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Building a 110K+ Subscriber Newsletter from Scratch
Team CompareBizTech
March 27, 2024
In This Edition:
Sam Altman Decodes 13 Principles For Success.
The Rise of Ben's Bites: Building a 110K+ Subscriber Newsletter from Scratch
AI Breakthrough
Free Finds
Web Picks
Startup News
STARTUP’S STRATEGY
Sam Altman Decodes 13 Principles For How To Be Successful
Sam Altman
This is an insightful blog post from 2019 by Sam Altman, which we frequently revisit. It outlines 13 key strategies for achieving success, filled with valuable insights and advice.
These principles focus on leveraging exponential growth through compounding efforts, becoming skilled in persuasion, and finding unique competitive advantages.
Altman emphasizes the importance of hard work, strategic risk-taking, and focusing on impactful tasks. Building a network, owning assets, and being internally motivated are also highlighted as crucial.
Each principle is crafted to encourage readers to pursue their passions with resilience, think independently, and utilize their strengths effectively.
Sam Altman's principles are a set of guidelines aimed at personal and professional development, particularly in the context of entrepreneurship and building successful businesses. Let's break down each principle for a better understanding:
Compound yourself - This principle emphasizes the power of compounding, not just in finance but in personal growth and skills. By continuously improving yourself, your knowledge, skills, and experience can grow exponentially over time, leading to significant achievements over time.
Have almost too much self-belief - Confidence is key in entrepreneurship. This principle suggests that having a high level of self-belief, bordering on overconfidence, can be a positive force. It drives individuals to take on challenges and persevere through setbacks.
Learn to think independently - Independent thinking is crucial for innovation and leadership. This principle encourages questioning conventional wisdom and finding your own solutions to problems, rather than following the crowd.
Get good at “sales” - Whether it's selling a product, an idea, or yourself, sales skills are invaluable. This principle underlines the importance of being persuasive and able to communicate value effectively to others.
Make it easy to take risks - Successful entrepreneurs often take calculated risks. This principle is about creating a personal and professional environment where taking risks is encouraged and supported, reducing the fear of failure.
Focus - The ability to focus on what really matters and not get distracted by the myriad of other things is crucial. This principle is about prioritizing tasks that have the most impact and dedicating your energy to them.
Work hard - Success requires hard work and dedication. This principle reinforces the idea that there are no shortcuts to achieving lasting success; it's the result of consistent effort over time.
Be bold - Being bold involves taking decisive action and not shying away from big challenges. This principle encourages embracing ambitious goals and having the courage to pursue them.
Be willful - This is about having the determination to see things through, even when faced with obstacles. It means being persistent and not giving up easily.
Be hard to compete with - If you're doing something valuable and doing it well, competition is inevitable. This principle is about building a strong competitive advantage through innovation, quality, or unique value propositions.
Build a network - Relationships matter. This principle highlights the importance of building a network of contacts who can provide support, advice, and opportunities.
You get rich by owning things - This principle refers to the importance of building assets that can appreciate over time, whether it's a business, investments, or intellectual property. It's a reminder that wealth is built through ownership, not just earning a salary.
Be internally driven - Motivation that comes from within is more powerful and sustainable than seeking external validation. This principle is about finding your own reasons for pursuing your goals, which can provide the resilience needed to overcome challenges.
Together, these principles form a comprehensive guide for personal development and entrepreneurship, emphasizing self-improvement, resilience, and strategic thinking.
For a detailed exploration of each principle, we recommend reading the full article.
SOLOPRENEUR’S BOTTOM LINE
The Rise of Ben's Bites: Building a 110K+ Subscriber Newsletter from Scratch
In just 13 months, he transformed his newsletter, "Ben's Bites," into a powerhouse with over 110,000 subscribers, making it an undeniable masterclass in entrepreneurial success.
However, this achievement of Ben Tossell is not his first rodeo. Before Ben's Bites, there was MakerPad, a company that Ben grew and eventually sold to Zapier in 2021.
The parallels between how he built MakerPad and how he's grown his newsletter are striking, showcasing a consistent methodology of rapid experimentation and growth.
What's even more fascinating about Ben's journey is the origin story of Ben's Bites. Unlike many experts who start newsletters as an extension of their existing knowledge, Ben embarked on this project from a place of curiosity and a desire to learn.
