Learn how to start making money for free by creating your Substack newsletter and podcast. Includes eight steps with examples, resources, and a template.

I started my Substack newsletter and podcast because I wanted to learn how to make money without spending any time on it. When I was younger, I had a lot of unstructured time and used that time to read about different things in the blogosphere: politics, film, feminism. Nowadays though, there seems so little free time and what free time there is goes towards work or just spending with loved ones. The idea of using the blogosphere for something productive instead of unproductive sounded like a better use of my spare hours.

I don't know when “Substack” became such a thing, but it seemed like everyone was doing them- from famous bloggers who were making six figures off their blogs–to the lowly faux-persona who's made a couple of hundred dollars from their side hustle. It was an idea that I liked and it seemed like a good one: you could make money and be anonymous and then spend that money on whatever you wanted (like buying more stuff!)

I'm also a podcaster and wanted to start my own, even though I already had one. I'd recorded about twenty episodes for my previous podcast but lost all of them in a hard drive crash. Since I had recorded that many episodes in the past, I thought I should start a new podcast to get better equipment and learn things I didn't know about. It worked out because when one episode was successful, my friends started asking me to start another podcast, not thinking it would turn into something much more significant than I initially intended.

After starting the podcast, I realized that my little blog was much more popular than my podcast. I'd link to a post on a blog post, and a thousand people would read it. My podcast had a pretty small audience for something I was already doing and wanted to do more. So instead of making an obvious choice, I decided to switch from my blog into a newsletter/podcast hybrid name- substack.

Before we get started, make sure to sign up for my newsletter and get tons of tips and tricks to boost your blogging business.

Want to learn how you can start making money for free? The first thing you have to do is create a newsletter. A Substack newsletter will be your best friend because it allows you to stay in front of your audience every week and keep them up-to-date on what's going on with your business. Not only does it allow you to make money for free, but it also helps build So don't wait any longer! Start creating an awesome Substack newsletter today! Trust your audience. 

Want to find out how you can get more support with writing, social media, and blogging? Sign up for the academy's waitlist today. 

What is a Substack newsletter and podcast?

Substack is now two newsletters that together have about 20,000 subscribers. The first is the website with blog posts and news from independent media projects worldwide, along with a list of video and audio material on similar topics. The second newsletter is a podcast where I talk to other artists and activists about their experiences and thoughts.

What people think of it

I get asked many questions about starting a website or podcast: forums, Reddit, email lists, Youtube comments. Many people I know who don't know how to do these things themselves instead of finding someone else to help them. I’ve recently asked people how they can start their website And podcast and tell me that my newsletter/podcast is the example they're trying to follow.

I'm honestly surprised that it's taken off as successfully as it has- and that my friends and family encouraged me to keep going with it. It was a self-directed project where I got no outside advice or guidance. The fact that it's gone as far as it has is very satisfying to me.

Why you should start a Substack newsletter and podcast

Are you a website developer, entrepreneur, or online marketer? Are you looking for a way to grow your audience and create an even more profound connection with your customers? Do you want to be more productive and have some fun too? If so, I recommend that you start a Substack newsletter and podcast.   This post will give you a quick rundown of what they are, how they work, why they're fantastic for business owners like yourself, and how to get started. So let's dive in! 

Reasons why you should start your Substack newsletter and podcast

• You can make money doing it
• It's satisfying to do something that (hopefully) other people will like.
• If you're already podcasting, then it's an extension of something you're already doing and thus more interesting to you than if you were starting from scratch. Plus, you can open up new avenues for income by doing it.
• You can learn something about the blogging/podcasting/internet world that will help you in your other endeavors.
• You can start a side hustle and make money doing something you like.
• It's low commitment.
• It's fun!
• You can occasionally promote your stuff and get paid for it.

These are all things that I think people should be reading more about online, and I thought starting my newsletter and podcast would be a great way to get these ideas out into the world. The following section will be more of a guide for some of the technical aspects of how I started Substack.

Set up your Substack newsletter and podcast

This section will talk about what I did and didn't do when starting my newsletter and podcast. I think it's important to say that none of these things will be identical to what you do, but it's more about the process of doing something like this and less about following a rigid set of instructions.

