While you’re growing your newsletter, you’ll probably be inundated with tasks from ads, lead magnets, referral systems, on-site forms, cross-promotions, and plenty more. But remember: do not neglect newsletter directories.
Newsletter directories are essentially lists or databases of newsletters organized into categories and niches to help people discover new newsletters they’d likely enjoy reading.
By adding your newsletter to some of the top directories, you can open up a valuable source of new readers, while also adding your link to plenty of other sites, thereby helping to improve your SEO and inbound links.
What Info Will You Need?
Before adding your newsletter to any directories, you should create a simple document containing the main info you’ll need, including:
- Email address
- Newsletter name
- Tag line
- Description (create a few variations to avoid content duplication)
- Topics
- Landing page URL
- Archive URL (optional)
- Link to a sample issue (optional)
- Email frequency
- Language
- Logo
- Header image (various sizes are required including 3:2, 1:1, etc.)
- Whether it’s free or paid
- Number of subscribers
- Open rate
- Click rate
- Whether or not you’re interested in cross promotions and paid sponsors.
This may be a bit more info than you were expecting, but this is because a number of these directories also have features that help you to connect with other newsletters for cross-promotions. Potential sponsors often also browse these directories to find newsletters to run promotions in.
Delegating This Task
If you’re struggling to find the time to do this yourself, it’s a pretty simply task that can be delegated or outsourced easily. Whoever ends up adding your newsletter to these directories will need access to:
- The document you created above.
- The verification emails that most directories will require you to click before your listing goes live. They should not be using their own email address for this. They should be using your own company/newsletter email.
Be sure to request login details for all of the directories submitted to (where relevant), and links to the live listing so that you can check everything looks ok and is working correctly once your listing is live.
Top Directories to Grow Your Newsletter
These are the top directories we’d recommend listing your newsletter on so that potential readers can easily discover your content:
- Stack Letter: “Discover the best newsletters and get the best content delivered to your inbox.”
- InboxReads: “InboxReads helps you find the best email newsletters for any topic from startups, marketing, and tech to travel, deals, and music.”
- Thanks For Subscribing: “Discover the finest selection of newsletters around the web. Read from the best and inspiring makers. Add your own newsletter as well”.
- Letterlist: “Discover amazing newsletters for entrepreneurs, writers, designers, venture capital, news, business, founders, marketers, and curious minds. Curate your inbox.” Rather than submitting your newsletter, you’re only able to suggest it.
- Newsletter Junkie: “A hand picked directory of the best newsletters”.
- Newsletters.co: Submit your newsletter to this simple directory, for free.
- Find Your Newsletter: “Find your next interest by searching the best newsletters on the web.”
- Newsletters Directory: “Find the best newsletters to read, cross-promote, and sponsor.”
- Rad Letters: “A list of thought-provoking newsletters for those interested in tech, business, science, innovation, productivity, entrepreneurship, marketing, design, data, and more.”
- Substats: “The newsletter recommendation engine”.
- Newsletter Virtual Mall: This fun concept is basically a Google Doc representing a hypothetical newsletter mall. Claim your spot while you can!
- Techy Letters: A newsletter directory focused exclusively on tech newsletters.
- Finding.email: “Directory for discovering and finding hundreds of email newsletters.”
- Amazing Newsletters: Find the best newsletters to subscribe to. You can pay to have your newsletter listed immediately, or add it for free if you’re willing to wait 65 days.
Top Newsletter Aggregators
Newsletter aggregator apps provide a way for readers to condense all of the newsletters they’re reading into one place. Here are a few that you can add your newsletter to so that you’re in with a chance of being picked up be their “discover” features.
- StoopInbox: “Like a podcast app – but for newsletters.”
- The Sample: “We curate articles from hundreds of blogs and newsletters and send you the ones that match your interests.”
- Newsletterest: “Simple newsletter reader app to read all your newsletters in one place. Learn anything with a curated list of topics and newsletters.”
Top Sponsor Directories to Monetize Your Newsletter
Corporate sponsors use different directories to find newsletters to run promotions in. If this is something you’re interested in, consider adding your newsletter to these sites. We have a separate article for if you want to promote your newsletter in other newsletters.
- Paved: “Pitch your newsletter to brands, and set your own rates, discounts, and availability. Always choose the sponsors you want to work with.”
- Hecto: “Hecto is a newsletter advertising marketplace. Businesses and newsletter creators can buy, sell and manage newsletter ad space.”
- Upstart.me: “Submit your newsletter for Free and have awesome companies support your newsletter.”
