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How beehiiv Helped Freelance Opportunities! Grow To 11,000 Subscribers
How Kaitlyn Arford Monetized Newsletter on beehiiv and Earned $6,000
Kanishka Kumawat
July 24th, 2024
In 2023, the United States alone had up to 73.3 million freelancers, and this number is estimated to rise to 79.6 million by 2025.
With hundreds of jobs available for freelancers, how do we know which ones are legitimate?
That’s where Kaitlyn comes in!
Kaitlyn Arford, the creator of the newsletter Freelance Opportunities!, has done the heavy lifting for freelancers.
In 2021, Kaitlyn started sharing freelance opportunities on X (Formerly Twitter). Her informative posts gained attention from writers and journalists, leading to a growing following.
Recognizing the potential, she decided to formalize her efforts.
"I thought maybe I could grow this from something that I was just doing on X (Formerly Twitter) to something a little bit more official," Kaitlyn explains.
Her newsletter, Freelance Opportunities!, is a reliable source, bringing dozens of new freelance roles to your inbox every Friday.
Table of Contents
In this case study, we will learn more about Kaitlyn’s journey with beehiiv and how she was able to grow her subscriber base in a short amount of time.
- Kanishka
All About Freelance Opportunities!
Freelance Opportunities! is a curated list of paying freelance jobs across various fields, including writing, journalism, web development, design, editing, social media management, and more.
“Every week, I spend some time on social media, and I’m searching for whatever opportunities I can find, primarily on LinkedIn and also on other job boards,” commented Kaitlyn.
She continued, “I probably spend at least 8 hours a week just looking online. I’ll curate a Google Document. I do this every Thursday, and then I send out the newsletter on Friday mornings.”
She added, “If I have a Wednesday edition that week, I’ll typically work on Tuesday. I’m either finding opportunities or thinking about what content I want to run that week or making content for the next week.”
Why beehiiv?
As her X (Formerly Twitter) and Buy Me a Coffee following grew to 4,000, Kaitlyn knew it was time to level up. She embarked on a quest to find the ideal newsletter platform, considering options like ConvertKit, AWeber, and MailerLite.
Her top priority? Affordability.
"I want to be able to send a weekly list of freelance opportunities for free to people so that they don't have to pay," she says.
After researching newsletter platforms, Kaitlyn chose beehiiv for several reasons.
It offered a cost-effective solution compared to other platforms.
beehiiv provided the necessary tools to launch, grow, and monetize her newsletter.
The active presence of the beehiiv team on X (Formerly Twitter) influenced her decision.
Kaitlyn notes that beehiiv's strength lies in its creators' understanding of what newsletter writers truly need.
"Obviously, a lot of you have newsletters of your own, so you know how you want to use it and why it's important to keep things really clean," she observes.
"Let me tell you, it was such a life-changing decision that I made. I'm so glad I went with beehiiv," Kaitlyn gushes. "I've now been with the company for nine months. I love it so much; it's so helpful."
Favorite beehiiv Features
Kaitlyn found several beehiiv features that really stand out to her.
She loves the platform for its easy-to-implement polls, automation tools, and the beehiiv Ad Network, which provides regular monetization opportunities.
In addition, Kaitlyn is thrilled about beehiiv’s newly announced ‘Pay What You Want’ subscription option.
Kaitlyn is constantly using beehiiv's engagement tools, such as polls, surveys, recommendation networks, and re-engagement campaigns, to connect with her audience and gather valuable feedback.
“I had about 4000 people initially. Since I went with beehiiv in September, I now have 11,000 subscribers, and I don’t think I would have had that kind of growth rate if I hadn’t chosen beehiiv,” commented Kaitlyn.
Kaitlyn's advice to aspiring newsletter creators is simple: start now.
“You know what I regret? Not making a newsletter a lot earlier. I’ve had so much joy from running this, and I’ve learned a lot about how to run a newsletter and how to get subscribers and grow and monetize.”
She also provided the following advice for those starting a newsletter:
Share your work consistently on social media platforms to gain visibility among your target audience.
Focus on providing value that encourages word-of-mouth referrals.
Engage with your audience and act on their feedback.
Kaitlyn shares, "Having other people just really support and say, 'Yeah, I love what you're doing. I'd love to help you promote this,' that has been phenomenal."
Key Takeaways
Social Media Leverage: X (Formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn played crucial roles in her newsletter's growth.
Cross-Promotion: Collaborating with other freelancers and newsletter owners significantly boosted Kaitlyn’s audience.
Diverse Content: In addition to job listings, she's expanding into resource-based content and Q&As.
Monetization: Kaitlyn is exploring premium subscriptions and sponsorships to generate revenue.
Kaitlyn shared, “I have earned around $5,000 through ads and $1,000 through boosts on beehiiv. beehiiv significantly improved my newsletter's financial stability.”
The Power of Owning Your Audience
"I got tired of relying on social media and how the algorithm changes and all the problems there," Kaitlyn explains.
By creating a newsletter, Kaitlyn has taken control of her audience, advocating for others to do the same.
"This is something that you can control, and you can take with you wherever you go," she emphasizes.
Conclusion: A Writer's Dream Platform
Kaitlyn Arford's experience with beehiiv demonstrates the platform's strengths in simplicity, functionality, and user-centric design.
Kaitlyn's success story illustrates that with the right platform, consistent effort, and a willingness to network, you can turn a simple idea into a thriving newsletter business.
So, aspiring newsletter creators, take note – your 11,000 subscribers might be just around the corner!
Are you inspired by Kaitlyn's success?
Start your newsletter journey today!
Whether you're a freelancer, writer, or passionate about sharing valuable information, there's an audience waiting for your unique voice.
Sign up for beehiiv and turn your expertise into a thriving newsletter community.
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