This Newsletter Sold For $150m (And Why It Matters)
The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“If you’re not exceptional at one of the Big 3 — it’s impossible to build a content business.” — Dylan quoting Matt McGarry We're sharing the biggest stories, trends, and lessons from the newsletter space over the past few weeks. From Bari Weiss’s $150M Substack newsletter sale to gamified engagement strategies and the rise of YouTube as the new discovery channel, we're unpacking what these moves mean for creators and operators running newsletters today.KEY TAKEAWAYSWhat the $150M acquisition of Bari Weiss's The Free Press proves about newsletters.How creators can reverse-engineer their dream roles or acquisition partners.The game that The Assist launched to boost engagement & reader affinity.What LinkedIn’s games can teach creators about streaks, competition, and retention loops.A referral program so smart it practically funds itself.The "Big 3 Media Strategy” that should reshape your content marketing.The #1 fear that's holding back most newsletter creators.LINKS MENTIONEDThe Free Press by Barri WeissNews: CBS parent company Paramount Skydance buys The Free PressWorkle by The Assist newsletterThe Dink Deep Dive (via GIR)The "Big 3 Media Platforms" article via Matt McGarry Get Chenell's brand-new offering for newsletter creators: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!
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9 Things Beginners Should Ignore When Starting a Newsletter
The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“Stop wasting time picking the ‘perfect’ newsletter tool. Just start publishing. You can always switch later." — DylanWe're breaking down the most common mistakes newsletter creators make in the early days — from obsessing over tools and automations to focusing on viral growth too soon.We are challenging the conventional “how to start a newsletter” checklists floating around online (and even ChatGPT’s advice), showing how little you actually need to start. And why over-planning, over-designing, and over-automating are the real growth killers.If you’ve been “getting ready” to launch for months, this episode will hopefully convince you to just start.KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy most creators waste weeks setting up automations they don’t even needWhy you don't need a welcome sequence at first How Chenell recommends for getting your first 10 subscribers without a landing pageThe one tool mistake that can cost you hundreds of dollars—and zero new readersWhether or not you should invest in paid ads for early growthWhy planning your “perfect” newsletter launch might actually be procrastination in disguiseWhy tracking analytics in the beginning doesn't matter (and what to track instead)Why chasing virality before you’re ready can backfire hardHow to use early replies and feedback to shape your newsletter directionThe mindset shift that separates stuck creators from those who actually hit sendLINKS MENTIONEDTom Alder's GIR Deep Dive The Obvious Choice by Jonathan GoodmanDylan's 'Resend To Unopens' Experiment & ArticleGet Chenell's brand-new offering for newsletter creators: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!
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The #1 Newsletter Metric You Need To Pay More Attention To
The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“I sent this short email—and got over 200 replies—when I usually get maybe 8 to 15. It was wild." — ChenellIn this episode, we're digging into the art (and science) of getting more replies to your newsletter. Why replies?Because we believe (and we're not alone) that replies should be the #1 metric most newsletter creators should be focusing on—even more than open or click rates. We unpack why replies are a powerful signal for deliverability, engagement—even creator mental health—and we share practical strategies for getting more of them. Everything from welcome email tweaks to pattern-interrupt campaigns. And we even highlight our own examples—plus some examples from major newsletter experts like Mario Gabriele’s “Puzzler,” Toby Howell’s gamified email, and Katelyn Bourgoin’s Fri-Yay edition (part of her Why We Buy newsletter).KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy replies are the ultimate engagement metric (and why open/click rates can mislead you)How replies directly impact email deliverabilityThe underrated mental health boost creators get from reader repliesWhy your welcome email is the #1 place to prioritize a reply CTASimple frameworks to write reply-worthy content (like Shaan Puri’s 7 emotions)How pattern interrupt emails can spark hundreds of responses overnightThe surprising downsides: why Chenell’s 200-reply email also had record unsubscribesReal-world examples: Mario Gabriele’s “Puzzler,” Toby Howell’s “Button Game,” and Katelyn Bourgoin’s Fri-Yay interactive pollsHow replies can reveal new content ideas, products, or even potential clientsWhy even a short personal story in your newsletter can trigger authentic responsesLINKS MENTIONEDShaan Puri's 7 Key Emotions (+ AI Prompt Elicitor)Mario Gabriele ('The Puzzler') GIR Deep DiveToby Howell's 'The Game' newsletterKatelyn Bourgoin on GIR PodcastKatelyn's Why We Buy (+ Fri-Yay) newsletterGet Chenell's brand-new offering for newsletter creators: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!