I will try and keep this as simple as possible and talk about some of the technical aspects of starting a Substack newsletter and podcast. This section will be more technical than the previous one.

Step#1 Decide on a topic

I like Substack because it started with a precise idea in mind: just writing an email newsletter that consisted of media projects from independent blogs and podcasts. I've never been a fan of starting projects without having an end goal in mind. I also didn't want to start my podcast, but at the same time, I was already doing one on my own. Starting with a concrete idea of what I wanted to do helped me get started because it gave me something to aim for.

Step#2 Equipment needed for a podcast and newsletter

Seriously, if you want to start a podcast or newsletter, you're going to need some equipment. In this step-by-step guide, I'm going to list the basic tools you need to get your show or publication off the ground. Why are we waiting? Let's jump right in!

A. Get equipment for your podcast

First of all, you've got to have a mic. I'm lucky that the podcast I was doing before had an affordable mic that works with Garageband that I used. You can use this for your podcast, which I did initially, or you can start recording on something more professional- one of my favorite mics is the Rode Podcaster Stereo Mic if you're familiar with it.

Next, you need a way to record your voice. I'm sure that there are plenty of different ways to do this, but one of the most affordable is buying a cheap USB interface. The one I use for recording is called the PreSonus Audiobox.

The next thing you need is software to record your voice with. If you've got a Mac, Garageband is free if you don't have it already. If you're on a PC, you can use Audacity and record your voice and then export it to mp3. Now that we've covered hardware and software, let's move on to the other equipment.

B. Get equipment for your newsletter

When I first started doing my newsletter, I didn't have a website, so I used a WordPress theme designed specifically for a newsletter. One of the things I expected to need was a signup form and, thanks to the WordPress plugin I used, the form was pre-populated.

In addition to that, there's now an intelligent way to tag posts in your WordPress posts from Substack. I'll have a post that I think might be interesting to people reading the newsletter in my setup. All I have to do is tag it with something like “substack newsletter,” and the plugin will pick up on it so people can go back to that post if they want.

There are many options for podcasting and publishing newsletters, but one thing's certain–you'll need the right equipment to get started. We've compiled a list of items you may want to keep in mind if you're looking to start your own show or publication today. Of course, there is always room for creativity when it comes to creating an original voice that resonates with listeners or readers. Our team can help you figure out what type of equipment will best suit your needs so feel free to reach out! What piece of equipment do you think would be most helpful?

Publishing Frequency

There are so many different factors to think about when it comes to how often you should publish a newsletter. One of the most important things is how much time you're willing to commit. There's no way I could post a new Substack newsletter every day because I just don't have that much time reading or writing blogs.

I try to get at least one out every Monday, but if I'm having trouble because I'm busy with other things, it'll come out on Tuesday instead. It's also worth noting that you don't have to stick to a particular publishing schedule. I think it's essential for me to be consistent in my communication with people, so I try to do the newsletter every Monday, but if I just can't get something out on that day, I’ll publish it on another day of the week.

Things to keep in mind when creating your content

If you're thinking about creating a newsletter, then there are several things to keep in mind.

A. Have an idea for something interesting to talk about.

Something that you can use to decide what kind of content your newsletter should be will be vital if you want to avoid putting out the same thing repeatedly. Don't worry about having tons of ideas because it's unlikely that you'll stick with only one topic for very long, so it doesn't matter if you don't have many for now.

B. Spend time curating your content

One of the best things about a newsletter is that it's essentially just the links to external content. One of the things I think is essential to do if you're going to do this sort of thing is spend time figuring out which links are worth including in your newsletter. It doesn't take that much time, but it can be pretty annoying to have to click through every single link and then read the post and figure out what's interesting about it and what isn't.

C. Don't be afraid to include a link or two from your own content.

I share many links in my newsletter, and it doesn't cause much trouble for me because I have a few articles that I think are important to share with the community. When I was writing about crypto mining, I wrote an article about using Substack as well as a guide to using the Coinhive API so if you've been following along from the beginning, be sure to check it out!

D. Use an email service 

Using a service that's dedicated to sending email is very helpful. If you're not familiar with what they are, then here is a list of the top ones.

