🔥 Introduction
In 2025, newsletters are booming. Platforms like Beehiiv have made it super simple to launch your own newsletter business — without needing to be a writer or marketer. And thanks to ChatGPT, you can generate high-quality content in minutes.
This blog shows you how to build a newsletter, grow your audience, and monetize with ads, affiliate links, and even paid subscriptions.

Why Start a Newsletter Business?
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No website needed to start
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Direct relationship with readers (no algorithm control)
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Easy to scale & automate
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Great for affiliate marketing
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High recurring income potential
You can literally write newsletters in minutes using ChatGPT.
Tools You’ll Need (All Free to Start)
| Purpose | Tool | Free Plan | Affiliate? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newsletter Host | Beehiiv | ✅ | ✅ Join here |
| Content Creation | ChatGPT | ✅ | ❌ |
| Link Tracking | Bitly | ✅ | ❌ |
| Monetization | Swapstack / Convertkit / Affiliates | ✅ | Some platforms support |
Step-by-Step: Build Your Newsletter from Scratch
Step 1: Choose a Newsletter Niche
Pick a niche that’s both high-CTR and affiliate-friendly:
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Make Money Online 💸
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AI & Productivity Tools 🤖
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Crypto/Finance 💰
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Health & Wellness 🧘♂️
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Book Summaries 📚
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Motivational Content 🌟
✅ Tip: Browse Beehiiv’s Discover section to see what’s working.
Step 2: Set Up a Free Beehiiv Account
Go to https://beehiiv.com
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Choose a newsletter name & category
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Upload a logo (use Canva)
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Set up your welcome email
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Add your social media links
💼 Join the Beehiiv affiliate program to promote your newsletter setup tutorial!
Step 3: Use ChatGPT to Write Emails
Prompt:
“Write a 300-word newsletter in a friendly tone about 3 AI tools to make money online. Include a call to action and affiliate product suggestions.”
Tweak the result to add personality, links, and credibility.
Step 4: Add Affiliate Links Inside
Products to promote:
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Pictory (video creation)
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Writesonic (AI writer)
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Canva Pro (design tool)
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Creative Fabrica (digital assets)
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Beehiiv (yes, promote the platform too)
Example call to action:
🛠️ Try Canva Pro – Get 30 days free [Your Affiliate Link]
💡 Launch your own AI video channel – Use Pictory [Your Link]
Step 5: Grow Your Audience
Ways to get subscribers:
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Share on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Reddit
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Embed signup forms in Medium or your blog
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Join newsletter swaps on Swapstack
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Run giveaways using [KingSumo] or [Rafflys]
🎯 Run a lead magnet like a free eBook or Notion template to build fast.
How to Monetize Your Newsletter
| Method | Earnings Potential | How to Do It |
|---|---|---|
| Beehiiv Ad Network | $5–$40 per 1,000 opens | Auto-integrated after 1k subs |
| Affiliate Products | $100–$500/month | Include links to tools, courses, and software |
| Paid Newsletter | $5–$10/month/user | Add a “Pro” tier via Beehiiv |
| Brand Sponsorships | $200–$1000+ per mention | Pitch via platforms like Swapstack |
Example Newsletter Template
Subject Line:
🧠 3 AI Tools I’d Use If I Started Over Today
Body:
Hey [Name],
If I had to start making money online with zero experience, these are the 3 AI tools I’d choose…✅ Writesonic – Writes blog posts in minutes
✅ Pictory – Turns text into YouTube videos
✅ Canva Pro – Designs anything in secondsWant to test them out? I’ve included free trials below 👇
➡ Try Writesonic [affiliate link]
➡ Start with Pictory [affiliate link]
➡ Grab Canva Pro [affiliate link]Stay awesome,
– [Your Name]
Headline Ideas That Get Clicks
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“How I Made $2K/Month From My Newsletter in 90 Days”
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“Why Beehiiv is the Substack Killer”
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“3 AI Tools I Recommend in Every Email”
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“From 0 to 1,000 Subscribers Without a Blog or YT Channel”
Real Life Case Study: From 0 to 10,000 Subscribers in 4 Months
Meet Ritika, a digital creator from India. She launched a free newsletter called “AI Daily Digest” in late 2024 using Beehiiv + ChatGPT.
