Good morning 👋

Some major stats came across my desk last week and they’re the kind of stats you want to see if you’re thinking about starting (or already have) a newsletter.

A new study from GetResponse found that 40% of marketers no longer trust social media and it’s no surprise why. Algorithms shift, reach drops, and good luck proving ROI.

That’s exactly why newsletters are having a moment right now, they offer more control, higher intent, and a direct line to your audience without all the algorithm drama. This week, I’ve got fresh stats to back it all up and show you how to actually grow a list sponsors want to get in front of.

Let’s get into it 👇

Sponsored by

What’s Inside Today’s Email

• Why Newsletters Are Having a Moment

• Ready for Sponsors? Time to Track Like One.

• Hey Chat……..Help Me Craft My Sponsorship Pitch

• How do I grow my email list if I’m starting from scratch?

The Marketing Move

Why Newsletters Are Having a Moment

I know how easy it is to think, “I probably need a massive list before I can even think about sponsorships.”

The truth is that mindset holds a lot of people back.

A new report from Reuters found that 1 in 5 Americans now rely on newsletters for news.

And marketers are shifting with it — 64% now use newsletter sponsorships, up 25% from last year.

People are landing sponsors not because they’re internet-famous… but because they’re doing a few key things right:

→ They lead with the niche. The more focused your topic and audience, the easier it is for sponsors to say yes.
→ They share what matters. Think open rates, click rates, and growth not just list size.
→ They don’t wait to pitch. If you’ve built trust with your readers, you’re more ready than you think.
→ They make it ridiculously simple. A clean one-pager and a clear offer go a long way.

And thanks to ad networks it’s never been easier for newsletters (even small ones) to get in front of brands actively looking to spend.

Here’s what sponsors actually want to see:

→ Open Rate: 40%+ is solid. 50–60%? You’re crushing it.
→ Click-Through Rate: 2–5% is average. 7%+ stands out.
→ List Growth: 5–10% monthly growth shows momentum.
→ Audience Clarity: Can you describe who your newsletter is for in one clear sentence? That’s what makes sponsors say “yes.”

Here are the steps to get started:

1. Start your email.
Pick an ESP (like ConvertKit, Beehiiv, or Flodesk) and create a simple opt-in. Don’t wait for it to be perfect just start getting people on your list.

2. Track your metrics.
Open rates, clicks, subscriber growth these numbers tell you what’s resonating, what needs tweaking, and what your audience actually cares about.

3. Grow with intention.
Once you’ve got around 1,000 engaged subscribers, you’re in a great place to start exploring monetization.

4. Submit to ad networks.
Ad networks make it easy to get in front of sponsors looking for newsletters like yours.

5. Pitch directly.
Know a brand your audience would love? Reach out. You don’t need a massive list just the right alignment.

You don’t need to wait until everything’s perfect.
You don’t need 10,000 subscribers to get started.

You just need a plan, a little consistency and the guts to send that first email.

Sponsors aren’t looking for perfect.
They’re looking for people who know their audience and show up for them.

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The Feed Check

Ready for Sponsors? Time to Track Like One.

Now that you know what sponsors are really looking for and why niche + engagement beats vanity metrics here’s the move most people skip: actually tracking your own performance.

Ask yourself:

• What subject lines are getting the most opens?

• Which links are people actually clicking on?

• Is one lead magnet or opt-in crushing the others? Why?

• What’s your list growth rate over the last 30 days?

This isn’t just busywork it’s how you start thinking like a publisher and a partner.

Pro Tip: Big results come from small, data-backed tweaks.
You don’t need to overhaul your whole strategy you just need to spot what’s working… and double down.

This week, pick one stat to track weekly and set a 5-minute reminder to check in.
Sponsors love consistency. Your future self will too.

Relatable AF

One Prompt to Rule Them All

Hey Chat……..Help Me Craft My Sponsorship Pitch

You’ve got the list.
You’ve got the audience.
Now you just need to say the right things when pitching a sponsor (without sounding like you copied a cold email template from 2016).

This prompt will help you generate a clear, confident sponsorship pitch that highlights the value of your newsletter even if you’re just starting out.

Prompt:
You are a newsletter strategist helping creators craft a strong, sponsor-ready pitch that feels natural, confident, and aligned with their audience.

Here’s what you need to know:

• What my newsletter is about: [brief summary who it's for + core topics]

• Why people read it: [transformation, vibe, or result]

• My list size + open/click rate (if known): [insert stats]

• Any previous results or testimonials: [optional]

• My tone: [confident, professional, casual, bold, etc.]

• Who I want to pitch: [target sponsor niche or brand type]

Generate:
– A short and punchy 3–4 sentence email pitch
– A tagline or positioning sentence for the newsletter
– A list of 3 potential sponsor categories that align with my audience

Test it out.
Polish it.
And remember confidence wins pitches more than size does.

Let me know if you want me to review your draft once you run it through Chat.

Ask the Inbox

“How do I grow my email list if I’m starting from scratch?”

I hear this one all the time and if you’re wondering the same, you’re not alone.
Starting from zero can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like everyone else already has a huge audience.

But growing your list doesn’t have to be complicated.
It just needs a system that works for where you are right now.

Here’s where to start:

→ One strong offer.
Create a lead magnet that solves a specific, immediate problem.
Broad freebies = broad results. Specific solves = subscribers with intent.

→ One traffic source.
Pick a platform you can actually show up on. LinkedIn, Instagram, podcast guesting, whatever fits you. Don’t try to master five things. Master one and grow from there.

→ One clear message.
If your freebie, landing page, and emails all speak to the same person, growth gets way easier (and way more consistent).

Want to go deeper on this? I’m hosting a free live training this Thursday:
From 0 to 10K Subscribers - Your 3-Path System for List Growth That Actually Works.

Save your spot here →

And if you’ve got a question you want featured next week, just hit reply and ask me. Chances are someone else is thinking it too.

Before You Go

If email growth feels slow… or monetizing your newsletter still feels out of reach I get it and I was there.

Going down every rabbit hole trying to figure it out.

The truth is my mindset was my biggest blocker and the thought of hiring a mentor went well over my head. Until I did…..

I made my first $2K with just under 800 subscribers.
Then I doubled down on ads when I hit 3K subscribers.
Now, with a reach of over 25,000, I sell ad placements that actually fit my audience and you can too.

You don’t need to be huge. You just need to start.

See you next Tuesday.

Tatiana

P.S. If email growth isn’t your focus right now or if you’d prefer to completely step off my list — no hard feelings at all. Click HERE to unsubscribe.

That’s it for this week.

Keep showing up, keep writing with heart because taking imperfect action will always beat waiting for perfect.

P.S.

New here? Let us know what you’re working on so we can cheer you on!