What Is a LinkedIn Newsletter?
A LinkedIn newsletter is a recurring publication feature that lets you publish long-form articles on a set schedule and automatically notifies all subscribers via push notification and email when each new edition goes live. Unlike regular LinkedIn posts that depend on the LinkedIn algorithm for distribution, newsletters guarantee that every subscriber gets notified of every edition.
Why Are LinkedIn Newsletters Valuable?
The core advantage of a LinkedIn newsletter is distribution certainty. When you publish a regular LinkedIn post, the algorithm decides who sees it - typically 5-10% of your connections and followers. When you publish a newsletter edition, every subscriber gets a notification and an email. No algorithm filtering.
This makes newsletters one of the most reliable organic distribution mechanisms on any social platform. The open rates are strong too. LinkedIn's own reporting indicates that newsletter open rates on the platform significantly exceed industry-average email newsletter open rates of around 21%, largely because notifications appear in-app where users are already active.
LinkedIn newsletters also offer SEO benefits that regular posts do not. Each newsletter edition gets its own URL and is indexed by Google, meaning your newsletter content can rank in search results and drive traffic from outside LinkedIn.
How Do LinkedIn Newsletters Work?
Setup
To create a newsletter, you need Creator Mode enabled on your profile. Once active, you can create a newsletter from the post creation menu by selecting "Write article" and then "Newsletter." You set a name, description, publishing cadence, and cover image.
Subscriber Acquisition
When you launch your newsletter, LinkedIn automatically sends an invitation to all your connections and followers. This initial burst typically converts 10-30% into subscribers, giving most profiles a meaningful subscriber base from day one.
After launch, new connections and followers receive newsletter invitations automatically. Each edition also appears in feeds as a regular post, where non-subscribers can discover and subscribe.
Publishing
Each newsletter edition is essentially a LinkedIn article with a newsletter wrapper. You can include rich text, images, embedded videos, and links. There is no character limit, though editions between 500 and 1,500 words tend to perform best based on engagement patterns.
When you publish, LinkedIn sends three types of notifications:
- In-app push notification
- Email notification
- The edition appears in subscribers' feeds as a post
What Should Founders Write About in a LinkedIn Newsletter?
The most successful founder newsletters on LinkedIn share one thing: they provide consistent value on a specific topic. Generic "thoughts on business" newsletters rarely build loyal readership.
Strong newsletter formats for founders:
Industry analysis. Break down trends, news, and shifts in your industry. Your unique perspective as a founder building in this space is the differentiator.
Lessons from building. Share specific, actionable insights from your startup journey. What went wrong, what you learned, what you would do differently.
Data and research. Original data from your product, industry surveys, or competitive analysis. Data-driven content gets shared and cited more than opinion pieces.
Curated resources. Compile the best articles, tools, and insights from the week. Add your commentary on why each matters.
How to Grow LinkedIn Newsletter Subscribers
Optimize Your Launch
Before launching, build your connection count and follower base. The initial invitation goes to everyone you are connected with, so a larger network means more initial subscribers. Consider waiting until you have at least 1,000 connections before launching.
Promote Each Edition
Share each edition as a regular LinkedIn post with a compelling hook. The edition itself distributes via notifications, but the post version can reach non-subscribers through the algorithm.
Cross-Reference in Regular Posts
Mention your newsletter in your regular LinkedIn posts when relevant. "I covered this in depth in my newsletter last week" with a link gives people a reason to subscribe.
Deliver Consistent Value
Subscriber retention matters more than subscriber acquisition. If people subscribe but never open your editions, they will eventually unsubscribe or LinkedIn will deprioritize your notifications. Consistency in schedule and quality keeps subscribers engaged.
For more on maximizing your LinkedIn content strategy, see our guides on how to write posts that get organic reach and understanding the LinkedIn algorithm.
A LinkedIn newsletter is one of the few organic distribution channels where you are not entirely at the mercy of an algorithm. Use it.