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- đ Start Your Niche Newsletter Business in Just 5 Minutes Per Day
đ Start Your Niche Newsletter Business in Just 5 Minutes Per Day
ChatGPT's got your back â and it's easier than you think.
Read time: 6.9 minutes | Sponsor this newsletter
Greet from the deep,
Welcome to the 2nd Deep Deep Dive - where I bring solopreneuers like you real-world applications of how to start and grow a business with AI tools.
Today, weâll talk about how you can execute on a low-cost business idea Iâm seeing for solopreneurs right now:
Creating a daily niche curated newsletter with AI.
A daily curated newsletter sums up the top news in an industry every day.
The value proposition is simple:
People are overwhelmed by information, so they want to have someone else that that tells them whatâs relevant.
If youâve ever been at one of those restaurants that offer Burgers, Pizza, Kebab, Schnitzel, AND Pasta, you know how difficult itâs to choose between 100 different dishes.
(if you havenât donât go. Especially if this burger & pizza restaurant also has âsushiâ on itâs offering, run for your life & move to another city)
But when you go to Pizza Hut, the choice is easy:
Youâll have pizza.
(although thereâs also the life-changing choice of whether to have cheese in the crust or not⌠damn I should really stop writing these emails while Iâm hungry).
Itâs the same with these curated newsletters.
You give value to your readers by making a choice of information for them.
This sounds simpleâŚ
âŚbut billion-dollar companies have been built on the daily newsletter format.
Morning Brew. Milkroad. The Hustle.
Theyâre all daily curated newsletters that help their audience stay atop of fast-moving industries.
But you donât need to be Shaan Puri to build and monetize a newsletter like this.
In fact:
1) Anyone can start a curated daily newsletter
2) It only costs your own time to run
3) Itâs pretty straightforward to monetize
4) You can outsource it easily
And even if you already have a business & donât want to create a daily newsletterâŚ
âŚIâm confident that youâll have great use of the prompts, growth, and monetization methods Iâm about to share with you.
So, letâs get into the weed(s)!
Iâm building a new course to share my AI Course Builder blueprint.
It made me $265,000 in course sales in 112 days.
If you want to:
Effortlessly create a 2-hour, asynchronous online course 10x faster and easier (without sounding generic or compromising quality)
Get the exact AI Systems that I used to grow my revenue from 0 to $265,000 in 112 days
Save $10,000+ you'd usually need to buy consulting and services to create a top-notch course
Step 1: How to choose a niche for your daily curated newsletter
To choose a niche for your daily curated newsletter, weâll follow two steps:
1) Picking a fast-changing niche
2) Creating a new category in that niche
1) Picking a fast-changing niche
When choosing a niche for your daily curated newsletter, you want to ask yourself three questions:
1) How fast is this niche changing/evolving?
2) How important is it for people to stay up-to-date in this niche?
3) Which niches am I the most interested in & passionate about?
Your daily curated newsletter should be in a fast-changing niche, because thatâs where daily news are valuable.
Examples of fast-changing niches:
Finance
Crypto
AI
Choose a rapidly evolving niche where thereâs a daily flow of news.
This ensures fresh content and keeps your readers hooked.
Also, I strongly recommend you take a niche youâre passionate about yourself, because that will keep you engaged.
In the example of this newsletter, I choose âcryptoâ as my niche because of my crypto trading background.
HoweverâŚ
If you look at these niches, youâll soon see that most of them are heavily contestedâŚ
âŚwhich is why you need to avoid competition by creating a new category.
2) Creating a new category in that niche
After choosing a niche, like crypto, you want to specialise who youâre offering the curation to.
Because you wonât write a better general crypto newsletter than Milkroadâs 20 person team.
And you wonât write a better general business newsletter than Morning Brewâs $100 million company.
But you donât have to be better - you just need to be different.
(like the success of the McDonals Mulan Szechuan Sauce shows)
This is why you should narrow down your niche into a category.
3 ways to specialise yourself:
Specify who youâre writing to (like âCrypto News for young economic students)
Specfiy what you are writing about (like âAgricultural world newsâ)
Specify how youâre delivering your news (like âPolitics news explained with historical examples)
Choose 1-3 of these methods and narrow down your niche.
