Email Monetization SWOT Analysis Why Exploring Newsletter Monetization with Programmatic Native Ads

How Much Publishers Can Earn from Email Monetization?

It depends, but the potential is massive. As an example, look at the story of savvy newsletter startup Morning Brew. Their email newsletters are the company’s main product, and their main revenue stream is email monetization.

Using a formula of consistent publishing and highly useful, easily digestible newsletter content – the type you can read while sipping coffee and instantly turn into a slightly more informed human – they went from $3 million in revenue in 2018 to $13 million in 2019.

Here’s the fascinating part: Morning Brew’s daily newsletters account for 95% of overall revenue!

I know what you’re thinking: I don’t have time to publish daily or to make amazing content, so making the effort to monetize my newsletter isn’t worth it.

Actually, getting started with email monetization is incredibly simple. And, because of the way programmatic native advertising works, you don’t have to worry about diminishing the user experience or spending time optimizing the ads to generate revenue.

Programmatic native ads are powered by AI. That’s right. Artificial intelligence calls the shots, ensuring subscribers only see content that’s related to their interests.

Practical, easy, and subscriber-friendly – what’s not to love about this alternative revenue booster?

A SWOT Analysis for Email Monetization

Monetizing newsletters can be a win-win for everyone – publishers, advertisers, as well as subscribers. But, it’s important to really understand all the nuances of this marketing channel so you know how to fully leverage it.

To make sure you’re well-informed, we’ve put together this in-depth SWOT analysis of email monetization using programmatic ads.

Doing this type of analysis is a great way to get a well-rounded understanding. Let’s get started.

Strengths of Email Monetization

Everyone is talking about monetizing newsletters with native ads for several very good reasons. Here they are.

Easy to access

As long as you partner with a provider that offers a highly technical solution, getting started is simple. This holds true no matter why type of newsletter publisher you are. This is because the technology is flexible enough to serve your needs based on your assets: newsletter content, number of subscribers, engagement level.

Zero costs, zero effort for your internal team

Your business doesn’t have to invest anything to start monetizing your newsletter campaigns with programmatic native ads. Once you get started, you also won’t have to give up your greatest asset – your time. There’s no extra work involved to make the ads work or to optimize them.

Advanced technology is the secret to creating great results

AI and machine learning work to understand consumer behavior, so the platform only shows relevant ads subscribers are likely to click on. Also, you’ll have information on their online behavior and preferences, helping you to create even more engagement.

Secured revenue

An alternative stream of revenue can boost resilience. By using AI-driven technology, you’ll be able to deliver the RIGHT content, which leads to higher click-through rates and more money for your business. Want to know how much you could earn by monetizing your newsletter campaigns? Discover your revenue potential by using our free Revenue Calculator.

Weaknesses of Email Monetization

Nothing’s perfect. Let’s look at the shortcomings.

Lower revenue compared to direct-sold placements

Using programmatic native ads doesn’t guarantee a certain amount of revenue. How much you earn mainly depends on your subscriber list and click-through rate, two factors that can go both up and down.

Less control over what ads are delivered

That’s the downside of relying on AI – artificial intelligence makes some of the decisions for you so you don’t have total control. However, you do still get to choose what categories of ads appear in your newsletter. Nutrition, celebrities, healthy lifestyle, travel – it’s all up to you.

You’ll need a large email list to generate results

To start generating significant revenue, you’ll need a significant email list, as well as engaging content. This isn’t the case with direct-sold ads you’ve worked to secure. Read this article on how to grow your email list.

Opportunities that Come with Newsletter Monetization

With a winning email newsletter and email monetization using programmatic native ads, the sky’s the limit.

More engaged subscribers

Thanks to AI and machine learning, you know you’re providing the right content and the right moment. This can help to bring in more revenue for your business.

Dedicated content

Native ads appear naturally as useful recommendations of articles, products, and services your readers may be interested in. This enables you to deliver content that perfectly aligns with your audience’s preferences, a core part of successful digital advertising.

Easy integration

It doesn’t matter what email service provider (ESP) you’re using. They all integrate easily with programmatic native ads.

Rising revenue

The more subscribers you have, the more money you can bring to your business. And, because the ads are native, they’re more likely to click on the ads and interact with your newsletter’s content.

Threats that Come with Newsletter Monetization

Make sure you know what the risks are so you can mitigate them.

Too much commercial content

Too much advertising can turn subscribers away. We recommend following the “less is more” adage. Then, look at the data to see how your metrics change if you change the number of ads in your newsletter.

A cluttered or intrusive appearance

Be mindful of how your newsletter appears. Some types of email monetization can lead to a cluttered or distracting appearance – which can lead to a loss of subscribers. With a solution that integrates ads that look like your newsletter’s content, you can expect great results.

Neglecting other marketing channels

When you monetize your email newsletter with programmatic native ads, you are essentially creating a stable revenue stream for your business. But, this doesn’t mean you should neglect other channels such as social media. Ideally, all of your channels work together to uplift engagement and revenue generation.

How to Monetize Your Newsletter, Increase Revenue, and Delight Subscribers

There you have it. Email monetization has tons of strong points. With native ads, you can offer a seamless experience as long as you keep in mind potential weaknesses, capitalize on opportunities, and minimize risks.

And, as long as you use an email monetization platform that makes everything easy, there’s no limit to how much you can earn. inboxAds uses AI and machine learning to deliver a superior experience for subscribers while making your life easier. Plus, it’s free to use. Sign up today to try it out.