How I write and curate the cron.weekly newsletter (2020)
ma.ttias.be
ma.ttias.be
1. A python script checks the RSS feeds of a handful of relevant blogs and pulls in any new posts.
2. The script checks a couple of relevant subreddits and pulls in the top discussions.
3. The script combines the posts/discussions and sends them to a handlebars template.
4. The result is then sent to the SendGrid API to send out to subscribers (although I send a test version to myself first, just in case).
There's no commentary in the newsletter which would be nice to have, but my priority is on establishing a quick and simple process that works – fancy stuff can be added later if I feel like it. SendGrid allows me to disable link-click tracking within the newsletter, and also handles subscribing/unsubscribing through an embedded iframe[0] so that's another thing I don't have to worry about.
Your newsletter has a seiko monopoly
;-;
This made me wonder tho, if there is a newsletter for watch movements.
Thank you for making a newsletter like this !
I actually have a different question for you: Once, you're all set and done with the tech and it works flawlessly, How exactly do you go about marketing and making your newsletter known? Currently I have my friends and family on it but that's about it. I have posted it on twitter once but that got me only about 3 new subscribers.
This is where I am stuck at the moment. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the extra Python advice by the way.
For promotion I've found that sharing appropriate ideas in a private community (e.g. data science slacks) where I'm known & trusted can be a good lead source. Tweets on particular topics help. LinkedIn helps with specific advice. Linking to relevant articles in another newsletter and getting a reciprocal mention helps (but the link has to be useful to the readers and the other audience has to care about my newsletter, else no point), that only works if you know the other author.
In each of my strategic client sessions I mention the newsletter. One chunk of value I offer is to do job listings - having your job in front of my curated audience who trust me offers much more value than e.g. LinkedIn (and a _much_ smaller reach).
In short I think try to find relevant communities, do not spam (obv.), share relevant links, offer to share something cool from someone else with no requirement for reciprocation (if it is good - share it anyway) and maybe they'll reciprocate in some way. It takes a lot of effort but is a sure fire way to build up an engaged audience who trust you.
https://bengtan.com/interesting-things/ "interesting stories and links from technology; adjacent fields such as indie business, science, and productivity"
I have one too (https://learnbyexample.gumroad.com/l/learnbyexample-weekly) - resources and tools on Python, Linux, Regex, Vim, etc.
S20 currently.