8th Grader's Guide to Starting and Growing a Newsletter for Teens

Launching Your Teen Newsletter

• 💡 Gage, an 8th grader, was inspired by Kim Komando's work to create a newsletter for his peers.
• 🚀 He aims to share knowledge about online safety and AI tools, starting with his high school.
• 📌 To begin, he can use free platforms like Substack or Beehive, which are email service providers (ESPs).
• ⚠️ It's important to use an ESP rather than a personal Gmail account to avoid being marked as spam and ensure emails are delivered.

Making Content Engaging for Teens

• 🎯 Content should be relatable and fun to capture the attention of a teenage audience.
• 🧠 Examples include sharing AI tools for schoolwork, explaining the importance of password security, and discussing photo privacy settings.
• 🚫 Avoid promoting plagiarism, like using AI to write entire assignments without understanding.

Platform Functionality and Scheduling

• 🤖 Email service providers are largely automated but require user setup, content creation, and approval.
• 🗓️ Scheduling emails for optimal delivery times, such as early morning on the West Coast (6:30 AM EST), can increase engagement.

Strategies for Subscriber Growth

• 🎁 A common growth tactic is to offer incentives, like giveaways (e.g., iPhones) or small rewards (e.g., Starbucks gift cards) for new subscribers.
• 📢 For example, offering a dollar for each subscriber who stays for 30 days, or a gift card for 25 new subscribers.
• 📈 Platforms like Substack and Beehive can also help by providing options to integrate advertising into the newsletter, earning revenue per click without needing to find advertisers directly.
• 💬 Kim Komando expressed pride in Gage's initiative and invited him to visit her in Phoenix.