Dan Oshinsky Looks Back (And Forward)
If you missed Dan Oshinsky’s December edition of Not a Newsletter, here’s your sign to go back and catch up. He includes:
Speaking of Dan Oshinsky, Let’s Review August’s “Not a Newsletter” Highlights
Dan Oshinky’s August edition of “Not a Newsletter” (aka the Google Doc he shares full of helpful information) highlights everything from privacy updates to monetization. My favorites include:
Tips, Resources, And Updates In Oshinsky’s April Edition
Dan Oshinsky’s at it again with another great edition of “Not a Newsletter.” A few of my favorites from this month include:
Check out the full issue here (quick reminder that it’s a Google Doc).
Learn Advanced Welcome Email Strategy from Dan Oshinsky
How do you welcome new subscribers to your newsletter?
Dan Oshinsky, who runs Inbox Collective, a consultancy that helps news organizations, non-profits, and brands get the most out of email, says a well-strategized welcome sequence can lay the groundwork for better relationships with your subscribers.
And he should know. He previously worked as the Director of Newsletters at both The New Yorker and BuzzFeed. He’s also the creator of Not a Newsletter, a monthly briefing with news, tips, and ideas about how to send better email. I link to his resources frequently in this newsletter.
In this video, he walks us through building out a successful welcome series, plus answers questions about his childhood ambitions to send millions of emails in his lifetime.
Note: I haven’t created an entire series of welcome emails yet for Opt In Weekly, but I am going to heed his advice now that we’re 12 issues in and update my welcome email to link to content new subscribers will find helpful.
Related: Newspaper people, check out this interview with Dan from The Fix about how email can become a newsroom’s biggest revenue driver.
Dan Oshinsky On Launching Small Then Going Big
Sometimes what you should be doing takes a while to become obvious.
That’s ok. In fact, it’s better.
You are the collective sum of your experiences.
If you are public about what you are learning and test how people respond when you offer helpful tips, you might find that there's an audience hungry for much more than just free advice.
That’s what happened to email newsletter consultant Dan Oshinsky of Inbox Collective.
The former Director of Newsletters at The New Yorker launched a free Google Doc with newsletter resources and advice, expecting maybe 10 people to be interested, but instead 400 people quickly subscribed for updates.
It’s smart to put out an MVP of your ideas.
To see if the fish are biting.
To let an audience’s response help you shape things and tell you what they need.
Become that resource.
In this short video clip (it’s 2 minutes) Dan explains how he discovered he could provide a solution to an audience’s problems.
Dan will be presenting at Newsletter Fest.
His session is about 4 different newsletter models.
“Whether you’re a writer, a reporter, or an expert on a particular topic, there are strategies worth implementing that will allow you to get the most out of your newsletter. Let’s explore four types of newsletters and identify monetization opportunities that work for each.”
It’s going to be a good one, y’all.
Register here.
Fresh Newsletter Insights From Dan Oshinsky
Dan Oshinky released his November (not issue?) of Not a Newsletter, and, as usual, it delivers. Here’s a sampling of the content:
Set aside some time to dive into this Google Doc.
Bustle Plans On Newsletter Subscriptions Becoming An 8-Figure Earner. Will It Work?
Kayleigh Barber asked Dan Oshinsky to weigh in on the likelihood of Bustle Digital Group achieving its ambitious income goals with the 14 (soon to be 15) newsletters it publishes.
“Based on what Oshinsky has seen with the publishers he works with, a ‘best-in-class’ unique open rate is 30% or above. A 20% average open rate is not bad, he added, but he said that while BDG focuses on growing its total list size, it will be important to monitor that engagement does not drop off as a side effect of new subscriptions.”
Psst! Dan is also slated to lead a workshop for Newsletter Fest. We’re discussing a presentation on different newsletter business models. Stay tuned.
Related: Check out how The NY Times aims to convert newsletter readers into paid subscribers.
Newsletter Insights In “Not A Newsletter”
Dan Oshinsky’s June edition of “Not a Newsletter” hit inboxes last week. As always it’s chock-full of newsletter headlines, tips, and resources including:
Like this and want more? Check out all the Dan Oshinsky newsletter wisdom we’ve shared in Opt In Weekly if you want to go down a rabbit hole.
Dan Oshinsky is a never ending source of amazing newsletter advice. In this article, he walks us through two Google Analytics dashboards we can use to track newsletter success.
Your Opt In Challenge this week is to set up Google Analytics for your newsletter.
The Ultimate Screen Share Is In The Works
Seth is at it again flexing his video making skills and we’ve got our first promotional video for Newsletter Fest ready. We’re also working on a longer version (with speaker names).
Help us spread the word by sending all your favorite newsletter creators to NewsletterFest.com. The site is a work in progress, but we love bringing you along for the journey, so be sure to subscribe for updates (link under video) and register for workshops as they are announced.
And, yes, I know both Dan Oshinsky and Mary Ellen Slayter’s eyes are closed in this screenshot. I feel like it really sets the tone for the entire event. Click through to see them in action.
Note: If you have reached out to me about being a speaker, I promise I will be in touch. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks. People really love this idea!
