🎯 10 Best Newsletter Ads This Week (Mar 28-Apr 3)

👋 Happy Thursday! I’m Alex and I’ve got 10 winning newsletter ads to share with you today that will help you grow faster and cut your cost per subscriber.

In today’s issue:

• 🎯 Newsletter ads that are crushing it right now (6 static + 4 video ads)

• 🧠 Simple breakdowns of why they work

• 🎨 Ready-to-use Canva templates to copy

• 📧 Newsletters to inspire your own

Tip: If you're using paid ads to grow, add Sparkloop to your signup flow. We’ve been using it to recoup 70-80% of our Meta ad spend.

It lets you recommend other newsletters to your new subscribers right after they sign up. When someone joins one and stays engaged, you get paid – usually $2-$5 per subscriber.

Here’s the link to sign up if you want to give it a try. It’s 100% free.

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📸 STATIC ADS

1. 1440 Media

Time running: 197 days

Why this works:

This clean and minimalist design doesn’t look like one from a typical Facebook ad, which makes it blend naturally into people’s feeds.

The message itself resonates because it points to the frustration many people have when scrolling through endless headlines.

What really makes this effective is the transformation they promise. Instead of listing features like “daily newsletter” or “news summaries,” they focus on the end result: going from information overload to feeling informed and in control.

How to apply this concept:

• Use simple and clean ad designs that don’t scream “ad.”

• Lead with the pain point your audience feels most, then immediately present your solution. The problem can be the star of your ad too, not just the features you offer.

• Focus on specific time savings in your ad. “5 minutes” is more powerful than “quick read.”

2. Boring Business Nerd

Time running: 223 days

Why this works:

“There are 11 million small businesses in the U.S. up for sale,” but “only 1 in 12 of those will sell.”

The format here presents this as a simple fact, not a sales pitch. It makes people want to keep reading until the “buying at a major discount” proposition.

It’s always impressive when newsletters use hard data to challenge the conventional “start from scratch” mentality.

Most people think buying existing businesses is risky or complicated, but this approach shows there’s actually a clear path to success.

How to apply this concept:

• Find unique/unconventional angles in your niche that make people question what they think they know.

• Position your newsletter as the insider’s guide to opportunities others are missing. Make subscribing feel like joining an exclusive group with access to valuable secrets.

• Write ad copy that speaks directly to ambitious readers who are tired of recycled advice. 

3. The Average Joe

Time running: 346 days

Why this works:

When you have a $100 million fund manager endorsing your newsletter, you make that the hero of your ad. The casual social media format with a professional headshot adds instant authenticity and credibility.

The story is great: Lucas meets with a successful investment advisor, asks for reading recommendations, and gets a passionate endorsement for The Average Joe.

It reads like a genuine word-of-mouth recommendation rather than paid advertising.

In the finance space especially, this kind of third-party validation from someone managing real money carries enormous weight.

How to apply this concept:

• Seek out feedback from subscribers who have impressive credentials or results in your niche. In my experience, many are happy to provide testimonials if you just ask.

• Include specific details about the person giving the testimonial. “$100 million fund manager” carries much more weight than “happy subscriber.”

• Create ads that look like organic social media posts. The more natural they appear in the feed, the higher engagement you’ll typically see.

📧 RECOMMENDATIONS

3 Newsletters to Inspire Your Own

As a newsletter operator, I subscribe to tons of newsletters to get new ideas and inspiration.

Below are some great ones if you’re looking for inspiration from high-performing newsletters:

• The Pen Pivot → Get psychology-backed secrets behind getting people to click, read, view, and engage with your content.

• I Will Teach You To Be Rich → Where 800k+ readers get actionable, no-BS advice on how to create a successful business and build a rich life without sacrificing the things they love.

• Write • Build • Scale with Sinem Günel → This helps you write confidently, build your audience, and scale your income, so you can make money doing what you love.

🔗 These are 1-click subscribe links – no email entry needed if you’re reading this in your inbox.

4. The Milk Road

Time running: 125 days

Why this works:

The panicked cat meme perfectly captures how crypto investors feel when they see red on a line chart. While most crypto content tries to sound serious and authoritative, this ad does the opposite.

The casual tone and meme format help it stand out in a space full of complexity. It shows personality and builds trust by being honest about crypto investing’s emotional/funny side.

