How I'd do it again: Growing from 0 to 50k newsletter subscribers
Emanuel Cinca is the founder of Stacked Marketer, a daily marketing newsletter with over 50,000+ subscribers.
They also publicly report on their revenue, and make over 6 figures several years in a row.
I asked Emanual a simple question: How would you grow a newsletter business if you had to start over again? His answer starts in 3, 2, 1...
Emanuel:
If I were to launch a newsletter today and scale it to 50k+ subs & $685k/year in revenue, here’s the exact plan I would follow:
Note: what worked in 2022/2023 and earlier isn’t necessarily the best way to start and grow a newsletter in 2023/2024.
If I were to start from 0, here’s how I’d think about taking a newsletter from 0 to 50k+ active subs:
1. From 0 to 1,000
This is what I did when starting out, and would still do the same now:
- Talk to friends and industry acquaintances
- Show them what I’m writing, and ask for their feedback
- Implement their feedback & improve the newsletter
- Show them how I have implemented their feedback
- If they like my newsletter, I’d ask them if this is something their audience would like
That’s how I’d get my first 1k subs.
Also, remember—once your content is proven, make sure you also consider a referral program, through SparkLoop or your email platform could have one integrated already.
2. From 1,000 to 10,000
Alright, this is where I will start adding more channels for my newsletter’s growth:
- A referral program is a must (unless I have a good reason not to have it.)
- Swaps with bigger newsletters
- SparkLoop’s Partner Network
- Consider paid social
3. From 10,000 to 50,000+
Now is the time to double down on the most important channels.
Most growth channels will now be paid, so the question for growth won’t be “What channel to use” but “Are there enough funds for paid growth”?
Once monetization is figured out, this is what I would be doing a lot more of:
- More swaps with even bigger newsletters.
- Paid social, with careful engagement analysis to grow with the right kind of subscribers.
- SparkLoop’s Partner Network with a bigger budget, along with engagement analysis.
There are currently way more publishers looking to promote than the budget available, so if you have the budget and a broad enough topic, 10k+ new subs per month should be possible.
- Newsletter ads if the price is right. Super good quality usually; nothing beats newsletter ads when it comes to quality.
And, that is the exact blueprint I would follow (and you can too) to get to where Stacked Marketer is today.
Tag your newsletter and comment with your questions about it.👇
I’ll give you my personalized advice and answer all your queries.
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There is no mention of how to grow newsletter subs through website.
Well, you need ways to drive traffic to your website, otherwise you don't get subscribers. A website by itself is worthless if you don't have ways to drive traffic to it so it's not a "growth channel."
Love this @Manu_C! Thanks for sharing!
Would you be interested in sharing more about how you started + growing the business over the years?
I feature indie founders like yourself over at the Indie Hustle
Would love to have you on!
Glad I scrolled to the comments, @Manu_C and @aj_indiehustle. Both newsletters look amazing. Subscribing now!
Sure, could you DM me on Twitter?
Followed and DM-ed you on Twitter. Cheers!
Just launched my newsletter last week: https://attentiverebellion.com
Would you recommend showcasing a lead magnet for this type of newsletter? Or suggest focusing on other early growth tactics for more impact?
Growing a newsletter subscriber base from 0 to 50k involves strategic steps. First, identify your target audience and craft compelling content that addresses their needs. Leverage social media and content marketing to drive traffic to your signup page. Collaborate with influencers or industry experts to expand your reach. Offer incentives like exclusive content or giveaways to entice signups. Consistency is key—deliver valuable content consistently to build trust and keep subscribers engaged, fostering organic growth over time.
Great read
I have a question. Where you promote your newsletter to go from 0 to 1000?
Twitter? Ads?
Interesting share, thanks Darko!
Excuse my ignorance but what does "swap with other newsletters" mean?
They promote you, and you promote them, usually on terms to make things rather equal and even.
We usually did unique click swaps.
Oh, very cool. Thanks for sharing!
📜 Behold, the scroll of wisdom from the Newsletter Mage, Emanuel Cinca! From the humble beginnings of 0 to the towering heights of 50k subscribers, this post is the spellbook you need. Friends, feedback, swaps, and SparkLoop's magic – it's all here. Ready to embark on the quest for newsletter supremacy? Grab your quills and potions; the adventure awaits! #NewsletterQuest 🧙♂️
Thank you for sharing your experience. I have never started a newsletter but if I do, I will definitely come back to reference this article
Wow, this newsletter growth strategy is pure gold! 👏 Starting from scratch and scaling up step by step, just like a pro. I'm definitely taking notes on these clever moves. Thanks for breaking it down.
I enjoyed reading this. My co-founder and I will implement this. Thank you so much for sharing👍🏿
I subscribed to your website as I'm reading this! I feel so excited for you and glad that you're sharing growth story on here! Thank you :D
This is super helpful, We have been trying to grow our newsletter at whatspodcasting for 3 weeks now and will use this as a blueprint in the coming months. Thank you @Darko
This is great. Thanks for sharing. After visiting your site, I see how well you blend the content with the selling of your newsletter as a product. Testimonials look great. I wonder if the carousel limits your page speed though? I heard carousels are not good for SEO. How is your SEO? Seems like that is not really a focus. Thanks again for sharing.
