Stay ConnectedNew Media is a podcast for founders and creators building independent media businesses. We explore how to grow and monetize audiences without depending on algorithms, advertising, and platforms you don’t control. Each episode shares practical insights on building profitable media and education businesses.
A GrowLetter podcast, hosted by Matt McGarry and Kolby Hatch.
Copyright: © 2023 Newsletter Operator
Matt and Ryan talk about 5 newsletter business ideas. Plus, how to grow and monetize them.
Episode topics & Timestamps
00:00 Newsletter targeting Fortune 500 executives for news.
04:34 Create hyper relevant content for niche market.
06:57 High CPMs for well-defined executive audience.
12:53 Research-intensive content, provide templates, charge for value.
16:14 Curated finance memes drive engagement on Instagram.
19:19 Charter newsletter uses visuals and witty copy.
22:42 AI writing tool boosts creativity for writers.
23:34 Weekly summary of design and pricing trends.
27:23 Newsletter format: short, snippets, automate, historical lessons.
32:07 Sponsors and newsletter offer monetization challenges.
35:42 Podcast reviews books about influential people. Crazy network.
37:39 Building email list crucial for long-term success.
40:39 Opt for positive, non-crime local news.
43:14 Local writing can lead to access and recognition.
46:26 Increased interest in local business advertising benefits.
49:33 Seeking feedback and updates on shared ideas.
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Matt and Ryan talk about newsletter monetization, how to create and sell a front-end offer, webinars, polls, courses, and more.
Episode topics & Timestamps
00:00 Aligning monetization strategies enables sustainable and scalable growth.
06:21 Creating post subscription funnel to boost sales.
09:03 Curate and repurpose newsletter content for subscribers.
11:22 Identify problems, consumer needs, and create products.
16:26 Promoting course through webinars and email marketing.
18:50 Live course allows immediate Q&A interaction.
22:31 Testing successful outreach to high-ticket service businesses.
25:24 Share audience poll in outbound strategy for agencies.
28:28 Postponing deliverability discussion, Google policy updates, future episode.
Links Mentioned
Newsletter Growth System
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Wouter Teunissen is co-founder of OpenRates -- A tool that helps you find and convert newsletter sponsorships in your niche. Previously Wouter was the first salesperson at Milk Road.
Episode topics & Timestamps
(13:20) Cornerstone Resources for Marketing and Copywriting
(13:40) Importance of Authority in Newsletter Niche
(14:00) Creating a Personal Toolkit for Sales Success
(32:40) Automating the Sales Cycle with Databases
(32:52) Identifying the Right Contacts for Sponsorship Outreach
(40:40) Incentivizing Audiences with Surveys
(41:00) The Pillars of Effective Marketing and Sales Messages
(41:20) How to Follow Wouter Teunissen's Work
(41:34) How to Support the Newsletter Operator Podcast
Links Mentioned
https://www.openrates.co/
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Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator(dot)com
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Tim Huelscamp is the co-founder & CEO of 1440 Media. In this podcast, Tim shares his strategies for scaling and monetizing newsletters, how 1440 reached over 3 million subscribers by delivering comprehensive, unbiased news, and much more.
Episode topics & Timestamps
(00:15) Guest Introduction
(00:42) 1440 in the media landscape, aimed at busy professionals desiring a comprehensive yet unbiased news source.
(01:49) 1440's foundation story, starting from frustration with existing news media, testing minimum viable product concepts, and the emphasis on high open rates and organic growth as evidence of product-market fit.
(04:33) 1440’s Audience & Demographics
(06:12) Retention and Engagement
(07:28) Creative Strategy & Growth Levers, discussion on the significance of high-quality, compelling creative work in driving subscriber growth
(20:25) Monetization Strategies
(39:42) Potential for Newsletter Market Saturation and the necessity for delivering high-quality content as the key differentiator for long-term success.
(44:41) Future of 1440
(52:51) Tim’s offer to assist rising newsletter creators by way of connecting and reflecting on the supportive nature of the newsletter community.
Links Mentioned:
Join1440.com
Reach out to Tim directly: tim@join1440.com
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator(dot)com
Follow Matt McGarry @JMatthewMcGarry and Ryan Carr @ryan_boat on Twitter.
Matt and Ryan interview Brett Perlmutter, co-founder of BulletPitch, a startup newsletter turned media company. They discuss the company's origin, mission, and audience engagement metrics. Brett shares growth strategies and revenue models.
Episode topics & Timestamps
(00:25) Introduction and brief overview of BulletPitch, motivation behind starting BulletPitch
(02:25) the rapid growth of BulletPitch and the audience size
(05:25) how BulletPitch measures audience engagement through polls and investor introductions
(08:49) the ratio of growth from Twitter ads, organic sharing, referrals, and word of mouth
(12:18) Discussion on the strategy of Twitter ads and what makes a good ad
(23:15) The Business model of Bulletpitch
(27:00) Launching BulletPitch Plus
(35:48) Insights on newsletter saturation
(41:49) Monetization challenges faced by newsletters
(45:09) Brett shares his experience with hosting events and the value of in-person interactions for newsletter subscribers
Links mentioned:
https://twitter.com/BrettPerlmutter
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator(dot)com
Follow Matt McGarry @JMatthewMcGarry and Ryan Carr @ryan_boat on Twitter.
Justin Moore is a sponsorship coach and the founder of Creator Wizard, a school and community that teaches you how to find and negotiate your dream brand deals.
Join Justin's newsletter for sponsorship opportunities.
Episode topics & Timestamps
(00:40) Justin’s journey and experience with sponsorships, introduction and background
(03:00) overview of the media side of the business
(09:00) Growth sources and strategies for building an audience for the newsletter.
(16:00) Monetization strategies, including sponsorships, courses, and coaching.
