📌 Want 5K subs before launch?

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

Hey friend,

Great to have you back👋.

There are 5 core newsletter styles.
Do you know which one you are? (here’s your answer)

This week’s 3 handpicked email gems…

1.  How to Write a Book with AI that Sells like Crazy (YouTube)

2. How to promote yourself when you hate self-promotion

3. 1,000,000 subscribers - here’s how (YouTube)

  Backstory - Who are Alex and Tom?

Alex Brogan launched Faster Than Normal to share self-growth and productivity insights.

His tone? Personal, thoughtful, motivating.

The result? 70K+ subs and a second hit newsletter (The Intelligence Age) that he eventually sold.

Tom Alder took a different route.

He built his Strategy Breakdowns subscriber base before publishing a single issue. How?

By growing on LinkedIn, positioning himself as a business strategy analyst, and collecting 5K emails pre-launch. He’s now at 60K+.

What's in it for you?

1. How two successful newsletters use the same style in totally different ways

2. Learn how to monetize without copying anyone else

3. Steal growth strategies you can apply this week

Email Delivery - How do their signup flows compare?

Alex:

• Simple landing page with strong social proof ("Join 70K+") - Explore Here

  

• Warm welcome email, direct, personal, no frills - That’s really creative

  

Tom:

• Curiosity-driven landing page with bold claims

  

• GIFs in the welcome email

• Delivers instant value via a high-performing strategy breakdown

  

Content - What does their content feel like?

Alex:

• Focus: mindset, habits, self-improvement

• Format: Story → Lessons → 30+ curated links (that’s a lot)

• Word count: ~2,000 words

  

Tom:

• Focus: business strategy, real company case studies

• Format: One tactic → Real-world example → Takeaways

• Organized and minimalist

Growth - How did they grow?

Alex:

• Built his base by publishing great content

• Platforms: Twitter/X and LinkedIn

• Relied on consistency + virality

  

Tom:

• Grew 5K subs before the first issue

• Strategy: 15+ comments/day, engagement hacks, delayed CTAs

• Leveraged LinkedIn almost exclusively

Monetization - How do they make money?

Alex -  Watch the story

• Newsletter ads (~$525/slot) - 60%

• Digital products and courses - 25%

• Affiliate links - 15%

• Premium content for The Intelligence Age (another newsletter Alex built and grew with his cousin to 60K within 12 months and…sold)

Tom - Watch the story

• High-ticket sponsorships ($1.5K/slot)

• Bundle deals ($4.5K for 4 ads + LinkedIn shoutout)

• Sponsored deep dives ($5K/issue)

• Affiliate rev (small but recurring)

• Cohort-based course (Archimedes)

• $4K sponsored LinkedIn posts

✅ What should you take from this?

1. You can grow before you write (audience-first) or grow by writing (content-first)

2. Pick a structure and repeat it - consistency builds trust

3. Your welcome flow matters more than most people think

4. Monetization depends on niche and positioning

5. Even within one content style, your execution can be totally unique

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.​