State of the Newsletter #3

Dealing with growth, churn, retention and publishing frequency

Hey everyone,

Here we are, at 100+ subscribers in under 3 months. This enterprise has a serious feel now: I was horsing around before, but there’s a brand here waiting to be built.

And you’re here with me— how exciting! Let’s discuss 3 points I learned this month and how they can help you and your newsletter grow.

1. Learn to embrace the churn

Some people sign up, stay a while, and then leave. That’s the ultimate nature of the newsletter beast. It’s nothing personal, but damnit, it hurts. You end up at the pier, glancing at the ocean and wondering what you said or did that made them leave. Or maybe what you didn’t say?

“Maybe I should do the opposite?”

Anyway, be grateful that they were part of your journey and that they may be back someday. I think there’s a Nickelback song in this somewhere.

2. People are here for your voice AND your content

Take poutine—Canada’s pride and joy comfort food. It’s hand-cut fries, smothered in a rich gravy and topped off with squeaky cheese curds from Quebec. Yes, the cheese curds actually squeak!

Photo by @withlovefromchile on Unsplash

Anyone can make poutine, but you walk into a particular poutinerie because someone puts together those 3 ingredients in a unique way. Discover what your voice is and use it for your newsletter. And yeah, buy some poutine too.

Need some inspiration on how brands employ tone of voice? Here’s Nick Parker’s newsletter. Tell him I sent you.

(Well, technically he doesn’t know me, but now he might?)

3. Building a community is the way to earn paid subscribers

As Maria, a subscriber and an avid cook, puts it:

Building community and value for readers.

To experiment with one-time payments, I’m going to be leaving links to my Ko-Fi account on some future posts.

So, if you really like a post and want to make a one-time payment or pay as you go, Ko-Fi works with your PayPal or Apple Pay. You don’t need to create a Ko-fi account yourself. Pay $5 or more, and you’ll get the What’s Curation? playlist for that month.

Posting schedules might change in the upcoming months

Publishing daily for 3 months straight is no joke, and I’ve gotten emails from subscribers asking me how I do it and how I haven’t gone bonkers yet. I did it because I wanted to demonstrate consistency and build rapport. I’ll do my best to keep up the daily schedule, but I am—in the end— human after all.

Getting sick recently (and still recuperating) is a good reminder that I’m a bag of bones and assorted squishy organs. If I decide to change the schedule, I’ll be sure to email you all in advance. I’d like to do this newsletter in some capacity (even limited), rather than not at all.

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So thanks again for reading, commenting and sharing with your friends on social media. Sound off in the comments below! 🤩

-Nikhil.