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👋 Hey!
This week's packed with monetization moves and growth wins. Substack is finally testing sponsorship ads, Buttondown dropped two major features, and we've got a killer growth hack, including an unorthodox tactic. Plus, a deep dive into a survey-based A/B test example to elevate your engagement.
Ready to boost your revenue and reclaim your time? Let's dive in! 👇
This newsletter you couldn’t wait to open? It runs on beehiiv — the absolute best platform for email newsletters.
Our editor makes your content look like Picasso in the inbox. Your website? Beautiful and ready to capture subscribers on day one.
And when it’s time to monetize, you don’t need to duct-tape a dozen tools together. Paid subscriptions, referrals, and a (super easy-to-use) global ad network — it’s all built in.
beehiiv isn’t just the best choice. It’s the only choice that makes sense.
🔥 This Week's Hot Takes
Substack pilots sponsored ads in newsletters. Creators get a new opt-in revenue stream without disrupting subscriptions, expect fresh monetization options while keeping editorial control.
Kit moves the preview text under the subject line. Preview text is now impossible to miss when composing, nudging creators to optimize it: this can boost opens by up to 30%.
Buttondown adds inbox replies. Reply to subscribers directly inside Buttondown, no more context switching between apps. Faster responses mean happier readers.
Buttondown adds Bluesky follower tracking. Track your Bluesky growth alongside subscriber metrics to see which social channels actually drive signups.
You're probably undervaluing newsletter ads. Align pricing to advertiser KPIs, track conversions, and package outcomes; this way, you'll boost revenue per sponsor and land more repeat bookings.
💡 Growth Hack of the Week
How: Post a "Pre-CTA" on social media 24 hours BEFORE your newsletter sends, tease what's coming, and include a subscribe link. After sending, post a "Post-CTA" highlighting key takeaways with a link to your email-gated archive or blog.
Why: Pre-CTAs create FOMO and urgency; followers subscribe so they don't miss out. Post-CTAs extend your content's lifespan and drive traffic to gated content. Newsletter Operator reports that Pre-CTAs outperform even viral Twitter threads for conversions.
Expected Result: Consistent subscriber growth from social without extra content creation. Start with one Pre-CTA per week on your highest-engagement platform. Track which teasers drive the most signups and double down on that angle.
Spotlight: Fight Aging! Newsletter
What Works:
Mission-first framing: The newsletter takes a clear, provocative stance on healthspan vs. lifespan, positioning it as a thought leader and galvanizing readers who share the vision.
Curated research deep dives: Concise summaries of primary studies (senescence, DNA repair, autophagy) save readers 30–60 minutes of literature scanning and spur idea generation.
Actionable resources & funnels: Subscription links, consulting services, and further reading convert readers into engaged supporters and collaborators.
"We treat aging as an engineering problem—identify mechanisms, then fix them. Clarity attracts the right people and funding."
🛠️ Tool of the Week
Why You'll Love It: A distraction-free writing tool for X, LinkedIn, Threads, and Bluesky. AI suggestions help you "make it punchier," auto-split threads with realistic previews, and detailed analytics show what's actually driving engagement.
Best For: Newsletter creators who grow their list through social media. Schedule Pre-CTAs and Post-CTAs, optimize thread performance, and track which posts drive the most subscribers, all from one clean interface.
🧪 A/B Test of the Week
Setup: MailerLite's 2025 benchmark study compared emails with surveys embedded directly in the email body against emails using a standard CTA button linking to an external survey page.
Result: Embedded surveys increased click-to-open rate by 31.7% and generated 135% more overall clicks than external survey links.
Takeaway: Reduce friction by letting readers answer right in their inbox. Most ESPs now support embedded polls and single-question surveys. Start with one quick question (favorite content type, biggest challenge) and watch your engagement data and reply rates climb.
😂 Meme of the Week
When you finally launch your pilot course to your newsletter list and three people sign up, but one is your mom, one is your best friend, and one actually paid full price and left a testimonial.
🔗 Quick Links
Questions? Just write a comment below. I read all the comments and respond to them.
Thanks for reading,
Eren Daskesen
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