In my example:
Niche: Crypto news
Category: Crypto news for young finance professionals
I donât know who said this quote, but it comes to mind:
âRather than trying to be something for everyone, be everything for someoneâ
Your niche newsletter should be the worldâs best resource for just 1 person.
Now that you have your categoryâŚ
âŚletâs write some newsletters.
Step 2: Writing and delivering the daily curated newsletter in 5 minutes
Do write this newsletter, you need to do 2 things.
1) Create a newsletter template (one-time)
2) Write the newsletter (recurring)
Letâs walk through each:
1) Create a newsletter template (one-time)
To create a newsletter template, we will use two prompts.
This first prompt comes up with unique concepts for our category:
I want you to create newsletter concepts for me
I'm planning to create a newsletter for [INSERT YOUR CATEGORY]. The newsletter will be a simple curated format of daily news with a twist sent out on a daily basis.
The primary goal of the newsletter is to inform, educate, and entertain this audience about news in the niche.
To clarify, your task is not to come up with content ideas for the newsletter, but only to create engaging concepts.
Some constraints:
1) the concepts should just be for newsletters that curate daily news, with little- to no- manual research required
2) the concepts should be exclusively tailored to my target audience
Based on this information, could you suggest 10 engaging concepts for this newsletter?
To use the prompt, simply fill in the [INSERT YOUR CATEGORY] placeholder with the category you chose.
Here are some ideas it gave me for my newsletter for âCrypto news for young finance professionalsâ:
I like âThe Daily Decryptâ, so Iâll do the next step with it.
Keep the chat open - youâll use the next prompt directly after (like this)
The second prompt creates a newsletter template for the newsletter concept of your choice:
Simply fill in the [INSERT YOUR NEWSLETTER CONCEPT] placeholder with the concept from the first prompt.
(warning: scroll alert)
Great, I like this concept: [INSERT YOUR NEWSLETTER CONCEPT]
Now, based on the concept, I want you to create 2 example newsletter templates for the newsletter.
The template should be specific enough to serve as a structural scaffolding for writing, yet be flexible enough to not sound repetitive when used multiple times.
It should show where the 5 news of the day should be inserted, and where commentary to them should be added.
A newsletter template's purpose is to serve as a scaffolding for the newsletter writer.
All great newsletter templates follow these constraints:
1) They use ##Headings, ##Subheadings, and bullet points for formatting
2) They are formatted in a way that is easy to skim
Here's an example of a successful newsletter template of the AI Solopreneur, a weekly publication that teaches solopreneurs how to use AI tools to streamline and improve their processes.
In this example, the newsletter names 1 ChatGPT prompt and two "Expansions". Note that not all newsletters follow this structure:
*read time X minutes*
Greet from the deep,
Itâs the AI Solopreneur here - [MAKE A JOKE]
Today, weâll talk about [WHAT YOUâRE GONNA TALK ABOUT]
Letâs d-d-d-d-dive in! đ¤ż
## Introduction
In a humorous tone, give background information about why thereâs a problem. And that weâre gonna solve it.
About 50-150 words.
HOW IT CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS:
- [BENEFIT 1]
- [BENEFIT 2]
- [BENEFIT 3]
## Solution 1
This prompt/tool helps you [DO THIS]
how it helps:
- [Benefit 1]
- [Benefit 2]
- [Benefit 3]
Hereâs an example of itâs output:
Hereâs the prompt:
**[INSERT PROMPT]**
### PROMPT OVERVIEW: PROMPT 1
- [BENEFIT 1]
- [BENEFIT 2]
- [BENEFIT 3]
## EXPANSION 1
###Subhead 1
Text
###Subhead 2
Text
###Subhead 3
Text
###HOW IT CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS:
- [BENEFIT 1]
- [BENEFIT 2]
- [BENEFIT 3]
## EXPANSION 2
###Subhead 1
Text
### Subhead 2
Text
### Subhead 3
Text
###EXPANSION 2 SUMMARY
- SUMMARY 1
-SUMMARY 2
-SUMMARY 3
##Wrap up
###WHAT YOU LEARNED TODAY
- LESSON 1
- LESSON 2
- LESSON 3
Add meme
Keep diving,
Ole
___
Here's another example of a newsletter template of "The Friday Five", a weekly publication that curates one question, one quote, one tweet, one video, and one framework to provide actionable ideas to help readers build a high-performing, healthy, wealthy life:
*read time X minutes*
Welcome to your weekly curiosity spark!
