A one-link, once-a-weekday email for writers who want to newsletter better.
Each issue of Read This links to an article, blog, video, or other resource that provides helpful insights into building a better readership using an email newsletter.
Why Substack (still) matters for writers
On growth and connections that lead to meaningful moments & milestones.
Don't call it a Substack
Anil Dash has some thoughts.
Return to the blogs
... and just talk about shit you're into.
Talk to your audience
... here's how.
Measuring what matters
An experiment in rethinking ''data-driven marketing."
How to diagnose an unexpected drop in open rates and engagement
There might be a deliverability problem that needs fixing.
12 ways to write creative newsletter names
34 examples of successful newsletter titles.
Focus on each person, not an audience
A tiny shift that could complete change your ability to reach readers.
The strategy questions
According to Seth Godin.
What makes a good newsletter?
A roundtable with five email critics.
200 days of showing up
A quick humble brag (and link roundup).
You should be using an RSS reader
Or: How to fight enshittification.
Share your work with authority
What have you got to lose?
The newsletter benchmarks you should be aiming for
What should your open rate, CTR, Unsub rate, CPA, and other metrics be?
A blog post is a very long and complex search query to find fascinating people
... and make them route interesting stuff to your inbox.
Why informally written emails work better
Some hard data.
Tactics for writing in public
Written from the perspective of a web developer, but this post offers plenty of sound advice from Julia Evans. Read This is curated by Stephen Knezovich. Each issue shares resources and insights to help writers launch, improve & grow their email newsletter. This particular issue links to an article on
Out-random the AI
Make what you will make and be fully human.
The best piece of advice I ever got about newsletters
20+ newsletter-ers offer their favorite piece of newsletter advice.
A portal to random Substacks
A tool to stumble through email hyperspace.
Writing, riffs & relationships
Conversation is the unit of content.
How the biggest newsletters use social media to grow
Apparently Twitter and LinkedIn still work (for some people).
Creative success is a numbers game
Don't overlook the mathematical edge that powers creative breakthrough.
Beyond the search engine
Strategies better than plain Google.
Read This Newsletter
Join the newsletter to receive the latest updates in your inbox.