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
In this week's Q&A, I break down the real tactics that work for growing and monetizing newsletters in 2025. I cover my personal content workflow, why newsletter recommendations are dead, and what actually matters for sponsors beyond list size. I also discuss local newsletters, when to start running paid ads, and the revenue potential at different subscriber levels.
FREE Guide: How to get your first 1000 newsletter subscribers in 30 days >>
Episode Questions & Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to weekly Q&A podcast
00:46 How do you draft your newsletter each week?
03:25 How do you curate your best links section?
05:15 What growth tactics worked two years ago that are completely dead now?
07:38 What growth tactics are working right now?
09:19 What's your hot take on local newsletters?
12:28 How do you overcome the fear of starting a media company?
14:10 What metrics matter most for sponsors and list quality?
17:33 When should you start running paid ads?
19:57 How should you approach selling a premium newsletter offer?
26:24 When should you hire someone to help with content?
28:12 What revenue is possible at different subscriber levels?
30:28 Should you be using Beehiiv Boosts or Sparkloop?
32:01 Conclusion and wrap-up
Comment on the YouTube video if you have ideas on what content you want to see next: https://youtu.be/fm5O0lGLMuE
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Matt and Ryan discuss why they’re pausing the podcast after nearly two years, reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and where they’re headed next.
Timestamps
00:00 The Announcement: Shutting Down the Podcast
02:23 Podcast Performance: Analyzing Numbers and Trends
10:20 Exploring Alternatives: New Directions for Content
12:35 Individual Goals: Focus on Newsletters and YouTube
20:43 Long-Term Strategy: Investing in Sustainable Channels
30:05 Reflections: Lessons Learned from the Podcast Journey
Matt and Ryan discuss AI's role in advertising and content creation, and the 5 simplest ways to make your first $1000 online.
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Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator.com
Follow Matt McGarry @JMatthewMcGarry and Ryan Carr @ryan_boat on Twitter.
Episode Topics & Timestamps
00:00 Exploring AI in Advertising
02:55 Innovative Uses of AI for Content Creation
05:54 The Future of AI in Marketing
08:46 Leveraging AI for Solopreneurs
12:02 Automating Newsletter Creation with AI
15:06 Creative Approaches to Content Generation
18:00 Monetizing Your Online Presence
30:48 Strategies for Earning Your First $1,000 Online
FREE Guide: How to get your first 1000 newsletter subscribers in 30 days >>
Daniel Bustamante is the COO at Premium Ghostwriting Academy and the founder of Funnel Breakdowns newsletter. He specializes in million-dollar email marketing prompts, tactics, and strategies for 6 and 7-figure creators on LinkedIn and X.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:56 Journey to Ship 30 for 30
05:59 Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn
08:40 Growth Strategies on LinkedIn
11:51 Engagement Tactics and Community Building
15:00 Email List Growth Strategies
18:02 Marketing Funnels and Email Sequences
20:56 Insights from Hermosi and Industry Events
24:05 Relaunching Ship 30 and Premium Ghostwriting Academy
26:52 Conclusion and Future Plans
Links Mentioned
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbusta/
https://funnelbreakdowns.com/
FREE GUIDE: How to get your first 1000 email subscribers in 30 days >>
The Culturist is a newsletter with over 200,000 subscribers that explores art, literature, music, and the layered histories of culture and religion.
Timestamps
00:00 The Power of Content Ownership
02:45 Transitioning from Social Media to Substack
05:55 Rebranding and Building a Publication
09:04 Navigating the Challenges of X (Twitter)
11:49 Strategies for Engaging Content on X
15:07 Expanding to Other Platforms: Instagram and Beyond
17:40 The Importance of Evergreen Content
20:54 Advice for Non-B2B Creators
23:54 Building a Sustainable Audience
26:51 Revenue Models and Subscriber Conversion
29:49 Future Plans and Community Engagement
Links Mentioned
https://www.theculturist.io/
FREE GUIDE: How to get your first 1000 email subscribers in 30 days >>
In this conversation, Matt McGarry and Ryan Carr discuss the challenges and strategies for growing a newsletter audience and generating revenue.
Chapters
00:00 Scaling Webinar Strategies
02:43 The Challenge of Subscriber Growth
05:57 Consistency and Niche Selection
08:53 Building an Engaged Audience
11:56 Content Creation and Value Sharing
14:58 Organic Growth Strategies
18:01 Quality Over Quantity in Audience Building
21:03 Tactical Growth Insights
23:49 Leveraging Social Media for Growth
27:00 Monetization Strategies for New Creators
Chris Miquel is the founder of SoVi Digital and Audience Bridge. He helps clients maximize deliverability, engagement, and email list growth.
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator.com
Episode Topics & Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Email Deliverability
01:26 Understanding Email Service Providers (ESPs)
04:10 The Importance of Custom Domains
09:16 Email Authentication: DKIM, SPF, and DMARC
12:33 Shared vs. Dedicated IPs
17:31 Building a Base Sending Segment
22:57 Managing Engagement and List Health
30:18 Improving Inbox Placement
38:01 The Future of Email and AI Impact
Links Mentioned
Chris Hoffmann is the CEO of Hoffmann Brothers & Deutschmann Lane Holdings, leading home service brands across multiple cities. He scaled his family business from $9M to $150M+ in revenue. He is also the founder of The Path Less Traveled, a newsletter on growing service companies without outside capital.
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Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator.com
Episode Topics & Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to The Path Less Traveled
02:52 Understanding the Audience and Content Strategy
05:44 The Home Service Business Landscape
08:54 Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Insights
11:56 The Media and Newsletter Journey
14:55 Sponsorships and Monetization Strategies
17:48 Tracking Performance-Based Sponsorships
21:02 Leveraging Paid Subscriptions
24:03 Onboarding and Welcome Email Strategies
26:51 Using Social Media for Growth
29:54 Paid Advertising Strategies
32:57 Building Community and Engagement
36:00 Final Thoughts and Future Directions
Links Mentioned
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stlchrishoffmann/
https://thepathlesstraveled.beehiiv.com/
Matt and Ryan Carr discuss webinar marketing and sharing strategies for boosting sign-ups, keeping audiences engaged, and increasing show-up rates. They also cover lessons from building courses, leveraging lead magnets, and using AI meta-prompting to structure content effectively.
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator.com
Follow Matt McGarry @JMatthewMcGarry and Ryan Carr @ryan_boat on Twitter.
Episode Topics & Timestamps
00:00 The Power of Webinars
02:46 Paid Ads and Webinar Strategies
05:49 Building an Audience and Community Engagement
08:44 The Importance of Show-Up Rates
12:03 Transitioning to a Course and Community Model
15:08 Creating Effective Lead Magnets
17:45 Meta Prompting for AI Tools
20:40 Structuring Your Course for Success
Links Mentioned
https://moodboard.beehiiv.com/
https://moodboard.beehiiv.com/p/5-prompts-for-building-in-lovable
Matt shares his journey of building a successful writing business despite his dyslexia. He breaks down 12 actionable rules that helped him succeed.
Want more content like this?
Join Newsletter Operator for more strategies on how to grow and monetize your newsletter here: NewsletterOperator.com
Episode Topics & Timestamps
00:00 Overcoming Dyslexia in Writing
02:55 12 Rules for Writing Useful Content
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