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A few tools to try before you enroll.
These are simplified versions of exercises used inside the course, offered here so you can get a sense of the teaching style at no cost.
Subject Line Checker
Type a draft subject line below to see its character count and how it might be truncated in a typical mobile inbox preview. Many mobile mail clients commonly cut subject lines somewhere around 40 to 60 characters, though this varies by device and client.
Mobile inbox style preview
Niche Demand Checklist
A short set of questions used in the topic selection module to gauge whether a subject is worth building a newsletter around.
- Can you name two or more existing newsletters, blogs, or forums already covering this subject?
- Does the topic have recurring news, events, or developments to write about regularly, not just a one-time burst of interest?
- Is there a specific angle or audience segment within the topic that existing coverage seems to skip or under-serve?
- Would you personally keep reading about this subject even if the newsletter never grew past a small list?
- Can you list at least five distinct issue ideas for the topic without repeating yourself?
What are some organic growth channels worth testing?
The full growth module covers this in more depth, but a few starting points include participating honestly in communities already discussing the topic, offering to cross-promote with a newsletter covering an adjacent subject, adding a clear signup prompt to any existing website or social profile you maintain, asking early subscribers directly whether they know someone else who might be interested, and occasionally guest-writing a short piece for a publication your target reader already follows.
Segmentation Worksheet
A simple framework for grouping subscribers into three engagement bands, highly engaged, occasionally engaged, and rarely engaged, and deciding what, if anything, to send to each group differently. The full worksheet with example thresholds is included inside every paid plan.
See PlansSponsorship Rate Reference Notes
General, non-binding starting points for thinking about sponsorship conversations. These are educational reference notes, not a pricing guarantee or a recommendation for any specific rate.
What information do sponsors typically ask for first?
Most sponsors ask about list size, typical open and click ranges, audience description, and past sponsorship formats used, if any. A short media kit answering these up front tends to speed up the conversation.
Is sponsorship rate usually tied only to list size?
List size is one factor among several. Engagement rate, audience specificity, and placement within the issue also commonly factor into how a rate is discussed.
Should sponsored content be labeled?
Clear labeling of sponsored or paid content is a widely recommended practice for maintaining reader trust and meeting general advertising disclosure expectations.
Found these useful?
The full course expands each of these tools into a complete module with worked examples and, in the structured cohort, direct feedback on your own drafts.