How To Start a Newsletter as a Streamer

Email newsletters are dead. 

That’s probably what you’re thinking as a streamer with a video-focused strategy, but people who say that email is dead are just not doing it right.

If you’re finally considering starting a newsletter, this is the perfect time to launch it. 

In this blog post, you’ll get the best and most simple guide to start a newsletter for streamers. 

There are many ways to go about it, but we’ve drilled it down to the most essential steps that will give you the best chance to succeed. 

Why Streamers Should Invest in Newsletters 

Live streaming can consume most of your time, and you might be concerned about taking on building a newsletter as another project. However, managing a newsletter can be highly rewarding with the right strategies and tools. 

Own Your Audience

Social media algorithms change constantly, and, unfortunately, you don’t have control over these changes. However, with your own newsletter, you have the power to directly engage with your audience without worrying about the whims of a newsfeed algorithm. 

This sense of control and ownership is invaluable for streamers. 

More importantly, social media engagement is getting tougher and tougher each year, especially with live videos. 

For instance, the average engagement rate on YouTube hovers around 2%, which means only about 2 out of every 100 views result in some form of engagement such as likes or comments. 

On the other hand, email open rates are around 20%.

Once you have your viewers' email, you can consistently and directly engage with them without worrying about the changes in the newsfeed algorithm. 

Build Your Brand

Personal branding for streamers is essential. By nurturing your own newsletter, you create a stable space to express your unique voice and style. 

Newsletters empower you to share a curated view of your content and insights. This continuous, direct interaction enhances your brand’s identity and deepens the relationship with your viewers. Eventually, you can turn casual followers into loyal fans.

More Monetization Opportunities

Newsletters offer streamers a viable pathway to diversify and increase their revenue streams. Streamers can explore several monetization strategies beyond traditional streaming income by leveraging a subscriber list.

It’s challenging to pinpoint an exact average income from newsletters, as it varies widely based on audience size, engagement, and monetization tactics. But to give you an example, beehiiv’s users have accumulated $1.2 million in revenue directly from newsletters.

Here are some different ways to monetize your newsletter:

• Sponsored Content: Partner with brands that resonate with your audience to include sponsored ads or dedicated messages within your newsletter.

• Affiliate Marketing: Include affiliate links within your content. You earn a commission when subscribers purchase products or services through these links.

• Subscription Models: Offer premium content through paid newsletter subscriptions, providing exclusive articles, early access to edited videos, or special offers.

• Merchandising: Choose from a variety of merch ideas and promote your branded merch to your dedicated followers via your newsletter.

• Donations and Crowdfunding: Use your newsletter to encourage support through platforms like Patreon or direct donations, particularly for special projects or exclusive content series.

There are more creative ways to monetize your newsletter, but this list is a great start! Now that you’ve got solid reasons to start a newsletter, let’s take your plan into action. 

Setting Up Your Newsletter: Steps and Tools 

Setting up a newsletter might sound overwhelming, but it's actually a straightforward process. Once you've chosen the platform that works for you, you'll need to focus on content next. 

This will ensure that everything else, from designing your newsletter to managing your subscriber list, falls into place. 

1. Choose the right platform. 

When selecting a platform for your newsletter, consider the following criteria to ensure that it meets your needs:

• User Interface: Look for an intuitive and easy-to-navigate platform.

• Features: Ensure that your newsletter offers essential features like automation, analytics, and customizable templates.

• Integration: Check compatibility with tools like your website or social media platforms.

• Scalability: Choose an email platform that can grow with your subscriber list without significant cost increases.

• Support: Opt for platforms with reliable customer support for troubleshooting and advice.

• Pricing: It’s ideal to start with free plans and upgrade as you grow. 

beehiiv is an excellent example of a newsletter platform that meets all the criteria and more. It allows you to create a beautifully designed newsletter that is on brand in the simplest way possible. 

beehiiv also has built-in monetization features. Check out our revenue calculator, so you can see for yourself how much you could potentially earn:

2. Plan your emails. 

Crafting the content of your newsletters involves strategic planning and a clear understanding of what unique value you can provide to your audience:

• Define Unique Content: Pinpoint what exclusive insights, behind-the-scenes access, or special content you can offer that will motivate viewers to subscribe.

• Content Calendar: Establish a regular schedule for your newsletters. The frequency can vary, but most newsletters find that a weekly or bi-weekly cadence strikes a good balance between staying relevant and not overwhelming subscribers.

