How to Start a Newsletter in 8 Steps (With a First-Issue Template and a 30-Day Plan)

You want to start a newsletter, but the questions pile up fast. What do I even write about? Which platform? How often? What goes in the first issue? And can this thing ever make money?

This guide answers them in order: a niche and promise, a free platform that fits how you'll earn, a format and send day, a fill-in-the-blank first issue, a welcome email, growth, income and a 30-day launch plan.

Everything below works on a free plan, and you'll see where each free plan stops.

Quick answer: which free tool to start with

1. 1

   beehiiv Newsletter-first writers

   Free up to 2,500 subscribers; Lite from $59/mo

   Built around publishing, with a website, a recommendation network and one welcome email on Free.

   Start beehiiv free →Read our notes ↓
2. 2

   Kit Creators who sell products

   Free up to 10,000 subscribers; Creator from $39/mo

   Kit lists paid newsletters and digital product sales on its free plan.

   Try Kit free →Read our notes ↓
3. 3

   MailerLite Tight budgets

   Free up to 250 subscribers; paid from $12/mo

   3 automations, a website and signup forms for $0, and a small first paid step.

   Start MailerLite free →Read our notes ↓
4. 4

   Systeme.io Newsletter plus funnels or a course

   Free up to 2,000 contacts; paid from $17/mo

   Unlimited emails, sales funnels and one course in the same free account.

   Start Systeme.io free →Read our notes ↓

Prices checked Oct 2026. Plans change, so please confirm on each vendor's site.

On this page

1. How to start a newsletter: the 8 steps at a glance
2. Step 1: Pick a niche and a promise
3. Step 2: Choose a newsletter platform
4. Step 3: Choose a name, format and cadence
5. Step 4: Write your first issue (fill-in-the-blank template)
6. Step 5: Set up your welcome email
7. Step 6: Compliance basics before you hit send
8. Step 7: Grow your newsletter
9. Step 8: Make money from your newsletter
10. Your 30-day launch plan
11. FAQ
12. The bottom line

How to start a newsletter: the 8 steps at a glance

1. Pick a niche and a one-line promise.
2. Choose a platform.
3. Set your name, format and cadence.
4. Write your first issue.
5. Set up a welcome email.
6. Cover the compliance basics.
7. Grow your list.
8. Make money from it.

Each step ends with one thing to do today.

Step 1: Pick a niche and a promise

"A newsletter about productivity" is hard to subscribe to. "One 10-minute system a week for freelancers who keep missing deadlines" is easy. The second one tells readers who it's for, what they get and how much time it takes.

Use this template:

"Every [day or week], [specific reader] gets [one specific thing] so they can [result]."

• "Every Sunday, new Etsy sellers get one listing fix they can make in 15 minutes."
• "Every Friday, busy parents get three dinners that use one grocery list."

Then run three checks:

• Can you list 20 issue ideas? If you stall at eight, go a little broader.
• Do people search for it? Type your topic into Pinterest's search bar. The suggested phrases are how readers describe the problem.
• Is there something to sell later? A template, a course, a service or affiliate products. You don't need it yet.

Do this today: Write your promise and your 20-idea list in one note.

Step 2: Choose a newsletter platform

A newsletter platform stores subscribers, hosts your signup page, sends issues and handles unsubscribes. The right pick depends mostly on how you plan to earn. Here's how the four free plans compare.

Prices shown are monthly billing at the time of our last check. Please confirm on the official pricing page before you buy.

beehiiv

beehiiv

Best for: Newsletter-first writers

Free up to 2,500 subscribers

Free plan

Up to 2,500 subscribers

Welcome on Free

One welcome email

Paid subscriptions

Lite and up, 0% beehiiv take

Next step up

Lite $59/mo at 1,000 ($49/mo yearly)

beehiiv's pricing page lists a website and a "Recommendation network" on all plans, Free included. Multi-step automations start on Lite (10 live automations), and removing beehiiv branding needs Pro. More in our beehiiv review and beehiiv vs Substack.

