How to start newsletter writing as a side hustle: step-by-step for beginners

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 9m ago

Two ways to earn

Newsletter side hustles take two main forms. In the first, you run your own newsletter on a topic, building an audience and earning from subscriptions, sponsors or products. In the second, you write newsletters for businesses, nonprofits or creators who need regular email content but lack time. Many writers do both, using their own newsletter as a portfolio while earning steady client fees.

Choosing a topic

Pick a topic you know well and can write about weekly for years, with an audience that values regular updates. Niche topics, such as personal finance for nurses, local food news, indie game development or gardening in dry climates, often grow more loyal audiences than broad ones. Check whether sponsors or products exist in that niche if you want income.

Picking a platform

Newsletter platforms handle sign-ups, sending, analytics and sometimes paid subscriptions. Compare free plans, fees on paid subscriptions, design options, custom domains and ownership of your subscriber list. Choose one that lets you export subscribers.

Setting up sign-up pages

Create a simple page explaining who the newsletter is for, what readers get and how often. Add sign-up forms to your website and social profiles. A clear promise converts visitors into subscribers.

Writing your first issues

Write a welcome email and three to five issues before launch. Each issue should deliver one clear value, such as a useful tip, curated links or an original analysis.

Worked example: earnings

Leah has 2,000 subscribers, and 4 percent pay 5 dollars per month, giving 80 paid subscribers and 400 dollars monthly. If the platform keeps 10 percent, she receives 360 dollars. One sponsor slot per month pays 150 dollars, bringing her total to 510 dollars. The percentage calculator on this site helps model growth.

Building a schedule

Consistency builds trust. Choose a schedule you can keep, such as weekly or every two weeks, and stick to it. Readers come to expect your emails on certain days, and irregular sending often leads to lower open rates and more unsubscribes. Write issues in advance where possible, keep a list of ideas and use a simple template structure, such as an introduction, main piece, quick tips and a closing note, to make writing faster.

Growing subscribers

Growth often comes from sharing issues on social media, guest writing for other newsletters, recommending newsletters with similar audiences, posting in relevant communities, adding sign-up forms to your website and asking readers to forward issues to friends. Avoid buying email lists, which breaks platform rules and email laws and damages deliverability. Focus on readers who genuinely want your content.

Paid subscriptions

Paid subscriptions give readers extra content, such as in-depth analysis, exclusive issues or archives. Many newsletters keep a free tier to attract new readers and offer paid tiers for committed fans. Typically only a small share of free readers upgrade, so value and trust matter.

Sponsorships

Sponsors pay to reach your audience with short ads or featured mentions. Rates depend on subscriber numbers, open rates and how closely your audience matches the sponsor. Clearly label sponsored content and only promote products you consider appropriate for your readers.

Affiliate links

Affiliate programs pay commissions when readers buy through your links. Disclose affiliate relationships clearly, as advertising rules require, and recommend only products you trust.

Writing newsletters for businesses

Many businesses need regular email content to stay in touch with customers. Freelance newsletter writers plan topics, write issues, suggest subject lines and sometimes manage sending. Rates may be per issue or monthly. Build samples showing different styles, such as a retailer update, a nonprofit story and a professional services tips email.

Following email rules

Commercial emails must follow laws such as CAN-SPAM in the US, which require accurate sender information, honest subject lines, a physical postal address for commercial messages and a clear way to unsubscribe that works promptly. Other countries have stricter consent rules. Only email people who opted in.

Measuring results

Track open rates, click rates, subscriber growth and unsubscribes. Test subject lines and content types to learn what readers value most.

Writing strong subject lines

Subject lines decide whether readers open your email. Keep them short, specific and honest about the content inside, such as three budget meals under ten dollars or what changed in local rent prices this month. Avoid misleading subject lines, excessive punctuation and words that trigger spam filters. Test two versions where your platform allows and note which styles earn higher open rates over several weeks. Honest subject lines also keep you within email marketing rules and protect reader trust.

Finding your voice

Readers subscribe to newsletters partly because of the writer's personality. Write as you would speak to a friend who shares your interest, with clear explanations, personal observations and a consistent tone. Share stories, mistakes and lessons alongside facts. A distinctive voice makes your newsletter memorable in crowded inboxes and harder for competitors to copy.

Keeping issues readable

Most readers skim emails on phones. Use short paragraphs, clear headings, bullet points sparingly and one main call to action. Keep images light so emails load quickly, and add alt text for accessibility. Preview every issue on mobile before sending.

Protecting deliverability

Deliverability means your emails reach inboxes rather than spam folders. Use a reputable platform, authenticate your sending domain where possible, remove inactive subscribers periodically and avoid sudden large imports of contacts. High complaint rates hurt deliverability, so make unsubscribing easy.

Pricing client newsletter work

Freelancers often charge per issue, with prices reflecting research, length and whether they handle design and sending. Monthly packages for weekly or biweekly issues provide steady income. Include revision limits and deadlines in agreements.

Common mistakes

Mistakes include choosing too broad a topic, sending irregularly, writing only promotional content, ignoring email laws, buying lists, using clickbait subject lines and expecting fast income.

A step-by-step plan

Step one: choose a focused topic and describe your ideal reader in one sentence. Step two: compare platforms and set up an account with a custom sender name. Step three: create a sign-up page with a clear promise. Step four: write a welcome email and three issues in advance. Step five: invite friends, colleagues and social followers to subscribe. Step six: publish on a fixed schedule for three months. Step seven: review open and click rates monthly. Step eight: add a monetisation method once readers engage regularly.

Repurposing content

Each issue can become social media posts, blog articles, short videos or podcast segments, bringing new readers back to your sign-up page. Repurposing saves time and helps your newsletter reach people who do not yet read email updates from you.

Building a welcome sequence

A short series of automated emails for new subscribers introduces your best content, explains what to expect and builds a habit of opening your emails. Many platforms support simple automations on free or low-cost plans.

Engaging readers

Ask readers questions, invite replies and feature reader tips or stories with permission. Replies also signal to email providers that your messages are wanted, which can improve deliverability.

Owning your audience

Social media reach can change overnight when platforms adjust algorithms, but an email list is an audience you can contact directly. Export your subscriber list regularly as a backup, keep consent records showing how people signed up and choose platforms that let you move subscribers if you switch providers later. This ownership is one of the main reasons newsletters are valuable for writers and businesses.

Managing time around a main job

Block regular writing sessions, such as two evenings a week, and batch research, drafting and editing. Keep issues shorter if time is tight, since consistent short issues are better than irregular long ones.

Keeping records

Track subscription income, sponsor payments, affiliate commissions, client fees and platform costs. Newsletter income is usually taxable, so check official guidance.

Reader questions

Questions about writing side hustles? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only. Platform fees and rules change; check official sources. No income is guaranteed.

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