Here are 5 intriguing ideas to pique your curiosity this weekend.
## Today's Highlights:
Question: [ADD QUESTION]
Quote: [ADD QUOTE]
Framework: [ADD FRAMEWORK]
Tweet: [ADD TWEET]
Video: [ADD VIDEO]
## Our sponsor today, [COMPANY], is a [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY AND WHAT THEY OFFER].
[DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE SPONSOR OR THEIR PRODUCT/SERVICE, IF ANY]
[COMPANY] is now introducing [NEW PRODUCT/SERVICE/FEATURE]. With [PRODUCT/SERVICE/FEATURE], [BENEFITS OR OUTCOMES THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED].
Check It Out Here!
##Question for a life by design:
[INTRODUCE THE QUESTION IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR LIFE OR WORK]
Fact: [INTRODUCE A PERTINENT FACT RELATED TO THE QUESTION]
[DESCRIBE POTENTIAL SCENARIOS OR OUTCOMES RELATED TO THE FACT]
[PROVIDE A STRATEGY OR TACTIC TO ADDRESS THE FACT OR SCENARIO]
[INTRODUCE THE QUESTION ONCE MORE AND HOW IT CAN BE USED IN THE READER'S LIFE OR WORK]
## Quote from one of the greats:
"[ADD QUOTE]" - [QUOTE AUTHOR]
[COMMENT ON THE QUOTE OR HOW IT CAN BE APPLIED IN LIFE OR WORK]
## One Framework:
[INTRODUCE FRAMEWORK]
In [YEAR], [NAME OF PERSON WHO CREATED OR INTRODUCED THE FRAMEWORK] expressed [WHAT THE FRAMEWORK ADDRESSES OR HELPS TO UNDERSTAND].
This led to the formulation of [FRAMEWORK NAME OR LAW]:
[DESCRIBE THE FRAMEWORK OR LAW IN DETAIL]
[EXPLAIN WHY THE FRAMEWORK IS IMPORTANT OR USEFUL, PARTICULARLY IN THE CURRENT CONTEXT]
[REMIND READERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF APPLYING THE FRAMEWORK IN THEIR OWN CONTEXT]
## Tweet to inspire action:
A tweet to inspire you from [TWITTER USER HANDLE] on [TOPIC OR SUBJECT].
Lesson: [LESSON TO BE LEARNED OR APPLIED FROM THE TWEET]
[EMBED THE TWEET]
## Video breakdown of the tech future:
[INTRODUCE VIDEO AND WHY IT IS INTERESTING OR RELEVANT]
[DESCRIBE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OR KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE VIDEO]
[COMMENT ON THE CREATOR OF THE VIDEO, IF RELEVANT OR INTERESTING]
[EMBED THE VIDEO]
Until next week,
[Your Name]
After youâve done this, you'r output should have given you a template for your curated newsletter, similar to this:
Once you have a template like this, save it in a document for future use.
Now, open up a new chat:
2) Write the newsletter (recurring)
To get real-time updates inside ChatGPT, you need to install the Plugin âWeb Requestsâ from the plugin store of GPT-4.
Get it by opening the plugin store & clicking âinstallâ
Next, use this prompt to research and write your daily curation newsletter:
I want you to research and write a curated newsletter for me.
First, browse the internet with Bing to find the 10 biggest news in [NICHE] today,[DATE].
Your queries should be based on the template I'm giving you further below.
Use 5 diverse sources to gather your information, and don't do more than 5 web search queries.