Skip it if: your main goal is selling a course with a long launch sequence, or you need more than 2,500 subscribers on $0.

Start beehiiv free →Opens beehiiv.com · affiliate link

beehiiv's pricing page loads on yearly billing, so it headlines $49. Lite starts at $59/mo billed monthly ($49/mo billed yearly) for up to 1,000 subscribers.

Kit

Kit

Best for: Creators who sell products

Free up to 10,000 subscribers

Free plan

Up to 10,000 subscribers

On Free

Unlimited broadcasts, landing pages and forms

Selling on Free

Digital products and subscriptions

Next step up

Creator $39/mo at 1,000 ($33/mo yearly)

Kit's free plan covers the newsletter itself and selling. Creator adds unlimited email sequences and visual automations, and removes Kit branding.

Skip it if: you want a multi-email welcome sequence that runs on its own without paying.

Try Kit free →Opens kit.com

MailerLite

MailerLite

Best for: Tight budgets

Free up to 250 subscribers

Free plan

250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/mo

Automations on Free

3

Also on Free

A website, a landing page and signup forms

Next step up

Comfort $12/mo (500) · $19/mo (1,000)

The paid steps are small: at 1,000 subscribers, Comfort is $19/mo, against $39 for Kit Creator and $59 for beehiiv Lite (monthly billing).

Skip it if: you expect to pass 250 subscribers soon and want to stay at $0 a while longer.

Start MailerLite free →Opens mailerlite.com

Systeme.io

Systeme.io

Best for: Newsletter plus funnels or a course

Free up to 2,000 contacts

Free plan

2,000 contacts, unlimited emails

Also on Free

3 funnels, 1 course, 0% transaction fees

Next step up

Startup $17/mo (5,000 contacts)

The free plan caps you at 500 students, 1 tag, 1 automation rule and 1 workflow, so it is fine for testing but too limited for a real email funnel. Students are unlimited on paid plans. See our Systeme.io review.

Skip it if: publishing is your whole business and you don't plan to sell a course or run funnels.

Start Systeme.io free →Opens systeme.io · affiliate link

How we chose these tools

We compared the subscriber cap on $0, what each free plan sends on its own, how you can earn and the first paid step, using vendor pricing pages and help centers (how we review). For bigger lists, see the best email marketing platforms for creators.

Still deciding? Answer five quick questions (or open the full-page quiz).

Do this today: Open one free account. You can export your list and move later.

Step 3: Choose a name, format and cadence

Name it so people get it at a glance

A clear name does more work on Pinterest and in an inbox than a clever one. Three formulas:

• The result: "The 15-Minute Shop Fix", "Sunday Supper Plan"
• The reader: "The Freelance Week", "New Gardener Notes"
• Your name plus the topic: "Sam's Etsy Notes"

Pick one repeatable format

A fixed format means filling in slots, not facing a blank page.

• The single tip: one problem, one fix, one action. The easiest to keep up.
• The roundup: three to five links or ideas, with your take on each.
• The deep dive: one longer how-to. Suits paid tiers, but slower to write.
• The Q&A: one reader question per issue, once you have readers.

Set a cadence you can keep for 12 weeks

Put your send day in your welcome email. A weekly issue you keep for 12 weeks beats a daily one you drop after three.

Do this today: Choose your name, format and send day, then write them under your promise.

Step 4: Write your first issue (fill-in-the-blank template)

Issue #1 delivers on your promise and sets the pattern for every issue after it. Keep it short; most readers skim on a phone.

First-issue template

• Subject line: [Number or result] + [for whom], e.g. "One listing fix for slow Etsy shops"
• Preview text: the line that shows after the subject. Finish the thought: "Takes 15 minutes, works on old listings."

Hi [first name],

Welcome to issue #1 of [newsletter name]. Every [day], you'll get [one specific thing] so you can [result]. That's the whole deal.

