Writing Newsletters That Align with Current Trends

Why do some newsletters get 50% open rates… while others get ignored? I studied 100+ top-performing newsletters, and found 6 things they all do differently: 1. Crystal-clear positioning Readers don’t subscribe because they like you. They subscribe because you help them solve a specific problem. Examples: • Lenny’s Newsletter: Product management career advice for PMs, by PMs • The Generalist: Tech and investment insights for senior tech & investing professionals Clear positioning = higher open rates, stronger loyalty, and better monetization. 2. Killer subject lines High-performing ones tend to be: • Curiosity-driven: “The weird growth hack most creators miss” • Benefit-focused: “5 frameworks to double your freelance rates” • Personal: “I lost $10K building my first product” • Timely: “New LinkedIn algorithm changes (June 2024)” ❌ "Your daily business update..." ✅ "Apple just killed an entire industry..." Pro tip: Write 5–7 subject lines. Pick the strongest. Never settle for your first draft. 3. Strong hooks You have 3 seconds to convince readers they made the right choice opening your email. The best newsletter hooks: • Speak to a specific pain point • Make a bold, unexpected claim • Start with a mini-story • Ask a thought-provoking question Example from Justin Welsh: "We live in a world that's obsessed with certificates, diplomas, and structured learning. The kind of learning that's neatly packaged into college degrees or training programs. But what if the traditional ways that we've approached learning and education, especially in business, are flawed? 4. Use a simple structure This 5-part structure keeps things fast + focused: • What's the main problem readers face? • What's the common (but flawed) fix? • Why doesn't it work? • What's a better solution? • What's one action they can take today? I write newsletters in 45 minutes using this. Without it? 3+ hours staring at a blank screen. 5. Scannable formatting People don’t read, they skim. Make it easy: • Short paragraphs • Subheaders that tell a story • Bullet points • Bold key takeaways 6. They edit ruthlessly After writing: • Cut 20% of the words • Ensure the writing follows the what-why-how structure (what it is? why it’s important? how it can help the reader?) • Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing • Read on a different device when editing (laptop → phone) 3 common mistakes to avoid: 1. The "Me, Me, Me" Newsletter Successful newsletters focus relentlessly on the reader's problems, not the writer's wins. Every issue should answer "What's in it for me?" 2. Breaking News (Instead of Breaking It Down) Focus on the “so what?”, not the headline. How does this news apply to your readers? What should they do about it? 3. Publishing Without Purpose Every issue should educate, inspire, or persuade. If it doesn’t, rework it.

There are so many poorly done newsletters/email campaigns. As someone who turned an organization's newsletter w/ 15-20% open rates (quarterly) into two weekly newsletters each with consistently 65-70% open rate for years, I've learned a lot of lessons. Here's how to make your email something your audience can't wait to read: -Find the anti-pattern -5x value rule -Get over yourself, focus on delight -Trash compactor mindset -Only serve your fans What these mean: 1. Find the anti-pattern Figure out what your audience is craving for, that difference that would be so refreshing they would exhale when they learn about what you write. When I worked my first VC job, most VC fund newsletters were self-congratulatory announcements about portfolio company raises, investor press mentions, and occasionally a thoughtful piece. Pattern: Self-promotion in service of fund promotion. Anti-pattern: Zero self-promotion, only pure value given. Figure out what everybody does that is bad, and flip the script. 2. 5x value rule A lot of writers lack the humility to consider the fact that their idea/message/offer is simply just not as valuable as they think. When marketers/writers ask me for feedback, I tell them to consider what they think would be enough to get someone to care about their writing. Then 5x that bar. Make it so high a bar for value that it would be an "of course" decision for someone to read/respond/share about your stuff. 3. Get over yourself, focus on delight. It is obvious when newsletters are written with a KPI/explicit transactional goal in mind. Impress LPs to get them to invest. Convert those customers to subscribe for a plan. Get people to request meetings with you. If you provide delight in their experience of your product, the results will come. What would you do if you only want to make them as delighted as possible by your email every time they read it, without any conversion needed? Do that. The conversions will come. 4. Trash compactor mindset Remove the excess volume from your emails. I don't just mean concision in terms of length. Every marginal word you write should provide something of value - learning, insight, engagement, social proof, etc. If the next sentence doesn't raise or maintain the average value per word of your piece, don't include it. That might mean segment your audiences with different versions. Every sentence is a chance for the reader to lean in, or for them to rationalize why this is the last one of yours that they will read. 5. Only serve your fans. Don't try to get people onto your newsletter for subscriber-growth-sake. Every subscriber should be on your distribution because they make the active choice to become an audience member. If you had to describe what you write about and someone wouldn't automatically sign up, don't do it for them. Make something that will be shared word-of-mouth that will get them anyway. Opt-out list building does not make up for a low bar for content.

