The Only Newsletter Guide You Will Ever Need

I spent 3 years testing what actually works while everyone else keeps sharing outdated advice

I run two newsletters with over 40,000 subscribers combined.

But here’s what most won’t admit: I lost my first 100 subscribers because I copied what everyone else was doing.

My open rates were terrible.

My unsubscribe rates were through the roof.

Then I learned what really works.

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Part 1: Setting Up Your Newsletter (The Smart Way)

Pick Your Platform Without Getting Ripped Off

• Substack: Free to start, takes 10% of paid subscriptions

• ConvertKit: $29/month, but worth it if you need automation

• Beehiiv: New kid on the block, better analytics than Substack

• Ghost: $9/month if self-hosted, perfect for tech-savvy folks

My take: Start with Substack.

Move to ConvertKit when you hit 1,000 subscribers.

That’s what I did, saved me hundreds of dollars.

Your Newsletter Name Matters (But Not How You Think)

Bad names I tried:

• “Digital Marketing Weekly” (too boring)

• “The Success Formula” (too cheesy)

• “Growth Insights” (too generic)

What finally worked: “The Human Project” — a name that reflects my goal: exploring the shared journey of growth, learning, and making a living as humans.

It’s relatable, meaningful, and resonates with readers on a deeper level.

Part 2: Growing Your List (Without Being Annoying)

What Actually Gets Subscribers

Stuff that worked for me:

• Making my sign-up form stupidly simple (just email, no name needed)

• Writing helpful comments on relevant Substack posts

• Sharing one free issue on Twitter every week

• Creating a “Best of” page with your top 3 issues

Stuff that didn’t work:

• Pop-ups (everyone hates them)

• Buying ads

• Generic lead magnets

• Spamming Facebook groups

The Content Secret Nobody Talks About

You know what gets the most shares?

Personal stories mixed with useful info.

Here’s my formula:

1. Start with something that happened to you

2. Connect it to a bigger lesson

3. Add specific tips others can use

4. End with a question

Example: I wrote about how I lost $1,000 on a failed product launch, what I learned, and gave 5 specific questions to ask before launching anything.

That issue was shared 400 times.

Quick story before we dive into monetization—

I got my first 3,000 newsletter subscribers from Medium alone.

Why?

Because I went viral within my first 4 months, started pulling in 50K+ views/month consistently.

But it wasn’t luck. I tested everything obsessively.

I kept a running list of what worked:
– What I posted
– How I formatted each article
– Which headlines got clicks
– The structure that made people keep reading

And yeah, it’s all in one place now.

If you want to grow your audience with Medium (without wasting 3 months guessing)...

👉 [Grab my Medium Growth Checklist here]

Okay, now let’s talk about making money.

Part 3: Making Money (Without Feeling Gross)

Free vs Paid Content

My rule: 90% of my best stuff is free.

The paid stuff is:

• Deeper dives

• Templates

• Community access

• Early access

Don’t hide your expertise behind a paywall.

Give away your knowledge, and sell the convenience of having it organized.

Pricing That Works

I tested everything.

Here’s what converted best:

• $5/month

• $50/year

• $200 lifetime

The yearly plan at $50 is the sweet spot.

High enough to make it worth your time, low enough that it’s an easy yes.

Part 4: Writing Tips That Actually Help

Subject Lines That Get Opened

My highest-performing subject lines:

• “I lost $10k last week”

• “This email might offend you”

• “Quick favor?”

• “Wrong advice about newsletters”

Notice: Short, interesting, hint at value or story.

Newsletter Structure

My issues follow this format:

1. Personal story (2–3 sentences)

2. Main lesson (1–2 paragraphs)

3. Practical tips (3–5 bullet points)

4. Question for readers

5. PS with something fun

Total length: 300–500 words.

Any longer and people save it for later (which means never).

Part 5: Technical Stuff Made Simple

The Only Analytics That Matter

Forget complex metrics.

Watch these:

• Open rate (aim for 30%+)

• Click rate on important links

• Reply rate (yes, track who replies)

• Growth rate week over week

Email Delivery Tips

• Send at the same time every week

• Clean your list every 3 months

• Remove subscribers who haven’t opened in 60 days

• Test your emails on Gmail and Outlook

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Common Problems Solved

When Nobody Opens Your Emails

• Check your spam score

• Resend to non-opens with a new subject

• Ask subscribers to add you to their address book

• Keep subject lines under 50 characters

When People Don’t Engage

• Add personal stories

• Ask specific questions

• Keep paragraphs to 2–3 sentences

• Use “you” more than “I”

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Final Thoughts

Your newsletter is a conversation, not a broadcast.

Write like you’re emailing a friend.

Share what you learn as you learn it.

Be real about your mistakes.

Start small, stay consistent, and build relationships with your readers.

That’s what works. Everything else is just noise.

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Need Content That Actually Drives Growth — Without Writing It Yourself?

I help founders, solopreneurs, and creators build authority and grow their audience with done-for-you content that sounds like you, but better.

Clients have used my ghostwritten content to:

✅ Go viral on Medium (50K+ views/month)
✅ Grow a newsletter to 10K+ subscribers
✅ Build a LinkedIn presence that wins leads

I write blogs, LinkedIn posts, newsletters, and Medium articles — all under your name.

⏳ I only take 1–2 new clients/month.
Want to grab a spot or learn more?

📩 Just reply to this email or message me: contact.thehumanproject@gmail.com