• Consistency in Delivery: Commit to a consistent delivery schedule to build trust and set expectations with your subscribers. 

For example, Soul Snacks sends a weekly newsletter about tips and inspiration on adulting. 

3. Ready, set, send!

Now that you have a content calendar, it’s time to execute your email strategy. Craft engaging content that clearly conveys your newsletter's unique value. 

Use the scheduling features of your platform to queue up your emails for future sending. 

Often, newsletters are scheduled several months ahead, allowing you to plan efficiently while staying flexible enough to tweak content based on early subscriber responses. 

Why Trust Me: Amir is the Head of Demand Gen at Uscreen, an all-in-one membership platform built for video creators. With Uscreen, creators can easily create paid memberships that include an on-demand video library, live streaming capabilities, and their own community space, all in their own branded site and apps.

Creating Engaging Newsletters 

Now that you’ve planned your newsletter content, let’s look at how you can create a compelling and engaging newsletter. 

Customize Content

Tailoring your content is crucial for engagement. For instance, if your target audience consists of creators interested in AI tools, your newsletter should focus exclusively on content that caters to this interest.

Include specific case studies or unique results from AI tools that you don’t share elsewhere. This makes your newsletter a must-subscribe resource for niche insights.

Share Something Unexpected

Captivate your audience by incorporating unexpected elements. Experiment with creative subject lines to pique interest and ensure that the content inside delivers on the promises made. 

For better outcomes, consider employing subject line testers to refine and optimize your approach before fully implementing it.

Note that you can’t always use this strategy in all of your newsletters. Try to use it sparingly. Test out a few subjects first and then try to recreate the most successful ones. 

Don’t Forget Design

Your content is only as good as the design of your newsletter. Focus on a clean layout, strategic use of typography, a color palette that aligns with your brand, and high-quality images. 

Adding clear headlines and engaging subheadings and interactive elements like clickable links and call-to-action buttons can also enhance the reader's experience. 

Take inspiration from well-curated newsletters like The Publish Press, which combines beautiful visual design with easy readability. They spend time curating the creators who they feature in their newsletter. 

Try these strategies to create a newsletter that informs, entertains, and engages your audience. 

Analyze Analytics 

Lastly, let the data of your newsletter campaigns drive the improvements. Which subject line works the best? Which content gets the most clicks?

Understanding the best day and time to send can greatly impact your overall results. Note that people consume newsletters differently than live streams. That’s why you have to tweak your newsletter schedule. 

Grow Your Subscribers in 3 Simple Ways 

Growing your subscriber base is a continual process; but for those just starting out, here are three straightforward methods to quickly boost your numbers:

Promote in Your Streams

The easiest and most effective way to grow your newsletter is to promote it during your live streams. Your viewers are already engaged with your content, making this the perfect opportunity to extend an invitation to your newsletter. 

You can increase sign-up motivation by offering incentives like exclusive contests or the chance to win a one-on-one session with you.

Update Your Social Media Profiles

Ensure that all of your social media profiles include a link to your newsletter. This strategy makes it easy for followers who engage with your various content across platforms to find and sign up for your newsletter.

Collaborate With Other Streamers

Partner with fellow streamers to cross-promote each other’s newsletters. This works best with streamers who share a similar audience but aren’t direct competitors. 

You can agree to promote exclusive content that will only be shared in the newsletter. It can be a behind-the-scenes video or a personal story. 

📝 Key Takeaway

Amir is the Head of Demand Gen at Uscreen, an all-in-one membership platform built for video creators. With Uscreen, creators can easily create paid memberships that include an on-demand video library, live streaming capabilities, and their own community space, all in their own branded site and apps.

Email newsletters are still going strong, and they’re a great way for you to directly keep in touch with your audience. 

Despite what some might say, email isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, it’s only getting more popular and effective as a marketing tool. 

So if you’re thinking about deepening connections with your followers, an email newsletter is definitely a path worth exploring.

🎧 Your Next Move

Why not start by picking an email platform to start your newsletter as a streamer? Once that’s set up, focus on crafting content that’s fresh and uniquely yours—stuff they won’t find anywhere else.

Make sure to shout out about your newsletter everywhere you can, not just in your streams but all over your social media. Maybe even throw in a little something special for those who sign up—like exclusive content or a giveaway. 

It’s all about keeping things interesting and your community engaged!