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Earlier today, @stewfortier hosted a fantastic call w/ @nbashaw and @danshipper on "How to Build a Wildly Popular Newsletter in 6 months".
Notes below.
The order of operations for building a newsletter is:
1) Publish consistently
2) Develop your style
3) Drive distribution
Notes below.
The order of operations for building a newsletter is:
1) Publish consistently
2) Develop your style
3) Drive distribution
First, publish consistently.
Send your writing to a group of trusted friends. Or just your mother.
Regardless, choose people that will help you build publishing momentum.
Send your writing to a group of trusted friends. Or just your mother.
Regardless, choose people that will help you build publishing momentum.
Write about whatever interests you. It's better to write consistently about an imperfect topic than to never write about a perfect topic.
Lastly, start small. Publish 500 word essays. No need to create the next great American novel.
Keep it simple. Build the habit.
Lastly, start small. Publish 500 word essays. No need to create the next great American novel.
Keep it simple. Build the habit.
Once you're publishing consistently, the next step is to develop your style.
There are two levers that drive your style:
- Theme
- Format
There are two levers that drive your style:
- Theme
- Format
Dan beautifully said that "your writing should be a reflection of your soul".
When your theme evolves as a top-down strategic imperative, it loses luster. Instead, your theme will be an emergent property of publishing consistently.
Observe patterns. Reflect on what you enjoy.
When your theme evolves as a top-down strategic imperative, it loses luster. Instead, your theme will be an emergent property of publishing consistently.
Observe patterns. Reflect on what you enjoy.
The second style lever is format. Experiment.
Go long-form. Try short-form. Do an interview. Include a current event. Explore a timeless principle. Tell a story. Use data. Send links.
Over time, see what resonates. Double down on what works.
Go long-form. Try short-form. Do an interview. Include a current event. Explore a timeless principle. Tell a story. Use data. Send links.
Over time, see what resonates. Double down on what works.
As your style emerges, you can begin driving distribution.
Nathan divides growth drivers into two buckets:
- Drag
- Core engines
Nathan divides growth drivers into two buckets:
- Drag
- Core engines
The drag bucket includes all the basic blocking and tackling tasks that many newsletters do.
- Have an email CTA
- Ship consistently
- Include interesting titles
- Have an email CTA
- Ship consistently
- Include interesting titles
Meanwhile, core engines help you reach escape velocity.
- Is your content surprising, important, true, and relevant?
- Connect emotionally w/ your audience
- Collab w/ others (eg interviews, co-write articles, etc)
- Share your content w/ relevant communities
- Is your content surprising, important, true, and relevant?
- Connect emotionally w/ your audience
- Collab w/ others (eg interviews, co-write articles, etc)
- Share your content w/ relevant communities
In the end, writing should be fun.
"Your writing should make it feel like you're having dinner with a smart friend."
And some closing advice for their younger selves...
"Start earlier!"
"Your writing should make it feel like you're having dinner with a smart friend."
And some closing advice for their younger selves...
"Start earlier!"