4 ways you can add value to your customers

As you start to think about what kind of content your newsletter should be, it's important to spend time curating the external links that are relevant and interesting. Whether you're trying out a new topic or choosing something more niche for an established audience, there will always be plenty of places to find good material. It doesn't matter if you don't have many ideas yet because chances are you'll change up topics frequently enough so this won't become an issue in the future. Keep these things in mind when creating your next email marketing campaign!

Examples of successful newsletters and podcasts

If you're looking for a lot of examples of newsletters and podcasts that you can look up, then I'd recommend the following: 

Substack Blog

If you're looking to start your blog in the coming months, I'd recommend checking out the substack blog. It's one of the most well-known newsletters that's just been around for years and has a considerable following. If you're new to the podcasting world, then it might be worth looking at, but it depends on what kind of content you want to get out there.

RSA Podcast

RSA is a company that does a lot of things related to data security, so they have a podcast and a newsletter. They have an exciting interview show with many different speakers from different fields, so I recommend checking them out if you're interested in the topic of data security. 

Hacker News Newsletter

I'm sure there are other newsletters that you can find, but I've already mentioned a lot of them, and they aren't really what I would consider podcasts, so I won't go too much into it.

Coindesk podcast

I've already mentioned the substack blog, but I think it's worth mentioning Coindesk as well because their newsletter is pretty popular and has a large following. If you're interested in cryptocurrency, then you should check out their podcast.

Learn how to podcast like the pros

The world of newsletters and podcasts is wide-reaching. There are many types that will suite your individual needs, whether it be for business or pleasure. With so much information to sift through, it can feel like the process might get overwhelming quickly. That’s why we’ve created this list of popular newsletters and podcasts in different fields with a brief description of what they offer so you can choose one that best suits your interests. Do any on this list sound interesting to you? What do you think about them?

Resources for more information on how to create one yourself

The most important thing that you can do to move forward with your podcast is to ask questions on forums or Reddit because you're unsure how to do something like this. Then, once you've gotten some clarifications, you can consider getting some equipment or hiring someone to help out with it.

Reddit

If you're looking for more information about creating a podcast, WordPress, and the like, then you should check out these subreddits:

• /r/podcasting is an excellent place to start. There is a lot of information on how to get started with podcasting here. For example, there's a lot of information on setting up equipment for recording audio. 
• /r/podcasts discusses different types of podcasts and which ones are popular at the current moment in time. /r/nosthetics discusses aesthetics in podcasting and other podcasting-related topics. 
• /r/podcast_tips is an excellent subreddit for giving your input on making podcasts and has information about equipment and different issues related to podcasting and audio recording.

It's clear that you're a podcast enthusiast, and we want to do everything in our power to help. If you're looking for more information about creating one yourself or getting started with the process of setting up your own show from scratch, then check out these subreddits!

Sample template

If you've decided to create your podcast and don't know where to start, here is a sample template that you can use to get started.

Welcome to my podcast!

I'm (your name), and this is (name of the podcast). I am recording this episode on (date). In this episode of my podcast, I am going to be talking about (topic). I've been thinking about doing a podcast about (subject), and after much thought and research, I've decided that I'm going to cover (topic).

The reason why I'm doing this is that (reason) and also because (reason). When comments are posted to this podcast, I will note them in the comments section below. The reason why I want you to leave remarks is so that you can give me feedback. You can comment either using the search bar or using the URL. There are no comments on this episode of (your podcast name).

I started this podcast to create an outlet for the things that I have discovered in my life. After being in the crypto space for a while, I have found that many people are just as passionate about crypto as me and interested in learning more. I'm excited to give you all information about crypto with my podcast in the coming years!

(Your favorite part of this podcast) is ____________________.

(How you discovered this podcast) is ____________________.

(Please share your feedback with me) is ____________________.

(A list of your favorite sources for learning about crypto / Bitcoin / etc.) is ____________________.

I would appreciate it if you subscribed to the podcast to get notifications whenever I publish a new episode. You can also follow me on Medium and Twitter by clicking here. You can find my Medium profile here and my Twitter account here.

Finally, if you'd like to support this podcast, you can donate to my podcast.

