How to Start a Newsletter and Build Your Own Audience

Have you been looking for ways to start a newsletter, but don’t know where to begin? Read this article for a step-by-step guide!

Starting a newsletter is one of the most effective ways to connect directly with your audience and build long-term relationships. And if you’re running a side hustle blog, you know how important these connections are.

Unlike social media, where algorithms control visibility and determine what content will be shown to which people, newsletters ensure your content reaches your subscribers' inboxes.

And it’s this aspect of directly reaching your subscribers’ inboxes that’s so important. By starting your own newsletter, you’re able to cut through the noise of social media and speak directly to your audience.

So, whether you're nurturing a side hustle, or expanding an existing business, knowing how to start a newsletter can help you grow your audience and increase engagement.

In this guide, we’re going to look at a step-by-step approach, showing how to start a newsletter and begin growing your readership!

Why Newsletters Are Important for Side Hustles

We covered this a little bit in the introduction to this guide, but before we fully jump into how to actually start a newsletter, let’s explore why newsletters are so important.

For those running a side hustle of any form (but specifically those in the digital space) newsletters are a crucial tool. They allow for a much deeper connection with your audience, which in turn makes them much more likely to engage with your content.

But why else are newsletters so important?

• Direct Communication: Reach your audience without interference from third-party platforms. This is huge when social media is full of competition all vying for attention.

• Passive Income Opportunities: Use newsletters to promote affiliate products, services, or exclusive content.

• Audience Retention: Consistent, valuable emails keep your audience engaged and loyal.

• Ownership: Unlike social media, you own your email list, providing stability regardless of platform changes.

For a side hustle, these benefits are invaluable. A well-executed newsletter strategy can transform casual readers into loyal customers.

How to Start a Newsletter: A Step-By-Step Guide

Cool! Now we know why starting a newsletter for your side hustle can be a hugely invaluable tool to have in your kit. In the following section, we’re going to look at how to start your own newsletter, as well as some advice and guidance as we go.

How to Start a Newsletter: Step 1 – Define the Purpose

If you already have a side hustle, you already know your goals, audience, and target market. However, even if you do know all of this, defining the specific purpose for your newsletter is still a good place to start.

On the off chance that you don’t already know what your newsletter will be about, you can use this guide to finding your passions through mind mapping to help.

In this stage, ask yourself the following questions:

• Who is your target audience? Identify their pain points and interests. For example, a fitness blogger might focus on workout tips or healthy recipes.

• What is your primary goal? Whether it’s driving website traffic, selling products, or building community, a clear purpose shapes your content.

• What will your newsletter offer? Decide on its unique value. Will it share insights, exclusive discounts, or updates?

For example, a freelance designer could send a bi-weekly newsletter featuring design tips, case studies, and industry trends. By having a specific focus for the content of the newsletter, they’ll be able to write each newsletter without struggling for ideas.

How to Start a Newsletter: Step 2 – Choose the Right Platform

There are many different options when it comes to the actual platform you wish to use for your newsletter. And whilst the sheer number to choose from can be a little daunting, we’ve rounded up the best options for you below.

• Mailchimp: Ideal for beginners, with drag-and-drop templates.

• ConvertKit: Designed for creators, offering automation and personalisation.

• Substack: Perfect for writers and journalists focusing on content.

• MailerLite: Budget-friendly with essential features.

Ultimately, they’ll all do mostly the same thing, which is to let you publish a newsletter that people can subscribe to. However, each platform will have slightly different features and options.

Ideally, you should be looking for a platform that has features like in-depth analytics, automation (which may not be needed right at the start), and user-friendly design templates.

The good news is that if you pick a platform and find that you don’t like it, you can always migrate your newsletter audience to another one without too much trouble.

How to Start a Newsletter: Step 3 – Build Your Email List

The thing about starting a newsletter is that building an audience takes a lot of effort, and will need to be supplemented by other sources of traffic.

With that being said, there are a few strategies that will help you reach people who will be interested in joining your newsletter:

• Create Lead Magnets: Offer free eBooks, checklists, or templates in exchange for email addresses.

• Add Sign-Up Forms: Include forms on your website, blog, or social media profiles.

• Leverage Social Media: Promote your newsletter through Instagram Stories or LinkedIn posts.

• Host Giveaways: Offer prizes to encourage sign-ups, ensuring the reward aligns with your niche.

• Collaborate: Partner with others in your niche to cross-promote your newsletters.

Another good approach to get people through the door and signed up to your newsletter is archiving the old issues. You then give people access to the old ones in return for offering their email addresses.

This both gives them access to the previous newsletters you’ve sent out, and will add an additional email address to those that will receive future updates. This is a good way of leveraging your existing newsletter content to acquire more signups.

How to Start a Newsletter: Step 4 – Create Engaging Content

Much like running a blog, the content you publish will be the reason people will ultimately subscribe and continue to read your newsletter.

When it comes to writing compelling and interesting newsletter content, you want to focus on providing your audience with value. Ultimately, if your readers aren’t getting anything from your newsletters, they’re not going to want to keep receiving them.

So, when writing your newsletters, keep these front of mind:

• Craft Compelling Subject Lines: 47% of email recipients open emails based solely on the subject line. Keep them concise and intriguing.

• Focus on Value: Ensure every email provides actionable advice, entertainment, or exclusive perks. Remember, you need to have a reason in every single email for your audience to want to keep reading.

• Maintain a Consistent Schedule: Whether weekly or monthly, consistency builds trust. If you’re struggling to keep up with a regular schedule, repurposing your blog content can be a good strategy.

• Include Visuals: Use images, GIFs, or infographics to make your emails visually appealing.

• End with a Call-to-Action (CTA): Encourage readers to visit your blog, purchase a product, or reply with feedback.

Something to keep in mind is that the newsletter will be an extension of your brand. This means each update you send needs to align with your side hustle branding and tone of voice.

Conclusion

Whilst it can be hard at the beginning, starting a newsletter is a rewarding way to connect with your audience, build trust, and grow your side hustle.

By providing valuable content and using proven strategies, you can create an engaged community that supports your overall goals.

If you’re looking for additional ways to grow your side hustle blog, developing a guest blogging strategy is a fantastic option. In our full guide, we explain how you can create a successful guest blogging strategy to bring in additional blog traffic!

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