Newsletter subscribers are worth ~3-5x more than the typical instagram or TikTok follower.
They’re high leverage. Low to no cost.
And can sometimes be responsible for over 30% revenue.
Businesses are starting newsletters now more than ever. But for the ones that don’t, it’s usually because the same few reasons:
“It doesn’t work for me”
“Not enough time”
“Not a priority”
And sure creating weekly content can feel tedious, difficult, or maybe you don’t know where to start.
But ignoring email means leaving real money on the table.
According to Litmus, email drives $36 for every $1 spent more than any other channel.
Something that’s helped creators and businesses I’ve worked with sending newsletters consistently is creating a “loose template”.
It’s not meant to do the writing for you, but rather inspire you and write faster!!!
It helps:
—Get ideas flowing
—Not start from scratch each week
—Not put your creativity in a box
—Make weekly posts scalable
—Give your audience a consistent format to look forward too
Before making your template it’s important to ask yourself these 3 questions.
What problem does my newsletter solve?
What specific person am I writing too?
How am I going to help them?
Here are some of my favorite formats:
#1: S.W.I.P.E.S — Neville Medhora
Value packed and personality based (For marketers and copywriters)
How this newsletter answers the 3 questions:
Makes marketing feel fun and gives you ideas you can use.
Marketers, copywriters, and small business owners who love real-world examples.
Delivers swipes, tips, visuals, and laughs in a quick, scrollable format.
What Neville does well:
Fun, fast, and packed with useful stuff. Neville gives consistent structure that makes his newsletter easy to read and fun to scroll. It's less of a single story, more like a curated mixtape of marketing gold.
Uses the acronym S.W.I.P.E.S for each Friday email. Easy to think about during the week to fill in for the email later.
Starts casual and personal
Neville always opens with a quick note — something like where he’s writing from or a playful intro. It sets a relaxed tone, like an email from a friend.Swipe
Each issue starts with a “Swipe” usually a clever ad, headline, or real-world example. It’s visual and brief, with a comment or takeaway. Sometimes he compares a good version vs a bad one to show contrast.Wisdom
This section gives a simple mental model or mindset idea. Could be a diagram, a quote, or a lesson (like the Circle of Control or Elon’s weekly problem-solving method). It’s short but sticky, something you might screenshot or save.Interesting
A cool idea, tactic, or product Neville spotted out in the world. Often tied to marketing, copy, or product strategy. He breaks it down quickly and adds a line or two about why it’s clever.Picture
Usually a personal moment, photos from a trip, a friend hangout, or something unusual he saw. Keeps the email human and relatable.Essay
A longer-form piece, image, or framework he wants to highlight. Could be from Naval, Starbucks, a book, or another brand’s ad. Often includes a screenshot with a few takeaways underneath.Splurge
This is the offer or promo section. Sometimes it’s his own product, sometimes a sponsor. He pitches it in a friendly, curious way, and always connected to the rest of the email or the time of year (like planning for Q4).P.S. and Community Wins
He often closes with a P.S. linking to testimonials, recent member wins, or clips from his Copywriting Course community. It adds social proof and shows people are actively getting results.
#2: Pat Walls from Starter Story.
Connection and Story based (For builders and aspiring founders)
How this newsletter answers the 3 questions:
Helps builders push through doubt and actually start.
Solo creators or early founders with ideas but no momentum.
By sharing honest stories and simple mindset shifts that drive action.
What this Pat does well:
It’s simple. Connects fast, shares a real moment, and invites the reader to take action.
Starts with something relatable. Tells a story. Explains how it might apply to them. Then invites them in.
Feels personal and specific to the target audience
Speaks to something the reader is already thinking
Builds trust with a quick story
Ends with a clear next step that feels natural
Starts with something real
Pat opens with a thought or doubt an aspiring founder might actually say.
It’s never clickbait. It’s a line that sounds like it came from a text, a comment, or a quiet moment of frustration.Names the feeling
Right after, he calls out what that thought really means.
Maybe it’s fear, imposter syndrome, or the urge to quit. He doesn’t gloss over it, he leans into it.Tells a quick story
He shares something real from his world. A build, a stuck point, a moment where he almost gave up.
It’s casual and short, like something you’d hear over coffee.Reframes it
This is the shift. He helps the reader see the same moment differently.
That doubt becomes fuel. That roadblock becomes a reason to keep going.Invites action
At the end, he gives you a simple next step.
Join a bootcamp, check out his app, reply to the email, whatever fits the story.
It doesn’t feel forced. It just makes sense.
#3: Matt Wolfe from Future Tools
Niche News & Consistent (AI news & tools)
How this newsletter answers the 3 questions:
Keeps you updated on fast-moving AI without wasting your time.
Busy founders, builders, and creators trying to stay ahead of the AI curve.
Curates the best tools, trends, and news with sharp summaries and clear value.
What Matt does well:
Matt has a consistent entertaining weekly format that readers know what to expect . Readable for people who aren’t into AI. Interesting for those in the niche. Eye catching visuals to go with it.
He blends headlines, hot takes, curated tools, and original insight — all wrapped in a conversational tone that makes it easy to keep scrolling.
Opens with a timely hook or milestone
He always kicks off with something current — a new product release, a big moment in AI, or even a personal anniversary like “16 years since I uploaded my first YouTube video.” It sets context and gives the reader a reason to care about what’s coming next.Highlights the biggest stories first
Before diving into tools, Matt tackles a few top news pieces — company moves, drama in the AI space, major investments, or emerging trends. Each one is broken into a few punchy paragraphs with bolded subheads and clear takeaways.
He gives the "what happened" and the "why it matters."Breaks down new tools and products
Matt surfaces several AI tools per issue — usually grouped in a way that makes skimming easy. Each tool gets a short blurb with a name, what it does, how you can use it, and a link. It’s clear, not bloated.
He doesn’t overhype. He just explains why it’s useful and lets the reader decide.Curates headlines and mini news bullets
Near the end, he rapid-fires quick takes on other big headlines or launches — jobs, announcements, big ideas. No fluff, just a sentence or two each.
This section keeps readers informed without overwhelming them with details.Ends with a personal signoff and a video to watch that week
Matt often drops a final thought, video, or question that sparks conversation. He signs off as himself, reminds readers he’s (mostly) human, and links to his YouTube or socials.Consistent structure, consistent value
Every issue follows a reliable flow: welcome message, breaking news, tools, quick links, and a wrap-up.
That rhythm makes it skimmable but still dense with value — and the pace keeps it from feeling corporate or boring.