5 Simple Ways to Find Advertisers for Your Newsletter

So you’ve built a newsletter, your subscribers are opening and clicking, and now you’re wondering: how can I start making money from this?

One of the most straightforward ways to monetize your newsletter is by working with brands that pay to reach your audience. But how do you actually find these advertisers? Do they just show up one day and ask to be featured?

Not quite. But the good news is: there are simple, actionable ways to start attracting the right advertisers even if you’re just getting started.

Let’s break down five effective ways to find advertisers for your newsletter:

1. Reach Out to Brands Directly

This might feel intimidating at first, but direct outreach is often the fastest way to land a sponsorship. You don’t have to wait for brands to come to you—you can take the lead.

Here’s how to do it:

• Make a list of brands that are a good fit for your audience. Think about tools, services, or products your readers would genuinely be interested in.

• Find the right person to contact. This is usually someone in marketing or partnerships. LinkedIn is a good place to look.

• Send a short, friendly email that introduces your newsletter, who your readers are, and how the brand can benefit from sponsoring you.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Here’s a simple example:

Tip: It helps to have a one-pager or media kit ready with your newsletter stats, audience info, and pricing.

2. List Your Newsletter on Sponsorship Marketplaces

If you’d rather not chase down brands yourself, you can join platforms that connect advertisers with newsletters. These marketplaces act as a middleman and make it easier for brands to discover and book you.

Some popular options include:

• Crata  (especially great if you're a smaller or mid-size publisher)

• Wellput

• Paved

These platforms usually let you:

• Create a profile with your stats and pricing

• Get discovered by brands looking for newsletters in your niche

• Manage deals and payments in one place

You still have to promote yourself a bit, but it’s a lot easier than cold pitching.

3. Tap Into Your Existing Network

Sometimes, the best opportunities are already around you.

Think about:

• Friends or colleagues who run businesses

• People in your LinkedIn or Twitter network

• Companies you’ve worked with in the past

Let them know you’re open to sponsorships. You can post something simple on LinkedIn like:

You’d be surprised how often people say yes, especially if they already know and trust you.

4. Make It Easy for Advertisers to Find You

Sometimes it’s not about finding advertisers but about letting them find you.

Here’s how to make your newsletter more “sponsorship-friendly”:

• Add a “Sponsor Us” page on your website or Substack with details like your audience size, niche, past sponsors, and contact info.

• Mention in your newsletter footer that you're open to sponsorships (with a link).

• Share behind-the-scenes subscriber milestones on social media:
  “Just crossed 5,000 subscribers this week! If you're a brand looking to reach marketers, let’s talk.”

The goal is to plant the seed—so when a brand is looking to promote, they know you’re open to working together.

5. Join Communities Where Advertisers Hang Out

If you're serious about landing sponsors, it helps to spend time where brand marketers already are. That might be:

• Online communities and Slack groups focused on marketing or media

• Startup forums like Indie Hackers or Product Hunt

• Creator and newsletter groups on Discord, Reddit, or LinkedIn

These places often have brand reps, founders, or marketing folks who are looking for niche creators to collaborate with.

Be helpful and visible in these spaces. Share your work. Offer tips. And occasionally mention that your newsletter is open for partnerships.

The key is building genuine connections not just spamming links.

Final Thoughts

Finding advertisers for your newsletter doesn’t require a huge audience or a fancy pitch deck. What matters most is that:

• You know who your audience is

• You’re clear about the value you offer

• You put yourself out there

Start small. Be consistent. And remember that every newsletter has value, no matter the size.