$75M Brew ☕

Read time: 3 mins ⏳ (About the time it takes to finish your morning cup.)

📬 Welcome to Amazing Newsletters, where we highlight inspiring newsletters weekly. P.S. If this landed in “Promotions,” drag it to “Primary” for brighter mornings.! Here's how you can do it.

Morning Brew: From Dorm Room Idea to Media Powerhouse
Launched in 2015, Morning Brew redefined business news with humor, brevity, and wit. Today, it’s a media juggernaut with over 4 million subscribers and a $75M acquisition under its belt. Here’s the magic behind their meteoric rise

1. The Morning Wake-Up Call ☀️

Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief started by addressing a major problem: business news was too boring and hard to digest. Their solution? A newsletter that felt like talking to your smartest friend over coffee.

They broke down financial jargon, added humor, and stuck to a consistent format that readers loved.

Key takeaway: Find a pain point and fix it with a unique, relatable voice.

2. Audience First, Always 🎯

Morning Brew targeted millennial professionals, crafting content tailored to their busy lives. The result? Bite-sized, insightful, and engaging news they could read in minutes.
Their tone struck a perfect balance: professional yet conversational, informative yet entertaining.

Key takeaway: Know your audience. Speak to them, not at them.

3. Brewing Rapid Growth 🚀

A. Referral Program:
Subscribers earned swag, shoutouts, and VIP perks for referrals. This gamified system made sharing fun and effortless.

B. Social Media Buzz:
Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter were leveraged to post teasers, witty memes, and attention-grabbing stories that drove subscriptions.

C. Targeted Ads:
Ads with catchy lines like “Business news that’s actually fun” helped attract non-readers.

Key takeaway: Mix organic and paid strategies to amplify your reach. Gamify growth for exponential results.

4. Monetization Done Right 💰

Morning Brew built trust first, then monetized through:

Native Ads: Aligning sponsors with their audience’s interests.

Custom Content: Partnering with brands to create engaging, relevant campaigns.
This approach kept readers engaged without alienating them.

Key takeaway: Prioritize audience trust before monetizing.

Key Takeaways

• 🎙️ Unique Voice Wins: Morning Brew’s witty, conversational tone made business news approachable and engaging.

  • Lesson: Personality transforms even the driest topics.

• 🤝 Growth with a Personal Touch: Referral programs and social media strategies made subscribers feel like part of a close-knit tribe.

  • Lesson: Make growth fun, personal, and community-driven.

• 💰 Ads That Add Value: Their sponsorships aligned perfectly with reader interests, enhancing trust and engagement.

  • Lesson: Ads should feel like helpful recommendations, not interruptions.

• 🌱 Build a Community: Morning Brew fostered emotional connections, making their readers loyal advocates.

  • Lesson: Create a sense of belonging to stand out.

• 🛠️ Leverage Tools for Scaling: Tools like Beehiiv, SparkLoop, and Figma made their growth efficient and polished.

  • Lesson: Smart tools can help replicate success.