I started writing listicles because most “top” lists focus on people with millions of subscribers (many of whom don't even write or produce their own content), or they are paid placements.
I want to spotlight the geeks in their niches, many of whom are paid-up members of the Hype community.
What they lack in huge vanity metrics, they make up for in quality, generosity and genuinely useful ideas.
I believe championing independents will leave the world in a better place, and it starts with the media you consume.
So here are a few newsletters I think are worth supporting.
Lucy x
Best for: Freelance community
Stories to put a spring in your step as you build a business of one. Written pretty much weekly by Steve Folland, who also runs the Being Freelance podcast and community. He never fails to make me chuckle alongside his thoughts on improving business and work-life balance.
Thoughtful, well-written and a nice break from generic business advice by former Monocle Entrepreneurs producer & presenter, and Editorial Director of Courier magazine Daniel Giacopelli. If you are starting or thinking about running your dream small business, this is stuffed with goodness.
Stories of unconventional entrepreneurs, deep dives into building revenue streams and the Legends network of global small business owners. Written by membership and paid newsletter expert Lex Roman. I love it so much, I'm a paid-up Legend myself, and will be releasing an exclusive newsletter bundle with Lex using Trustfnd in May. 👀 Watch this space.
If you want to go from founder to thought leader, you need Alex Merry's newsletter MicDrop. Alex drops irregular gems when he has something genius to share. Perfect if you need help to find your voice and share it, whether that’s on stage or online and using speaking to generate business results.
Created by Angela Hollowell, this is the space for underrepresented creative entrepreneurs who want to grow without burning out. Expect tactics, reflections and behind-the-scenes insight, plus private podcasts, seasonal creative sprints and member-only AMAs.
Michelle Jackson's publication Creators Getting Paid does exactly what it says in the title. If you want to learn how to make money online from other creators who are actually doing it without the smoke and mirrors, this newsletter gives you the look behind the curtain.
Some Substack creators grow because they only talk about how to grow on Substack. Claire Venus is the real deal. An OG on Substack who monetized her own publication before teaching to others. Perfect for those who want non-sleazy ways to grow on Substack and build a connected audience with joy.
If you want to grow a free or paid newsletter, then Dan Oshinsky's Inbox Collective does deep dives to help you understand how newsletters actually work. He covers everything from strategy to retention with a tonne of free resources.
The word funnel tends to make me recoil, but automating parts of our work is an essential part of our sales hype wheelhouse. Vicky Smith gives us tactical advice on writing emails that people actually read and most importantly act on without bro-marketing jargon.
Best for: Getting seen without becoming a shouty internet person
It's me - The Hype by Lucy Werner(yes, because if you can't hype yourself, how in the hell can you hype somebody else 😉 ) A weekly newsletter for people who are brilliant at what they do but terrible at talking about it. Covering press, podcasts, partnerships and getting paid for your work without ads or burnout. I also give a side-serving of the BTS of my own pivot from London PR agency owner to newsletter membership writer in the South of France.