The news you gather should be inserted into this newsletter template about [CATEGORY]:
[INSERT YOUR TEMPLATE]
It's extremely important that these are daily relevant news for [DATE}
How to use the prompt:
1) Fill in the [NICHE] placeholder with your niche, like âcryptoâ
2) Fill in the [CATEGORY] placeholder with your category, like âcrypto news for young finance professionalsâ
3) Fill in the [DATE] placeholders with the current date, like âOctober 1st 2023â
4) Fill in the [INSERT YOUR TEMPLATE] placeholder with your newsletter template from the previous workflow
Tip: I recommend you copy & save this prompt for future use, as all fields except the [DATE] will be the same.
After filling out this prompt, youâll get an up-to-date curated newsletter like this:
You may need to adjust it or the template a bit, but overall, this gave me great results.
Now, you can do this every day & send it out on Beehiiv, Substack, ConvertKit, or any other emailing software of your choice.
Here are some guides on how to set things up:
3 Zero-cost ways to grow your daily curated newsletter
The hardest part of creating a newsletter is monetizing it.
I grew The AI Solopreneur through organic content, which also is a simple way for you to grow yours - if you grow your profile & link to your newsletter, it will grow as well.
But I want to give you some additional zero-cost ways to grow your newsletter:
1) Leverage Social Media Communities
One of the most cost-effective ways to grow your newsletter is by tapping into existing communities on platforms like Reddit, Facebook Groups, or LinkedIn.
Here's how:
Identify Relevant Communities: Search for groups or subreddits that align with your newsletter's niche. For instance, if your newsletter is about AI trends, find AI enthusiast groups or forums.
Engage Authentically: Before you start promoting, engage with the community. Answer questions, share valuable insights, and become a trusted member.
2) Collaborate with Complementary Newsletters
This works best when youâre a little bigger (300+ subs)
There are likely other newsletters in your space or in related fields. Why not help each other out?
Identify Potential Partners: Look for newsletters that share a similar audience but aren't direct competitors. For instance, if you curate AI news, partner with a tech gadget review newsletter.
Propose a Swap: Offer to promote their newsletter in yours if they do the same. This cross-promotion can introduce your content to a whole new set of readers.
Guest Curate: Occasionally, offer to curate content for them or write a guest section. It's a fresh perspective for their readers and a subtle plug for your own newsletter.
3) Leverage Q&A Platforms and Forums
Platforms like Quora, Stack Exchange, or Reddit can be gold mines for gaining visibility:
Answer Relevant Questions: Search for questions related to your newsletter's niche. Provide valuable answers and subtly mention that you curate related insights in your newsletter.
For example:
Say your niche is crypto news for young finance professionals.
Then Iâd seek out groups of young finance professionals and answer questions about crypto in there.
Ask Thought-Provoking Questions: Ask questions that spark curiosity and discussions. Engage with the answers and introduce your newsletter as a source of further information.
Create a Profile Bio: Ensure your profile on these platforms mentions your newsletter and provides a direct link to subscribe.
How to monetize and automate your newsletter
After growing your newsletter a bit, you can monetize it by doing digital partnerships:
Sparkloop (get paid for refering subs to other newsletters)
Affiliate links for products you recommend
Sponsorships (works well when you have a niche audience)
If you build your audience, the money will come.
Now, if you want to automate the newsletter send-outs, you can hire a Virtual Assistant and create a Loom video for them on how they can run the prompts for you every day & post them in your email software.
This way, you can focus 100% on growth.
Wrap up
Oh my godâŚ
âŚthis was the longest edition yet.
But Iâm passionate about writing newsletters.
I hope it inspires you to use AI to start your journey too.
I promise the next one will be bite-sized again.
I wanted to end this letter with a picture of me,
but look who Iâve found outside my doorstep đĽš
Please comment on how should I name them.
đHow should I name the Cats I've found? |
Keep diving,
Ole
P.S.
I made over $260,000 in 112 days selling my online course. Iâm now creating a course on how to use AI to build and sell a digital product in record time (without being an expert or paying 10k to consultants)
Donât have an audience yet to sell to?
No worries, my last course will help you create 1 weekâs worth of content
in 1 hour using AI and grow your audience.
What did you think about today's edition? |