Building a Newsletter Business

Before we jump into the newsletter business, be sure to check out this week's Halloween-themed trivia question later in this issue - it's a fun one.

So about that newsletter business: It's time to check in, as promised, with progress on building this newsletter for creators of social impact. I know many of you have expressed interest in this aspect - if that's no longer true and a majority of you couldn't care less, please let me know and we'll ditch it for the future.

When last we checked in on the numbers six weeks ago, Godspeed had 123 members. We've grown that by 18% to 145 members currently. We didn't add any paid members over this time frame and still count eight of you as supporters making a small monthly investment to support our efforts. 🙏

So, Lesson Number One of the budding newsletter entrepreneur - It is fiendishly hard to acquire members!

Most traffic still comes from LinkedIn, with organic search starting to generate some and the newsletter platform I use, Ghost, beginning to direct a few curious souls our way.

I'm pretty happy with engagement. Even as we grow, the open rate still hovers around 70%, give or take. Click rates for the past 6 issues have averaged 11%. Mailchimp tells me response rates for the Media and Publishing industry - I guess that's Godspeed – are an average open rate of 22.15% and and an average click rate of 4.65%. I know it's not a straight across comparison, but I'd say we're doing pretty good so far.

I'm still envisioning (hallucinating?😜) about writing for and helping a membership in the thousands, with enough paid supporters to make Godspeed financially sustainable. All those potential members will take some time to find their way to our small, but mighty, publication, so in the meantime I'm happy for the opportunity to share my writing, connections, and resources with you.

Of course, I'd be remiss as a marketer without a call to action - please feel free to forward this newsletter to a friend who's interested in the business of social and environmental impact.

Godspeed, friends.

Russ

💬 Quote of the Week

“There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen

💥 Quick Hits

• Costs more, tastes worse - Remember the old Miller Lite commercials that operated around a concept of "Tastes Great, Less Filling"? Well, according to the experts, climate change will make beer cost more and taste worse.

👻 Trivia Time 🎃

I love candy corn. (I'm a big fan of circus peanuts and black licorice, too, but that's a subject for another day.) So, to celebrate Halloween today, here's your trivia question: What percentage of people who eat candy corn begin by nibbling the little white tips first?

• 10%
• 31%
• 51%
• 64%

Today's trivia answer can be found at the bottom of this newsletter.‌‌‌‌

Find the Most Meaningful Work of Your Career

Our partner One Work has you covered with meaningful work that goes beyond a paycheck, a cubicle, or a weekly team Zoom call. This week's offering has "gone to the dogs." You'll find purposeful jobs like those below, along with many more at the One Work website.

• GOOD DOG - Sit. Stay. Come! Here's your chance to fetch a job with an online service that connects families with shelters and breeders that have high ethical standards. Good Dog has a distributed workforce, with offices in New York City and Salt Lake City. Senior Product Designer, REMOTE.

• WORLDLY - If you've always felt worldly - or otherworldly, for that matter - here's the company for you, one that's multiplying impact by locating where much of impact lives - in the supply chain. Data Integration Engineer, REMOTE.

• THE REDWOODS GROUP - A Certified B Corp insurance and risk management company that serves community organizations, with an employee benefits package that's seriously stacked. Redwoods Consultant, REMOTE.

Check out One Work's full jobs board of purposeful jobs with mission-driven companies and organizations.‌‌‌‌‌

Trivia Answer‌

Candy corn was first introduced to the market in the 1880's and branded as "chicken feed." As far as how it's consumed, 31% begin by eating the tiny white tips; 18% start by eating the yellow end (acceptable, I guess); and 51% eat the entire candy corn all at once (weird, just weird).

Have an interesting social impact tool, idea, or trivia question you'd like to share? Reply to this newsletter and let me know - I'd love to hear about it. You can also hit me up at rstoddard@oliverrussell.com.

Also - please don't hesitate to forward this to a friend you think would benefit from it - thank you!