He didn't consider himself an AI expert; rather, he saw an opportunity to deepen his understanding by diving headfirst into the subject.
The newsletter was born out of this personal quest for knowledge, transforming his learning process into a shared journey with his rapidly growing audience.
By dissecting complex AI topics into digestible, engaging content, Ben not only educated himself but also built a community of like-minded individuals eager to understand the implications and applications of AI in the modern business landscape.
This case study will delve into the strategies and philosophies that have propelled Ben Tossell from a curious learner to a respected voice in the AI community.
Through Ben's Bites, we see a blueprint for content creators and entrepreneurs alike: the power of relentless curiosity, the importance of sharing one’s learning journey, and the unquantifiable value of building a community around shared interests.
Ben’s story is a testament to the idea that with the right approach, a simple newsletter can evolve into a pivotal resource, turning a personal quest for knowledge into a thriving digital platform.
The Genesis and Growth of Ben's Bites
At its core, Ben's Bites began as a daily newsletter, but with a keen focus on a niche yet burgeoning field: artificial intelligence. This strategic focus allowed Ben to carve out a unique space in the crowded digital ecosystem.
But how did he capture the attention of over 110,000 subscribers in such a short span?
Ben's approach was multifaceted. He leveraged a combination of growth levers that many creators overlook or underutilize:
Active Social Media Engagement: Ben didn't just post; he engaged. By actively participating in conversations, he built a community around Ben's Bites, making each subscriber feel heard and valued.
Referral Programs: Word of mouth on steroids. Ben incentivized his existing audience to spread the word, creating a viral loop that propelled the newsletter's growth.
Paid Advertising: Investing back into the business, Ben used targeted ads to reach potential subscribers interested in AI, fine-tuning his approach based on performance data.
Creating Tools and Community: Beyond the newsletter, Ben offered additional value through tools and forums for his audience, establishing Ben's Bites as not just a newsletter but a comprehensive AI resource.
Newsletter Format Experimentation: Understanding that one size doesn't fit all, Ben experimented with various content formats, lengths, and styles to keep the newsletter fresh and engaging.
Transparency and Sharing the Journey: Lastly, Ben's openness about his strategies, successes, and failures fostered a sense of trust and camaraderie with his audience.
Diversifying Revenue Streams
What sets Ben's Bites apart is not just its impressive subscriber count but how it has been monetized. Ben's Bites isn't reliant on a single income stream; it's a multi-revenue-faceted entity:
Sponsorships: Leveraging the newsletter's targeted audience, Ben attracted sponsors looking to reach AI enthusiasts, turning eyeballs into revenue.
Ben's Bites Pro: Recognizing the willingness of some readers to pay for premium content, Ben introduced a subscription model for exclusive insights, further deepening audience engagement.
Ben's Bites Fund: Venturing into investments, Ben started a fund to back promising AI startups, showing a commitment to the ecosystem he covers.
Affiliate Marketing: While it's noted as a potential revenue stream, affiliate marketing could further monetize the trust Ben has built with his audience by recommending products and services.
The Takeaway for Content Creators
Ben Tossell's journey is a powerful reminder of the potential that lies in email newsletters when combined with strategic thinking, audience engagement, and a willingness to experiment.
The success of Ben's Bites underscores several key lessons for content creators:
Niche Focus: Starting with a clear, targeted niche can help set your content apart.
Engagement Over Broadcasting: Active interaction with your audience can transform passive readers into a vibrant community.
Diverse Revenue Streams: A successful newsletter can open multiple avenues for monetization, ensuring sustainability and growth.
Transparency and Experimentation: Being open about what works (and what doesn't) and being willing to try new approaches are crucial for long-term success.
In essence, Ben's Bites is not just a newsletter; it's a case study in building a community, creating value, and monetizing content effectively.
For aspiring content creators, Ben's journey offers both inspiration and a roadmap.
By understanding your audience, engaging them meaningfully, and continuously innovating, the humble email newsletter can indeed be transformed into a thriving business model.
Source: Ben’s Bites
AI BREAKTHROUGH
Credit: openai.com
OpenAI gave Sora access to collaborate with a selected group of artists, creators, and filmmakers, enabling them to craft short films and videos.
