Niche Pursuits Podcast: Find Your Next "Niche" Business Idea!

How CJ Gustafson Built a +60k Subscriber Newsletter as a Side Hustle

Mar 26, 2025

CJ Gustafson, founder of Mostly Metrics and a former CFO, reveals how he built a thriving newsletter with over 60,000 subscribers while juggling a full-time job. He shares strategies for engaging content and effective community building. CJ discusses the shift from free to paid subscriptions and explores innovative monetization methods, including securing sponsorships. The synergy between newsletters and podcasts is highlighted, emphasizing meaningful interactions and networking. His insights are a treasure trove for anyone interested in niche content marketing.

52:15

Creator website

Episode guests

CJ Gustafson

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Understanding audience needs is crucial for newsletter growth, as clear explanations of financial concepts resonated more than initial business ideas.

Balancing personal interests with audience needs in content generation fosters engagement, while collaborating through interviews enhances inspiration and community involvement.

Leveraging existing platforms for cross-promotion and implementing a tiered monetization strategy effectively sustain and expand a newsletter's subscriber base.

Deep dives

Finding Your Audience Market Fit

Understanding audience needs is crucial for content creators. The speaker initially struggled to connect with an audience while experimenting with writing styles and topics. Over time, they discovered that their audience valued clear explanations of financial concepts over their original business ideas. This revelation led to growth from a few hundred subscribers to over 60,000 by focusing on what users truly found engaging.

Intro

2min

From CFO to Content Creator

15min

Building Connections: Podcasting and Newsletters

7min

Momentum of Subscriber Growth in a Newsletter Journey

3min

Navigating the Monetization Journey of a Newsletter

2min

Navigating the Monetization of Content in Newsletters

3min

Navigating Newsletter Strategies

6min

Securing Sponsorships for Newsletters

4min

Navigating Paid Newsletter Pricing Strategies

2min

10.

Exploring Innovative Monetization Strategies for Newsletters

2min

11.

Building a Newsletter Brand: Metrics and Strategies

7min

What does it take to grow a thriving newsletter with 60,000+ engaged readers all while working full-time as a CFO?

CJ Gustafson, from Mostly Metrics, is on this week’s episode of the Niche Pursuits Podcast to share how he built a highly profitable brand on the side.

In this episode, he delivers a masterclass in newsletter growth, monetization, and the power of niche content.

This is a conversation packed with actionable insights and behind-the-scenes stories, and CJ reveals how he turned a once-slow-growing side project into a high-performing B2B media brand serving over 60,000 subscribers—including CFOs, founders, and business nerds who geek out over financial models and company benchmarks.

Ready to join a niche publishing mastermind, and hear from industry experts each week? Join the Niche Pursuits Community here: https://community.nichepursuits.com

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Get SEO Consulting from the Niche Pursuits Podcast Host, Jared Bauman: https://www.nichepursuits.com/201creative

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Niche Pursuits Podcast: Find Your Next "Niche" Business Idea!

How CJ Gustafson Built a +60k Subscriber Newsletter as a Side Hustle

Episode guests