Most creators wait until they hit 10K subscribers to earn.

Tyler Denk He built a newsletter that makes $1,000/day using beehiiv—with no big team, no funnels, no BS.

And thanks to a recent deep-dive podcast with Greg Isenberg (who interviewed Tyler Denk, the CEO of beehiiv), we got to see the entire system. Here’s the raw, real breakdown.

Step 1: Start With the Website (Top of Funnel)

Everything begins at the front door: your website.

Tyler launched Big Desk Energy with beehiiv’s built-in site builder. Think: Windows 98 aesthetic meets conversion-focused UX. It works.

Here’s why:

  • Custom landing + archive pages

  • Smart email popups (different copy for LinkedIn vs. Twitter traffic)

  • Lead magnet pages with targeted signup flows

He drives traffic from X, LinkedIn, and TikTok — all roads lead to his beehiiv site.

Pro tip: You don’t need Webflow + Substack + Typeform + Mailchimp.
beehiiv is the stack.

Step 2: Customize Signup Flows (Based on Source)

Not all subscribers are created equal.

Where they come from should determine how you welcome and convert them. Every form Tyler uses is wired to trigger a specific experience:

  • A unique signup flow (recommendations, surveys, thank-you page)

  • A tailored automation sequence

Example:

  • Homepage signup → Default Welcome Series

  • Lead magnet page → Custom follow-up based on topic

That means more relevance, more engagement, and fewer generic emails.

You can even route users based on traffic source (e.g. Twitter form → different onboarding).

Step 3: Automate Immediately (Flows That Work)

Time is your most limited asset. Automations let you engage at scale without being glued to your inbox.

Here's the behind-the-scenes magic that makes Tyler’s funnel run itself.

🔁 Welcome Automation (Day 0 to Day 3)

  • Day 0: Welcome email with intro + top posts + Spotify playlist

  • Day 1: Ask for a referral ("Who else would love this?")

  • Day 3: CTA to follow Tyler on social / reply

🧠 Survey Follow-Up

  • If user skips onboarding survey, wait 1 day, then send:
    "Hey—quick 30-second survey helps me help you (events, deals, meetups)"

  • Result: 30%+ completion rate, 22K+ responses

📥 Lead Magnet Flow

  • Opt-in via gated page

  • Auto-email with embedded download link (PDF, Notion, etc.)

  • Segment/tag subscribers based on magnet type

🔗 Referral Program Flow

  • 1 referral = Instant reward (Series B deck, PDF, merch discount)

  • Rewards delivered automatically via email

📆 12-Month Check-in Flow

  • Trigger: 1 year after signup

  • Email:
    "You said your goal was X. Did you hit it?"

  • Result: High reply rates and emotional re-engagement

Step 4: Use Referrals To Drive Free Growth

Referral loops beat ad spend. Your readers become your growth engine, no CPM required.

Tyler built a flywheel using beehiiv’s referral system. The setup:

  • 1 referral = free digital good (e.g. PDF deck)

  • 3 referrals = $10 merch code

  • Uses fourthwall to dropship—no manual fulfillment

Each email includes:

  • Unique referral link in every email

  • Referral status page

Outcome: 1,000+ referrals. 100% automated.

Step 5: Monetize From Day 1

Newsletters shouldn’t wait to make money.

Tyler didn’t wait to scale. He made money from day one.

💸 Revenue Streams:

  • Boost Network: Get paid $2–$4 per subscriber for recommending others

  • Ads: Sell direct (via beehiiv storefront) or plug into beehiiv’s ad network

  • Paid Products: PDF decks, digital templates

  • Referrals: Monetize passively while acquiring new readers

His goal: Spend $2.50 per sub, make $4–5 in return.

He even added AutoPause rules:

  • If a partner sends low-engagement subs (<30% open rate), it cuts them off

It’s a full growth loop with zero wasted spend.

Step 6: Run Targeted Lead Magnets (Built on beehiiv)

The right magnet attracts the right reader.

And with beehiiv, they’re more than leads, they’re segmented customers.

Example:

  • Tweet: “Here’s the exact deck I used to raise $1.6M”

  • Link to beehiiv-built landing page

  • Subscriber gets an auto-email with download + added to newsletter

And yes, he collects first name, birthday, role, skillset, and 12-month goals. Why?

  • Sell ads with audience data

  • Segment content by type

  • Offer tailored products later

Step 7: Add Gated Content for SEO + Email Capture

Blog content drives traffic. Gating turns traffic into subscribers.

This is how Tyler grows and monetizes at the same time. Every post is dual-published as:

  • Web article (SEO-indexed)

  • Email newsletter

Then he gates posts like:

“Subscribe to read this post.”

Results:

  • Posts go viral on X/LinkedIn

  • New traffic hits gated version

  • Email collected before access

Step 8: Use the Sponsorship Storefront To Sell Ads

Inbound interest is great — but not if it clogs your inbox.

The Sponsorship Storefront makes ad sales seamless.

beehiiv’s new feature: Sponsorship storefront

  • Live inventory calendar

  • Set rates (e.g. $7,000/placement)

  • Accept bookings

  • Collect assets + payments inside beehiiv

This saves Tyler hours/week and makes inbound ad sales seamless.

Plus: $10 flat transaction fee vs. 10% cuts from other platforms.

Step 9: Focus On Output, Not Overhead

You don’t need a complicated stack. You need a smart one.

Tyler proves you can scale with simplicity.

No funnels. No VAs. 

Tyler’s stack:

  • beehiiv (everything)

  • Stripe (for payments)

  • Twitter/X (distribution)

That’s it.

He sends 1 email/week.

  • Reposts the content on X

  • Uses every post as a growth asset

  • Turns each reader into a revenue path

Final Reminder: It’s a System, Not a Side Hustle

This is why it works:

This isn’t just a newsletter. It’s a machine.

And now, you have the blueprint.

👉 Want to build your own $1K/day newsletter?

Start for free on beehiiv—no fluff, no gimmicks, just everything you need to build the system:

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