If you’re just starting out with your newsletter, you can use organic methods to get the first 1000 subscribers.

But after that, if you’re serious about scaling your subscriber base, running paid ads will be the fuel to your growth.

Today, when everyone wants to have a newsletter, paid ads can get you in front of the right people at the right time.

How?

You can target those who are most likely to love and subscribe to your content by targeting that group directly.

Let’s look into it.

P.S. I have an unfair advantage for you at the end.

Benefits of Paid Ads for Newsletters:

There are 4 major benefits of running paid ads for your newsletter growth:

• Faster Growth

• Precise Targeting

• Insights from Data

• Revenue Potential

One of the biggest advantages of paid ads is speed, giving you instant visibility.

Whether you’re aiming for 100 new subscribers or 10,000, ads make it possible to scale your efforts without waiting months or years.

There’s also the precision of targeting. You’re not just broadcasting to a random audience; you’re handpicking who sees your newsletter.

For example, if your newsletter is about personal finance, paid ads can reach people actively searching for budgeting tips or financial advice.

Another perk is the data you gather. Ads don’t just bring subscribers; they teach you about your audience.

Which headline gets more clicks? What kind of imagery performs better?
This feedback loop doesn’t just improve your ads; it makes your overall marketing smarter.

And then there’s the revenue potential. A growing subscriber base means more opportunities for monetization.

With a larger audience, you can attract sponsors, promote products, or sell premium content.

Paid ads are not just an expense; they’re an investment with tangible returns, which can possibly lead to negative customer acquisition cost.

2 Types of Ads Work Best for Newsletters:

Search Ads
Google Ads are excellent for newsletters that solve specific problems.

For example, if you run a personal finance newsletter, someone searching “how to save for retirement” could see your ad offering a free guide in exchange for their email.

Here, there is active search intent and you can find people who are interested in the topic you’re writing about.

Social Media Ads
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow you to reach a highly targeted audience.

For instance, if your newsletter is about startups, LinkedIn ads targeting young entrepreneurs could be a game-changer.

Short, snappy ad copy paired with eye-catching visuals or videos works best here.

Meta Ads, with a vast number of Gen-Z and Millennials on Facebook and Instagram, are also a goldmine for running ads.

Among all platforms for subscriber acquisition, we use meta ads the most.

Actionable Steps to Start

1. Define Your Audience
   Before you spend a penny, get crystal clear on who your ideal subscriber is. Ask yourself:

   • What are their interests?

   • What problems are they trying to solve?

   • Where do they hang out online?

For example, if you’re running a fitness newsletter, your audience might be people aged 25-40 who follow fitness influencers on Instagram.

2. Set a Budget
   Start small. Allocate $100-$200 to test the waters.
   Once you see what’s working, you can gradually increase your ad spend.

3. Create an Irresistible Lead Magnet
   People need a reason to hand over their email. Offer something valuable, like a free guide, checklist, or e-book, related to your newsletter topic. Make sure your lead magnet solves a problem or delivers a quick win.

4. Write Compelling Ad Copy
   Your ad copy should grab attention, spark curiosity, and clearly communicate what the subscriber will gain. Use emotional triggers, humor, or power words to stand out.

5. Design Eye-Catching Visuals
   Whether it’s a carousel on Instagram or a banner on a website, your visuals should align with your brand and catch the eye. Use bold colors, clean designs, and relatable imagery.

6. Test, Optimize, Repeat
   Don’t expect your first ad to be a hit. Test different headlines, images, and targeting options. Track your performance metrics—like click-through rates and cost per lead—and tweak your campaigns for better results.

7. Leverage Retargeting
   When you browse a website and see its ads everywhere afterward, it’s called retargeting. Use it to remind people who visited your site but didn’t subscribe.

8. Monitor Your ROI
   Paid ads are an investment, so keep an eye on your return. Track how much you’re spending per subscriber and compare it to the lifetime value of each subscriber.

Final Thoughts

Paid ads are a powerful tool to accelerate newsletter growth, but they work best when combined with amazing content and a clear strategy.

Remember, your ultimate goal isn’t just to get subscribers - it’s to build a loyal community of readers who love what you have to say. S

o start small, experiment, and watch your newsletter thrive.

P.S. Here’s the unfair advantage for you - when you run ads, you need creatives that actually make people stop and subscribe.

You can put in hours and $$$ into researching, ideating, and creating.

Or you can opt for a shortcut with ready-to-use templates that help you create ads in 1 minute.

These templates are from major newsletters that are winning at Meta Ads right now.

If you choose ‘Yesss!’ above, I’ll send you a link with templates that you can use today to run ads :)

And that’s it for today.

P.S. If you are stuck with your newsletter growth at any point, reply to this and I can help you out! 📈