The algorithm changed again. Sound familiar?

You spent three hours on that post. You used the trending audio. You added the perfect hashtags.

And then... crickets.

Meanwhile, some random cat video got 2 million views.

Here's the truth nobody wants to say out loud:

Your followers aren't really yours.

Social media is rented land. You're building a house on property someone else owns. And the landlord keeps changing the rules.

Think about it:

You can't email your followers. You can't text them. If the platform disappears, so does your audience.

And here's what keeps me up at night: AI-generated content is about to flood every platform in 2026. The competition for attention will get ten times harder.

Building on social media alone is like storing your life savings in someone else's sock drawer.

I've been in online business for nearly 30 years. (Yes, I remember when dial-up was "fast.")

I've watched every platform rise and fall. And here's what I've learned:

The Hustle sold for $27 million. Morning Brew got acquired for $75 million. What did they have in common? Email lists.

Not TikTok followers. Not Instagram engagement. Email subscribers.

A newsletter is digital real estate you actually own. Nobody can take it away. No algorithm can bury it.

When I started my newsletter Venture AIX Money, something clicked. For the first time, I took control of the relationship with my audience.

Ready to stop renting and start owning? Here's how to launch a newsletter this week:

Step 1: Pick Your Niche

Solve one problem for one type of person. "Helping everyone with everything" helps nobody with anything.

Use ChatGPT to brainstorm: "Give me 10 specific problems [your audience] struggles with daily."

Step 2: Choose Your Platform

I recommend Beehiiv. It's free to start. No credit card required. And it grows with you as your email newsletter business takes off.

(Full disclosure: I use Beehiiv for all three of my newsletters. It just works.)

Step 3: Create Your Lead Magnet

This is the "gift" people get for subscribing. Keep it simple:

Use Canva to make it look professional in 15 minutes. Their AI tools do the heavy lifting.

Step 4: Write Your First 5 Emails

Before you launch, have content ready. Nothing kills momentum like an empty inbox.

Use Claude to help draft your emails. Tell it your topic, your audience, and your voice. You'll have drafts in minutes.

Step 5: Tell Everyone You Know

Your first 100 subscribers come from your existing network. Email friends. Post on LinkedIn. Tell your cousin who always asks what you do.

This is how you build an email list without spending a dime on ads.

Your 10-Minute Quick Win:

Draft your newsletter name right now using this formula:

[Audience] + [Outcome]

Examples:

Write yours down. You just took the first step toward newsletter monetization.

Here's what I wish someone had told me years ago:

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today.

Newsletters work the same way. Every day you wait, you're giving your future competitors a head start.

But I also know starting feels overwhelming. You're busy. You've got a job, maybe a family, definitely a Netflix queue calling your name.

That's exactly why I created the Newsletter Launch Kit.

The Newsletter Launch Kit is a done-with-you program to launch your newsletter in 30 days.

For $97—less than a nice dinner out—you get:

No more months of trial and error. No more YouTube rabbit holes at 2 AM.

And here's what I tell everyone who says "I'm not a writer":

You don't need to be a writer. You need to be helpful.

If you can help one person solve one problem, you can run a newsletter.

The 2025 window is closing. AI content is about to flood every inbox. The newsletters that win will be the ones people already trust.

You can keep building on rented land. Or you can start building something that's truly yours.

Subscribe to Venture AIX Money for weekly tips on AI-powered business strategies.

Or if you're ready to move faster, check out the Newsletter Launch Kit and let's get your newsletter live in 30 days.

Either way, take one step today.

Action beats perfect. Every single time.

1. Social media is rented land, email is owned property. You can't contact your followers directly on social platforms, and one algorithm change can tank your reach overnight. A newsletter gives you a direct line to your audience that nobody can take away.

2. Starting a newsletter is simpler than most people think. Pick one problem to solve for a specific type of person, grab a free platform like Beehiiv, create a simple lead magnet, write five emails, and share them with your existing network. You don't need to be a writer—you need to be helpful.

3. The window to build trust is closing fast. With AI-generated content flooding every platform in 2025-2026, the newsletters that win will be the ones people already know and trust. Every day you wait is a head start for your future competitors.

The underlying message ties back to the "build the bridge before burning boats" philosophy—you can start building your newsletter while keeping your day job, but start now while the timing still favors early movers.

The Newsletter Launch Kit gives you everything you need to go from "I should start a newsletter" to "I just hit send" in a single weekend.

What's Inside:

Perfect for: Solopreneurs, coaches, creators, and side hustlers ready to build an audience they actually own.

Hybrid Learning Experience: To optimize your learning experience, the Newsletter Launch Kit includes text, video, audio, and 1:1 coaching by Newsletter publisher, Hugh Lee Johnson.