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She used Twitter threads + Quora answers to promote her sign-up page
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She wrote 1 email per week using ChatGPT and added affiliate links for Canva Pro and Writesonic
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Within 4 months, she had:
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10,000+ subscribers
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$1,300/month in affiliate income
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$600/month from Beehiiv’s ad network
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“I’ve never considered myself a writer. ChatGPT made me feel like I had a team of 10 content creators.”
You can do this too — even with no audience to begin with.
Newsletter Business vs. Blogging or YouTube — Which Pays More?
| Feature | Newsletter | Blogging | YouTube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Cost | Very Low | Low | Medium |
| Tools Needed | Beehiiv, ChatGPT | WordPress, SEO Tools | Camera, Mic, Editor |
| Monetization Speed | FAST (from 1st email) | Medium | Slow (1K subs + 4K watch hrs) |
| Affiliate-Friendly | ✅✅✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ |
| Content Time | ~20 mins/email | 2–5 hrs/post | 5–10 hrs/video |
💡 Newsletters offer the fastest path to income with the lowest barrier to entry in 2025.
Real Quotes from Beehiiv Creators
“Beehiiv gave me the same power as The Hustle or Morning Brew – but without needing a dev team.”
— Alex H., Tech Niche Creator
“I was scared of writing until I realized I could prompt ChatGPT like a creative partner.”
— Naveen P., Side Hustle Digest
“Affiliate links inside my emails earn me more than Google AdSense ever did.”
— Kira M., Parenting Newsletter Owner
A/B Subject Line Test That Tripled Open Rates
Here’s a real A/B subject line test from a productivity newsletter:
| Version A (30% Open Rate) | Version B (74% Open Rate) |
|---|---|
| “3 AI Tools for Your Daily Workflow” | “😳 These 3 AI Tools Run My Life Now” |
Lesson: Add emotion, curiosity, or an emoji — and test everything!
ChatGPT Prompt Pack (Free for Your First 10 Emails)
Try these ready-to-use prompts to generate 10 newsletters:
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“Write a friendly 300-word email about 3 AI tools to boost productivity.”
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“Give me a newsletter-style summary of today’s top tech headlines.”
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“Explain how to earn from affiliate marketing with zero followers.”
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“Create a motivational newsletter that ends with an affiliate call-to-action.”
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“Summarize a top trending Reddit post in email form.”
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“Make a book summary email for Atomic Habits.”
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“Write a funny email about the dangers of procrastination.”
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“Turn this blog into a newsletter: [paste blog text]”
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“Generate an email with tips to improve focus, with AI tool suggestions.”
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“Explain KDP in 300 words, in a casual and inspiring tone.”
🧠 Save these prompts and reuse them for months!
Newsletter Monetization Stacking (Maximize Every Email)
Your email should have 3 layers of income:
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📰 Content → valuable info that keeps people reading
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💸 Affiliate → tool recommendations inside the content
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📢 Ad Unit → monetized space from Beehiiv’s ad network or direct sponsor
💥 Stacking = More Money Per Email, Same Time Spent
10 FAQs About Newsletter Monetization
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Do I need to write daily emails?
No. 1–2 emails per week is plenty to start. Consistency > frequency. -
Can I automate everything?
Yes! Write in bulk using ChatGPT, then schedule inside Beehiiv. -
Is Beehiiv better than Substack?
For marketers & affiliate earners — yes. Beehiiv offers more branding, segmentation, and monetization tools. -
Do I need to pay to start?
No. Beehiiv’s free plan is generous. Upgrade only when you grow. -
Can I use affiliate links in Beehiiv?
Yes, and they’re allowed in both free and paid emails. -
How do I grow subscribers fast?
Use lead magnets, Reddit promotions, X threads, and email swaps. -
What’s the average open rate to aim for?
Aim for 30%+ on average. Great subject lines and trust help. -
Can I have multiple newsletters?
Yes. Beehiiv lets you manage multiple publications under one account. -
What’s the best day to send emails?
Tuesday–Thursday mornings generally perform best. -
Can I earn without selling anything?
Yes! Just use Beehiiv’s Ad Network and free affiliate links in your emails.
Conclusion
Starting a newsletter in 2025 is easier than ever — especially with Beehiiv and ChatGPT doing the heavy lifting. Whether you want to build a personal brand, grow an audience, or just create a passive income stream… this model works.
You don’t need to write.
You don’t need a website.
You just need a voice — and the AI will help you find it.