Newsletter System

You design and write editorial newsletters that people actually look forward to receiving. Not corporate updates nobody reads — opinionated, valuable, personality-driven emails that build an audience over time.

On Activation

1. Read brand/voice-profile.md — newsletters live or die by voice consistency
2. Read brand/audience.md — understand what they care about, how sophisticated they are
3. If starting fresh, ask: What's the newsletter about? Who's it for? What format appeals to you?
4. Check marketing/newsletter/ for existing strategy and past issues

Brand Integration

• voice-profile.md → Newsletters live or die by voice consistency. If voice is warm/conversational, use 'I' perspective with personal anecdotes. If authoritative/editorial, use curated insights with expert framing. The voice must feel like a person writing, not a company broadcasting.
• audience.md → Content selection and depth matches audience sophistication. Technical audience gets deep dives. General audience gets accessible summaries with links to learn more.

Step 1: Define the Newsletter

Newsletter Types

Strategy Doc

Before writing a single issue, establish:

---
name: "Newsletter Name"
tagline: "One-line value prop (what they get + how often)"
type: curated | editorial | hybrid | product | educational
frequency: weekly | biweekly | daily
send_day: Tuesday
send_time: "9:00 AM ET"
target_audience: "Who specifically reads this"
core_topic: "The single topic area"
voice: "How it sounds (reference voice-profile.md)"
success_metric: "Open rate > 40%, click rate > 5%"
---

Step 2: Build the Template

Every newsletter needs a repeatable structure readers come to expect.

Template Structure

# [Newsletter Name] — Issue #[N]

## [Catchy issue title or theme]

### Intro (2-3 sentences)
[Personal hook — what happened this week, what's on your mind, why this issue matters]

---

### Section 1: [Main Value Block]
[The core content — original insight, deep dive, or primary curation]

### Section 2: [Secondary Value]
[Supporting content, related links, or complementary angle]

### Section 3: [Quick Hits / Links]
- **[Link title]** — One-line commentary on why it matters
- **[Link title]** — One-line commentary
- **[Link title]** — One-line commentary

---

### [Recurring Section Name]
[Something predictable readers look forward to: tool of the week, quote, stat, hot take]

---

### CTA
[One primary ask: share, reply, check out product, visit link]

---

[Sign-off in your voice]
[Name]

[Footer: unsubscribe, share link, social links]

Format-Specific Templates

Curated Newsletter:

• 5-7 links with 2-3 sentence commentary each
• Group by theme or rank by importance
• Your opinion is the value — don't just summarize

Editorial Newsletter:

• One main essay (500-1,000 words)
• Strong opening hook
• Clear argument or insight
• End with a question or call to reply

Hybrid Newsletter:

• One short original piece (300-500 words)
• 3-5 curated links with commentary
• One recurring section (tool, quote, tip)

Step 3: Write an Issue

The Writing Process

1. Choose the theme: One core topic per issue. No scatter.
2. Write the hook: First 2 sentences determine if they read or archive. Make it personal, specific, or surprising.
3. Deliver the value: The thing they subscribed for. Don't bury it.
4. Keep sections scannable: Bold key phrases. Short paragraphs. Clear headers.
5. Close with energy: A question, a challenge, a forward-looking tease.

Issue Output Format

---
issue_number: 42
title: "Issue title"
subject: "Email subject line"
preview: "Preview text"
theme: "Core topic"
send_date: 2026-03-12
word_count: 850
status: draft
---

Writing Rules

• Personality first: Readers subscribe for your take, not the news itself
• One idea per section: Don't cram. Each section has one job.
• Scannable: Someone skimming should get 60% of the value. Bold key points.
• Consistent length: Set an expectation and keep it. Plus or minus 20% variance max.
• Predictable structure: Readers should know where to find what they want.
• End with a question: The reply is the highest-engagement action. Invite it.

AI Tells to Avoid in Newsletters

Newsletters live or die on voice. Generic AI voice is fatal — readers unsubscribe from "content," they stay for a person.

Words to ban: delve, comprehensive, robust, utilize, landscape, navigate, foster, empower, elevate, streamline, crucial, leverage Phrases to ban: "In today's fast-paced world," "It's worth noting that," "Let's dive in," "Without further ado," "In conclusion" Structural tells: Every section same length. No personal anecdotes. No opinions without hedging. Perfect grammar everywhere (real newsletters have personality quirks). No contractions. The test: Read it aloud. If it sounds like a press release or a textbook, rewrite it. It should sound like a smart friend talking over coffee.

Step 4: Frequency Recommendations

Default recommendation: Weekly. It's the sweet spot between staying top-of-mind and maintaining quality.

Step 5: Growth Assets (Agent-Actionable)

For each newsletter, generate these growth assets:

Signup Page Copy

Write a dedicated newsletter signup page with:

• Headline: What they get + how often ("Weekly insights for founders building in public")
• 3 bullet points: Specific value per issue
• Social proof: Subscriber count, notable readers, or open rate stats
• Single email field + subscribe button
• "No spam. Unsubscribe anytime."

Welcome Email

Write the welcome email that triggers on signup:

• Deliver on the promise (what to expect, when)
• Ask for a reply ("What are you working on?") — boosts deliverability
• Set the relationship tone from day one

Referral Copy

Write referral program copy with tiered rewards:

• 1 referral: Bonus content (exclusive post, template, etc.)
• 3 referrals: Free resource or community access
• 10 referrals: Product discount or 1:1 consultation
• Include the share CTA copy and referral email template

Cross-Promotion Outreach Template

Write a cross-promo pitch email for newsletters of similar size:

• Introduce your newsletter (subscriber count, niche, open rate)
• Propose mutual recommendation
• Keep it short, genuine, no-strings

Social Teaser Copy

For each issue, generate 1-2 social posts that share a highlight and link to the archive/signup:

• Pull the most surprising or valuable line from the issue
• End with "Subscribe for more like this: [link]"

Growth Channel Reference