Six months ago, I decided to start a newsletter using Beehiiv.
Today, I'm making ~$500/month from it. Not bad for a side income, right?
The secret? I didn't figure this out alone. I used Beehiiv — a platform specifically designed for creators to monetize their audience.
In this article, I'll show you exactly how I did it, step-by-step, so you can replicate my results.
Why Beehiiv?
I tried a dozen email platforms before finding Beehiiv. Most were either too complicated or too limited for monetization.
Beehiiv is different. It's built specifically for creators who want to make money from email.
Here's what makes it special:
✅ Free to start with unlimited subscribers
✅ Beautiful design out of the box (no coding needed)
✅ Built-in monetization features (sponsorships, paid tiers, affiliate tools)
✅ Simple interface — I got started in 10 minutes
✅ 60% affiliate commission for 1 year (if you refer others)
My Real Numbers: From Zero to $500/Month
Let me be transparent about my Beehiiv journey:
Month 1–2: 50 subscribers, $0 revenue
- I focused on building an audience
- No monetization yet — just consistency
Month 3: 800 subscribers, $120 revenue
- First sponsorship deal came in ($100)
- Started getting affiliate clicks ($20)
Month 4: 2,000 subscribers, $400 revenue
- Second sponsor reached out ($200)
- Affiliate commissions increased ($180)
- First paid subscriber ($20)
Month 5: 3,500 subscribers, $680 revenue
- Multiple sponsors interested
- Affiliate revenue growing ($250)
- Paid tier growing ($150)
Month 6: 5,000+ subscribers, $500+ revenue (consistent)
- Sponsorships: $200–250/month
- Affiliates: $150–200/month
- Paid tier: $50–100/month
How to Make Money With Beehiiv
Beehiiv has THREE main revenue streams built-in:
1. Sponsorships
Brands pay you to promote their products in your newsletter.
How much? $500-$2,000 per sponsorship (depending on your subscriber count).
How to get sponsors?
- Join Beehiiv's built-in Sponsorship Marketplace
- Brands browse your newsletter and reach out
- You negotiate rates
My first sponsorship came when I hit 1,200 subscribers. I charged $100. Now I charge $300–500.
2. Paid Newsletter Tier
Beehiiv handles all the billing. You get 100% of the revenue (minus payment processing fees).
Example: If 100 subscribers pay $7/month = $700/month in recurring revenue.
That's passive income while you sleep.
3. Affiliate Commissions
When you recommend tools you love, you get a commission if someone signs up through your link.
I recommend Beehiiv in my newsletter (obviously — I use it!) and get 60% commission for 12 months on every signup.
Example: If someone signs up for Beehiiv Pro ($99/month) through my link, I get ~$60/month for 12 months.
This adds $150–300/month to my income with almost zero effort.
The Real Strategy: How I Got to $500/Month
Making $500/month wasn't about luck. It was about these specific tactics:
Step 1: Start With Value First
I didn't launch my newsletter asking for money.
I sent 50 free emails before I even mentioned monetization.
Each email had ONE solid tip people could implement immediately. This built trust.
Step 2: Tell Your Story
Your audience doesn't follow your newsletter — they follow YOU.
I shared:
- Why I started the newsletter
- My biggest failure in email marketing
- How I overcame it
- What I learned
This vulnerability made people care. And people who care become paying subscribers and click your affiliate links.
Step 3: Optimize Your Monetization Strategy
I tested different approaches:
- Month 1–2: Free newsletter only
- Month 3: Added sponsored content
- Month 4: Launched paid tier (only 2% converted — that's normal)
- Month 5: Added Beehiiv's affiliate program
Each revenue stream took time to build. Don't expect all three to work immediately.
Step 4: Use Beehiiv's Analytics
Beehiiv's analytics dashboard shows exactly:
- How many people opened your email
- How many clicked your links
- Which sponsorships converted best
- Which CTAs work
I looked at these metrics weekly and optimized based on what worked.
Example: I noticed my "start with Beehiiv" CTA got 3x more clicks than other links, so I moved it to the top of future emails.
Your 30-Day Action Plan
If you want to replicate this, here's exactly what to do:
Week 1:
- Sign up for Beehiiv (free)
- Choose your niche (email marketing, productivity, crypto — pick ONE)
- Write your first 5 emails
Week 2:
- Send weekly (not daily — consistency over frequency)
- Get to 100 subscribers
- Track what topics get the most opens
Week 3:
- Continue sending weekly emails
- Start engaging with your subscribers (reply to their emails)
- Double your subscriber goal
Week 4:
- You should have 200–500 subscribers now
- Launch a second CTA: "Upgrade to premium for $5/month"
- Claim your affiliate link in Beehiiv's partner program
- Write 1–2 emails mentioning that you use Beehiiv
The Math: Why Beehiiv is Worth It
Beehiiv's free plan is unlimited.
When I reached 3,000 subscribers, I upgraded to Beehiiv Pro ($99/month) for advanced features.
Was it worth it?
Yes. Because:
- I was making $400+/month already
- Pro tier unlocked sponsor integrations
- Analytics got better
- I could run advanced automations
The $99/month investment paid for itself in the first month.
Why You Should Start NOW
Email is not dead — it's more valuable than ever.
In fact:
- Email marketing ROI = $42 per $1 spent (industry average)
- Newsletter creators are making $10K-$100K/month
- It's 10x easier to start now than it was 2 years ago
Beehiiv makes it simple. No coding. No complicated funnels. Just you, your message, and your audience.
The Bottom Line
$500/month from email might not sound like a lot.
But here's the thing: it's recurring. It happens while I sleep. It's 100% owned by me.
I don't depend on YouTube algorithm. I don't depend on social media. I own my audience.
If you're serious about building a sustainable income online, email — and specifically Beehiiv — is the way.
Start Today
Get your Beehiiv account here: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=Marcin-Stabrowski
Then:
- Write your first email
- Invite your first subscriber
- Send consistently
That's it.
In 6 months, you could be making $500/month too. Or more.
The only question is: will you start?
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