A couple days ago, I sent an email surveying my readers whether they would be interested in a paid mastermind all about publishing, growing, and monetizing a newsletter.
I got a few dozen responses saying, yeah… why not… sure… maybe… can’t wait… keep me in the loop… it depends… absolutely!
Now what?
What do I do with this feedback?
The classic direct response argument is that only sales count and that talk is cheap, because people lie, both to themselves and to others.
No doubt there’s some of that always going on. I know it from living in my own skin.
Lots of times I have good intentions that never turn into anything… I feel enthusiasm that peters out… I provisionally agree to stuff, only because I know I will never be called upon to deliver it.
So again, what does that mean for my proposed newsletter mastermind?
Well, I’ll tell you a secret:
That survey from a few days ago was not really the first bit of data I collected on this mastermind idea.
First off, there’s my own interest in the topic of publishing, growing, and monetizing a newsletter, which is high, and which I use as barometer of what others might be thinking, since I’m not all that unique.
Second, I’ve seen hundreds of other people starting newsletters over the past year or two. New services, websites, and quite a bit of money are flowing into the space.
Third, I see interest whenever I do write an email about my health newsletter, about growth strategies, about monetization plans I have.
Fourth and finally, there’s an anecdote involving Kira Hug and Rob Marsh of The Copywriter Club.
As I wrote yesterday, I agreed with them a couple of weeks ago to do a presentation at their live event, happening in London next week.
I came up with a few different proposed ideas for that presentation.
One was “Building a newsletter brand in your spare time,” all about my experiences building my health newsletter this year.
Kira voted for that one — because, as she said, it’s a personal interest. She would like to create a newsletter brand herself.
My ears perked up at that. I filed it away as another bit of data supporting the fact that newsletters continue to be a hot opportunity.
In spite of Kira’s personal interest, the newsletter presentation idea didn’t win out, because another topic — writing for insight — seemed to be more in line with what Kira and Rob’s event is about.
So insight is what I will be presenting about in London next week.
But if you are there, I’m happy to talk off-stage about anything — insight, that time I tried to kiss George Soros, or newsletters, if that’s your particular obsession. It certainly is mine, and so I will be creating that newsletter mastermind, most likely starting in January 2024.
But more about that soon.
For now, The Copywriter Club London event happens next Wednesday.
I realize that’s a tight deadline and not much warning.
But in case you can make and want to make it, here’s how to get yer ticket so you can join me there: