Newsletters are back — and bigger than ever.
In 2025, building a newsletter isn’t just a side project. It’s one of the most powerful ways to grow an audience, monetise your knowledge, and build an owned media asset.
Whether you’re a founder, content creator, or indie writer, a newsletter gives you control over your reach — unlike social platforms where the algorithm owns your audience.
But starting from scratch can feel overwhelming. What platform should you use? What do you even write about? How do you grow?
This guide walks you through the entire process — with clarity, not fluff. Whether you're starting with 0 subscribers or already have an audience, you’ll learn what actually works in 2025.
1. Why Start a Newsletter in 2025?
Social media is loud. Algorithms are inconsistent. SEO takes time. But your email list? That’s yours.
Starting a newsletter gives you:
- A direct line to your audience
- A way to build trust at scale
- And — if done right — a profitable foundation for any business you want to build
Still not sure? Consider this: some of the fastest-growing businesses in 2025 didn’t start with products — they started with a newsletter.
It’s lean, low-risk, and high-leverage.
2. Substack vs Beehiiv: Choosing Your Platform
Let’s get the tech choice out of the way — because it matters more than people think.
If you just want to write, share a link, and not think about tech — Substack is for you. It’s clean, simple, and you can launch in 10 minutes. Bonus: you get built-in discovery from their network.
But if you’re thinking like a founder — if you want to scale, grow faster, track referrals, segment your audience, and maybe run ads — Beehiiv is likely the better long-term bet. It feels like Substack for operators.
And yes, both are free to start.
Want a deeper breakdown? We’ve covered it here: Substack vs Beehiiv →
3. Define Your Niche + Value Prop
This is the part most people skip — and regret later.
Before you write a word, ask yourself: who exactly am I writing for, and why would they open this every week?
Your niche doesn’t have to be tiny. But your value proposition needs to be clear.
Examples:
- “Smart takes on tech for operators who don’t have time”
- “Mental models + mindset for creative entrepreneurs”
- “Marketing strategy in 5 minutes a week”
Notice how each one speaks to a specific person — and promises a clear benefit. That’s what we’re aiming for.
4. Set Up Your Newsletter (Step-by-Step)
You don’t need a full brand guide. You don’t need a complicated tech stack. But you do need to get the basics right:
Step 1: Create your account
Choose Substack or Beehiiv. Add your name, a logo or header image, and a 1-liner that tells people what they’ll get.
Step 2: Write a welcome email
This is your first impression. Say hi. Be human. Tell them what they can expect and why it’s worth their time.
Step 3: Set up a subscribe page
Beehiiv gives you landing pages. Substack gives you basic embeds. Use either — just make sure it’s simple and clean.
Step 4: Write your first 3 emails before launch
This prevents the “oh no, I published and now I’m stuck” feeling. You want to build momentum before asking people to subscribe.
5. What to Write: Content Types That Work
Everyone worries about content. The truth? You just need to be useful, consistent, and a little bit interesting.
There’s no “one right format,” but here are some that work in 2025:
- Curated insight: Share the best 3 things you found this week, plus commentary
- Personal playbooks: “Here’s how I launched X…” or “My 3 lessons from doing Y…”
- Tactical how-tos: Actionable breakdowns your audience can apply right away
- Narrative-led teaching: Tell a story, then pull the lesson
Don’t overthink format — think value. Ask, “Would I read this?” If not, cut it.
6. How to Grow Your List (Fast)
Growth isn’t magic. But it does follow a system.
The top newsletters in 2025 grow through a mix of organic reach, viral mechanics, and smart paid acquisition.
Organic
- Write short, high-signal content on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, or TikTok
- Join conversations — not just self-promo
- Ask every subscriber to forward it to 1–2 friends
Viral
- Beehiiv’s built-in referral tool is gold. Set up rewards: templates, shoutouts, bonuses
- Create a simple lead magnet (Notion doc, PDF, checklist) that people want
Paid
- Run Meta or Google Ads to a Beehiiv landing page with a clear promise
- Test newsletter swaps or sponsor niche creators for exposure
And remember: growth follows value. Write content worth talking about, and growth gets easier.
7. Monetisation: Free vs Paid Models
You don’t need to monetise from day one. But it helps to know your path.
Start Free (Then Layer In Offers)
- Grow your list with no barrier
- Add products later: templates, coaching, digital courses
- Offer sponsorships once you have 1k+ active readers
Launch Paid From Day One
- Premium content for subscribers only
- Weekly free email + paid deep dives
- Beehiiv and Substack both support paid subscriptions
Tip: Monetise after you’ve proven consistency and value. Subscribers will follow.
8. Final Tips + Recommended Tools
Final Tips
- Stick to a schedule — weekly, biweekly, whatever. Just be predictable.
- Treat subject lines like headlines — your open rate depends on it.
- Ask for replies — it turns readers into relationships.
Tools We Recommend
- Platform: Beehiiv (for growth) or Substack (for simplicity)
- Planning: Notion for idea capture + content calendar
- Graphics: Canva for visuals, banners, charts
- Distribution: SparkLoop for referrals, Swapstack for sponsorships
Conclusion
Newsletters aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’re one of the most undervalued assets you can build — especially in a world of algorithm chaos.
It’s not about becoming the next Morning Brew. It’s about building your own corner of the internet — one email at a time.
Start small. Stay consistent. Build trust. The rest follows.
👉 Want our full newsletter playbook? Join the Newsletter Growth Course →
