In this episode of the Newsletter Operator Podcast, ​Jon Elder, the founder of ​Black Label Advisor, shares his journey from commercial construction to building a successful consultancy in the Amazon space. He started a side gig by launching his first brand on Amazon, which eventually led to the creation of the newsletter "Amazon Insiders." The newsletter focuses on the niche community of Amazon sellers and has seen rapid growth to over 15,000 subscribers.

Key Topics Covered:

• Background and Entrepreneurial Journey: Jon Elder shares his transition from the commercial construction industry to creating a consultancy for Amazon sellers and the establishment of the "Amazon Insiders" newsletter. He emphasizes the need for transparent consulting within the market and how the newsletter became a potential second revenue stream for his business.
• Micro-Niche and Newsletter Growth: Jon Elder explains the concept of a micro-niche, the revenue size, and the passion required for success. He discusses the launching of Amazon Insiders and the strategies he used to grow his newsletter, including reaching out to contacts, conducting newsletter swaps, utilizing tools like SparkLoop and Twitter ads, and making strategic newsletter acquisitions.
• Monetization Strategy: Amazon Insiders primarily focuses on sponsorships, with 85% of revenue generated from sponsorships. Jon Elder provides insight into how he approaches finding sponsors, packaging ad deals, and pricing, emphasizing the importance of building strong relationships with sponsors and promoting consistency in ads for better returns on investment.
• Growth Plans and Advice: Jon Elder discusses his future growth plans, which include increasing content production on Twitter, potential newsletter acquisitions, and reactivating Twitter ads. Additionally, he offers advice to those starting a niche B2B newsletter, emphasizing the importance of finding a unique voice, seeking partnerships, and not being hesitant to ask for support.

Episode topics & Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Newsletter Operator Podcast 

(00:30) Introduction of Jon Elder, founder of Black Label Advisor 

(01:00) Jon's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey 

(2:00) Launching Amazon Insiders Newsletter 

(3:00) Defining Micro Niche 

(5:00) Choosing a Newsletter Topic 

(6:00) Growth Strategies and Subscriber Acquisition 

(7:00) The Role of SparkLoop in Subscriber Growth

(11:00)Additional Growth Channels such as Twitter 

(16:00) The Use of a Mastermind Group for Engagement

(19:00) Monetization through Newsletter Sponsorships

 (28:00) Approach to Identifying and Reaching Out to Sponsors

 (33:00) Pricing and Packaging of Newsletter Ads

(33:00)Strategies for Achieving Growth Goals

(41:00) Advice for those Starting a Niche B2B Newsletter 

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