Starter Pack: Your First Newsletter

You’ve been thinking about starting a newsletter. Maybe you have something to share — ideas, lessons, observations, whatever. But you keep stalling because you’re not sure which platform to use, what to write about, or how to actually get people to read it.

Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be complicated. Newsletters are one of the best ways to build real connection with people who actually care about what you’re saying. No algorithm middleman, no character limits, no disappearing posts. Just you and the people who showed up.

Let’s make this simple.

Pick a platform (just pick one)

You don’t need to evaluate every option forever. Here are three solid starting points that let you actually focus on writing instead of tool management.

Buttondown is my favorite for people who want simplicity without the frills. It’s privacy-focused, has a clean interface, and won’t nickel-and-dime you. You can start for free and scale it as your audience grows. No bloat, no premium features you don’t need.

Substack is the mainstream choice. Everyone knows it, the writing interface is nice, and there’s a built-in audience discovery system. If you want people to find you through the platform itself, Substack gives you that chance. The trade-off is less control over your subscriber list and a more crowded landscape.

ConvertKit and Beehiiv are options if you’re thinking bigger and want automation or landing page tools baked in. Honestly? Save those for when your newsletter actually has momentum.

Pick one. Set it up this week. That’s it. Don’t spend three weeks evaluating. The platform doesn’t matter as much as the writing.

Find your topic and stick with it

The best newsletter founders write about one thing they could genuinely talk about forever. Not because they’re bored with other things, but because they have a clear angle.

Pick a single topic — freelancing, productivity, creative work, building products, writing, whatever — and own that space. This doesn’t mean every post is identical. It just means your readers know what they signed up for and why they’re there.

When you have clarity on your topic, you have clarity on your writing. You stop second-guessing whether that tangent fits. You know what to link to, who to talk to, and what your readers actually want.

If you’re struggling here, ask yourself: What do people keep asking me for advice about? That’s your topic.

Start with every two weeks

Don’t commit to weekly. Don’t commit to daily. Start with every two weeks and see how it feels.

Two weeks gives you time to actually have something worth sharing. It’s frequent enough that people remember you. And if you skip one, you’re not immediately labeled “abandoned newsletter.”

You can always speed up later. Consistency beats frequency every single time.

Write about what you know (not what you think you should write about)

Your first few newsletters don’t need to be profound. They just need to be real. Share something you learned recently. A mistake you made and fixed. A tool that changed your workflow. A book that shifted how you think about something.

The magic happens when you write like you’re telling a friend about it. Not like you’re performing for an audience. Not like you’re trying to impress people.

Contractions. Short sentences sometimes. Personality. That’s what keeps people opening your emails.

Getting your first 50 subscribers (and beyond)

Start with your network. Email ten friends and say, “I’m starting a newsletter about X. Thought you might be interested. Here’s the link.” That’s it. No hard sell. Just a genuine invitation.

Mention it on whatever social platform you already use. One post. Not every day.

Cross-link from your website or blog if you have one. In your email signature. That’s enough to start.

You don’t need a launch party or a giveaway or a viral moment. You just need to tell people it exists and why you made it.

Why newsletters actually matter

Social platforms own your audience. A newsletter is yours. No algorithm decides if your words reach people. No platform change destroys your connection. That’s powerful.

Newsletters also attract better conversations. People who open your email are already saying yes to you. They’re not scrolling past you while trying to remember what they came for. They’re choosing to sit with your words.

That’s the real foundation — people who actually want what you’re making.

If you want to build something more sustainable than social media metrics, an online presence without social media starts right here. A newsletter is your permission-based audience, the core of everything else you might build.

You might also look at how your personal brand starts from scratch — your newsletter is often the first real vehicle for that. And if you’re in the world of freelance writing and building expertise, a newsletter becomes a showcase for your thinking.

Start this week. Pick a platform. Pick a topic. Invite ten people. Write your first issue.

That’s the whole starter pack. The rest is just showing up.