The $57K Per Month Newsletter That Doesn’t Run a Single Ad

Most creators think they have two options: grow a massive list or sell their soul to sponsors.

But Michael Kaufman did something smarter.

He built a local newsletter called Catskill Crew that now pulls in $57,000/month with under 20,000 subscribers without a single traditional ad.

How?

By flipping the script on how newsletters make money.

Instead of treating his list like digital billboards, Michael treated it like a community. And then he built things for that community. Real products. In-person events. Discount cards. Even a custom Monopoly board game (yes, seriously).

This wasn’t overnight. It took time. Trust. Testing. And most importantly, it took alignment between what he sold and what his readers actually cared about.

That’s the magic of creative monetization. You don’t need a million subscribers. You just need people who trust you and offers that make their lives better.

Here’s the 3-part formula Michael followed (and that you can steal today):

Earn Trust Before Earning Revenue

Most newsletters try to monetize too fast. But trust is the only currency that converts. Michael delivered consistent value for months before ever making an ask. That patience paid off in the form of loyal subscribers ready to buy.

Only Sell What Aligns With Your Brand

Every offer Michael creates passes this gut-check: “Would I want this?” If the answer’s no, it’s a pass. No selling out. No forcing it. Whether it’s an event, a product, or a service, everything ties back to the newsletter’s core mission.

Validate Before You Build

Every idea is tested with polls, feedback, or pre-sales. The result? Products that sell out in days and events that feel like family reunions because they were co-created with the audience.

The coolest part? This model scales. Michael didn’t just stop at a newsletter. He turned it into a full-blown ecosystem with club leaders, community-built events, and now a paid creator network.

So if you’re a newsletter owner tired of chasing sponsors or squeezing pennies from ads, it might be time to shift how you think.

Your audience isn’t just traffic. They’re customers. They’re community. They’re collaborators.

Build with them, not just for them, and revenue follows.

Why I Launched Newsletter Bytes

Everyone’s busy playing on rented land. Chasing followers. Feeding the algorithm.

Hoping the next post gets blessed by the invisible hands of algos.

Meanwhile, the real players are doing something different... They're stacking owned audience assets like their future depends on it.

(Newsflash: It does.)

That's why I created Newsletter Bytes.

To hand forward-thinking founders the blueprint for building their own media empires without begging for attention on platforms that could shut them down tomorrow.

Because when you own the audience, you own the income. The impact. The insurance policy for your business and brand.

Newsletter Bytes is your unfair advantage in a world that rewards ownership and punishes dependency.