I agree that carousels and fancy animations are not good for page speed.
SEO is not a major driver for us, so we're generally putting lower priority on SEO-focused optimizations.
We'll get 'there' at some point but not in the next couple of months.
Hey Emanuel,
Great advice overall!
Any tips on how to get a larger newsletter to do a swap when you have the smaller audience?
Thanks
Usually you can agree on a swap based on unique clicks each sends so you can do 3-4 sends on your side to match the bigger newsletter.
Ah smart! Thank you!
Thanks, Emanuel for sharing this knowledge with us.
Genuinely appreciate it.
How about creating a lead magnet (like an ebook or a checklist) and giving it for free?
Not a huge fan of this, the few lead magnets we used didn't bring much of a benefit.
I think it depends strongly on the type of newsletter you have.
The lead magnet must be 'the same' as the newsletter so that people who want the lead magnet will want more newsletters from you.
In our case, since news is a big part of our value proposition, lead magnets were not as effective.
We do plan to try them out more for Psychology of Marketing and Tactics, our other 2 newsletters.
Thank you so much for writing! While reading, I really struck by some ideas...
Growing a newsletter subscriber base from 0 to 50,000 requires a well-thought-out strategy, consistent effort, and a focus on providing value to your subscribers. Here's a step-by-step guide on how you could achieve this goal:
Define Your Niche and Audience:
Identify a specific niche or topic for your newsletter that aligns with your expertise and passion. Clearly define your target audience – who are they, what are their interests, and how can your newsletter provide value to them?
Create High-Quality Content:
Produce high-quality, engaging, and relevant content that resonates with your target audience. This could include articles, tips, guides, case studies, or other forms of valuable information related to your niche.
Choose a Newsletter Platform:
Select a reliable email marketing platform that suits your needs. Popular options include Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or SendinBlue. These platforms provide tools for designing, scheduling, and tracking your email campaigns.
Develop a Content Calendar:
Plan your content ahead of time by creating a content calendar. This ensures a consistent flow of valuable content to your subscribers, which helps build trust and keeps them engaged.
Optimize for Conversion:
Design visually appealing and mobile-responsive email templates that encourage subscribers to take action. Place clear and compelling calls-to-action (CTAs) within your emails, guiding readers to your desired goals (e.g., visiting your website, sharing your content, etc.).
Implement Lead Generation Tactics:
Utilize various lead generation tactics to attract new subscribers. This could include:
Creating lead magnets (e.g., ebooks, checklists, templates) that offer value in exchange for email subscriptions.
Setting up dedicated landing pages for your lead magnets.
Promoting your newsletter through your website, blog, and social media channels.
7. Collaborate and Guest Post:
Collaborate with influencers, experts, or other content creators in your niche. Guest posting on their platforms or inviting them to contribute to your newsletter can help you tap into their audience and expand your reach.
Run Contests and Giveaways:
Hold contests or giveaways where participants can enter by subscribing to your newsletter. Make sure the prizes are relevant to your niche to attract genuinely interested subscribers.
Networking and Outreach:
Attend industry events, webinars, and conferences to network with potential subscribers and other professionals in your niche. Exchange contact information and promote your newsletter.
Utilize Social Proof:
Display social proof, such as testimonials or subscriber counts, on your website and in your emails. This can boost credibility and encourage more people to subscribe.
Segment Your Subscribers:
As your subscriber list grows, segment your audience based on their interests, demographics, or behavior. This allows you to send targeted and personalized content, increasing engagement and retention.
Analyze and Optimize:
Regularly analyze the performance of your email campaigns. Track metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. Use this data to identify what's working and what needs improvement, and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Consistency is Key:
Consistency is crucial in building a subscriber base. Regularly deliver valuable content, maintain a consistent posting schedule, and engage with your subscribers to keep them interested and active.
Adapt and Evolve:
Stay updated with industry trends and changes in your niche. Adapt your content and strategies accordingly to remain relevant and appealing to your audience.
Growing a newsletter subscriber base takes time and dedication, but with a well-executed strategy and a commitment to providing value, you can achieve your goal of reaching 50,000 subscribers. Remember that patience and persistence are essential throughout the process.
These "tips" are great, but don't actually give growth advice. If you want to grow your newsletter. Here are some tips that I used to grow from 0-270 email subs in three days.
Storytelling + Catchy Headline= Successful Marketing on Reddit
The most important one is getting the From 0 to 1000.
Here you can see it comes down to simple things that apply in anykind of business.
Do things that people like, want and appreciate and then iterate the product to match with what people want.
Here in newsletter you can see Emanuel get the response from the expert and try to make the "product" right first and from there he keep on pushing the momentum.
Creating the momentum is the hardest.
Here you can checkout Great Product is Building Block of Successful business
And the best part of great product is it have built in marketing in it. So having a right product that fit people is a marketing itself. This is why : Great Product Is the Best Marketing
So the conclusion here is getting things right from the start is the most important thing.