3 Ways to Start Monetizing Your Newsletter (Even With a Small List)
Mini-Series Part 1 out of 5: Monetize From Day One
When I started my newsletter business almost a year ago, I had no idea how many ways there actually are to monetize it.
I thought I’d just write... and the rest would somehow fall into place.
Spoiler: it didn’t.
If you want to build a real business around your words, you’ve got to treat it like one.
That means being intentional: making a plan, thinking about your offers, and knowing how you can actually earn from what you create.
I learned all of this by doing. And now I’m excited to share what’s worked.
Today, I want to show you 3 ways to start monetizing your newsletter beyond paid subscriptions. And yes, even if your list is still small.
You can find more on building your online business in my last post
Too Many Ideas. No Clear Start. What Now?
Last week, I added a quick poll to my newsletter and the result surprised me.
3 Ways to Monetize Your Newsletter
Start with a piece of content that already resonated. It’s the best form of validation.
If you don’t have that yet, no worries. Just ask.
DM a few readers or run a quick poll in your Substack:
“Would you be interested in [X]?”
You’ll be surprised how much insight a handful of honest replies can give you.
✅ 1. Offer a Tiny Service
Turn your skills into a quick, valuable service.
Examples:
1:1 strategy calls
Personalized feedback
Mini workshops for free (that will help you create trust and upsell opportunities)
How to start:
Use a simple setup like Calendly + Stripe
Base the offer on the topic of your most recent post
Example CTA:
Want help embedding your sales message naturally into your own writing?
Book a 30-minute feedback session — I’ll review your sales email or landing page and help you refine your “embedded trigger.”
[$75 – Limited spots] → [Insert booking link]
✅ 2. Sell a Tiny Digital Product
No need to launch a full course. Create something small, useful, and quick to ship.
Ideas:
A checklist
A Notion template
A mini guide or toolkit
Bonus: record a short Loom walkthrough
Option: You can use Canva for the product creation and Gumroad to sell it.
Example CTA:
I’ve put together a quick PDF guide with 12 ready-to-use “Embedded Marketing” prompts + 3 top-performing examples.
Grab it here for $19 → [Insert product link]
✅ 3. Host a Paid Workshop or Challenge
People love learning together.
Run a 60-minute live workshop or a short 3–5 day challenge.
Keep it personal, make it practical, and charge $10–$50.
Example CTA:
Want to go deeper on this technique?
I’m running a live workshop next week on “How to Use AI to Write Emails That Sell (Without Sounding Salesy).”
$25 to join – replay included → [Insert signup link]
Or:
3-Day Challenge: Turn your next post into a subtle sales machine.
Daily prompts, group support, and feedback. Starts Monday.
🧡 Tip:
You don’t need a big audience. Just a clear offer, strong value, and the courage to share it.
Want to go deeper on this?
Upgrade now to get access to more tips, templates, and real examples that help you turn your newsletter into a business. 🧡
If you liked this, leave a comment, share it, or give it some love & let’s help more people build a business around their words. 🧡.