How to Start an Email Newsletter: Your Gateway to Solopreneur Success
In the bustling world of digital entrepreneurship, there’s a secret weapon that’s often overlooked: the humble email newsletter. You might think, “Email? In 2024? Surely that’s passé.” But you’d be wrong. As David Ogilvy once said, “The headline is the ‘ticket on the meat.’ Use it to flag down your readers.”
Today, we’re flagging you down to talk about email newsletters—a tool that’s not just surviving but thriving in our fast-paced digital age. Why? Because in a world where algorithms change faster than fashion trends, email remains a constant, a direct line to your audience’s inbox.
The Million-Dollar Email
Imagine writing an email in your dorm room, hitting send, and a few years later, selling that venture for $17 million. Sounds like a plot from a Silicon Valley sitcom, right? Wrong. This is the real-life story of Alex Lieberman, founder of Morning Brew.
Ali Abdaal, a YouTube sensation turned solopreneur coach, shares this story in his video, highlighting why starting an email newsletter could be your smartest move yet. As Ogilvy would say, “Don’t be a bore. Nobody was ever bored into buying a product.”
Why Email? The Ogilvy Perspective
- It’s Free: In advertising, Ogilvy preached, “If it doesn’t sell, it isn’t creative.” With email newsletters, you can be creative without spending a penny. No camera, no lights—just your thoughts and a keyboard.
- Low Friction: Ogilvy believed, “The more informative your advertising, the more persuasive it will be.” Email is pure information, delivered with ease. No filters, no algorithms—just hit send.
- Private Practice Ground: “What really decides consumers to buy or not to buy is the content of your advertising, not its form,” Ogilvy stated. Email lets you hone that content privately, away from the internet’s prying eyes.
- It’s About Writing: Ogilvy was a writer first. He said, “I don’t know the rules of grammar… If you’re trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you should use their language.” In newsletters, your language reigns supreme.
What to Write: The Moonswipe Method
At Moonswipe, we help solopreneurs shine. But what should you write about? Ogilvy’s advice: “You don’t have to be interesting, original or clever. You just have to be helpful.” Here’s how:
- Write What You Want: Your newsletter is your stage. Ali shares his weekly musings in “Sunday Snippets.” It’s a public journal, not a performance.
- Curate Wisdom: Tim Ferriss’s “5-Bullet Friday” shares five weekly finds. You’re smart; you consume great content. Why not share it?
- Teach Your Passion: Morning Brew demystifies business news. What lights you up? Technology? Knitting? There’s an audience.
Remember Ogilvy’s words: “The consumer isn’t a moron; she is your wife.” Respect your readers. Write for them, not at them.
The Solopreneur’s Golden Ticket
Why are we at Moonswipe so bullish on newsletters? Because they’re assets, not just activities.
- You Own the Audience: On YouTube, you’re building on rented land. With email, you own the property. As Ogilvy said, “A good advertisement is one which sells the product without drawing attention to itself.” Your newsletter sells you, quietly.
- Monetization Magic: Ali now makes $5,000 per email—more than his monthly doctor’s salary! Sponsors pay thousands for a slot. Why? Because newsletters convert.
- Million-Dollar Potential: Remember Lieberman’s $17 million sale? Your newsletter could be your golden goose.
Getting Started: The Ogilvy Way
- Choose Your Platform:
- Substack (Free, our top pick)
- Revue (Free, Twitter-owned)
- ConvertKit (Paid, powerful) “Good copy can’t be written with tongue in cheek,” said Ogilvy. Pick a platform that lets you write earnestly.
- Craft Your Description: On Substack, I wrote: “Musings from my day-to-day life as a doctor turned solopreneur.” It’s honest, a bit cringe, but real.
- Write & Publish: Type your thoughts, add value, hit send. As Ogilvy said, “Write the way you talk. Naturally.”
- Share (Optional): Post on social media or keep it private. Your call.
Real-World Success Stories
- Ali Abdaal’s Journey: From doctor to digital maven, his newsletter is now a seven-figure business.
- Tim Ferriss’s Five: His simple list reaches millions, proving less is more.
- Morning Brew’s Billions: From dorm room to boardroom, all via email.
Ogilvy once said, “Advertising people who ignore research are as dangerous as generals who ignore decodes of enemy signals.” These stories are your decoded signals—proof that email works.
The Moonswipe Manifesto
At Moonswipe, we believe in the solopreneur spirit. An email newsletter embodies this:
- Low Cost, High Impact: Start free, scale infinitely.
- Direct Relationship: No middlemen, just you and your audience.
- Sustainable Growth: Build slowly, but own what you build.
As Ogilvy wisely noted, “If you’re trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you should use their language, the language they use every day, the language in which they think.”
Your newsletter is that language—your daily thoughts, curated wisdom, and passionate teachings. It’s you, unfiltered, in their inbox.
Your Next Steps
- Choose your platform (we recommend Substack).
- Write from the heart.
- Hit send.
- Repeat weekly.
Don’t overthink it. As Ogilvy said, “The pursuit of excellence is less profitable than the pursuit of bigness, but it can be more satisfying.” In the newsletter world, excellence is authenticity.
At Moonswipe, we’re here to guide your solopreneur journey. The email newsletter isn’t just a tactic; it’s a philosophy. It’s about owning your voice, your audience, your future.
Remember, “In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create.” – David Ogilvy
Your newsletter is your creation. Now, with these insights, you’re ready to sell it—one email at a time.