QUICK POLL

THE MAIN THING

 📈 How To Grow Subscribers with a Tiny Budget

Not everyone has $1,000s of dollars a month to spend on ads to grow their newsletter subscribers.

But, you can test ads on a tiny budget.

Here's how to test ads with only $100.

Your goal is to validate your messaging and creative with minimal risk before scaling up.

• Allocate $30–$50 of your $100 budget over, say, 5–10 days. That works out to $3–$10/day.
  

• Use a highly targeted ad (e.g., on Facebook or TikTok) with a clear value proposition. If you use a lead magnet, you could test, “Join today and get [what you offer for free]."
  

• Test 2–3 creatives (maybe one image, one short video) and 1–2 audiences. Try targeting a lookalike sample of your current subscribers vs. interest‐based.
  

• Optimize what works. Pause the worst converting ad after a few days. Then use the remainder of your budget on the better performer.
  

Why this works

• Low budgets can still deliver useful learning. You might hit on a winning creative and discover a new audience.
  

• For newsletter growth, benchmark costs vary widely. For example, a recent analysis shows that the cost per thousand impressions (CPM) for lifestyle and consumer newsletters ranges from $15 to $40. While newsletter sign-up cost might be lower than a sale, you are competing for attention so the test helps.
  

The key is using your limited budget to learn what works before pouring money in.

What to watch

• Conversion rate from ad click to sign-up. You need to track this closely.
  

• Cost per subscriber. If you’re spending $5 to get one subscriber and you know each subscriber is worth only $0.50/month, you might need to rethink.
  

• Creative fatigue. People switch off when they frequently see the same ad. Change your ads if the performance drops.

When to stop this phase and move to the next one

• When you get a consistent cost per subscriber that you’re comfortable with, e.g., <$2, or whatever your break‐even is.
  

• You realize costs are too high, and you need to refine your offer or messaging before spending more.
  

Was this helpful?

Reply with a 'Yes' if you'd like to see Stage 2 of this strategy.

BROUGHT TO YOU IN EXCLUSIVITY BY

It’s finally here!!! (soft launch part 2: the onboarding)

Duuce is becoming LetterTrader!

We’re rolling out the new design, new logo, and the NEW name. Both sellers and buyers will enjoy a premium, streamlined, and reliable experience.

To celebrate, we've got a special offer for you.

Exclusive Pre-Launch Offer (Valid Until Dec 10th):

•  Get $20 off the listing fee for newsletters valued under $5K (with coupon LT2026)

• Reduced commission on all newsletters listed for over $5K before December 10th

Whether you're ready to sell or just exploring your options, now is the perfect moment to get in before the official launch.

PS: we always welcome your feedback!

THINGS IN BRIEF

1. Beyond BFCM

Did you blow your Black Friday budget? 

I've saved one special deal and one free tool I know you'll want to check out!

Stunning sites for less

Franck J, designs landing pages and websites for creators like you. He offered us an incredible deal (still running)—because you need more than a newsletter :) 

You get 25% off his Calgary Carrd template. It's a proven, high-converting landing page for solopreneurs. Not a 'tech' person?' Check out his done-for-you offer.

RSS Podcast Hosting: FREE

RSS added a free tier to their podcast hosting services.

You get a free podcast website, unlimited episodes, transcripts, and a ton more. If you've ever considered adding a podcast to complement your newsletter, this is worth a look.

2. 11 types of perks for paid subscribers

A Substack user analyzed hundreds of top-earning Substacks and cataloged every perk they offer. 

Some of the advice is specific to Substack, but you'll uncover a ton of useful info if you're thinking about adding paid subscriptions.

3. Why your digital product isn’t selling

Are your digital products sales slow or non-existent? 

This guide breaks down where things are stuck and how to fix them fast.

CLASSIFIEDS

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🤝 Lettergrowth - Start Cross-promoting with creators in your niche, one of the best way to grow your audience without spending a dime, plus it helps you network! Start now!

🗞️ Ezoic - A total ad monetization solution providing the easiest ways to directly generate revenue using cutting-edge models and ad strategies. Get a 25% Boost through December.

💰 Acquire the Web - Join 6,000+ investors in their quest for their next digital acquisition. Sign up for free

✒️ E-signature - Need to sign documents electronically efficiently? Easy to use? Get 50% extra credit upon your first payment, Try it now!

ONE LAST THING

☝️ Make a 'stop doing' list

A 'stop doing' list might make a huge difference to your life and business in 2026.

We're great at adding tasks, but terrible at subtracting them, which means a lot of our workload is self-inflicted.

What's draining your energy without producing results? 

It could be the weekly newsletter segment no one reads but still takes an hour to write. Maybe it's the tools you keep paying for even though they add nothing to your productivity.

December is the perfect time to drop a few habits that aren't helping you. 

What's one thing you're leaving behind in 2025? 

Hit reply and tell me. I'd love to hear what you're cutting loose.