The 2 types of newsletters you can make money from
There are really just 2 types of newsletters you can make money from.
They are very different from each other, so understanding the differences and being clear on which type of newsletter you have is going to set you up for the best chance of success.
To make money from your newsletter, you must either position yourself as The Curator, or The Expert.
Most newsletters fail because they fall somewhere in the murky middle ground.
Let’s break down both types so we can all launch successful newsletters.
The Curator Newsletter
As a “Curator,” your job is to round up all the best content from around the internet related to a chosen niche. Share it with your readers in an easily digestible newsletter format.
Content you curate could include podcasts, tools, articles, inspiration, videos etc.
It’s important to be clear on your niche and stick to it.
People will sign up to your newsletter for three reasons:
- You save them the time of digging through all the information themselves.
- You kill their FOMO (fear of missing out) on the best content.
- The reader can share content from your newsletter on their own channels, which makes them look smart.
And if what you share is likely to help them with their job & career, they will pay.
“The Curator” newsletter is a great newsletter to start with as you don’t actually need to create any content yourself, and you can still provide a lot of value to your readers every week.
Some examples of Curator newsletters include: Founder Finds, Dead Simple Sites, The Skimm
The Expert Newsletter
If you have deep knowledge on a topic, you position yourself as “The Expert.” As an expert in your field, you write in-depth about your insights and opinions and share these in your newsletter.
This type of newsletter can have a higher barrier of entry for you, the creator, as you must actually be an expert and writing in-depth content regularly takes extra commitment.
But if done correctly, expert newsletters will provide huge value to subscribers.
Readers will happily pay to subscribe to “Expert” newsletters because of the opportunity to learn valuable frameworks and insights in a virtual 1 on 1 environment with a person of influence.
Gaining such knowledge is likely to have positive impacts on your subscribers' careers, making the ROI seem worth paying for.
Some examples of “Expert” newsletters are: Stratechery by Ben Thompson, The Brain Food Newsletter by Shane Parrish & The Ann Friedman Weekly
Conclusion
Being clear on the type of newsletter you want to create is super important. Providing clear and consistent value to your subscribers will give you the best chance getting paid for your newsletter. Good luck!