(25:00) Transitioning to evergreen course offerings and the impact on revenue.
(30:00) Tips for standing out and securing sponsors in a crowded market.
(45:00) Offering different sponsorship packages and being flexible based on sponsors' goals.
(48:00) Generating demand and pitching sponsors effectively.
Links Mentioned
https://www.creatorwizard.com/join
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator(dot)com
Follow Matt McGarry @JMatthewMcGarry and Ryan Carr @ryan_boat on Twitter.
In this podcast, Matt and Ryan provide valuable insights into various topics related to effectively running newsletters, membership programs, and courses. They discuss the challenges of monetizing your newsletter and explore various marketing channels while giving actionable strategies aimed at helping you succeed in the newsletter industry.
Episode topics & Timestamps
(1:22) Selling memberships and courses as monetization strategies and success stories of membership models
(02:12) Insights on growth for Trend.co and using free newsletter lists to convert into memberships/courses
(03:09) Tactics in converting newsletter subscriptions to paid memberships and he process of subscriber acquisition and conversion
(4:30) Utilizing gated website content for subscriber engagement
(05:31) The importance of targeted messaging in newsletters
(6:23) Diving into email marketing tactics and Free newsletter strategies for driving revenue
(09:54) Using various marketing channels for selling Trend.co subscriptions
(10:54) Comparing YouTube and Instagram influencer marketing effectiveness
(11:40) Discussing the best channels for membership growth and strategies for selecting influencers based on CPM and demographics
(15:52) Industry benchmarks for influencer marketing CPMs and the potential of underpriced attention in marketing
(20:49) Organizing newsletter sponsorships as an emerging service
(21:38) The ease of using Beehive's ad marketplace for newsletter ads
(23:26) Exploring alternative social networks and newsletters like Rumble and Passionfruit
(25:31) Organic growth advantages of Substack's recommendation engine
(27:12) Concerns about Substack's long-term viability
(30:46) Predicting the future challenges Substack might face
(31:37) Discussing the limitations of Substack as a platform for newsletter growth
Links Mentioned:
https://tailwindstudio.co/
https://www.newsletteroperator.com/
Episode Description:
In this episode, Matt and Ryan discuss the growing shift towards newsletters in the media landscape. They delve into the challenges faced by traditional media companies, emphasizing how newsletters offer an owned audience and help drive revenue and encourage engagement. They also explore the potential of newsletters for creators, including entertainment-based creators and e-commerce brands. Additionally, they touch on topics such as nurturing email lists, unlocking revenue streams, and the need for valuable content.
Key Topics Covered:
Episode topics & Timestamps:
(00:26) Introduction and Overview
(2:21) Challenges for Big Media Companies
(3:01) Decline in Social Media Traffic
(11:09) Media Companies And Newsletter Strategy
(11:40) Newsletter First Approach
(12:38) Importance of having an owned audience
(18:40) Strategies for Entertainment Creators
(28:00) Tailwind Newsletter Services
(30:00) Upcoming Discussion Topics
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator(dot)com
Follow Matt McGarry @JMatthewMcGarry and Ryan Carr @ryan_boat on Twitter.
Episode Description:
In this episode, Matt and Ryan discuss the current state of newsletters and delve into the debate of whether there is a newsletter bubble. They address the concerns about the saturation of newsletters and the need to stand out in a competitive market. The discussion also focuses on the changing landscape of newsletter monetization, particularly the shift from CPM-based pricing to a cost-per-click model. They emphasize the importance of building an engaged and valuable audience and explore the potential for acquiring newsletters as a growth strategy.
Episode key topics and timestamps:
Introduction and Podcast Overview
(00:26) Purpose of the podcast, discussing newsletter building, growth, and monetization
Discussion on the Newsletter Bubble
(00:43 - 00:06:26) Debate on the existence of a newsletter bubble and address common concerns
(06:27 - 00:17:40) Analysis of the monetization challenges and evolving advertising models
Acquisition and Transfer of Newsletters
(19:00 - 00:25:00) Importance of acquiring and merging newsletters to expand audience and grow lists
(25:01 - 00:28:11) Process and strategies for successfully transferring subscribers and maintaining engagement
Newsletters as a Growth Strategy
(28:12 - 30:14) Highlighting the value of newsletters as marketing funnels and effective communication channels
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator(dot)com
Follow Matt McGarry @JMatthewMcGarry and Ryan Carr @ryan_boat on Twitter.
In this episode of the Newsletter Operator Podcast, Jon Elder, the founder of Black Label Advisor, shares his journey from commercial construction to building a successful consultancy in the Amazon space. He started a side gig by launching his first brand on Amazon, which eventually led to the creation of the newsletter "Amazon Insiders." The newsletter focuses on the niche community of Amazon sellers and has seen rapid growth to over 15,000 subscribers.
Key Topics Covered:
Episode topics & Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to Newsletter Operator Podcast
(00:30) Introduction of Jon Elder, founder of Black Label Advisor
(01:00) Jon's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey
(2:00) Launching Amazon Insiders Newsletter
(3:00) Defining Micro Niche
(5:00) Choosing a Newsletter Topic
(6:00) Growth Strategies and Subscriber Acquisition
(7:00) The Role of SparkLoop in Subscriber Growth
(11:00)Additional Growth Channels such as Twitter
(16:00) The Use of a Mastermind Group for Engagement
(19:00) Monetization through Newsletter Sponsorships
(28:00) Approach to Identifying and Reaching Out to Sponsors
(33:00) Pricing and Packaging of Newsletter Ads
(33:00)Strategies for Achieving Growth Goals
(41:00) Advice for those Starting a Niche B2B Newsletter
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator(dot)com
Follow Matt McGarry @JMatthewMcGarry and Ryan Carr @ryan_boat on Twitter.
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