Getting Your First 2,500 Subscribers

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Hey there, Fatherpreneurs —

In today’s newsletter we answer another question from one of the readers. 👇️ 

“How would you grow your newsletter from 0 to your first 2,500 subscribers if you had to start one from scratch?”

Here’s what I would do if I was starting a newsletter from 0.

Let’s dive in.

If I were starting a newsletter from scratch, aiming to hit that first 2,500 subscribers, here’s the game plan I’d roll out. Think of it as a battle-tested mix of growth hacking, genuine connections, and actual value.

By the way, I’m currently implementing the strategies I write about below with The Daily Fact, my new daily newsletter — get smarter and learn awesome, random facts in less than 30 seconds per day.

Subscribe now 👇️ 

Without further ado, here are 10 steps to take your newsletter of 0 to 2,500 subscribers and beyond.

1. Clarify the "Why" and the "Who"

• First off, I'd get razor-sharp on the why behind the newsletter. Why should people care? Why would they give me a slice of their inbox space? The “why” is the heart of a newsletter, and people need to feel like they’re part of something meaningful or valuable.

• Next, I’d dial into the who. I’m not going for everyone; I'm looking for a specific type of person. For example, if it’s a newsletter for entrepreneurial dads juggling family and business, then every piece of content needs to speak directly to that audience's struggles, dreams, and quirks. Write to one specific person.

2. Create a Killer Lead Magnet

• I’d whip up a lead magnet that’s almost too good to be free. It could be something like a “10-Day Playbook to Building a Side Hustle,” a PDF guide, or a short video series. The idea is to create something so valuable that they’ll willingly trade an email for it.

• I'd put this lead magnet everywhere possible: at the end of each blog post, on social media, in collaborations with like-minded creators, and even pinned on my profiles.

• Tyler Denk, CEO of beehiiv, does a really good job at this with Big Desk Energy. I highly recommend 1) subscribing to his newsletter by clicking here and 2) paying close attention to his onboarding flow (the emails you receive when you subscribe), collects data with surveys, and acquires new subscribers with his “beehiiv investor update” lead magnet.

3. Launch with an MVP Content Strategy

• I’d map out a content strategy focused on solving problems or inspiring my target readers. Short, value-packed pieces of wisdom, stories from the trenches, or tips they can apply right away.

• Then, I’d make sure the first few issues (maybe even the first month) are already ready to go. This way, anyone who subscribes right off the bat can immediately get a taste of what they’re signing up for and get hooked.

• With The Daily Fact, I’m scheduling out posts 7 days in advance. I might eventually schedule out dozens in advance. For now, I want to deliver on my promise of one awesome daily fact that can be read and digested in 30 seconds or less. Everything else is fluff.

4. Use Social Media as a Newsletter Feeder

• Social media is where people discover, and the newsletter is where people stick around. So, I’d create mini-content on social (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter) that mirrors what’s in the newsletter. A couple of juicy takeaways, personal stories, maybe even a sneak peek of the newsletter.

• In every post, there’s a subtle nudge to subscribe. Not overly pushy, but each post has a clear link to my sign-up page.

• Here’s an example of one I did yesterday for The Daily Fact.

@danielcberk

three facts that I guarantee you never knew @beehiiv

5. Tap into Relevant Communities

• I’d go to where my target readers are hanging out, like Facebook groups, Reddit threads, or forums focused on the specific niche you’re writing into. But here’s the key: no spamming. Add value and then shill.

• I’d participate in these spaces, genuinely answer questions, share useful insights, and occasionally drop a link to the newsletter in the most non-salesy way possible. Think of it as being the helpful expert in the room. If people find my advice helpful, they’ll check out the newsletter naturally.

• One way to passively shill my newsletter is by including it in my LinkedIn profile. Every time I say anything anywhere on LinkedIn, thousands of people will see this “subscribe to newsletter” link under my name. That’s intentional, and is a consistent source of new subscribers for Fatherpreneur.

6. Leverage Partnerships & Shoutouts

• I’d reach out to other creators, influencers, or bloggers with audiences similar to mine and propose a value-packed collaboration, like swapping shoutouts in each other's newsletters or guest-posting on their site. beehiiv makes this simple do to with the Recommendations feature. And if you’d like to pay to be recommended, beehiiv also has a feature called “Boosts” which is a two way marketplace where newsletter operators can pay and be paid for recommending other newsletters. You can start a beehiiv account now and begin earning immediately.

• Another idea: I’d invite a few well-known voices in the niche to contribute a short piece or quote in the newsletter, then encourage them to share it with their audience once it’s live. This helps you tap into their specific communities and lean into their own social proof and influence.

7. Experiment with a Referral Program

• Once I hit around 500 subscribers, I’d consider launching a simple referral program, something like, “Invite a friend and get access to an exclusive bonus newsletter, or lead magnet, or unpublished video, etc.” People love a little exclusivity, and it also turns subscribers into active promoters. This also helps you identify who is a superfan of your newsletter. You can then segment those individuals and email them directly over time. This will create a little micro community of yours and can become extremely valuable over time.

8. Run Targeted Ads (If Budget Allows)

• If there’s a little budget to work with, I’d run some highly targeted ads on Facebook or Instagram. These ads would lead to my lead magnet, making the call-to-action irresistible. The key here is to be very specific with targeting to avoid paying for unqualified leads.

Here’s an excellent video that will help you set this up for beehiiv (follow this video to a tee).

9. Optimize and Iterate Based on Feedback

• As the newsletter grows, I’d start paying serious attention to open rates, click rates, and feedback. What’s working? What topics resonate? I’d survey the readers every few months, ask what they want more of, and adjust accordingly. You can include an evergreen poll in your newsletter (easy to setup on beehiiv), or simply ask your readers to reply to the newsletter. Whatever works!

• This feedback loop will keep the content fresh, relevant, and personalized, which in turn makes people more likely to share it with their friends.

10. Celebrate the Milestones

• When you hit 500 subscribers, or 1,000, or 2,500, celebrate with them! It could be as simple as a thank-you note or a special “500 Subscriber Edition.” People love feeling part of a growing community, so I’d make the journey itself engaging.

• Here’s something we did in one of my newsletters at 2,000. This was above the fold, in the very beginning of the newsletter. This shows genuine appreciation for your subscribers, and makes a deeper connection. It also humanizes who you are beyond the scope of an email.

Last thing, beehiiv has a list of resources for how to use social platforms to grow your audience from 0 - 1,000 subscribers. I highly recommend checking it out here.

By layering these strategies with consistency and genuine connection—and diving deeper into each tactic through these resources—I’d hit that first 2,500 subscribers. With each milestone, I’d keep refining and adding value, knowing that each reader is a real person who trusts me to add something meaningful to their day.

Got more questions about how to zero in on that perfect newsletter topic or want to dig deeper into monetization strategies? Let’s chat!

Until next time,

Daniel

P.S. Got a question? Send it over — I might feature it in an upcoming issue. Or you can buy me a cup of Joseph. 👀