Latest / The Newsletter Podcast with Fexingo: Substack, Beehiiv, and Email Newsletter Business / How a 6 AM Writing Habit Tripled One Newsletter's Revenue
Transcript
- Lucas: So Luna, I was digging through a Substack case study the other day and I found this one writer who tripled their paid revenue in about nine months. And it wasn't because of a viral post or some fancy new feature. Luna: Okay, I'm curious. What was it? Lucas: It was literally a habit. He started writing every single morning at 6 AM, no exceptions. And he credits that one change with turning his newsletter from a side project into his full-time income. Luna: That sounds almost too simple. But I've heard that consistency is the secret sauce for newsletters. Why did it work so well for him? Lucas: Well, he said the 6 AM start eliminated all the excuses. By the time he normally would have started working, he already had his first draft done. And that daily repetition built a kind of momentum that showed up in his writing quality and his reader engagement. Luna: So it's not just about publishing more often, but about the ritual itself. Lucas: Exactly. And he wasn't just writing more — he was writing better. Because he had the mental clarity of the morning, before the noise of the day kicked in. He told me his open rates went up, too, just because his subject lines got more thoughtful. Luna: That's a nice side benefit. Did he change anything else about his content strategy during that time? Lucas: He actually started doing a weekly deep dive on a single topic, which he said he never had time for before. With the morning routine, he could spend the whole week researching and then writing that one long piece on Saturday. Luna: And that deeper content is often what convinces people to pay. Makes sense. Lucas: Right. And he also started replying to every single comment and email within 24 hours. That was another habit that came out of the routine — he had the bandwidth now. And that personal connection is huge for conversion. Luna: So it's a holistic shift. The habit gave him time and energy to do all the things we always say you should do, but never have time for. Lucas: Yeah, and the compounding effect is real. He went from three posts a week to five, and each one built on the last. His archive became a resource, and new subscribers would binge-read older posts, which then made them more likely to upgrade. Luna: I love that. So what's the takeaway for someone who wants to try this but isn't a morning person? Lucas: Well, the time of day isn't the magic bullet. It's about finding a consistent slot and protecting it. For him, 6 AM worked because it was before his family woke up. For someone else, it might be late at night or during a lunch break. Luna: So the key is just to pick a time and stick to it, no matter what. Lucas: Exactly. And he mentioned using a simple calendar block and setting a daily reminder. He also had an accountability partner — another writer — and they'd check in every morning to make sure they both wrote their pages. Luna: Accountability can be a game-changer. I know I'm more likely to do something if I've told someone I'll do it. Lucas: And that's a big part of why this habit worked. He wasn't just relying on willpower. He built a system around it, and that system made it nearly impossible to skip a day. Luna: So it's not just about the writing itself, but about the environment you create for yourself. Lucas: Right. And the results speak for themselves. He tripled his revenue, but he also told me that his subscriber count grew by 70 percent in that same period. So the habit didn't just help monetization — it helped overall growth. Luna: That's impressive. I wonder if there's a threshold — like, do you need to publish a certain number of times a week to see this compounding effect? Lucas: He was doing five posts a week, but he said the magic number for him was actually four. Below that, he didn't feel the momentum. So it's not about a universal minimum, but about finding the cadence that keeps you in the rhythm. Luna: And that rhythm is what keeps your readers engaged too. They start to expect your content, and that anticipation can drive opens and clicks. Lucas: Exactly. He noticed that his open rates were highest on the days he published consistently, even if the topic was less exciting. Because his readers had formed a habit of their own — they knew when to check their inbox for his email. Luna: That's a great point. It's a two-way street. Your consistency trains your audience to be consistent too. Lucas: And that's what ultimately drove his paid conversions. When he launched a paid tier, he had a loyal audience that had been reading him daily for months. They were already invested, so upgrading felt natural. Luna: So do you think this habit approach is more effective than, say, a viral marketing stunt? Lucas: I think they serve different purposes. A viral moment can bring a spike in traffic, but it doesn't necessarily convert to loyal subscribers. The daily habit builds a deep relationship over time, and that's what leads to sustainable revenue. Luna: You know, this conversation reminds me of something I've been thinking about with my own reading habits. I subscribe to a few newsletters, and the ones I actually read regularly are the ones that show up in my inbox at the same time every day. Lucas: That's exactly the point. And it's not just about the content — it's about the reliability. You start to trust that writer, and that trust translates into a willingness to pay. Luna: So if someone is listening and thinking about starting a newsletter, or maybe they're struggling with consistency, what's the one thing you'd tell them? Lucas: I'd say pick a time, block it off, and commit to writing even when you don't feel like it. The first week is the hardest, but after about a month, it becomes a habit. And once it's a habit, it's almost effortless. Luna: And if that's been useful to you, honestly, if today was worth a coffee to you, that's the link — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: It's those small, consistent actions that add up to something big. And this writer is living proof. Luna: Absolutely. Thanks for diving into this with me, Lucas. I'm tempted to set my alarm for tomorrow morning. Lucas: Do it. And if you do, tell us how it goes. We'd love to hear if the 6 AM habit works for you.