KI-Newsletter Case Study: How I Grew to 1,000+ Subscribers

Over 1,000 newsletter subscribers. Might not sound like much — but for a German solo newsletter about AI topics, that's a solid foundation. Here is my case study: what worked, what didn't, and what role AI played.

The Starting Point

At the beginning of 2021, I had:

• A blog with irregular posts
• About 200 email contacts from the WordPress era
• No system, no strategy, no plan
• A Kit.com account (back then ConvertKit) that I barely used

Phase 1: The Bumpy Start (2021-2023)

The honest truth: The first two years were mediocre. I sent newsletters sporadically, had no clear niche, and often paused for months.

Mistakes I made:

• Too many topics (Business, Tech, Personal — all mixed together)
• No fixed frequency (sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly, sometimes not at all)
• No lead magnet (why should someone sign up?)
• No clear CTA (what should readers do next?)
• Treating newsletter as an afterthought

The result: 200 subscribers, 15% open rate, zero revenue.

The Turning Point: AI Enters the Game

In 2024, everything changed. I started using AI for content creation:

• Topic research: AI helps identify what my audience cares about
• Draft writing: AI creates first drafts that I polish
• Repurposing: One blog post becomes newsletter, social posts, and more
• Personalization: Segmented emails for different audience groups

Phase 2: The AI Workflow (2024-2025)

My new workflow:

1. Monday: AI research → Topic ideas for the week
2. Tuesday: AI draft → Newsletter first draft
3. Wednesday: Human polish → My voice, my stories, my expertise
4. Thursday: AI repurposing → Social posts, blog content
5. Friday: Send and analyze

The Results

After implementing AI:

• Subscribers: 200 → 1,000+ (5x growth)
• Open rate: 15% → 42%
• Click rate: 2% → 8%
• Writing time: 6 hours → 2 hours per newsletter
• Revenue: €0 → €500+/month

What Actually Worked

1. Consistent Schedule

Every Tuesday. Readers know when to expect content. Builds habits.

2. Clear Niche

Focus on AI for entrepreneurs. Not everything. Just what I know best.

3. Lead Magnets

Free AI prompts, checklists, templates. People sign up for value.

4. AI Assistance

Not replacing my voice. Amplifying it. AI does the heavy lifting. I do the storytelling.

5. Call to Action

Every newsletter has one clear action. Read a post. Reply to email. Join a course.

What Did Not Work

1. Selling Too Early

Initially pushed products in every email. People unsubscribed.

2>Generic Content

Content that was "good but not relevant" performed poorly. Specific beats general.

3. Neglecting Engagement

Just sending without replying to responses. Missed connections.

The AI Tools I Use

For my newsletter:

• Claude: Writing drafts, brainstorming topics
• ChatGPT: Research, outline creation
• Kit.com: Email marketing, automation
• n8n: Workflow automation

Key Lessons

What I learned:

1. AI is a tool, not a replacement. Your voice matters.
2. Consistency beats perfection. Send regularly.
3. Provide value first. Sell later.
4. Build relationships. Reply to emails. Be human.
5. Test and iterate. What works changes over time.

For You

If you want to grow your newsletter:

1. Start where you are. Even 100 subscribers is a start.
2. Use AI to help. Not to replace your voice.
3. Be consistent. Schedule beats sporadic.
4. Provide value. Help your readers first.
5. Build in public. Share your journey.

The future of newsletters is personal. AI makes that scaleable.

If you want to learn my exact AI newsletter workflow, check out my AI Agent Crash Course.

→ AI Agent Crash Course — €49 (Early Bird)

Your newsletter can grow. AI helps. But your voice does the work.

— Jan