Simple newsletter launch plan for creators

Simple 5-Step Newsletter Launch Plan for Creators

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If you’re a creator or freelancer and don’t have an email list, you’re leaving opportunities (and money) on the table.

Social media platforms can change overnight.

Algorithms shift, accounts get suspended, and reach gets throttled.

But your email list? That’s all yours. No middleman, no competition. Just you in your subscriber’s inbox.

When I relaunched last year, I made a big mistake: I didn’t start my email list at the same time.

All the traffic I brought in? Gone.

All those freebies? Could’ve been lead magnets.

That’s why I’m making sure you don’t do the same.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step plan to launch your newsletter today using content you already have.

Whether you’re looking to build an audience, sell products, or start a paid newsletter, this will help.

Step 1: Planning Your Newsletter

Before you create anything, you need a plan.

Newsletter Name Ideas:

Step 2: Creating Your First Emails

Your next step is to start creating content to send.

Outline your first 3-5 emails. If you’re stuck on what to send, start with these 4 ideas:

  1. Welcome & Introduction – Share who you are, why you started, and what they’ll get. Plus, your best content. Round up the top 3 posts they should watch.
  2. A Personal Story or Mistake – Lesson learned recently, biggest mistake (like not starting this newsletter sooner when you have lots to say)
  3. Share expertise – Give them a tutorial or checklist for a quick win
  4. Case Study – Testimonial for product or service, or comment on how a video/post helped them achieve a goal

Pro Tip: Don’t start from scratch. Use content you’ve already created and repurpose it. Your audience hasn’t seen everything you’ve posted before, so turn old posts into fresh email content. Video: Repurposing Guide

Need structure? Try theme months and theme weeks.

Theme month examples:

Theme weeks (content pillars):

Next thing is creating your lead magnets. Make sure it’s easy for you to make, easy for them to access and get a quick win.

Some ideas are checklists + cheat sheets, swipe files, templates, printout or worksheets, exclusive videos (mini-course), free consultations, eBook – free chapter, or bundle up all these to create a starter kit.

Use Canva or Google Docs for quick lead magnet creation. Other tools available: Loom, Riverside, Descript, Screenpal to record videos, and Notion for the resource library.

Resources: How to generate unlimited ideas, How to create a content marketing plan, 40 Writing Prompts

Step 3: Setting up email platform

Once you’ve got your plan, it’s time to choose a platform. Some options include Kit, Substack, beehiiv, Flodesk, and Mailerlite.

When setting up, make sure to:

Step 4: Sending Your First Email

If tech is holding you back, tools like Kit make it easy. Once you sign up, focus on setting up:

Step 5: Monetizing & Growing Your List

You don’t need a huge audience or list to be a paid creator. Here’s how you can start monetizing now:

For paid newsletter ideas, try:

Some examples: Digital product ideas, Recurring subscription ideas, My Creator Profile and Paid Newsletter

In Kit, go to Earn > Products

Pro tip: If you plan on sending both free and paid emails, give free subscribers a preview by condensing the paid email into a short snippet. This builds curiosity and encourages upgrades.

In Substack, add a paywall right before it gets to the good part, or use that post as a teaser post.

In Kit, there’s no paywall option, but you can turn off the “Only display for paying subscribers” when you get ready to send an email. This will show up on the feed, and free subscribers can read it when they sign up.

After all your hard work, it’s time to start promoting your email list.

Stay updated:

Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Not starting now – You don’t need a big audience to begin. And you already have everything you need.
  2. Skipping the welcome email – Use it to introduce yourself, set expectations, + give them a reason to stay.
  3. Starting from scratch – Repurpose and reuse what you already have, from graphics to content.
  4. Not checking for mistakes – Always send a test email for typos and formatting errors.
  5. Not promoting your list – Mention it everywhere (socials, videos, website).
  6. Not asking for feedback – Use polls and surveys to improve. Ask them to reply with thoughts or questions.
  7. Inconsistent sending – Consistency matters. Set a schedule you can stick to, even if it’s just 1-2x a month.
  8. Ignoring self-promotion – If you’re selling something, mention it. They won’t know if you don’t tell.
  9. Focusing only on selling – Not every email is a sales pitch, so remember to balance it out.
  10. Treating it like a hobby – Give it structure, value, and a clear pitch.

Get the Newsletter Launch Plan

I put together a Newsletter Launch Plan to help you go from idea to sending your first email.

Free Subscribers: Grab your free Newsletter Launch Plan here and subscribe for more weekly resources

Paid Subscribers: Or grab your launch plan and AI prompt guide to get started

About

Hi, I’m Marjy! Digital Creator and Content Manager for creators. If you’re enjoying this post, here are other ways you can connect with me: