Why Most Newsletters Never Get Sponsors (And How to Fix That)

Alright, let's be real for a second.

There are a million newsletters out there. Lots of them are created by smart people, with beautiful designs and excellent writing. But… nothing.

No sponsors. No dollars flowing in. Just good feelings.

If you’ve been scratching your head wondering why your newsletter isn’t landing brand deals, you’re definitely not alone. Most newsletters don’t. And it’s not about your size. It’s not because your list is "only 2,000 subscribers." It's not because brands "just don't get it."

It’s because most publishers stumble into one of these three common mistakes:

1. You’re simply not asking for sponsors.

So many creators are afraid of "monetizing too early." Or perhaps they're waiting for 10,000 subscribers to feel "deserving." But the reality is this: brands don't give a hoot about those vanity metrics. They care about fit.

You may have a list of only 600 subscribers, but if each and every one of them is a VC gorging on your fintech teardowns, a startup would pay to have its message presented to them.

Here's how to get it done:

Make a simple one-pager (or better yet, take advantage of a site like Crata) and simply begin selling. It does not have to be elaborate. It merely must be positively clear about:

• Whom are you talking to?

• What are you covering?

• Why is it significant to advertisers? 

  
  

2. You're making it difficult for them to agree.

Let's get real: most marketers are busy. They can't possibly email back and forth with eight independent publishers. They yearn for convenience. Easy. Quick.

If a brand must:

• Email you

• Request rates

• Wait 3 days

• Go back and forth on creatives

They'll just avoid it. Every single time.

Here's how to rectify it:

• List your newsletter on a sponsorship marketplace (Hello! Crata does exactly this). 

• Set your pricing, mark your available slots, and make it one-click easy for brands to book.

• You won't have to chase them. Just show up. Let the platform handle the rest.

  
  

3. You’re underselling your own value.

This is a big one. Newsletters, especially those by new creators, often undervalue themselves.

Let me be blunt:

If you've got high engagement, your newsletter is likely a heck of a lot more valuable than a Twitter account of ten times its size.

Why? Because:

• Newsletters are opt-in

• Emails get read

• Clicks are deliberate

• There's no algorithm screwing it up

Brands don't want random impressions anymore. They want attention. And guess what? You already have it.

Here's how to do it:

Stop thinking hobbyist. Begin thinking media business. Discuss your open rate, your niche, your loyalty, and how all that converts to outcomes. You don't have to exaggerate anything. You only need to align it properly.

So how do you actually begin getting sponsors?

Here's the fast rundown:

• Get your audience and content focus very tight.

• Be a pleasure to work with.

• Use a clean, modern listing (or hop on Crata to get one for free).

• Talk about your newsletter like it's worth something, because it absolutely is.

  
  

Final thought: You’re not “too small.”

Some of the most successful newsletters we’ve seen on Crata had fewer than 1,000 subscribers when they landed their first sponsor.

Brands aren’t paying for reach. They’re paying for relevance.

Ready to join the waitlist?

Crata is a platform that links great newsletters with brands willing to fund them. You continue writing. We'll handle the rest.

Join the waitlist today!