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Hello {{first_name | EduCreator}},
Ask any newsletter operator and they’ll tell you that they loooove getting replies on their emails. They’ll also probably say it doesn’t happen much but when it does, it’s exciting.
I recently got a reply that said: “you are relentless… I love it”
Relentless? Me?!
It’s so true. The teacher in me is passionate about sharing what I’ve learned to become successful in the areas I know well. Whether it be the transformation I’ve experienced from surrendering my life and heart to Jesus, or the revenue I’ve earned since participating in beehiiv’s ad revenue program… I can’t help myself.
I want you to win too!
The question about ads ruining trust has come up enough times that I want to address it. My goal with this letter is to ease your concerns and lovingly persuade you to start your newsletter business.
Before we go any further, let’s check out these words from today’s sponsors. Thank you so much for supporting the partners of this newsletter.
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Why AI Isn’t Replacing Affiliate Marketing After All
“AI will make affiliate marketing irrelevant.”
Our research shows the opposite.
Shoppers use AI to explore options, but they trust creators, communities, and reviews before buying. With less than 10 percent clicking AI links, affiliate content now shapes both conversions and AI recommendations.
Ads Do Not Ruin Trust, Bad Content Does
There is a belief that quietly holds many newsletter creators back, especially in the early stages.
Ads ruin trust.
That belief feels reasonable on the surface. No one wants to disappoint their readers. No one wants to feel like they are selling out or turning something meaningful into noise. So writers wait. They tell themselves they will monetize later, once the list is bigger, once the content is better, once things feel safer.
But ads are not what erode trust.
Bad content is.
Trust is not something that disappears the moment money enters the picture. Trust is built or broken long before that moment ever arrives.
Why people actually unsubscribe
When readers leave a newsletter, it is rarely because an ad appeared.
More often, it is because the newsletter stopped earning their attention.
People unsubscribe when:
the content no longer helps them
the message becomes unclear or scattered
the writing feels rushed or generic
the newsletter starts to feel transactional instead of intentional
An ad does not cause these problems. It simply exposes them.
If the content is weak, the ad becomes the thing readers point to. If the content is strong, the ad barely registers as friction.
Hey there 👋 Can you help a sister (and beehiiv) out by taking this survey? They want to improve the ad experience and your feedback will help. Thank you!
Help us make better ads
Did you recently see an ad for beehiiv in a newsletter? We’re running a short brand lift survey to understand what’s actually breaking through (and what’s not).
It takes about 20 seconds, the questions are super easy, and your feedback directly helps us improve how we show up in the newsletters you read and love.
If you’ve got a few moments, we’d really appreciate your insight.
What trust is really built on
Trust in a newsletter is created through a series of small, consistent signals over time. Most of them have nothing to do with monetization.
1. Consistency
Readers trust creators who show up when they say they will and deliver something useful. This does not require daily publishing (even though I recommend this). It requires reliability. When people know what to expect from you, trust compounds.
2. Relevance
A newsletter that speaks clearly to one person and one problem feels personal. That relevance creates goodwill. When monetization appears, it feels like a natural extension of an already valuable relationship.
3. Transparency
Readers are far more comfortable with ads when they understand why they are there. A simple explanation that ads support the work and keep the newsletter sustainable builds respect instead of resistance.
4. Alignment
Trust stays intact when promotions make sense. Tools, services, or resources that fit the reader’s goals feel supportive, not intrusive.
Ads are rarely the first trust breaker
The real trust breakers usually show up much earlier.
They look like:
putting out lazy (and obvious) AI generated content
publishing without a clear point
writing to fill space instead of deliver value
chasing trends instead of serving readers
avoiding monetization so long that resentment quietly builds
Ironically, refusing to monetize can damage trust just as much as doing it poorly.
Readers want creators to be sustainable. They want to support work that respects their time and intelligence.
The difference between bad ads and bad content
Bad ads:
feel random
have no connection to the reader’s goal
interrupt the flow instead of fitting within it
Bad content:
lacks structure
repeats ideas without adding depth
teaches nothing new
asks for attention without offering value
Readers can tolerate ads.
They will not tolerate wasted time.
How to monetize without eroding trust
Before including any ad or promotion, run it through a simple filter.
Ask yourself:
Would I still recommend this if I were not paid
Does this help the same person my newsletter serves
Does this fit naturally within the topic of this issue
If the answer is yes to all 3, trust stays intact.
If the answer is no, the issue is not the ad. It is the decision.
A simple ChatGPT prompt to clarify reader pain points
Most content misses the mark not because the writer lacks skill, but because the pain point is vague.
Use this prompt before you write your next issue.
Copy and paste it into ChatGPT:
Prompt:
I write a newsletter for [describe your audience in 1 sentence].
They are trying to [primary goal], but they struggle with [frustration or obstacle].
List the top 5 specific pain points this audience experiences related to this goal.
For each pain point, explain:
- what it looks like in their day to day life
- what they are afraid will happen if it does not change
- what kind of content would actually help them feel relief or progress
When your writing directly addresses these pain points, trust builds naturally. Monetization becomes a continuation of service, not a disruption.
Monetization is part of the relationship
A newsletter is not a performance. It is a relationship built over time.
Healthy relationships include clarity, boundaries, and sustainability.
Monetization allows you to:
keep showing up consistently
invest more care into your writing
improve the overall quality of the experience
build something that lasts beyond short term motivation
Most readers understand this instinctively. They are not opposed to ads. They are opposed to being ignored, rushed, or sold to without respect.
The real takeaway
Ads do not ruin trust.
Avoidance does.
Poor content does.
Lack of clarity does.
When your newsletter consistently delivers value, ads become background noise or even helpful signals. They support the work instead of distracting from it.
Serve first.
Monetize with intention.
Trust will follow.
That’s all for now,
Christel
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