This week's [tip / idea / fix]: [Name the problem in one sentence.] [Explain the fix in 3–5 short sentences or a numbered list.]

Try it: [One action the reader can take in under 15 minutes.]

One thing I found useful: [A tool, article, pin or video, with one line on why it helps.]

Your turn: What's your biggest question about [topic] right now? Hit reply. I read every answer, and the best questions become future issues.

See you next [day],

[Your name]

P.S. Know someone who'd like this? Forward it to them. They can join here: [signup link]

Before you send: test it on your phone, check every link, and draft issues #2 and #3 so a busy week doesn't break your streak.

Do this today: Fill in the template and schedule issue #1 for your send day.

Step 5: Set up your welcome email

New subscribers should hear from you right away, not on your next send day. beehiiv Free includes a single welcome email, and MailerLite and Systeme.io can send one with their free automations. On Kit Free, sequences need Creator, but Kit's help center says the confirmation email sent after a form signup can carry your first message.

• Subject: You're in: here's what to expect from [newsletter name]

Hi [first name],

Thanks for subscribing to [newsletter name]. Here's how it works:

• What you'll get: [one specific thing] every [day], usually a [3]-minute read.
• Why it exists: I'm [your name], and I [one-sentence reason you write about this].
• Start here: if you read one past issue, make it this one: [link to your best issue or the web archive]

Quick favor: reply with one word about where you are with [topic]: starting, stuck or growing. It helps me write issues that fit.

Your first issue arrives on [day].

[Your name]

P.S. If this landed in Promotions, move it to your main inbox so you don't miss the next one.

If you also want to deliver a freebie and send a short sequence, the email-list guide has three ready-to-paste welcome emails.

Do this today: Turn on the welcome email and sign up with a second address to test it.

Step 6: Compliance basics before you hit send

This isn't legal advice, just the basics every beginner should know.

• US (CAN-SPAM): The FTC's CAN-SPAM compliance guide asks for accurate sender details, honest subject lines, a valid physical postal address and a clear way to opt out, with opt-outs honored within 10 business days. A USPS-registered P.O. box counts.
• UK and EU (GDPR): The UK ICO's guidance on consent says consent has to be a clear, active choice. Pre-ticked boxes don't count, and you should keep records of who agreed.
• Sponsors and affiliate links: if you're paid for a mention or earn a commission, say so clearly next to it. The FTC expects disclosures that readers can't miss.

In practice: only add people who signed up themselves, say what they'll receive and how often, and link a simple privacy policy.

Step 7: Grow your newsletter

Pick two channels and show up there every week for a month. Here are four that fit a newsletter.

Pinterest: turn every issue into a pin

Pinterest works like a visual search engine, and a pin can keep sending visitors long after you post it. A weekly newsletter hands you a fresh pin idea every week.

1. Publish the web version of each issue (beehiiv, MailerLite and Systeme.io include a website on Free; Kit gives you unlimited landing pages).
2. Make 2–3 tall pins per issue, each with a different headline. We make ours 1000 x 1500 px.
3. Lead with the reader's result, not your newsletter's name: "15-minute fix for slow Etsy listings."
4. Link to a page with a signup form, so one click takes a reader from pin to subscriber.
5. Use the words people search in pin titles, descriptions and board names.

Cross-promotions with similar newsletters

Find two or three newsletters of similar size with overlapping readers and offer to swap a short mention: two sentences on why your readers would like theirs, plus a link. Only recommend newsletters you'd read yourself.

Recommendation networks

Some platforms suggest other newsletters to people right after they subscribe. beehiiv lists a "Recommendation network" on every plan, Free included. Kit lists "Free Recommendations" on all plans (growth "through the network of Kit creators"), plus "Smart Recommendations" on Creator and Pro. Turning these on is a low-effort way to get found.

Referral programs

A referral program rewards readers for sharing, say a bonus guide after three referrals. Kit's pricing page lists a "Newsletter referral system" (a free SparkLoop plan) on Creator and Pro. Elsewhere, check the pricing page before planning around one. Your "forward this" P.S. is the free version.

