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CB

Chris Best

05/15/19

@ Y Combinator

Starting a newsletter can be as simple as creating a free one on Substack, making your first post, and sharing it with a small group to gather initial feedback.

Video

YC

Monetizing Podcasts and Newsletters - Chris Best of Substack and Jonathan Gill of Backtracks

@ Y Combinator

Monetizing Podcasts and Newsletters - Chris Best of Substack and Jonathan Gill of Backtracks

05/15/19

Related Takeaways

YC

Y Combinator Cast

05/15/19

@ Y Combinator

To grow a newsletter, make your best content free and accessible, as this encourages sharing and helps people discover your work.

CB

Chris Best

05/15/19

@ Y Combinator

I am the CEO of Substack, which makes it simple to start a paid newsletter and also allows audio integration.

CB

Chris Best

05/15/19

@ Y Combinator

To grow newsletters effectively, implement a referral program that allows super fans to easily share the newsletter with others, similar to how The Skimm grew.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

05/15/19

@ Y Combinator

Substack allows creators to publish content as either subscribers-only or public, encouraging the sharing of accessible content to attract new readers.

DP

Dwarkesh Patel Cast

04/04/25

@ Dwarkesh Patel

The rise of Substack has allowed many journalists to transition into blogging successfully, suggesting that established credibility can help overcome the initial fears of starting a blog.

KM

Kat Mañalac

02/10/23

@ Y Combinator

Building your own community during startup school is vital; start an email list to engage supporters and keep them informed about your progress.

MA

Marc Andreessen

11/27/24

@ PowerfulJRE

Substack is a valuable resource for independent journalists and thinkers to publish their ideas and get paid by subscribers.

CB

Chris Best

05/15/19

@ Y Combinator

Paid subscribers can receive free gifts, such as subscription months, to encourage their friends to try the newsletter, which can lead to new subscriptions.

CB

Chris Best

05/15/19

@ Y Combinator

For those starting a podcast or newsletter, it's vital to define the purpose and content clearly, as this will guide the frequency and topics covered.