That's it. No more dancing around this topic. It's adapt or die time for businesses. ChatGPT isn't going away. Neither is Google. Neither is Perplexity. Neither is Gemini. Neither is Bing. They're all here to stay. Most newsletter creators ignore SEO and AI Search Optimization. That’s a big mistake, but one we can fix today. Most operators: Write random blog posts Target broad topics Skip conversion strategy Result? Traffic that doesn’t subscribe. The solution? Use SEO Stuff: seo-stuff.com The only other alternative? Fix it yourself. Step 1: Target High-Intent Keywords Avoid vague terms. Focus on real subscriber intent. Examples: “AI startup funding newsletter” “Weekly SaaS growth newsletter” Use tools like SEO Stuff or Google Trends for 100–1,000/mo keywords with low competition. Step 2: Create Niche Landing Pages Each audience deserves its own page. Structure Examples: /weekly-ai-newsletter /b2b-startup-trends Page checklist: Headline + subhead focused on benefits Clear CTA: “Get This Week’s Issue” Social proof + short opt-in form Step 3: Write Evergreen, Searchable Content 1,500–3,000 words Focus on niche expertise + real subscriber value Examples: “How to Predict SaaS Growth Metrics in 2025” “AI Trends for Startups: Funding, Scaling, Monetization” Insert CTA mid and end-post: direct to signup or magnet. Step 4: Use Lead Magnets That Convert Bad magnets kill conversions. Better ideas: 2025 SaaS Growth Report AI Content Strategy Playbook Startup Funding ROI Calculator Pair each magnet with a relevant landing page. Step 5: Repurpose Every Newsletter Newsletter → Blog, thread, lead magnet Example: Newsletter: “AI Startups to Watch” Blog: “Top AI Startup Trends in 2025” Social: X thread on VC activity Magnet: AI Funding Tracker 2025 Step 6: Capture Bottom-Funnel Traffic with Comparison Content People comparing options are ready to act. Examples: “Best AI Newsletters for Founders” “Top SaaS Growth Newsletters to Subscribe to in 2025” Step 7: Technical SEO Checklist Fast site load time Descriptive, keyword-rich meta titles FAQ schema Internal linking from every post to landing pages Step 8: Expand into Video + Social SEO Boost branded search volume across platforms. Tactics: Post short YouTube videos summarizing newsletter issues Turn insights into LinkedIn carousels or X threads Embed podcast/audio snippets into blog posts Step 9: Use Hub-and-Spoke Structure Example Hub: SaaS Growth Newsletter Spokes: B2B retention, VC activity, benchmarks Interlink all posts. Build topical depth and authority. Step 10: Convert That Traffic Exit-intent popups → “Get the 2025 AI Funding Report” Retarget with testimonials + proof CTA testing: “Subscribe Now” > “Learn More” 90-Day Timeline Days 1–30: Keyword research Build landing pages Launch 1 lead magnet Publish 2 evergreen posts Days 31–60: Repurpose 5 newsletters Publish 2 comparison pieces Fix technical SEO issues Days 61–90: Launch retargeting Build content hubs Review + refine

I spoke to a prospect struggling with his emails being ignored. I asked a few questions and then told him this: You see, most business owners think attention grabbing newsletter content is about sharing industry news. That's why most newsletters get ignored. The best ones share insights like they're talking to a friend over coffee. No corporate jargon. No dry industry updates. No saving the "good stuff" for paid content. These are the essentials: (pick and choose a few for each newsletter) • One big idea per issue • Short, punchy paragraphs • Clear subheadings • Specific examples • Contrarian views When you make complex ideas simple and accessible, people actually read them. When you challenge conventional wisdom, they remember you. When you write like a human, not a corporation, they trust you. Stop writing newsletters that sound like everyone else's. Start writing ones people can't wait to open.

Tired of sounding like every other newsletter on the internet? Here’s how to stand out and actually connect with your readers: Tell your story. - People subscribe for content, but they stay for the human behind it. Share your journey flaws, pivots, and all. Get weird (in a good way). - Talk about niche interests or hobbies no one else covers. That’s where the gold is. Go hyper-niche. - Would you rather have 10k passive readers… or 1k brand evangelists who open, engage, and refer? Mix up the format. - Add pictures, voice notes, video anything that brings your content to life. Just keep it intentional. Tell short, real stories. - Quick, relatable moments from your life that only you could tell. That’s how you stay unforgettable. Own your failures. - Nobody wants another polished guru. Be real. Be raw. That’s where trust is built. Design the experience. - From subject line to scroll depth, create a newsletter UX that feels intuitive, welcoming, and addictive. Every touchpoint matters. Segment & poll your audience. - Want to know what they actually care about? Ask them. Then tailor the content.  Which tip hit hardest for you? Drop the number in the comments 👇 #Newsletters #WritingTips #AudienceBuilding #EmailMarketing #ContentStrategy #CreatorEconomy