How To Start An AI Newsletter That Makes Money (Even If You’re New)

Introduction.

There’s a quiet gold rush happening right now—and it’s not crypto or stock trading. It’s newsletters. More specifically, AI newsletters.

With AI exploding across every industry, people want updates they can trust. They don’t have time to scroll through Twitter threads, confusing YouTube videos, or long LinkedIn rants.

They want one email. A helpful one. Something that cuts through the noise and tells them what matters.

That’s where a newsletter comes in—and if you get it right, it can earn you real money.

I’m not just talking about passive income someday in the future. A good AI newsletter can start making money fast—through sponsorships, paid subscriptions, affiliate links, digital products, or even consulting opportunities.

The best part? You don’t need a massive audience, a fancy writing degree, or even a deep tech background. You just need to care about AI and know how to share what you learn in a simple, helpful way.

So let’s break it down. I’ll show you exactly how to start an AI newsletter from scratch, grow your audience, and make money from it—step by step.

How Do I Start an AI Newsletter That Makes Money?

Step 1: Pick a Niche (Yes, Even in AI)

AI is a huge topic. There’s ChatGPT, Midjourney, AI for coding, AI for marketing, legal tech, healthcare, education, productivity tools, AI art… you get the idea.

Trying to cover everything will leave you overwhelmed and your readers confused.

Instead, pick a niche. Think about:

What part of AI do you already follow naturally?
Do you enjoy helping people understand tools like ChatGPT or Claude?
Are you more interested in how AI is changing specific industries?

Here are a few niche ideas:

“AI Tools for Small Business Owners”
“ChatGPT Tips for Teachers”
“AI and the Creator Economy”
“Weekly AI Tools You Can Actually Use”
“The Ethical AI Watch”

Your niche doesn’t have to be narrow forever. But starting small helps you stand out and grow faster.

Step 2: Choose the Right Platform

You need a place to send emails from and a way to collect subscribers. Here are three solid newsletter platforms:

1. Substack: Great for beginners. It’s free to start, easy to set up, and you can monetize through paid subscriptions.

2. Beehiiv: Clean design, growth tools, and built-in monetization. Used by a lot of rising newsletters.

3. ConvertKit: Ideal if you want more control, especially if you plan to sell digital products later.

Each of these lets you start for free. I personally recommend Beehiiv or Substack if you’re just starting.

Step 3: Create a Simple Newsletter Format

Your newsletter doesn’t need to be long. It needs to be useful. Here’s a format that works:

Intro (1–2 lines): A quick summary of what’s in this edition.
Main story or tool: Share an insight, a tool breakdown, or something trending in AI (with a quick opinion).
Quick links or summaries: Include 2–3 short blurbs with links—like interesting tweets, videos, or product updates.
Call to action: Ask your readers to share or reply with thoughts.

Your tone matters. Make it feel like a conversation—not a lecture. You’re not trying to impress your readers; you’re trying to help them.

Step 4: Stay Consistent

The key to growing your newsletter is showing up. That means picking a schedule you can stick to. Weekly is perfect for most people.

Even if only 5 people read your first issue, keep going. Treat them like VIPs. When they reply, respond. When they share, thank them. That’s how loyalty grows.

You’ll improve naturally. You’ll learn what your audience likes. You’ll write faster. But none of that happens if you quit early.

Step 5: Grow Your Audience

You don’t need 10,000 subscribers to make money. But you do need the right people on your list.

Here’s how to find them:

1. Post on X (Twitter) or LinkedIn:

Share what you’re learning in public. A simple tweet thread summarizing an AI tool can bring in hundreds of readers if done well.

2. Create short-form videos:

TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts love AI tips. Record a 30-second clip explaining an AI tool and add your newsletter link in your bio.

3. Reddit & Communities:

Join subreddits like r/ChatGPT, r/Artificial, or industry Slack groups. Be helpful, not spammy. People will click your bio if they find value in your comments.

4. Offer a free lead magnet:

A quick guide like “10 Free AI Tools You Should Try This Month” can work wonders. Just make it helpful and clear.

Step 6: Start Making Money

Once you have around 500–1,000 engaged readers, you can monetize.

Here are a few ways to earn:

1. Sponsorships:

Reach out to AI tool creators. Many are happy to pay $50–$500 per placement if your audience matches their target. Platforms like Swapstack and Paved help with this.

2. Paid Subscriptions:

If you’re offering deep insights or breakdowns, consider a paid tier. Substack makes this easy. Even 100 paid subscribers at $5/month is $500/month.

3. Affiliate links:

Join affiliate programs for tools like Jasper, Notion AI, or Writesonic. When your readers try them, you earn a cut.

4. Sell your own product:

Turn your insights into a PDF guide, video course, or Notion template. Use your newsletter to launch it.

5. Consulting or coaching:

If your readers trust your expertise, they may want 1:1 help. Offer paid sessions or audits.

Real-World Examples

Here are a few newsletters that started small and now earn a full-time income:

Ben’s Bites: Covers AI news daily. Grew to over 100,000+ subscribers in less than a year and earns via sponsorships.
AI Tool Report: A clean weekly roundup of new tools. Monetizes through ads and referrals.
Superhuman: Not AI-only, but grew fast by sharing insights on productivity and tools.

These weren’t started by giant media companies. They were started by regular people who showed up consistently and helped others understand AI better.