Now for the technical side: selecting a platform or tools to actually send the newsletter and handle payments. Fortunately, there are some all-in-one solutions that make this easier than ever.
Popular choices include: - Substack: A very creator-friendly platform specifically for newsletters with free + paid options built in. It handles email delivery, payments (via Stripe), and even has community features. It’s free to use, they take ~10% of your paid subscriptions. Substack is easy because you don’t need your own site – you get a Substack page (yourname.substack.com). Many writers launch here for simplicity. - Ghost: An open-source platform akin to WordPress but geared to membership content. Ghost (Pro) has built-in newsletter and paid membership tools. It requires more setup (you either self-host or pay Ghost’s hosting). Good if you want more control over design and owning your platform. Ghost can power a website with a members-only area + newsletters. - Patreon + Email Service: Some creators use Patreon to handle payments and deliver content either via Patreon posts or by integrating with an email service (like Mailchimp, ConvertKit). Patreon is well-known and people trust it. They have a built-in email send for posts or you can manually email patrons from Patreon. Downside: content behind Patreon’s login might not be as seamless as direct-to-inbox. - Email Service Providers with Stripe: MailerLite, ConvertKit, Revue (Twitter’s newsletter tool, though as of writing Revue is shutting down in 2023), and others allow paid newsletters. For example, ConvertKit has a Commerce feature to sell subscriptions, and MailerLite can integrate with Stripe to manage paid newsletters. These give you more branding control (you can use your own domain and templates) but might require more initial setup (connecting Stripe, designing emails). - Beehiiv, Buttondown, etc.: Newer platforms like Beehiiv (founded by ex-Morning Brew folks) or Buttondown (a simple newsletter service) also support paid subs. Beehiiv has good referral program tools and is gaining popularity.
Think about your comfort and priority: - If you want quick launch and community features: Substack is a strong pick. It even has comments and a kind of network effect (Substack users discover others). - If you want to fully own your list and site: a self-hosted or email service approach might be better. ConvertKit is popular with creators (they also only take Stripe fees, no extra cut). - If you already have a WordPress site, you could even use plugins (like Memberful or Paid Memberships Pro) to handle memberships and integrate with a newsletter service.
For simplicity, let’s assume you choose an integrated route like Substack or MailerLite’s paid newsletter feature. The general setup steps will be: 1. Create your account on the platform and fill out profile info (newsletter name, description, logo or header image possibly). Make it look professional and aligned with your brand. 2. Connect to a payment processor. Usually Stripe is the go-to (Substack and Ghost use Stripe). You’ll need to set up a Stripe account (if you don’t have one) which involves providing bank details, tax info, etc. This allows you to charge subscribers and receive payouts. If using something like Patreon, you’ll just set up payout preferences on Patreon. 3. Configure subscription settings: Enter your pricing (monthly and annual amounts, which should match what decided in Step 3). On Substack, you also can set a “founding member” higher price if you want. On MailerLite or Ghost, you’d create a plan/product for the subscription (e.g., via Stripe, create a recurring product for monthly and yearly). 4. Import any existing email list (if you already have free subscribers or a general mailing list). It’s often smart to start your paid newsletter by inviting your current followers to the free version first. You can typically import CSV of contacts into these platforms. Make sure you only import people who consented to email (don’t spam). 5. Design email template and landing page. Put some effort into the look of your emails and the sign-up page text. Substack has a default minimal design (fine for many). If on a service like Ghost or ConvertKit, you might set up a simple landing page describing your newsletter (with an email signup form and the pricing options). Ensure the landing page clearly states the benefits and maybe shows a sample or at least outlines recent topics. According to data, having a strong landing page with clear CTA can boost conversion – so treat your newsletter signup page like a sales page. You can mention things like “no spam, unsubscribe anytime” to ease minds. 6. Set up any onboarding emails: It’s good to have a welcome email that automatically sends when someone subscribes (free or paid). Thank them, remind them what to expect (frequency, content), maybe link to popular past content or ways to reach you. It’s about setting the tone and delivering immediate value or connection. If using Substack, it handles new sub welcome message. If using an ESP, set up an automation for “on subscribe”. 7. Test the flow: Do a dry run – maybe even subscribe with your own email as if you’re a customer (you can create a 100% off coupon or a test price of $1 if needed to simulate it). Ensure emails deliver to inbox (check they don’t go to spam – if they do, you might need to set up domain authentication like SPF/DKIM, which services guide you through). Make sure the payment processes correctly. Also test the unsubscribe process to see what user experience is (and ensure it's not cumbersome – legally must be easy). 8. Integrate with your website or socials: Add a prominent signup form or link on your website if you have one (“Subscribe to my newsletter” with a button). If using Substack, you might still have a custom domain site where you embed a signup form. If not, you’ll rely on your Substack page or so. Also, link it in your social profiles (“✉️ Newsletter: link” in bio etc.). The easier people can find and sign up, the better.
MailerLite’s step-by-step suggests creating a landing page and connecting Stripe, etc., and highlights adding a password-protected archive for paid content if you want (some advanced steps). But initially, focus on making sure people can find your sign-up page and pay seamlessly.
The tech can seem intimidating if you haven’t done payments, but honestly, platforms have made it quite user-friendly now. Substack is probably the easiest: they basically handle everything once you plug in Stripe and set a price.
By end of Step 4, you should have: - A functional newsletter set up with your content and design. - Payment integration tested and working. - A live landing page or sign-up form where people can subscribe (free or paid). - Confidence that when you announce, the infrastructure won’t fail you.
Now you’re almost ready to launch – next we’ll cover the actual launch process and growing those subscriber numbers!