If you're in the position of wanting to create your podcast but don't know where to start, then here is a sample template that can help get you started. The most important thing you should do before getting any equipment or hiring anyone else to help out with it is to ask questions on forums like Reddit or other places online for clarification about how this process works. Once you've gotten some clarifications and decided what kind of equipment would be best for your purposes (or if instead someone will work with you,) then come back here and take another look at these templates! These are just three possible ways that could make sense for what you want; there may also be others we haven't mentioned, so feel free to explore more.

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

The following are tips and frequently asked questions.

How do I start a Substack newsletter? 

The best time to write is when you're fresh, so get up early in the morning. Start with something friendly to grab their attention – teach them about an interesting food or beverage they may not know about yet. If it's a new company, mention why they should care enough to listen. Give useful tidbits but don't make things sound too sales-y. Trust me…

Do be sure that you are hydrated and have eaten breakfast before starting your email because exhaustion and low blood sugar will cause mistakes that might mislead someone into thinking your product isn't worth their consideration- never want people thinking that! Lastly, be kind – always remember there are customer service aspects of writing newsletters where you need to show off while being approachable.

How do I start writing a newsletter? 

When it comes to writing a newsletter, the key is to always remain friendly and trustworthy in your tone. You can begin with a morning walk or a good meal, but be sure to hydrate yourself with fresh water in order to keep your creative juices flowing in a positive way.

A newsletter can share the latest things going on in the world- from art exhibitions, music premieres, local artists, or charity events. Take time out of each week for at least ten minutes of writing and you'll be finding yourself hunched over your keyboard gathering inspiration rather than hunting unsuccessfully for content. It's much easier when you trust yourself and have faith that something will come naturally versus waiting around waiting for that “perfect idea.” Use Shortly and Jasper (formerly Jarvis and Conversion.ai) artificial intelligence writer to maximize your efforts.

How to Start a Newsletter for Free

There are two ways to start a free newsletter: One of them is more organized than the other, so decide which one best suits you before proceeding! 

1. Plan ahead for a week or month by jotting down notes about topics or themes that matter most to you. While planning ahead, the key to your newsletter is to make sure that you're writing about something that is related to your business. If you're running a food delivery service, then you could talk about the various types of food that are popular in US or through updates about your company or its products.
2. Write down the topics or themes that you discussed previously and make sure that you give enough time for each topic to be thoroughly discussed. For example, you could use one newsletter to focus on the recent trends in technology and another newsletter to discuss the problems that you face while running your business.
3. Once this is done, share it with people that have a similar interest and start testing it out! To achieve this, you should send it out to a couple of people and see what they think.

Make sure you have a clear outline of how frequently you want to send out your newsletter. 

For example, do you want to send it out weekly, monthly or biweekly? Once you've made this decision, make sure that you stick with it in order for your subscribers to know about when they can expect the next newsletter to show up in their inboxes.

If the content of your newsletter is not generating enough sales for you, then I suggest that you start sharing information about things that people would really like. For example, if you're running a dog food shop, you could share information about the health benefits of feeding your dog a certain kind of food or any other topic that has something to do with dogs. This can increase your sales and also help your readers who have links on your newsletter!

Hopefully, this article will help you in whatever business venture that you are currently working on! If you have any questions or would like to give me feedback on the article, then please leave a comment below or send me a private message.

How do I get more subscribers on Substack?

Here are some great tips that you can use to get more subscribers on Substack.

1. Focus on building your brand, not just writing your content. To learn more about how we built our business, check out this article.
2. Make sure that your newsletter includes information about what you're trying to sell. If you write useful information for your readers then there's a chance that they'll consider buying from you or at least consider buying from you in the future.
3. If you want to grow your newsletter, then you should consider putting some ads on it. If you do this then make sure that you do it fairly and not too often. Don't forget to offer your readers the ability to opt-out of your newsletter, so that they won't get any unwanted ads!
4. Make a great first impression by sending our welcome message to all of your subscribers. This can be a very powerful message that is sent when you first start your newsletter, so make sure you take time to write something great!
5. Try to put an email footer on your newsletter so that people who read it can find more information about you and contact you. To learn more about email footers, check out this article.

I want to help spread the word about Substack! What should I do?

