Followers can disappear with one algorithm change. An email list is an audience you own. If you're building a side hustle, a newsletter is one of the most valuable things you can start early, and you can set it up in an afternoon.
Why email still matters
- You own the list. If a social account is restricted, your subscribers are still yours.
- People choose to hear from you. Subscribers are usually your warmest potential customers.
- It works everywhere. Email isn't tied to one country, app or trend.
Step 1: Decide what your newsletter is about
Write a one-line promise: "Every week I send [who] [what useful thing]." For example: "Every Friday I send busy parents three easy dinner ideas." A clear promise makes it easy for people to say yes.
Step 2: Choose an email platform
Don't send newsletters from your personal email account. A proper email platform handles signup forms, unsubscribes and delivery, and keeps you on the right side of the rules. Look for:
- a free or low-cost plan for small lists;
- ready-made templates and signup forms;
- automations, such as a welcome email sent the moment someone subscribes;
- simple reports showing who opens and clicks.
Mailchimp is one of the best-known options and a common first choice. It offers templates, signup forms, landing pages and automated emails, and has a free plan for small lists, so check its current limits. As your list grows, compare plans across providers.
Step 3: Create a signup form and a reason to join
"Subscribe to my newsletter" rarely works on its own. Offer something useful in exchange, often called a lead magnet:
- a one-page checklist or cheat sheet;
- a short guide or template;
- a discount or free trial, if you sell a product.
Put the signup form on your website, link to it from your social media bios and mention it at the end of your posts.
Step 4: Write a welcome email
Your welcome email is usually the most-opened email you'll ever send. Use it to deliver the freebie, say who you are in two or three sentences, tell people what to expect and how often, and ask one simple question they can reply to. Replies help your future emails land in the inbox.
Step 5: Decide what to send, and how often
Consistency matters more than frequency. Once a week or once every two weeks is plenty for most side hustles. A simple structure:
- one useful tip, story or lesson;
- one thing you found that your readers would like;
- one gentle call to action, such as a new product, an article or a reply.
A good rule of thumb: most emails should help, and only some should sell.
Step 6: Follow the rules
- Only email people who said yes. Never buy lists or add contacts without permission.
- Make unsubscribing easy. Every email needs a working unsubscribe link.
- Include your contact details. In the US, commercial emails must include a valid postal address, and in Europe and the UK you need clear consent to email people.
Reputable email platforms build most of this in, which is another reason to use one.
How to grow your first 100 subscribers
- Invite friends, past customers and colleagues personally.
- Add the signup link to every bio and email signature.
- Share snippets of your newsletter on social media with a link to subscribe.
- Create one genuinely useful freebie and promote it.
Quick recap
- Write a one-line promise and pick an email platform with a free starter plan.
- Offer a freebie, set up a welcome email, and send on a steady schedule.
- Ask permission, make unsubscribing easy and include your contact details.