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I launched my first weekly newsletter in June 2024 as a challenge to myself. I wanted to prove I could stay consistent with building something of value outside my corporate sales career. After doing the research, I determined that a weekly email newsletter would be the best first step in building a personal brand online.

Two questions kept running through my mind. "Can I stay consistent with this new endeavor?" And, "How do I share five decades of business experience with readers while tapping into the hottest trend in technology, AI?"

The answer to the first question is yes. I can stay consistent. Insider secret: consistency requires a carefully designed system. After hundreds of published newsletter articles, I am still here and ready to deliver ongoing value to you every week.

The answer to the second question became Venture AIX Money, a newsletter I designed to share the tips, tools, and strategies I have learned over many years in business, with the added benefit of using AI to get results faster.

My name is Hugh Lee Johnson. I am the Founder and CEO of Venture Megamedia, and the publisher and designer of Venture AIX Money, along with 3 other newsletters.

I am planning a premium cohort for Spring 2026. Join the waiting list today. DM me "COHORT" on LinkedIn or X to receive exclusive updates.

Let’s get started with today’s session:

A 47-year-old marketing director launched a weekly newsletter from her kitchen table in January 2024. By December 2024, she was earning $11,000 a month from sponsorships, a paid tier, and affiliate partnerships. She did not quit her day job until month nine.

She is not a tech genius. She is not 25. She used AI tools, wrote one email per week, and stayed consistent.

If she did this, so will you.

Here is the exact roadmap.

The email newsletter business is booming. According to Statista, the global email marketing market hit $12.33 billion in 2024 and is growing 13.3% per year. Newsletters sit at the center of this growth because readers trust email more than social media feeds.

A 6-figure income stream means $100,000 per year. That breaks down to $8,333 per month. Here is how newsletter publishers hit those numbers through multiple revenue streams:

Sponsorships and Advertising: A newsletter with 10,000 engaged subscribers charges $50 to $150 per 1,000 opens (CPM) for a single ad placement. At 10,000 subscribers and a 45% open rate, one weekly sponsor pays you $225 to $675 per issue. Over 52 weeks, sponsorships alone generate $11,700 to $35,100 per year.

Paid Subscriptions: Platforms like Beehiiv let you offer a premium paid tier. If 3% of 10,000 subscribers pay $10 per month, you earn $3,000 per month, $36,000 per year.

Affiliate Revenue: Recommend products and tools you trust and earn a commission on each sale. Top newsletter publishers earn $1,000 to $5,000 per month in affiliate income.

Digital Products and Coaching: Sell an ebook, course, or coaching package to your subscriber base. Even a $97 digital product sold to 1% of 10,000 subscribers generates $9,700 per launch.

Combined, these streams reach $100,000 annually. The key ingredient is a loyal, engaged email list.

Months 1 through 3: Build the Foundation

Pick one specific niche. The tighter your focus, the faster you grow. "AI for business productivity" is a niche. "Business tips" is not.

Set up your newsletter on Beehiiv. The free plan supports up to 2,500 subscribers and includes growth tools, analytics, and built-in monetization features. Beehiiv was built by the team behind Morning Brew, one of the most successful newsletters ever created.

Publish weekly. Consistency matters more than perfection. Send one valuable email every week on the same day, at the same time.

Cross-promote on LinkedIn. Post 3 to 5 times per week. Repurpose your newsletter content into LinkedIn posts and drive readers to your subscribe page.

Enable Beehiiv's referral and recommendation features. These tools let your current subscribers help you grow by recommending your newsletter to others.

Guest on podcasts in your niche. Every appearance puts you in front of a warm audience already interested in your topic.

Target: 2,500 to 5,000 subscribers by month 6.

Months 7 through 9: Start Monetizing

Apply for your first newsletter sponsors through Beehiiv's ad network.

Launch a paid subscription tier for premium content.

Add 2 to 3 affiliate partnerships for products your audience already uses.

Target: $2,000 to $4,000 per month in combined revenue by month 9.

Months 10 through 12: Scale to 6-Figures

Create and sell a digital product (ebook, mini-course, or coaching package) to your subscriber base.

Increase your sponsorship rates as your list and engagement grow.

Add a second weekly email or a premium edition for paid subscribers.

Target: $8,000+ per month by month 12, putting you on track for a 6-figure annual income.

Every 6-figure newsletter started with zero subscribers. Every successful publisher started with a blank screen and a decision to begin.

You have the experience. You have the knowledge. AI tools handle the parts you do not know yet. The only missing piece is the action you take today.

Here is your assignment: Go to Beehiiv, create your free account, and choose your newsletter name. Spend 15 minutes setting up your landing page. Then write your first issue and send yourself a test email.

You are closer to building a 6-figure income stream than you think. Start this week.

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