Brett Perlmutter - The Future of Newsletters, Growing To 100k+ Subscribers, Launching a Premium Subscription, Twitter Ads, and More
Jan 26, 2024
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Brett Perlmutter, co-founder of BulletPitch, talks about the rapid growth of his startup newsletter, measuring audience engagement, growth strategies, revenue models, the business model of BulletPitch Plus, newsletter saturation, and monetization challenges faced by newsletters.
BulletPitch targets early-stage startups and provides investors with a source of deal flow and due diligence.
Building a strong audience and community has been key to the success and growth of BulletPitch.
BulletPitch has differentiated itself through its unique newsletter format and content structure.
Deep dives
BulletPitch: A Venture Media Company Filling a Gap in Startup Coverage
BulletPitch is a venture media company that provides coverage to early-stage startups. They identified a gap in startup coverage by traditional media conglomerates that mostly focus on companies that have already raised funding. BulletPitch targets the companies that are in the process of building and provides investors with a source of deal flow and due diligence. The company has grown rapidly, attracting a high-quality audience of founders, investors, and early adopters. They monetize through strategic advertising partnerships, events, and are launching a premium subscription service called BulletPitch Plus, which will allow accredited investors to invest directly in featured startups.
The Power of Building a Niche Audience and Community
BulletPitch has focused on building a niche audience and community of founders, investors, and early adopters by offering targeted and valuable content. The short and concise format of the newsletter ensures that readers stay engaged and can consume the content quickly. By providing unique insights and introducing startups to investors, BulletPitch has become a trusted source in the venture community. The company leverages its community to host events that foster connections and facilitate deal-making. Building a strong audience and community has been key to the success and growth of BulletPitch.
Monetization Strategies: Moving Beyond Traditional Sponsorships
BulletPitch has adopted innovative monetization strategies that go beyond traditional sponsorships. While they still offer advertising slots in the newsletter, they have expanded their offerings to include warm introductions and special deals with partners. This approach provides additional value to both advertisers and the featured startups. Additionally, BulletPitch has ventured into hosting events, which have proven successful in attracting sponsors, facilitating connections, and generating revenue. The company is also launching BulletPitch Plus, a premium subscription service that allows accredited investors to access deal memos and invest directly in featured startups.
Creating a Unique Newsletter Format and Content Structure
BulletPitch has differentiated itself through its unique newsletter format and content structure. The short, concise format allows readers to quickly grasp the key information about featured startups. This approach caters to the busy schedules of investors and provides the necessary details to pique their interest. The format also reflects the storytelling nature of founder pitches, creating an engaging and effective reading experience. By combining storytelling elements with bullet points and concise information, BulletPitch has created a format that is both impactful and efficient.
Navigating the Newsletter Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities
In the crowded newsletter landscape, BulletPitch stands out by addressing specific gaps in the market and providing unique value to its audience. While there may be an abundance of newsletters, BulletPitch's focus on niche audiences and the creation of a strong community sets them apart. However, the challenge lies in effectively monetizing the audience and ensuring long-term sustainability. By diversifying revenue streams and exploring new opportunities like BulletPitch Plus, the company is actively navigating these challenges and creating a sustainable business model for the future.
Matt and Ryan interview Brett Perlmutter, co-founder of BulletPitch, a startup newsletter turned media company. They discuss the company's origin, mission, and audience engagement metrics. Brett shares growth strategies and revenue models.
Episode topics & Timestamps
(00:25) Introduction and brief overview of BulletPitch, motivation behind starting BulletPitch
(02:25) the rapid growth of BulletPitch and the audience size
(05:25) how BulletPitch measures audience engagement through polls and investor introductions
(08:49) the ratio of growth from Twitter ads, organic sharing, referrals, and word of mouth
(12:18) Discussion on the strategy of Twitter ads and what makes a good ad
(23:15) The Business model of Bulletpitch
(27:00) Launching BulletPitch Plus
(35:48) Insights on newsletter saturation
(41:49) Monetization challenges faced by newsletters
(45:09) Brett shares his experience with hosting events and the value of in-person interactions for newsletter subscribers
