How to Create a Paid Newsletter with Kit

Kit has been one of our favorite platforms for a while now. With its advanced features and e-commerce abilities, it’s helped maximize our online sales. 

Less than 2 years ago, Kit launched its paid newsletter feature. This allows you to monetize your email list, similar to Substack (which we’ve reviewed in detail here). Unlike Substack, however, an email marketing platform like Kit provides more flexibility and options when creating a paid newsletter. One big incentive is that Kit will take a far smaller cut of your revenue.

While we’ve been using Substack (and have enjoyed using the platform) for about the past year, we’ve been exploring other options like Kit that provide more features and flexibility.

Let’s dive into what it takes to create a paid newsletter with Kit.

Get Started with Kit

If you don’t already have a Kit account, your first step will be signing up and choosing which plan you want to use. 

Sign up for free.

You automatically begin with a 14 day free trial. From there, you can choose to remain on the free plan or upgrade to a paid plan.

All three plans allow you to market a paid newsletter and are good for up to 1,000 subscribers, so it really comes down to what extras you want to have available. 

Related: Kit vs. Flodesk – Which email marketing platform is best?

Grow Your Audience

If you build it, they will not come. Not unless you put in the work to attract email subscribers. Here’s how you can start building an email list of potential paid subscribers. 

Design a landing page.

This is the first impression you’ll make on potential subscribers, so take the time to create an attractive landing page with catchy copy. Kit offers some helpful pointers here. Remember, the goal is to represent your brand well so people trust you enough to share their email addresses.

Of course, don’t forget the thank you page that follows.

Promote your new landing page.

Once you’ve created your new landing page, spread it as far and as wide as you can. Here are just a few places to share the link:

• on your website as a pop-up, in a banner, in your blogs, and on your resource page
• on all of your social media accounts
• through paid ads (like the ones we create at Till Agency)

Tag new subscribers

You’ll need to set up a rule in order to tag all new subscribers with the same tag. (If you’re familiar with Flodesk, it’s similar to the way you place subscribers into segments.) 

Kit walks you through how to automatically tag subscribers here. You can use visual automations or automation rules to tag your new subscribers.

Start sending free content

Rarely will someone subscribe to a paid newsletter without first reading your free content. Commit to sending emails a few times a week with helpful advice, resources, and videos. This free content paves the way for paid subscriptions.

Set Up Your Paid Newsletter 

You’ve gathered subscribers. You’ve established trust through free content. Now it’s time to start offering your paid newsletter. Here’s what you need to do.

Set up your PAID digital product.

Click on the Products tab and then click Create a Product.

Name the newsletter and choose Subscription as pricing method.

Price your newsletter and choose the billing frequency. Kit currently offers monthly, quarterly, and yearly options. 

Under Fulfillment, choose A Newsletter.

Send Your Paid Newsletter

Adjust settings for paid subscribers.

Create a new broadcast email and then differentiate who will receive the broadcast. 

First, remove the ‘All subscribers’ filter. Then, click ‘Add filter,’ and select Subscribed to > products > your paid newsletter.

Start sending

Before you email out your newsletter, you can add it to your public feed as a paid post. 

In doing so, paying subscribers will be able to read the entire thing, and your general audience will get a little taste of what they’re missing out on.

Of course, you’ll also send or schedule your newsletter so it lands in the inboxes of all your paying subscribers. 

FAQs

How much should I charge for my paid newsletter with Kit?

Like with any other creative choice, there’s no one right answer, but there are best practices to consider. 

• The average price is $11 a month, and you probably want to charge at least $5 a month.
• You can charge more if you email more often, like sending 3 emails a week instead of 1.
• Newsletters targeting certain industries– such as finance and business– are typically able to charge more.
• Many creators give a discount for annual subscriptions, providing a month or two for free.

Should I use Kit or Substack for a paid newsletter?

If you’re dipping your toe into the world of paid newsletters, it can be hard to decide which platform is right for your needs. Substack is extremely simple to use, but takes a hefty 10% cut and offers almost no customization options. 

Kit has almost endless ways to customize your emails. It may also seem pricier– most Kit plans require a monthly payment, and the platform takes 3.5% and $.30 per subscription. However, these fees almost always work out to be less than Substack’s 10%. At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you value most in creating your paid newsletter.