How to Build a Profitable Newsletter With Substack or Beehiiv

Newsletter With step by step Guide

Author

Mahmud Dhrubo
July 25, 2025

Want to turn your newsletter into a money-making machine? Learn how to build a profitable newsletter using Substack or Beehiiv, step-by-step—from choosing your niche to monetizing effectively.

Introduction: Newsletters Are Back—and They’re Profitable

Email newsletters are having a major comeback. With platforms like Substack and Beehiiv, anyone can build a newsletter, grow a loyal audience, and turn it into a full-time income stream. Whether you’re a writer, creator, indie hacker, or entrepreneur, newsletters give you direct access to your readers—no algorithm, no gatekeepers.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to launch and grow a profitable newsletter using either Substack or Beehiiv. We’ll walk you through niche selection, platform setup, content strategy, growth tactics, and multiple monetization methods.

Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Choose the Right Platform — Substack vs Beehiiv

How to grow with Newsletter

Before you write your first issue, you need to decide where to host your newsletter.

Substack Pros:

  • Dead-simple UI for beginners

  • Built-in audience discovery (Substack network)

  • Great for writers and solo creators

  • Paid subscriptions and podcasting supported

Beehiiv Pros:

  • More advanced features for growth (referrals, segmentation)

  • Better analytics

  • Custom domains and design flexibility

  • Ideal for growth-focused or brand-style newsletters

Quick Tip:

  • If you’re a writer-first looking to monetize quickly: go with Substack

  • If you're building a media brand or want powerful growth tools: choose Beehiiv

Both are free to start with no upfront cost. Beehiiv has premium plans for advanced users, while Substack takes a 10% fee on paid subscriptions.

Step 2: Pick a Niche That Solves a Problem

Here’s where most newsletters fail—they’re too broad.

You need a specific niche with a clear audience and a real pain point. Ask yourself:

  • What problem can I help readers solve regularly?

  • What topic can I write about for 50+ issues without burning out?

  • Are people already paying for similar content?

Winning Niche Examples:

  • “Crypto Weekly” – Market insights for crypto traders

  • “The Creator Toolkit” – Tools & strategies for creators

  • “UX Espresso” – Bite-sized UX design tips for product teams

  • “The AI Startup Report” – AI startup trends for investors

The best niches combine your expertise, passion, and market demand.

Step 3: Set Up Your Newsletter

Now it’s time to get your newsletter live.

On Substack:

  • Sign up at Substack.com

  • Name your publication (clear + brandable)

  • Customize your design

  • Set up a welcome email

  • Create your first post

On Beehiiv:

  • Sign up at Beehiiv.com

  • Choose a plan (Free plan is enough to start)

  • Connect a custom domain (optional)

  • Enable referral program

  • Create your welcome and onboarding emails

Essentials to Include:

  • A clear value proposition: “What will readers get from subscribing?”

  • A compelling description: “Delivering weekly insights to help creators grow”

  • Consistent branding: logo, colors, tone

Step 4: Create Irresistible Content (Format + Frequency)

Content is the soul of your newsletter.

Your goal is to build trust and deliver consistent value—every week (or bi-weekly) like clockwork.

Choose a Format:

  • Curated: Links + commentary (e.g., The Hustle)

  • Original Insights: Deep dives or opinions (e.g., Lenny’s Newsletter)

  • Actionable Tips: How-tos and checklists

  • Hybrid: Combo of original + curated content

Example Content Structure:

  • Hook: Intriguing headline or problem

  • Main Content: Teach, inform, entertain

  • CTA: Ask them to reply, share, or subscribe

Ideal Frequency:

  • Once a week is a sweet spot to start.

  • Don’t overpromise. Be consistent instead.

Pro Tip: Use a content calendar or AI assistant to plan ahead and avoid burnout.

Step 5: Grow Your Audience (Free & Organic Tactics)

A profitable newsletter needs subscribers—and they don’t come by accident. Here's how to grow:

1. Use a Landing Page

  • Beehiiv and Substack offer simple landing pages.

  • Focus on one thing: why someone should subscribe.

  • Example CTA: “Get 3 proven AI prompts delivered every Monday.”

2. Share on Social Media

  • Turn newsletter snippets into tweets, LinkedIn posts, or TikTok reels.

  • Add a newsletter link in your bio.

  • Build in public—share milestones, content ideas, etc.

3. Cross-Promote With Other Creators

  • Run swaps: “I’ll share yours if you share mine.”

  • Join Beehiiv’s referral network or Substack recommendations

4. SEO for Evergreen Growth

  • Publish past issues as blog posts (especially on Beehiiv)

  • Use searchable titles: “How to Use ChatGPT to Write Emails Faster”

5. Offer a Lead Magnet

  • Free guide, checklist, or email course in exchange for signup.

  • Example: “Free PDF: 10 Tools Every Indie Creator Needs”

Step 6: Monetize Your Newsletter

Once you hit 500–1000 engaged subscribers, you can start monetizing.

1. Paid Subscriptions (Substack & Beehiiv)

  • Offer a free and paid tier

  • Example: Weekly free content + exclusive monthly deep dives

  • Keep pricing simple: $5–$10/month or $50–$100/year

Best for: Deep niche content (finance, productivity, tech)

2. Sponsorships and Ads

  • Pitch brands who align with your audience

  • Typical rates: $20–$50 per 1000 subscribers (CPM)

Tip: Beehiiv has a built-in Ad Network you can apply to.

3. Affiliate Marketing

  • Promote tools or products and earn a commission

  • Tools: Beehiiv’s integrations or your own affiliate links

Example: Share “My Top 5 AI Tools” with affiliate links

4. Sell Products or Services

  • Launch your own course, template, or coaching offer

  • Use your newsletter to educate and convert

Step 7: Analyze and Optimize

To stay profitable, you need to track performance.

Key Metrics to Monitor:

  • Open Rate (20–40% is good)

  • Click Rate

  • Unsubscribe Rate

  • Growth Rate (new subs/week)

  • Revenue per Subscriber

Both Beehiiv and Substack provide built-in analytics. Beehiiv gives more granular insights (segment analysis, subscriber scores).

Use this data to:

  • Double down on high-performing content

  • Test subject lines

  • Prune inactive subscribers

  • Improve monetization strategies

Bonus: Tips From Newsletter Creators Earning $5K–$50K+/Month

Here are some real-world success habits:

  • Be Consistent: Set a schedule and stick to it.

  • Focus on the First 100 Subscribers: They’ll shape your content direction.

  • Use Strong CTAs: “Forward this email to a friend” works better than “Please share.”

  • Repurpose Content: Turn newsletters into blog posts, videos, or carousel posts.

  • Always Be Testing: Try new hooks, formats, and monetization angles.

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Think Big

You don’t need a huge audience to earn with newsletters.

Many creators make $1,000–$5,000/month with just a few hundred loyal subscribers. The key is to solve a problem, show up consistently, and provide clear value—week after week.

Substack and Beehiiv make the tech part easy. Now it’s up to you to take the first step.

Summary Checklist: Build a Profitable Newsletter

✅ Choose your platform: Substack (simple) or Beehiiv (scalable)
✅ Pick a profitable niche
✅ Set up a clean, compelling landing page
✅ Publish valuable content regularly
✅ Grow with social sharing, referrals, SEO, and partnerships
✅ Monetize with subscriptions, sponsorships, or products
✅ Track, optimize, and scale

Ready to Start?
Pick your platform and launch your first issue this week. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you.