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Subscriptions Aren't the Only Method of Newsletter Monetization
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The Newsletter Workshop

Subscriptions Aren't the Only Method of Newsletter Monetization

Lesson 11 of 11: Launch & Grow a Newsletter to Boost Your Writing Career

Courtney Kocak's avatar
Courtney Kocak
Mar 20, 2024
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Subscriptions Aren't the Only Method of Newsletter Monetization
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Welcome back, writers!

This is our final lesson, and I want to go out on a note of empowerment: Newsletters can be a simple yet profitable business model. 

On Tuesday, we did a primer on paid subscriptions, but you can make money from your newsletter without “going paid.” There are plenty of other, perhaps even better, ways to monetize. Today, we're talking about those other monetization methods.

At present, I’m probably making about $15-25K a year from my newsletter (it’s hard to estimate exactly how much of my teaching revenue comes from existing subscribers), and I make this newsletter-related income from several different sources.

How I monetize

Podcast Bestie
(from most to least revenue):

  • Promoting my courses and workshops

  • Paid writing assignments

  • Paid subscriptions through Substack

  • Sponsors

  • Affiliate marketing

We already talked about paid subscriptions in Lesson 10, so let’s break down the other categories.


Promoting your coaching and teaching offerings

In addition to being a writer and podcaster, I teach, which was a big part of my inspiration for starting Podcast Bestie in the first place. I wanted to stay in touch with my students after class to continue learning together and keep them abreast of upcoming classes. 

Not all of my students discover my course offerings via my newsletter. However, this is one of my largest sources of income, and my newsletter definitely plays a supporting role. 

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A guest post by
Courtney Kocak
Courtney Kocak is a Los Angeles-based writer and podcaster.
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