Advice on Advertising?

theorosendorf

I’m starting a daily email newsletter on type. It’s growing steadily and I’m humbled by the interest so far. We plan to launch Winter 2025.

I have some questions (and slight ambivalence) about running ads. Above all else we want to honor reader sensibilities, but this thing also needs to operate as a business. So we plan to run some non-obtrusive ads under/after the content.

Here are my questions but would love any input on the topic.

• Have you seen good examples of newsletters (or print zines) that include tasteful, relevant, useful ads that don’t alienate readers?

• As a reader, what kind of ad placement or formats are you okay with?

• Of course I have lots of ideas, but what kind of advertisers would you like to see in a newsletter about typography?

• Also, if you liked the content but not the ads, would you pay $3/mo to not have ads?

Appreciate any insight. Especially from anyone who’s done something similar in this space.
🙏

Carl Crossgrove

2 thoughts: DAILY??? And, subscriptions, via existing platforms like Substack or Mastodon might provide a lot of infrastructure you could use, since the format is a match. That removes all the pressure to use advertising, although people who publish on those platforms can weigh in about the business model. 

theorosendorf

Thanks Carl! Yeah, daily. 😄 You are, surprisingly the first to give such a reaction. I have thought about giving subscribers a way to customize the frequency. But I’m curious, do you think daily is too much content or are you saying it sounds difficult to pull off?

Here’s the site for anyone that’s interested. I should mention, the content format has evolved from what it shows. It will be more narrative and better tuned for the medium of email: https://quadrat.today

Nick Shinn

Constant, frequent marketing, in the guise of “content creation,” is extremely exhausting. 

theorosendorf

I couldn’t agree more, @Nick Shinn.

Joshua Langman

I also think daily is too much. I'd consider subscribing to something put out every week or two. Daily e-mails are a turn-off.

Thomas Phinney

• As a reader, what kind of ad placement or formats are you okay with?

Gosh, no idea.

• Of course I have lots of ideas, but what kind of advertisers would you like to see in a newsletter about typography?

For the most part, I would be happy to see anyone who will pay you money for the space.

• Also, if you liked the content but not the ads, would you pay $3/mo to not have ads?

I would say, take ads, and optionally (if it is not too much trouble) let people pay a premium for the ad-free version.