Do this today: Choose your two channels. If Pinterest is one, make three pins for issue #1.

Step 8: Make money from your newsletter

You don't need to monetize on day one, but knowing the paths helps you build toward one. We won't quote typical earnings; there isn't an honest single number.

Sponsorships

A brand pays to be featured in your issue. Sponsors tend to look for a focused audience and steady engagement, not only list size. Kit lists "Newsletter sponsorships" on Creator and Pro, saying it matches you with brands and you approve every ad. beehiiv lists "Ad monetization" on Lite and up. You can also pitch small brands your readers already use.

Paid subscriptions

Keep a free issue and offer extra issues, a deep dive or an archive behind a paywall. beehiiv says it "takes 0% of your paid subscription and digital product revenue", leaving Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Paid subscriptions start on Lite. Kit lists paid newsletters on every plan, including Free.

Here's the math on beehiiv for a $5/month subscription: Stripe takes about $0.45 ($0.145 + $0.30), so roughly $4.55 reaches you. At up to 1,000 subscribers on Lite, monthly billing is $59, so you'd need 13 paying readers to cover the plan.

Digital products

A template, printable, mini course or guide that solves the next problem after your free tips. Kit lists selling digital products on its free plan. Systeme.io says it charges "No transaction fees", and its free plan includes funnels and one course, which suits writers selling a course from day one.

Affiliate links

Recommend products you use and earn a commission when readers buy. Disclose it next to the link, and check each program's terms, since some restrict links in emails.

Do this today: Write down which path fits your niche best, and one product or partner you could test within three months.

Your 30-day launch plan

1. Week 1, set up: write your promise, 20 ideas, name, format and send day. Open a free account, build your signup page, turn on the welcome email and test it on your phone.
2. Week 2, launch: write issues #1 and #2. Send #1 on your send day, even to a small list, and add your signup link to your social bios.
3. Week 3, grow: make 3 pins each from issues #1 and #2, turn on recommendations if your platform has them, and pitch one cross-promotion.
4. Week 4, learn: send issue #3, see which pin or channel brought signups and make more like it, then turn the best reader question into issue #4.

Track four numbers each week: new subscribers by source, click rate (more reliable than open rate, which some email apps' privacy features distort), unsubscribes and replies.

FAQ

How much does it cost to start a newsletter?

$0 on beehiiv (up to 2,500 subscribers), Kit (10,000), MailerLite (250) or Systeme.io (2,000 contacts). Your first costs are usually a paid plan once you outgrow the cap and, optionally, your own domain.

How often should I send a newsletter?

Pick a schedule you can keep for 12 weeks or more. For most beginners that's weekly. Tell readers your send day in the welcome email.

What should I write in my first newsletter?

Say what the newsletter is and when it arrives, give one useful tip and one action, and ask readers to reply with their biggest question. Step 4 has a fill-in-the-blank template.

Which is better for a newsletter, beehiiv or Kit?

beehiiv suits writers whose newsletter is the product, with a website and recommendation network on Free. Kit suits creators who plan to sell digital products or subscriptions and want a larger free list. Our beehiiv review goes deeper.

When can I start making money from a newsletter?

There's no fixed subscriber count. You can add an affiliate link or a small digital product from your first issues. Sponsors and paid tiers tend to make more sense once you publish steadily and know what your readers value most.

The bottom line

Write one clear promise, open a free account, pick a format and send day, and send issue #1 from the template. Then pin each issue, swap mentions with similar newsletters, and test one way to earn once readers reply.

If the newsletter is the product, start where publishing comes first. If you'll sell products from day one, start where selling is on the free plan.

Newsletter is the product? Start beehiiv free →Free up to 2,500 subscribers

Selling products too? Try Kit free →Free up to 10,000 subscribers

You can switch platforms later. What carries over is the habit of showing up on your send day.