How To Build A Successful Free or Paid Newsletter In 2026

🤖 Our Substack paid newsletter, Write With AI, does over $400,000/yr in annual recurring revenue. Come learn what's working for us over here! https://writewithai.substack.com/

✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started: https://yt.startwritingonline.com

🚀 This video is a clip from our Monday Hot Seat calls inside our AI Writing Skool. You can come join me LIVE here: https://aiwritingskool.com/

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If you’re new to my channel… hey there!

My name is Nicolas Cole and I’ve been writing online since 2007.

Since then, I’ve generated over a billion views on my writing, written 10+ books, and built multiple 7+ figure writing-related businesses, including two of the largest writing programs on the Internet: Ship 30 for 30 & Premium Ghostwriting Academy.

I have made millions of dollars writing online, so I fundamentally reject this narrative (pun intended) “nobody makes a living as a writer.”

Yes, you absolutely can make a living as a writer. In fact, you can make more than just a living. You can make tons of money as a writer… IF… you’re a digital writer, and embrace learning the new skills required to thrive in a digital world.

Which is why I started this YouTube channel.

Consider me your Digital Writing Mentor!

On this channel I talk about:

- Digital Writing
- Ghostwriting
- Writing With AI
- Self-Publishing
- Writing Services & Business Models

So if you have any questions, drop me a comment on any video and I’ll answer them in a future video!

Keep writing,

Cole

(00:00) A Newsletter Is a Never-Ending Book
(02:00) What Makes Some Books Leave You Wanting More
(04:30) Breaking Down What Readers Want to Continue
(07:00) Identifying the Tangible Value in Content
(10:00) Newsletters as Vehicles for Assets, Not Just Information
(13:00) Real-World Examples: Story Club & Write with AI
(16:00) Building Repeatable, Tangible Assets for Your Audience
(19:30) Free vs Paid Newsletters: The Business Model Choice

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🔗 Other digital writing videos I think you'll enjoy:

10 Lessons Selling $10M Of Digital Products: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ks2BeFsD0&t=111s

How To Build A $200k/yr Paid Newsletter On Substack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrfO_bRprE0&t=5s

This 20-Email Sequence Made Me Millions of Dollars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBANmqDhj7Y&t=2s

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✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started: https://yt.startwritingonline.com

🚢 Ready to build your daily writing habit and accelerate your trajectory as a Digital Writer? Join Ship 30 for 30: https://www.ship30for30.com

👻 Want to enter the lucrative world of ghostwriting? Here’s a free guide to get you started: https://yt.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com

🤖 Need some help learning how to leverage AI as a writer? Come subscribe to our newsletter (100,000+ readers!) on how to Write With AI: https://writewithai.substack.com/

💻 Want an endless supply of proven, viral-worthy digital writing templates? Check out our software platform, Typeshare: https://typeshare.co

📈 Want to write/ghostwrite just like me? Check out Ghostbase, which is trained on all my writing & ghostwriting frameworks: https://www.ghostbase.com/

🧙‍♂️Are you a fiction writer? Do you want to watch me build my 7-figure fiction writing vertical? Come check out Commercial Fiction Club: https://nicolascolefiction.substack.com/

📕 For more information on my books, businesses, and other writings, visit my website: https://www.nicolascole.com

📚 To shop my library of print, eBooks, and audiobooks, visit my bookstore: https://www.differentpublishing.press/