📌 700K+ subs & $500K/month – how it’s done

Hey, there!👋

Here, I break down newsletters that master growth and monetization.

All insights are delivered in under 4 minutes.

Today’s spotlight is on Codie Sanchez’s ​Contrarian Thinking​.

Backstory

Codie Sanchez is a well-known serial entrepreneur.

She is most famous for her strategy of acquiring "boring businesses”.

She’s built a huge following by turning small, businesses into cash flow machines.

If you haven’t heard of her, you can find her here ​X​, ​LI​, ​FB​, ​YT​, ​IG​.

Contrarian Thinking launched in Feb 2020 and has grown to 700K subs.

What's in it for you?

1. Learn content strategies that captivate your readers and keep them coming back.

2. Get practical growth steps you can replicate for your newsletter.

3. ONE thing you need to know before starting a newsletter.

4. Test out Codie’s templates on your niche.​​

Content

You’ve probably heard the advice:

"Keep your newsletter short and to the point."

Usually, the recommendation is to stick to 600-800 words.

But Codie Sanchez doesn’t follow that rule.

Every edition of Contrarian Thinking is between 1,400 and 2,000 words.

And you know what? People read it.

Why?

Because her content is packed with value.

Each newsletter is like a mini-business case study.

It breaks down how people bought a company and turned it into a cash machine.

What makes Codie’s content works:

1. Real-life examples showing how businesses were transformed.

2. Readers get practical steps they can use to grow or acquire their own business.

3. Some issues are case studies on businesses.

4. Others dive into best practices, frameworks, or even promotional stuff.

Takeaway: Don’t be afraid of long-form content if it delivers real value.

People will make time for it.

Deliverability

Codie’s sign-up flow is classic but includes some key tweaks that make it effective.

Landing Page: Strong social proof that instantly builds trust and offers UVP.

Thank You Page includes two key parts:

1. A detailed questionnaire with phone number consent to generate warm leads.

2. A referral to another of Codie’s newsletters to boost engagement.

Welcome Email

Codie’s email reflects her style—quick, direct, and promoting her services subtly while offering value upfront.

Takeaways:

1. Add a survey to your sign-up process

2. Consider soft-selling your services right from the welcome email.

3. If someone signs up, they’re already interested in what you offer.

Turn that interest into a warm lead.

Growth

700K subs in four years is no small feat.

How did she get there?

Codie’s first 30 days netted her 11K subscribers.

She achieved this with a few key tactics that you can easily replicate

(even if the result won’t come after 4 weeks).

1. She used her contacts and sent an intro email to spread the word.

2. Codie promoted her newsletter on X, LI, FB, IG.

3. She partnered with other newsletters & influencers to swap audiences.

4. Codie pitched herself to podcast hosts to tap into their audiences.

5. She wrote guest posts to drive newsletter sign-ups and expand reach.

Is that all? Nope, not quite.

Remember what Codie’s known for?

Buying businesses, and newsletters are just another type of business.

​Codie started hunting for a newsletter to buy. ​

The first attempt? Not great.

Out of 100 failing newsletters, only three replied, and one was willing to sell.

The deal didn’t happen though—18K subs, no monetization, a $150K asking price.

But with each attempt, she gained more experience and insight.

Fast forward four years: 700K subscribers.

Takeaways:

1. Grow your list by collaborating with other newsletters

2. Explore ​ LetterGrowth ​ (cross-promotion platform)

Monetization

Like anything else, if you want to know what works, you have to experiment.

Codie figured out how to monetize her newsletter through multiple revenue streams.

That was clear one wasn’t enough.

You’ve got to keep expanding your options.

​Here are the six revenue streams Codie uses:​

1. Info Products: Codie recommends starting here.

2. Premium Memberships: Charge more for exclusive content and deeper interaction.

3. Ads and Sponsorships: These come with time, once you’ve built a sizable audience.

4. Affiliate Links: Promote other people’s products and earn commissions.

5. Ancillary Channels: Use platforms like YouTube to bring in ad revenue.

6. Merchandise: Great for branding and giving followers physical products.

Info products are her most popular.

She’s streamlined her offerings from five to three, focusing on signature products.

Takeaway:

Don’t start a newsletter without a clear plan for monetization.

Always begin with the end in mind!

P.S. Oh, and..

I hope you found value here.

If so, please forward this to 2 friends who might benefit as well - sign up ​here​.

P.P.S.

Questions about newsletter growth, monetization, or other how-to topics?

Reply to this email or connect with me on ​LinkedIn.​