One podcast episode. $7,000 per email.

A serial entrepreneur who’s launched over 80 businesses, including 10 ten that hit seven to eight figures, Chris Koerner figured out how to do just that. 

Koerner applied the same systems-first mindset to his newsletter. 

The result? A content engine that churns out newsletters at scale, maintains a 55% open rate, and grows by 10,000–20,000+ new subscribers every month.

Let’s break down how Chris Koerner built a newsletter business that’s not just content, but one that is  a cash machine.

Like many creators, Koerner started his newsletter with good intentions and chaotic execution.

“Every week I'd be like, ‘Crap, what do I come up with?’” he admitted.

Instead of grinding through writer’s block, Koerner zoomed out and spotted a golden opportunity.

Turns out, 95–97% of his newsletter readers weren’t listening to his podcast. That’s when he realized that  he could repurpose old content without boring his audience, so he built a repeatable system around this insight.

Chris Koerner doesn’t just wing it. He built a custom Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) using Claude via Opus 4.0, trained specifically on his voice and podcast content. 

A few months back, one of Koerner’s readers (named JP Gomez) created a custom KoernerGPT for him after Koerner had stated he wrote every email from scratch each week. That GPT inspired Chris to build his own, more specific one to bring value to the newsletter readers.

Here’s how Koerner’s weekly newsletter gets made:

“It’s not generic AI content. It’s still me just in a different format,” explains Koerner.

This isn’t ChatGPT-generated filler. It’s Koerner’s own ideas, remixed into a high-performance format, and his audience loves it. These emails get the highest engagement scores in his whole funnel.

Chris Koerner treats his newsletter as a core revenue stream, not just a branding tool.

Koerner’s sponsors stick around because his newsletters drive real conversions.

Koerner is straightforward: beehiiv just works.

That return isn’t just from sponsorship dollars. It’s also in list growth, lead gen, and a deeper connection to his community. beehiiv powers it all:

While social feeds are polished and filtered, Koerner’s newsletter is raw and transparent.

“I treat my newsletter audience like they’re my closest friends and family,” admits Koerner.

He includes unedited screenshots, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and lessons from failed businesses. That realness is what drives loyalty and conversions.

Each of Koerner’s newsletters includes a poll – not just “thumbs up or down,” but real responses.

Koerner explains, “People leave full comments like, ‘This helped me start my business.’ That kind of feedback doesn’t exist on YouTube or in podcasts.”

This tight feedback loop improves his content every week and keeps his readers invested.

Koerner believes newsletters offer an edge that other formats can’t match.

“When someone is reading your newsletter, that’s all they’re doing. They’re not multitasking. That focused attention is rare and powerful,” he explains.

And because writing takes work, the effort shows.

Koerner continues, “Readers can feel the difference. When you show up consistently, they stick around. If you’re even thinking about starting something, anything, the newsletter will show you how I’m doing it in real time.”

Chris Koerner is open about his business wins and his flops. That honesty builds trust.

“I hold nothing back. I show exactly how I do it and why. Anyone can start a business. Yes, it’s hard, but it’s doable,” he shares.

Koerner’s voice is clear: no fake hustle, no gatekeeping, just tactical advice from someone who’s been in the trenches.

Don’t reinvent the wheel. Reuse your best ideas across formats and expand on them with long-form content. This saves time, expands reach, and reinforces your message. 

Turn a tweet → into a newsletter essay → into a YouTube short → into a carousel post.

Use custom tools to scale without losing your voice.This can help you boost consistency, creativity, and output with less effort. 

Chris Koerner publishes one newsletter and three podcasts weekly, then feeds the best-performing episode into a custom Claude GPT. The AI turns the episode into a newsletter – still their words, just in a new format.

Think: GPT-powered templates in Notion, ChatGPT for outlines, or Make.com for content pipelines.

People crave realness. Don’t be afraid to show the messy middle. Build trust, relatability, and deeper audience loyalty.

Share the behind-the-scenes: your launch flops, subscriber dips, real-time revenue numbers.

Ditch the guesswork and increase engagement by using polls and replies to build better content, faster.

Drop a one-click poll in your newsletter. Ask “What do you want next?” in your email P.S.

Create a sustainable revenue system without relying on one channel. Layer multiple income streams: sponsorships, ads, affiliates. With beehiiv, you can manage it all in one place, from native ads to custom affiliate links.

Sponsorships for reach, ads for consistency, affiliates for long-tail leverage – pick two to start.

Audience-first content grows faster and gets shared more. Focusing on a specific topic will allow you to become a thought leader in your niche, and adding value to your audience will only make them trust you more. 

Every piece should answer the question: “Is this useful, interesting, or unexpected for my readers?”

“Eventually, I want to launch a daily newsletter. The monetization potential is insane,” Koerner explains.

If his current system is any indication, that next step could 10x his already powerful flywheel.

Chris Koerner’s journey proves that newsletters aren’t just content; they’re businesses. With the right mix of strategy, authenticity, and tech (read: beehiiv), any creator can scale like Koerner.

Ready to turn your ideas into income?

👉 Sign up for beehiiv today and start your newsletter business the smart way.