Should We Add Ads To Our Newsletters? (Hear me out…)

3 simple ways to monetize your Substack or email list, even if you only have 200 subscribers

Don’t cringe. Ads are not subscriber repellent.
A well-placed, word-of-mouth ad can actually help your readers.

Think about it, a short, relevant mention of a product or service can save someone hours of research (and a lot of money), while helping the advertiser reach a trusted audience that’s otherwise out of their orbit.

When it’s done with care, everyone wins, the reader discovers something useful, the advertiser connects with the right people, and the creator (that’s us) gets paid for the space and trust we’ve built.

Let’s admit it: we all have limited reach.
I have 2,000+ subscribers. You might have 200.
But combine my 2,000 with your 200 and suddenly, when you place a small ad for your product or service in my newsletter, your reach multiplies tenfold to 2,200 people.
This is the kind of network effect we creators need to leverage.

Now, I know what you’re thinking:

“What if people start unsubscribing because I’m suddenly recommending products or services?”

Let me tell you something I heard in a podcast interview with Josh Spector, whose daily newsletter (For The Interested) is just two lines long, one line of value, sometimes a link to his latest post, and one line of advertisement from his readers.
You can listen to that episode here (worth every minute).

The point he made stuck with me:

“A newsletter is simply a mechanism for delivering value.
If you’re not providing value, to your readers and yourself, you should save that time and spend it elsewhere.”

So, let’s ask ourselves honestly:
Why are we writing newsletters?
Yes, for connection. For creative expression. For community.
But one of the reasons, let’s not pretend otherwise, is to create income from the work we put in.

And yet, we’re often too afraid to sell our own products or services through our newsletters… let alone someone else’s.

I want to challenge that premise.
Because advertising, when done ethically and intentionally, is just one more way to monetize your newsletter, without compromising trust or integrity.

Three ad formats that work beautifully for small, trust-based newsletters

1) Reader-to-Reader spots (aka “community classifieds”)

Run ads for your own subscribers, giving them visibility for what they sell, write, or create.

Who it helps: your community (buyers + sellers) and you (steady income stream).
How it looks: one sentence + one link, clearly labelled.

“Today’s note is brought to you by [Reader Spotlight], a 10-day challenge that helps first-time authors finish their drafts.”

It’s intimate. Relevant. Mutually beneficial.

P.S.: I’m considering launching a Book Spotlight where I feature one reader’s book each week for a small fee, one sentence in a weekday email and a mention on Sunday. Would you find that helpful or distracting? (Tell me below.)

2) “Things you actually use” (affiliate or paid placements)

Feature tools and services you genuinely use in your work. Authentic and easy to trust.

Here are 3 examples across different niches:

• Travel & minimalist living: You write about life in a camper van. Feature the solar panels or power banks that keep you running off-grid practical, contextual, useful, and get paid for doing that.

• Book coaching or publishing: You help authors self-publish. Partner with a cover-design agency or an editor you already use, and earn affiliate income when your readers hire them.

• Mindful productivity or journaling: You teach creative focus. Partner with a digital planner app or journaling course you personally rely on.

Keep it honest: “I use this every week. Here’s my link. If you buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.”
People appreciate transparency far more than pretence.

3) Personalised micro-ads for small lists (200–500 subs)

You don’t need 10,000 readers to sell valuable ad space.
Small lists convert well when the offer is specific and the trust is high.

Try micro-sponsorships that are hyper-targeted:

• Add a tiny segment: Tool of the Week, Book of the Week, or Template of the Week.

• Create a self-serve form (Typeform or Google Form). Advertiser picks a date, pays a small fee, done.

• Start small ($15–$50 per slot). Sell out, then raise prices.

• Source sponsors within your community—fellow writers, subscribers, or peer publications.

• Offer bonus visibility: include their link in a Substack Note or a pinned comment to double exposure.

Small, personalised, relevant that’s how tiny newsletters punch above their weight.

Enjoy ideas like these?

If you like practical, real-world strategies to grow, write, and monetize your newsletter and you want more behind-the-scenes experiments, templates, and case studies become a paid subscriber.

6 Affiliate Platforms for Digital Products

If you want to earn affiliate income (without running physical ads), here are trusted platforms for creators:

1. Impact – major network for digital products, tools, and learning platforms (e.g. Skillshare, Teachable).

2. PartnerStack – best for SaaS and creator tools (e.g. ConvertKit, Podia, Notion).

3. ShareASale – mixed marketplace with many creator-friendly tools and templates.

4. CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction) – broad selection of digital and software products.

5. AppSumo Affiliate – perfect for creators who love recommending lifetime deals and creative tools.

6. ClickBank – massive digital product marketplace (be selective; quality varies).

I’d Love Your Thoughts

Would you like to see Reader-to-Reader Book Spotlights in Author Circle?
Are you open to “tools I actually use” recommendations with full transparency?
If you run a newsletter, which ad format would you try first — and what would you charge?

Reply and tell me.

If there’s enough interest, I’ll run a small experiment, a Book Spotlight pilot, and share the results so you can copy what works.

Because when we learn to monetize with integrity,
we make our newsletters sustainable, and that means we can keep showing up with joy and purpose.

That’s all from me today.

As always, thanks for reading.

Author Circle is a Substack newsletter that helps writers, creators, and professionals turn their knowledge into income streams through the 90-Day Write-Grow-Monetize Program so they can build a business with clarity, confidence, and a clear roadmap.