really wasn’t at first. I hate to be a “pick me” writer who is always asking stuff of his readers. But if you really want to get subscribers to your newsletter then you first have to tell them where to find it.Yes, you’ll have to include a link to it somewhere.Before you run away from this story screaming that’s asking too much as a writer — because honestly I agree with you — first analyze what you’re already asking your readers.For me, I realized I wasn’t asking much of my readers. I was publishing stories about side hustles and connecting with other people who were doing the same. That was it.Eventually, I gained the courage to start adding links to the bottom of some stories that basically said “Hey, if you liked this story then you might like more just like it delivered straight to your inbox. Oh yeah, it’s free.”I’m thinking “it’s free” is really what sealed the deal. I love free stuff and I know others do too.Don’t be afraid to promote your email list like I was/still am. I still don’t promote it under every story in the publication, but I’m improving at that.If readers like what you have to offer, they will subscribe.<blockquote id="f603">“If you *promote* it, they will come.”</blockquote><h1 id="c6c5">Bottom line: You needed a newsletter yesterday</h1>Even if you don’t think you need a newsletter or email list, I promise you do.These days, everyone can benefit from having their own newsletter. The more places you’re able to publish your content, the better chances it has of being seen by more people.It doesn’t matter if you have 10 subscribers or 10,000, a newsletter is a great way to engage with your audience and connect with them. It’ll also give you more publishing options moving forward as a creator.</article></body>

5 Lessons Learned From Growing an Email List Quickly

Why email lists are a necessity for everyone these days and how to do it well

It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelancer, online marketer, or professional potato chip inspector — it’s a job, look it up — building an email list will be beneficial to your cause.

A solid email list gives you another chance to engage with readers, offer more value, and maybe even make some money — if you’re lucky.

Growing an email list is easy, said no one ever.

Ask almost any of us newbies starting an email list. We’ll be the first to tell you it’s quite hard unless you already have a following.

I started a weekly newsletter list a few months after starting a publication called The Side Hustle Club. This story is not meant to be a plug for the publication, but when in Rome, insert a link.

The purpose of The Side Hustle Club’s newsletter is to bring more value to readers of the publication who want to make extra income.

To say I had confidence in the newsletter doing well is a bald-faced lie. Since starting it in April — about 90 days from the time of writing this story — I’ve watched the newsletter grow from nothing to about 200 subscribers.

I was astonished to see this kind of growth and I’m here to report my findings on what I think went right. Buckle up your seat belts because here we go.

It starts with the right platform

There are a variety of different options to start a newsletter on. Honestly, too many in my opinion. I wish there was just one so I didn’t have to choose.

The options I chose between were:

Substack
ConvertKit
Some other third one (maybe MailChimp or Constant Contact? I forget.)

I decided to go with Substack because I liked how it saves previous newsletters on my page for viewing. I like to believe this also helps the SEO of the newsletter by taking up more digital real estate, but don’t quote me on that.

Substack has been great for me. I view it as like the iPhone of the newsletter world. It doesn’t let you draw outside of the lines unless you jailbreak it with code and the design is pretty.

I can’t vouch for ConvertKit — because I never used it — but it seemed a little extra to me. Too many features were available that I didn’t need. Also, I’m 99% sure readers can’t view previous newsletters, which was a pass for me.

The platform you choose to house your newsletter on matters a lot. If you choose one that’s easy to create a nice design, your readers will notice and might stay for more. If you choose one that’s over-the-top and you can’t control, your readers will also notice that.

Consistency is key

I post once a week on my newsletter. I schedule it to go out on Monday mornings and try my best to stick to that schedule.

The reason why this matters is two-fold:

It helps readers get an idea of when they can expect to see the newsletter.
It helps you — the writer — remember you have to write the newsletter.

Over the last 3 months, I’ve spent every Sunday night creating a newsletter. It’s part of my weekly routine at this point. I eat dinner, watch an episode of Breaking Bad, and write the newsletter before bed.

Additionally, there will be ups and downs when writing your newsletter. Some weeks you’ll gain subscribers and get a lot of people to open your email. Other weeks, virtually no one will open it and your subscriber count will be stagnant.

Being consistent with your publishing will help you push through the good weeks and the bad ones.

A need for your newsletter does NOT matter

This is something that doesn’t really matter. My mom has a newsletter for her book club called “Romcom Moms” and it has around 100 subscribers. If you think there was a need for that email list then you’d be dead wrong.

My only suggestion is to make sure it’s something your passionate about.

I’m passionate about making extra money with side hustles and helping other people in similar positions do the same. I like it when readers thank me for helping them find freelancing positions or new opportunities that they read about in the newsletter.

So don’t worry about finding the perfect niche for your newsletter. It probably doesn’t exist.

Hit your readers with a lot of value

A major factor I had at the front of my mind when starting a newsletter was to provide value to my readers.

Anything I add to the newsletter is an attempt at giving readers a reason to open next week’s email.

I try to be different, I try to be edgy, and at the end of the day, I’m just throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks.

Here’s a pro tip: After you have a couple subscribers, ask them what they want to see in the future.

Sounds crazy, I know.

The replies I received from asking people what they wanted to see have led the way for more ideas in the newsletter.

Also, don’t be afraid to try something you see in other newsletters. Like the idea of adding a random tweet to your newsletter or embedding a YouTube video? Give it a try and see if people click on it.

Don’t be afraid to promote it somewhere

This last one seems obvious, but to me, it really wasn’t at first. I hate to be a “pick me” writer who is always asking stuff of his readers. But if you really want to get subscribers to your newsletter then you first have to tell them where to find it.

Yes, you’ll have to include a link to it somewhere.

Before you run away from this story screaming that’s asking too much as a writer — because honestly I agree with you — first analyze what you’re already asking your readers.

For me, I realized I wasn’t asking much of my readers. I was publishing stories about side hustles and connecting with other people who were doing the same. That was it.

Eventually, I gained the courage to start adding links to the bottom of some stories that basically said “Hey, if you liked this story then you might like more just like it delivered straight to your inbox. Oh yeah, it’s free.”

I’m thinking “it’s free” is really what sealed the deal. I love free stuff and I know others do too.

Don’t be afraid to promote your email list like I was/still am. I still don’t promote it under every story in the publication, but I’m improving at that.

If readers like what you have to offer, they will subscribe.

“If you *promote* it, they will come.”

Bottom line: You needed a newsletter yesterday

Even if you don’t think you need a newsletter or email list, I promise you do.

These days, everyone can benefit from having their own newsletter. The more places you’re able to publish your content, the better chances it has of being seen by more people.

It doesn’t matter if you have 10 subscribers or 10,000, a newsletter is a great way to engage with your audience and connect with them. It’ll also give you more publishing options moving forward as a creator.