They've showcased seven instances demonstrating Sora's potential as a catalyst in the creative process. However, there's yet to be an announcement regarding Sora's official launch date.
7 artists have shared their exhilarating experiences with Sora, highlighting its groundbreaking capabilities:
Sora has the power to conjure up the utterly surreal, heralding a revolutionary wave in Abstract Expressionism. It's like witnessing the birth of a new artistic dimension.
Discovering Sora was like finding freedom. As a filmmaker, it granted me the liberty to explore and innovate without being hindered by budgets, time constraints, or the need for external approvals.
With Sora, the concept of budget constraints on creativity is obsolete. Any spark of imagination can now be transformed into a vivid reality.
Sora's intuitive interface for building and refining film visuals is a game-changer. It's like having a direct conduit from imagination to screen.
Sora enhances our storytelling capabilities, seamlessly turning the intangible fabric of our imagination into tangible realities, free from the shackles of technical barriers.
Unbound by the conventional laws of physics and traditional thinking, Sora opens the door to a realm of instant visualization and swift prototyping, making the impossible seem effortlessly achievable.
Leveraging AI to morph videos into 3D models, Sora introduces cutting-edge possibilities to the realm of sculpture, blending the lines between the digital and the physical.
These artists' creative ventures, brought to life through Sora models, are a testament to the platform's immense potential.
Even with our familiarity with Sora's capabilities, each new creation leaves us in awe, underscoring the boundless possibilities it offers to the world of art and storytelling. Read here- Sora: first impressions
FREE FINDS
How HubSpot's Free AI Copywriter Transforms Your Content Strategy
This tool is your key to effortlessly crafting emails, landing pages, blog posts, and more, streamlining your workflow in unprecedented ways. Here's how it transforms your content development process:
Efficiency at Scale: Streamline your content creation, saving valuable time and financial resources. AI Content Writer enables rapid production, freeing you to focus on other critical aspects of your business.
Content Versatility: Easily adapt and refine your content for various platforms, ensuring your message resonates everywhere. This adaptability means your content works harder for you, maximizing your outreach efforts.
Expansion without Overhead: Increase your content volume without the need to invest in additional resources or personnel. AI Content Writer empowers you to scale your output, meeting your audience's demands effortlessly.
Consistent Communication: Maintain uniformity in your messaging across all channels and among team members, reinforcing your brand's voice and identity.
Creative Acceleration: Jumpstart your creative process with thought starters and drafts. This not only speeds up content development but also enhances creativity, helping you break through writer's block.
Strategic Enhancement: Leverage insights from your past marketing efforts to refine your content strategy. AI Content Writer learns from your previous campaigns, allowing you to craft more impactful messages.
Start leveraging the AI Content Writer today and transform your content creation process. Unlock the power of Free AI Content Writer by HubSpot and begin crafting compelling content with ease!
WEB PICKS
Character.AI Launches A Handful Of Character Voice subfeatures
Character AI has introduced an innovative feature named "Character Voice," enhancing the interaction with AI characters by enabling users to listen to the characters' voices during personal conversations.
This addition comes with a voice library, offering a selection of preset voices for the AI characters. Moreover, it grants users the ability to craft and incorporate custom voices for a more personalized experience.
Presently, this feature is available to all users at no cost, although it is limited to supporting only the English language. Read here- Character Voice For Everyone
STARTUP NEWS
PARTNERSHIP
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With a substantial $16.7 million in funding to date, Beehiiv, founded in 2021 by Tyler Denk, has swiftly emerged as a game-changer in the e-newsletter platform arena.
Beehiiv stands at the forefront of newsletter innovation, offering an all-encompassing toolkit designed to enhance subscription growth, provide extensive customization options, and deliver insightful data analytics.
As we forge ahead, Beehiiv is set to introduce an array of specialized features aimed at optimizing e-newsletter operations. These upcoming enhancements include integrated forms, feedback voting mechanisms, strategic recommendation plans, and cutting-edge SEO web optimization tools, all tailored to elevate your newsletter's impact and reach.
Moreover, Beehiiv also features a FREE plan, making it an ideal choice for startups to kickstart their newsletters without initial investment.
Is your startup poised to harness the power of effective communication?
Explore Beehiiv today and embark on a journey to transform your newsletter into a formidable tool for engagement and growth.
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