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3 Steps To A Perfect Subscriber Onboarding
The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here! The Growth Vault is filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“One of the worst things you can do is send new subscribers to a dead-end thank you page. That kills engagement immediately." — ChenellWe're breaking down the most overlooked (yet critical) part of growing a newsletter: onboarding new subscribers. We'll take you through Chenell's 3-step onboarding process every newsletter creator should have in place—and show how to optimize each for higher engagement, deliverability, and long-term retention. We also tease an advanced 5-step version and share examples from top creators like Katelyn Bourgoin, Tom Alder, and Eddie Shleyner. Whether you’re just starting out or already running a large newsletter, you’ll learn how to avoid common pitfalls and set up onboarding that actually works.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe 3 Cs of a high-converting landing pageWhy default Thank-you pages kill engagement (and what to do instead)How "sniper links" can push new subscribers directly into their inbox to find your emailThe #1 mistake welcome emails makeThe most important job your welcome email hasA simple incentive trick to encourage repliesThe difference between a “true” and “false” double opt-inHow (and why) to include surveys in your onboardingWhat top creators do with their “almost there” pages to hook new subscribersLINKS MENTIONEDThe Growth Vault →Katelyn Bourgoin's Why We Buy landing page →Eddie Shleyner's 'Social Proof Avalanche' →Tom Alder's Strategy Breakdowns → Growth.Design →Senja →RightMessage →Growth In Reverse PRO Community →Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | Substack | Bluesky OUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!
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7 Ways To Make a 'Good' Newsletter GREAT
The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here! The Growth Vault is filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“Sometimes less is more. Cut the clutter and highlight the one thing that matters." — ChenellIt's newsletter roast time 🔥🔥 We're putting the spotlight on Hobby Card Life: a newsletter covering sports cards and collectibles. We roast and review everything from the sign-up flow to newsletter design to growth levers. You’ll hear what’s working, what’s holding this newsletter back, and the exact opportunities we see for growth and monetization.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe first impression a niche newsletter makes on readers (and where Hobby Card Life missed).The simple opt-in tweak that could dramatically increase subscriber conversions.Why design consistency matters more than you think—and how this newsletter could fix it quickly.What to do when your niche is too broad for new subscribers to understand instantly.The surprising monetization angle that could be a major revenue driver.How partnerships inside a passionate niche can compound growth.The retention risk we spotted in this newsletter’s publishing cadence.Where we’d focus first if we were growing Hobby Card Life from here.LINKS MENTIONEDHobby Card Life newsletterHobbyCardLife.comGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityThe GIR Social Growth Challenge Get Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!
About Newsletter & Email Growth: Growth In Reverse
Growth In Reverse is the must-listen podcast for anyone serious about growing an email list and turning a newsletter into a thriving business. Hosted by Chenell Basilio and Dylan Redekop, two leading voices in the newsletter space, this show pulls back the curtain on how today’s top newsletter operators actually grow and make money.
Episodes include deep-dive teardowns of the strategies behind the most successful newsletters. You’ll hear how creators like Justin Welsh, Codie Sanchez, Sahil Bloom, and other creator founders are building loyal audiences and turning subscribers into revenue. Learn how they attract traffic, increase conversions, boost retention, and scale without burning out.
Whether you're launching your first newsletter or refining your growth engine, Growth In Reverse gives you proven tactics you can use right away. From onboarding systems and referral programs to sponsorships and paid products, this podcast helps you grow faster and smarter. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start applying what works, tune in and learn how the best are building newsletters that last.
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