If you want to tell your friends about Substack, then consider tweeting this article or sharing it on Facebook. We appreciate any kind of support that we can get and would love to hear from you!

How many email subscribers do you need to make money?

The number of email subscribers that you need to make money can vary from business to business. To find out how many subscribers you need, you'll need to do some research and ask your friends. This is because different businesses have different goals in mind when they start a newsletter.

What is a podcast hosting site?

A podcast hosting site is a place where you can upload your podcast episodes so that other people can find and listen to them. All of the major podcast hosting sites allow people to…

1) Create an account

2) Upload their podcast content

3) Add show notes

4) Add audio files or video files

5) Publish their podcast

6) Manage subscriptions

7) View statistics and analytics

8) Connect with other podcasters

Can you start a podcast for free?

Yes, you can start a podcast for free. However, in order to make money from your podcast, you'll need to…

1) Register with a podcast hosting site

2) Upload your podcast episodes

3) Set up some sort of business model that people can pay for

4) Grow your audience from scratch

How do podcasts make money?

There are really two ways that podcasts make money:

1) The podcaster can offer products or services that they're trying to sell in their podcast and if people like the show then they'll buy the products or services.

2) The podcaster can offer other people's products and services in their podcast in exchange for some sort of compensation. For example, the podcaster could offer to review the products or services in their podcast and give a review if they're happy with them. If a person is unhappy with the product or service, then they can contact the podcaster to say that they're unhappy and ask to be refunded.

How do I get sponsors for my podcast?

If you want to get sponsors for your podcast, then you'll need to talk with them and see if they're willing to sponsor your podcast. You should also make sure that your podcast has a large audience! 

When should I start to monetize my newsletter?

The answer to this question really depends on how you make your money from your newsletter. If you're just looking to make money from the number of people that read it, then you might want to start monetizing your newsletter when you first start your newsletter, so that people will be interested enough in what you have that they'll keep reading it.

How often should I post?

Depending on your niche, it's a good idea to post at least once a week. The best times to post are either early in the morning (around 6 am), or late in the evening (around 10 pm). If you want to find out more about when people are most active online, then check out this article.

Additional Resources

How to use Substack for podcasts – It’s now possible to host and distribute paid and free podcasts through Substack. Your podcast episodes will be available not only through email and on your Substack site, but also in all the major podcast apps. Our podcasting feature is in beta, so we’ll continue to improve it in response to user f… (on.substack.com)

In a hot week for audio, paid newsletterer Substack introduces a way for podcasters to earn money – “It's not paying for the newsletter or the audio file. It’s the connection to the mind.” (niemanlab.org)

Subscription platform Substack adds podcast support – TechCrunch – Substack started out by providing individual writers and publishers with a set of tools enabling them to charge a subscription fee for their newsletters. Now it’s giving them the ability to do the same thing with podcasts. In fact, Morgan Creek Digital Assets founder Anthony “Pomp” Pompliano is alre… (techcrunch.com)

How Substack has spawned a new class of newsletter entrepreneurs – As the media ecosystem contracts amid coronavirus, Substack has been thrust into an uncomfortable role — that of a savior. (digiday.com)

Journalists Getting Paid: How Online Platforms Are Boosting Income for Writers – Even in a downturn, journalists are finding success with paid newsletters, texting, patronage and more In a time of decline… (knightfoundation.org)

9 of the Best Substack Newsletters Worth Reading – The best Substack newsletters cover a range of topics from politics to the arts. We explore the platform and interview cofounder Hamish McKenzie. (becomeawritertoday.com)

Big things start small: How Substack sparked its early community of writers – From a laser-sharp focus on the first writers to scaling through building with writers, not for them. (gettogether.substack.com)

Newsletter service Substack is the latest free podcast host – The company that removed podcasts from their app after podcasters demanded consent. A new Puerto Rican podcast host. And happy 20th, podcasting! (podnews.net)

CONCLUSION

I hope that this article will help you in your journey towards creating a successful podcast. There is a lot of information for you to read here but I think that it's quite broad and touches on a lot of different topics so there won't be any confusion. I know that a lot of people have been looking for some advice on how they can get started with their own podcast and I hope that this guide will help you.

Originally posted on March 20, 2022 @ 12:00 am