Not Having a Newsletter vs WrittenByTed
The cost of inaction is invisible but real. Every month without a newsletter is a month of audience, authority, and revenue you cannot get back.
Feature-by-Feature
| Feature | Not Having a Newsletter | WrittenByTed |
|---|---|---|
| Audience ownership | Zero -- you rely on rented platforms | A growing email list you own and control |
| Lead generation | Dependent on paid ads and referrals | Warm inbound leads from engaged readers |
| Brand authority | Limited to social media presence | Consistent thought leadership in readers' inboxes |
| Compounding value | None -- starts from zero every day | Every issue adds subscribers and deepens engagement |
| Time investment | None | 10-15 minutes per issue (review only) |
| Cost | $0/month | $500-$1,500/month |
| Revenue potential | $0 from newsletter channel | Direct leads, sponsorships, and audience monetization |
| Competitive position | Competitors with newsletters build audiences while you do not | Level the playing field or pull ahead |
Where Not Having a Newsletter Wins
Zero cost
Not having a newsletter costs nothing in direct spend. If your business is generating sufficient revenue through other channels, the marginal value of a newsletter may not justify the investment.
Zero time commitment
Even with Ted handling the writing, you still invest 10-15 minutes per issue reviewing content. If you truly have zero bandwidth for any new initiative, doing nothing is simpler.
Where WrittenByTed Wins
Owned audience
An email list is the only digital audience you truly own. Social media followers are rented. Search rankings fluctuate. Your email subscribers are yours, regardless of what any platform or algorithm does.
Compounding returns
A newsletter grows more valuable over time. Every issue adds subscribers. Every subscriber increases the value of future issues. After 12 months, you have an asset that generates leads and revenue on its own.
Authority and trust
Consistent newsletter publishing establishes you as a thought leader in your space. This authority opens doors to speaking engagements, partnerships, media coverage, and business opportunities.
Competitive necessity
Your competitors with newsletters are building audiences, generating leads, and establishing authority. Every month you wait, the gap widens.
Cost Comparison
Not Having a Newsletter
WrittenByTed
Choose Not Having a Newsletter If...
- Your business is growing rapidly through other channels and adding a newsletter would genuinely distract from what is working
- You are in a market where email is not a relevant channel (rare, but possible)
- You have zero budget for any new marketing initiative right now
Choose WrittenByTed If...
- You know you should have a newsletter but have not started or have started and stopped
- Your competitors have newsletters and you feel the gap widening
- You want to build an owned audience that does not depend on social media algorithms
- You want to generate inbound leads through thought leadership content
- You see newsletters as a long-term strategic asset, not just a marketing tactic