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How Geekout Newsletter made $25,000 solely from beehiiv Boosts
How Matt Built a Loyal Audience and Generated Significant Revenue
Kanishka Kumawat
June 26th, 2024
Be it feature updates on Instagram and YouTube or the latest memes, Geekout Newsletter has been the go-to resource for social media professionals for the past four years.
In Matt's own words, it's "the world's most useful newsletter for social media professionals and creators."
I recently interviewed Matt Navarra, the mastermind behind it all.
We delved into what it took to build this newsletter and how beehiiv has supported his growth and monetization efforts.
Table of Contents
Since day one, beehiiv has focused on supporting creators' growth. Matt, who manages his newsletter and other business aspects solo, shared how seamlessly beehiiv integrates into his workflow, making his weekly newsletter worry-free.
This case study explores how Matt gained 1,000 subscribers in under 24 hours, earned $25,000 from beehiiv Boosts, and much more!
Hope you find it insightful 🙂
- Kanishka
Meet Matt Navarra, the mastermind behind Geekout Newsletter, a go-to resource for social media professionals and creators.
Since its inception, Geekout Newsletter has grown from zero to 31,000 subscribers, boasting an impressive 54% open rate and a 30% click rate.
Matt's dedication to delivering valuable insights and insider information has earned him a reputation as a trusted authority in the social media space.
In addition to the free newsletter and strong social media presence, Geekout Newsletter also has a premium WhatsApp community where members get access to exclusive chat channels to get support and share ideas and tips with some of the world's top social media managers, a real-time breaking news alerts channel, early access to hot new social apps, access to chat directly with Matt, and more, for $6/month.
It currently has 500+ social media VIP members. Check it out here.
What Inspired Matt To Build Geekout Newsletter
Matt Navarra started Geekout Newsletter as a side hustle, initially using Twitter's Revue platform to curate social media news and updates.
Despite being a one-man band, Matt has grown Geekout into an indispensable resource for social media professionals and creators.
"If you only read one email a week to get up to speed on everything, this is the email to read," says Matt.
The goal was to create a newsletter that provides valuable insights and insider information.
From drafting to publishing the weekly newsletter, Matt handles it all. What does it mean to manage everything solo?
Migrating From Revue To beehiiv
“I initially started out on Twitter’s newsletter platform, Revue, because I already had my audience there. However, within 12 months, we realized it wasn't a long-term solution for us.”
Matt chose beehiiv over Revue due to its focus on free newsletters and its comprehensive set of tools and features. Before finalizing the switch, he considered both beehiiv and Substack. Ultimately, beehiiv's functionality, including its robust analytics and ad networks, aligned better with Matt's needs.
Additionally, beehiiv's pedigree, with connections to Morning Brew, made it an even more attractive option.
When asked about the migration process, Matt said, "The setup is fairly straightforward. The only thing I do in terms of management is check the pending revenue a couple of times a week. It’s like a pipeline, and I know the revenue will come in later."
How Matt Leverages beehiiv To Monetize Geekout Newsletter
Initially, Matt relied on advertising and sponsorship to monetize his newsletter. However, shifting to beehiiv opened up additional revenue streams.
beehiiv’s Boosts feature allows Matt to offer sponsored content to other newsletters, which has become a significant income source. In the last six months, Matt has earned $18,000 through Boosts, totaling $25,000 since he started using the feature.
When asked about this new monetization stream, Matt shared:
Matt also looks forward to leveraging some of beehiiv’s other monetization features, including:
While Geekout Newsletter currently runs ads at a flat rate, Matt would love to try out The beehiiv Ad Network for ad sponsorships.
The beehiiv referral program. Here’s how you can create a referral program in beehiiv:
Matt's Favorite beehiiv Feature
Matt's favorite beehiiv feature is Boosts, which allows him to offer sponsored content to other newsletters. Over the last six months, he has made $18,000, totaling $25,000 since he started using Boosts. The setup is straightforward, requiring only occasional checks on pending revenue to ensure the pipeline is filled with quality subscribers.
Matt describes the Boosts feature as "free money," noting how easy it is to generate thousands of dollars a month by simply continuing his usual newsletter activities. He carefully selects newsletters that align with his audience's interests, ensuring a high return on investment for both himself and the newsletters he Boosts.
His strategy involves recommending newsletters related to social media, marketing, AI, tech, and internet culture. This targeted approach keeps his audience engaged and translates to significant revenue for Matt and the newsletters he promotes.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key takeaways from Matt's content plan and his favorite beehiiv feature:
Geekout offers valuable insights and insider information to social media professionals and creators. It covers algorithm changes, new features, trending memes, and viral content, keeping readers informed and engaged.
Matt shares the newsletter weekly and includes a couple of free cross-promotions to maintain engagement and keep his audience interested.
He continually reviews and adjusts his pricing for advertising and sponsorships, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and tactics used by other successful newsletters.
beehiiv’s Boosts feature generates substantial monthly income, making Geekout Newsletter one of the top revenue sources in Matt's workflow.
Matt's success with Geekout is a testament to the power of leveraging beehiiv to monetize and grow a newsletter. Examples include segments, automation, referral programs, and ad network, Boosts, "It's like free money & feels surreal in many ways."
By shifting to beehiiv, Matt tapped into additional revenue streams and expanded his audience. His strategic approach to boosting revenue has resulted in significant income and a loyal subscriber base.
If this case study inspired you to:
Migrate to beehiiv
Start your own newsletter
Leverage beehiiv’s monetization features
Then you don’t need to wait! beehiiv is built for growth, and our YouTube and blog resources will guide you on how to make the most of your newsletter.
The best part? You don’t need to take our word for it. Try the 30-day free trial and see for yourself—you'll love it!
Until next time,
Happy emailing! 📧
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