I generate $400,000/year with a paid newsletter on Substack: • I...
Nicolas Cole 🚢👻@Nicolascole77
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Jun 14, 2025
~3 min read
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I generate $400,000/year with a paid newsletter on Substack:
• I don't run ads
• It took 578 days
• It has 65,000+ subscribers
This is the most scalable (and profitable) business I've ever seen.
Here’s how you can copy me—5 steps (bookmark this): 🧵
• I don't run ads
• It took 578 days
• It has 65,000+ subscribers
This is the most scalable (and profitable) business I've ever seen.
Here’s how you can copy me—5 steps (bookmark this): 🧵
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Most writers are stuck in a toxic relationship with their craft.
They think beautiful words = $$$ in their bank account.
Reality check: Writing is just the first step.
Great writing is a start.
Systems turn it into a business.
Here's the blueprint↓
They think beautiful words = $$$ in their bank account.
Reality check: Writing is just the first step.
Great writing is a start.
Systems turn it into a business.
Here's the blueprint↓
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1. Substack notes = free subscribers growth
Most creators are sleeping on Substack Notes.
• We post 2–4x/day.
• Over 35% of our total subs now come from Notes.
If you're only posting on X or LI, you're leaving one of the best ways to attract subs on the table.
Most creators are sleeping on Substack Notes.
• We post 2–4x/day.
• Over 35% of our total subs now come from Notes.
If you're only posting on X or LI, you're leaving one of the best ways to attract subs on the table.
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2. Quarterly digital product drops
Don’t just sell subscriptions.
Every 3 months, we release a new product: courses, guides, and templates.
One of our drops this year generated $90,000.
Stack 4 of those a year, and you've at least doubled your business.
The best part?
Don’t just sell subscriptions.
Every 3 months, we release a new product: courses, guides, and templates.
One of our drops this year generated $90,000.
Stack 4 of those a year, and you've at least doubled your business.
The best part?
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You don't need to guess what to build for the products.
Instead, ask:
“What’s the #1 question my audience keeps asking?”
Then package the answer as a product.
People don't want more content.
They want shortcuts to solve real problems.
Instead, ask:
“What’s the #1 question my audience keeps asking?”
Then package the answer as a product.
People don't want more content.
They want shortcuts to solve real problems.
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3. Founding Member Flywheel
We created a $350 Founding Member Tier.
The founding tier gets every product, past and future, for free.
Now, each new product acts as both a launch and an upsell.
Buy the product, or upgrade.
Both drive revenue upward.
We created a $350 Founding Member Tier.
The founding tier gets every product, past and future, for free.
Now, each new product acts as both a launch and an upsell.
Buy the product, or upgrade.
Both drive revenue upward.
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This turns your content into a compounding archive.
The more products you ship, the more valuable the paid membership becomes.
Over time, the offer sells itself because the value keeps increasing.
That’s how you create content that compounds over time.
The more products you ship, the more valuable the paid membership becomes.
Over time, the offer sells itself because the value keeps increasing.
That’s how you create content that compounds over time.
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4. Organized content library
We built a master archive of every issue, organized by problem.
• Want to grow on X? Start here.
• Monetize with AI? Start here.
Clarity converts.
When readers can find the value fast, they’re more likely to pay and stay.
We built a master archive of every issue, organized by problem.
• Want to grow on X? Start here.
• Monetize with AI? Start here.
Clarity converts.
When readers can find the value fast, they’re more likely to pay and stay.
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5. High-leverage welcome email
New subs get:
• A 1-minute survey
• A free AI prompt pack
• An upsell to a $49 product
Result: $3K–$6K/month in passive revenue from adding one email sequence, automated forever.
New subs get:
• A 1-minute survey
• A free AI prompt pack
• An upsell to a $49 product
Result: $3K–$6K/month in passive revenue from adding one email sequence, automated forever.
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If you're not surveying new subs, you're guessing and wasting time.
Every answer is a signal:
• What they want
• What to build
• How to sell it
Give value. Collect insights.
That's how you build a profitable paid newsletter.
Every answer is a signal:
• What they want
• What to build
• How to sell it
Give value. Collect insights.
That's how you build a profitable paid newsletter.
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I’ve built 2 paid newsletters on Substack to 6-figures.
And the same truth applies to both:
• Great writing gets attention
• Great systems build a business
You need both to build a $400K/year newsletter.
And the same truth applies to both:
• Great writing gets attention
• Great systems build a business
You need both to build a $400K/year newsletter.
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That's it!
Now, how did I start Write With AI?
By writing online.
It's how I generate ideas for newsletters, build my audience, and get feedback from readers.
Want to write online but don't know where to start?
Now, how did I start Write With AI?
By writing online.
It's how I generate ideas for newsletters, build my audience, and get feedback from readers.
Want to write online but don't know where to start?
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Then here's a free, 5-day email course with everything you need to:
• Generate endless content ideas
• Create a daily writing habit
• Build an audience
Get started here: x.startwritingonline.com/?utm_source=co…
• Generate endless content ideas
• Create a daily writing habit
• Build an audience
Get started here: x.startwritingonline.com/?utm_source=co…
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And that's it!
If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Follow me @Nicolascole77 for more posts on Digital Writing.
2. Repost the top post to save it for later & share it with others:
If you enjoyed this thread:
1. Follow me @Nicolascole77 for more posts on Digital Writing.
2. Repost the top post to save it for later & share it with others:
Nicolas Cole 🚢👻@Nicolascole77
I generate $400,000/year with a paid newsletter on Substack:
• I don't run ads
• It took 578 days
• It has 65,000+ subscribers
This is the most scalable (and profitable) business I've ever seen.
Here’s how you can copy me—5 steps (bookmark this): 🧵
• I don't run ads
• It took 578 days
• It has 65,000+ subscribers
This is the most scalable (and profitable) business I've ever seen.
Here’s how you can copy me—5 steps (bookmark this): 🧵