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Hello {{first_name | EduCreator}},
A couple months ago, I wrote a post about my regret waiting to monetize my newsletter with beehiiv. I thought I was saving money by not paying the monthly subscription. I almost bragged about how I was growing my newsletter on the free plan. smh.
I was so wrong.
Meanwhile, I’m all over Spaces on X talking about how amazing newsletters are for growing your business and community, while completely neglecting one of the biggest monetization opportunities: participating in the ad revenue program.
The post showed that I had made $88 my first week accepting partners through the program and adding their ads to my newsletter.
In one week, I turned a profit on the $59 monthly subscription.
The post ended up going viral on LinkedIn. It now has almost a million impressions and everyday it is bringing in more engagement and new interest in my profile.
My first $1,000 in ad revenue
It took only two months to hit my first $1k in ad revenue! And now that I know what I’m doing, I’m confident I will soon be earning over $1k/month in ad revenue within a couple months.
This allows me to continue publishing this content for free and allow brands and businesses that align with my content to pay me through sponsoring this newsletter.
If I can do this, so can you! You don’t need any subscribers to begin the journey. I know people monetizing with less than 50 subscribers.
Before we go further, let’s check out these words from today’s sponsors. Thank you so much for supporting the partners of this newsletter.
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.
Welcome to the Dream Economy
$100,000. One amazing Creator. Post a video about your business (or business idea!) and enter for a chance to win a year with all your expenses covered.
We want to empower people to work for themselves. To live out their true passion.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. For full Official Rules, visit daretodream.stan.store/officialrules.
The beehiiv Ad Revenue Program
Earning sponsorship revenue from your newsletter doesn’t have to be hard. With beehiiv’s built-in ad revenue program you can start monetizing your content with minimal manual work. They automatically connect publishers with advertisers and sponsors right inside the platform so you can focus on writing newsletters that engage your audience.
How the beehiiv Ad Network Works
Built-in monetization: beehiiv’s Ad Network matches your newsletter with premium brands and advertisers looking to reach engaged readers. You don’t need to find sponsors on your own. You are also able to customize the types of brands you receive offers from.
Inbound opportunities: When a brand wants to place an ad in your newsletter, you’ll see the opportunity in your dashboard or receive a notification. You decide whether to accept or decline each offer and when you will publish the offer in a newsletter. Every Sunday, new opportunities show up.
Simple integration: Once accepted, ads can be inserted directly into your newsletter through the editor. Everything stays within beehiiv, eliminating third-party hassles. Just type “/ad” and you can add the copy anywhere in your post.
Automated reporting and payouts: Every time a subscriber clicks an ad link, you get paid (per unique click). beehiiv handles reporting, tracking, and payments so you’re paid without administrative work. Just make sure your Stripe account is connected.
Flexible monetization: You can combine the Ad Network with other revenue options like paid subscriptions, Boosts, affiliate links, and sponsorships outside the network.
This model turns your newsletter into a revenue generator, even if you weren’t previously focused on selling to advertisers.
Why It Matters
Not all newsletter monetization has to come from your own offers. Selling ad space directly often requires negotiation, tracking, and contracts. beehiiv’s system eliminates the need for all that. It brings advertisers to you based on your audience profile and sends opportunities when they align.
Case studies show creators earning repeat revenue without spending hours pitching sponsors. Some publishers embed ads regularly and build this into their long-term business strategy. It’s easy, automated, and guaranteed revenue as long as you have a growing list and solid open rates.
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Getting Started
Here’s a practical checklist to begin earning with the beehiiv Ad Network:
Grow your list
Most advertisers look for engaged audiences. Focus first on consistent content, strong subject lines, and list growth. Organic growth solidifies your value to advertisers.
Upgrade your plan
Access to the Ad Network is available on beehiiv Scale or higher plans.
Opt into the network
In the monetization section of your dashboard, opt in to receive ad opportunities. This signals beehiiv to match relevant advertisers with your newsletter.
Set placement preferences
Decide where ads will appear in your emails and any content guidelines you want beehiiv to respect.
Track performance
Use beehiiv’s analytics to monitor how ads perform with your audience. Engagement rates help you understand what works and can boost your value to future advertisers.
Experiment with ad formats
Try different placements like top banners, mid-content ads, or contextual sponsor segments to see what resonates best with readers.
Common Concerns: What About Readers Who Don’t Like Ads?
It’s natural to worry that ads might turn off loyal readers. Here’s how to address that:
Keep relevance first
Only accept ads that genuinely match your audience’s interests. Mismatched ads are what readers dislike most.Limit ad frequency
Too many ads can feel overwhelming. Balance content with monetization.Blend with native style
When ads feel like a natural part of your newsletter rather than intrusive banners, readers typically tolerate them better.Educate your audience
Be transparent about why you include ads: to support free content and help sustain the newsletter.Offer ad-free options
If you run paid subscriptions, an ad-free version can be a premium perk. This gives readers choice and protects engagement.
Balancing reader experience with monetization ensures ads add value without undermining trust.
Tips for Maximizing Revenue
Stay consistent: Regular publishing increases your ad inventory and opportunities. Frequent sends mean more placements over time.
Know your audience: Advertisers pay more when your audience aligns with their target customer. Tailor content to a defined niche.
Maintain quality: Keep ads relevant to your readers. Too many or poorly matched ads can hurt trust and engagement.
Combine streams: Don’t rely on ads alone. Paid subscriptions and Boosts can diversify income.
Be patient: Monetization grows with list size and engagement. Treat this as a long-term revenue stream.
Final Thought
beehiiv’s ad revenue program is perfect for founders who want to earn without the overhead of selling, tracking, and invoicing themselves. By pairing consistent content with strategic monetization, you can build a newsletter that not only informs but also sustains your business.
Want help turning your newsletter into a revenue engine from day one? I can walk you through it step by step. Use my code CHRISTEL to get a discount when you upgrade.
That’s all for now,
Christel
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Ready to start your newsletter? Click here to sign up for a free trial and reply to any of my emails to let me know so I can help you set up.
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