The "Newsletter Godfather" Who Wrote 4,000+ Newsletters For The Hustle, Axios, and Yahoo Sports
Feb 7, 2025
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Kendall Baker, the "Newsletter Godfather" and founder of Sports Internet, shares his journey through the media landscape and his early days at The Hustle. He discusses innovative strategies for growing newsletter audiences, the importance of humor in content, and how feedback shapes community engagement. Baker also emphasizes the need for human curation amidst the rise of AI in media, contrasting niche content with traditional outlets. His insights reveal how newsletters can create unique voices and foster loyal followings in an ever-evolving space.
Understanding newsletter readers as a unique demographic allows for effective cross-promotion and subscriber growth across varied content genres.
High reader engagement metrics, particularly consistent open rates, are critical for establishing reliability and fostering subscriber loyalty in newsletters.
Curating newsletter content successfully requires balancing trending topics with unique narratives and actively integrating subscriber feedback to enhance relevance.
Deep dives
Maximizing Newsletter Growth Through Cross-Promotion
Thinking of newsletter readers as a distinct demographic allows for effective cross-promotion with other newsletters, regardless of their topics. This strategy can be powerful in generating new subscribers as it invites individuals already engaged with the format to explore new content offerings. The concept underscores the potential for innovative newsletter formats that remain untapped, driven by creators’ focus on replicating existing ideas instead of exploring unique approaches. By fostering collaborations and mutual promotions, newsletter creators can cultivate a rich ecosystem that benefits all participants and keeps growth sustainable.
The Value of Subscriber Engagement Metrics
Subscriber engagement metrics, particularly the percentage of readers who consistently open each edition, serve as a crucial indicator of newsletter success. High open rates suggest that subscribers are integrating the newsletter into their daily routines, valuing it as a reliable source of information. This data point, more than others, highlights how newsletters can position themselves within readers' lives, emphasizing the importance of creating reliable and engaging content. With consistent positive feedback from dedicated readers, newsletter creators can better tailor their content to meet audience expectations.
Curation and Story Selection in Newsletters
Effective story selection hinges on the curator’s ability to balance trending topics with unique narratives that might otherwise go unnoticed. Many successful newsletters emphasize the importance of taste and context, borrowing from a diverse range of sources while maintaining a distinctive voice. Engaging directly with subscribers for feedback is crucial, serving to refine what content resonates best and ensuring relevance—this feedback loop enhances reader loyalty. Ultimately, newsletter curation is an art form that combines instinct, reader preferences, and keen market insight.
Flexibility in Newsletter Formats
Implementing a flexible format or template enhances a newsletter’s ability to adapt to varying levels of news and reader interests. By establishing a framework while remaining spontaneous, creators can ensure that every edition feels fresh without compromising consistency. This approach allows for spontaneity and creativity while enabling newsletter writers to maintain a recognizable structure for subscribers. Utilizing soft templates empowers writers to craft personalized and engaging experiences tailored to their audience's tastes.
The Future of Media and Intentional Content Creation
The media landscape is evolving towards intentionally curated content from lean teams that specialize in specific areas, moving away from the traditional volume-driven approach. This transformation encourages creators to focus on depth rather than breadth, cultivating niche expertise in a quality-driven manner. The rise of intentional media creates opportunities for individuals to build brands that resonate genuinely with their audiences without the need for large entities or extensive resources. Amid this shift, there’s a growing appetite for authentic human touchpoints, highlighting the inadequacy of AI-driven solutions in replicating nuanced human experiences.
Kendall Baker is the founder of Sports Internet (acquired by Axios), the first newsletter writer at The Hustle, and now a Senior Writer at Yahoo Sports.
He's known as the "Newsletter Godfather" because he's pioneered newsletter content and has written and published more newsletters to more readers than almost anyone.
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