email newsletters are not dead (theyre just getting interesting)

every few months someone declares email dead. usually on twitter. which is ironic because twitter is the thing that actually feels like its dying.

email is not dead. its just not the shiny new thing anymore. and thats exactly why its valuable.

why email wins

email is the only channel you actually own. your twitter can get suspended. your instagram algorithm can change. your tiktok account can vanish.

but your email list? thats yours. nobody can take it away. nobody can shadowban your newsletter.

email also has the best engagement on the planet. open rates of 30-50% are normal. compare that to social media where 2% of your followers see your post.

what makes a good newsletter

not another "5 tips for better productivity" newsletter. please. the world has enough of those.

good newsletters have:

a point of view. not just information. a take. an opinion. something to agree or disagree with.

personality. write like a human. use your voice. be weird if you want. the robots can generate generic content. only you can sound like you.

consistency. not daily. not even weekly necessarily. but predictable enough that people know when to expect you.

respect for the reader. dont waste their time. get to the point. if you have nothing to say, skip a week.

how to start

pick a frequency you can actually keep. bi-weekly is better than weekly if weekly burns you out.

write the first 3 issues before you announce anything. this gives you a buffer and lets you figure out your voice.

then tell 10 friends. ask them to forward it to one person. repeat.

thats it. no fancy funnel. no lead magnets. just good writing delivered consistently.

~ enki