How to apply this concept:

• Use memes or humor in your ad that your audience relates to, even with serious topics. 

• Acknowledge the emotional reality of your subject matter instead of pretending that it’s all logical.

• Let your brand personality show through in your ad creative(s), not just your newsletter content.

5. Catskill Crew

Time running: 30 days

Why this works:

What I like about this approach is how the local photo of an actual Catskills location immediately signals “this is for people like me who care about this area.” The rustic, nature-inspired aesthetic aligns the ad with the region’s vibe.

The simple and direct messaging works because it doesn’t oversell.

“A free weekly newsletter for all things Catskills” is clear and straightforward. It creates an insider club feeling rather than just another newsletter subscription.

How to apply this concept:

• Use location-specific imagery that your target community will immediately recognize. The more specific and local, the stronger the connection you’ll build.

• Match your font and design style to your niche’s aesthetic (rustic for outdoor content, clean/modern fonts for tech, etc.)

• Keep your value proposition simple and clear when you have strong visual branding doing the heavy lifting.

6. Cyber Corsairs

Time running: 104 days

Why this works:

The Google Sheets screenshot works really well here because, like several other ads we’ve seen this week, it doesn’t look like an ad at all.

People expect to see detailed graphics in the AI space, not spreadsheets, so it stops the scroll right away.

The headline “You’re using ChatGPT wrong” creates instant curiosity, while the list of prompts shows exactly what value the audience will get.

The format makes it feel like you’re getting access to someone’s private research.

How to apply this concept:

• Use unexpected visuals like screenshots, notes, or spreadsheets instead of typical ad graphics. The goal is to break the pattern of what people expect to see in their feed.

• Lead with curiosity-driven headlines that suggest people are missing out on something important.

• Show the actual content people will receive. I’ve noticed that many successful newsletter ads do this.

🎬 VIDEO ADS

7. Acquisition Ace

Time running: 101 days

Why this works:

The contrast in the opening line’s statistic made me do a double-take: 95% of businesses fail, but 95% of entrepreneurs that buy an existing business succeed.

It completely flips everything you hear about entrepreneurship on its head.

After a hook like that, people naturally want to watch until the end. And the newsletter preview showing actual content builds trust by proving that they deliver real value. 

No guesswork, no vague promises, just clear visuals and a solid sense of what subscribers can expect.

In a sea of business newsletters that rely on hype, Acquisition Ace earns attention by being specific, grounded, and genuinely useful.

How to apply this concept:

• Open your ad with a hook that contradicts what most people believe about your topic. 

• Include screenshots/previews of your actual newsletter content in your ads to build trust and remove skepticism.

• Try to stand out from mainstream advice in your niche. People will naturally want to listen if they’re tired of hearing the same thing over and over.

8. James Clear

Time running: 251 days

Why this works:

Again, this just feels like regular content. The peaceful ocean backdrop and calm music match the thoughtful experience James Clear’s newsletter provides.

The format is simple and memorable: “3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question every Thursday that are full of wisdom.”

Combined with the 3+ million subscribers social proof, all friction from the decision is gone. You know exactly what you’re getting and can see that millions find it valuable.

Most newsletter operators think that they need to constantly surprise their audience, but consistency and reliability can be just as powerful.

How to apply this concept:

• Create video ads that feel like organic content. I’ve seen that the more natural and straightforward ones tend to have much better CTRs than those that are overly polished.

• Don’t hide impressive subscriber numbers. Social proof remains one of the most powerful conversion tools available.

• Match your ad’s visual/audio elements to the experience your newsletter provides.

9. The Mommy

Time running: 124 days

Why this works:

The Mommy tackles every possible objection upfront. 100% free removes the cost barrier.

Loved by 100k+ moms provides strong social proof. Real tips + simple hacks promise practical value without complexity. 5-minute reads address the time concern. 

The key here is understanding their audience’s reality. Exhausted parents don’t need another overwhelming commitment. They just need something that fits into their already-packed lives.

How to apply this concept:

• List out every reason people might hesitate to subscribe to your newsletter, then briefly address those concerns in your ad copy.

• Be as specific and simple as possible when mentioning what your newsletter includes.

• Position yourself as someone who truly understands your audience’s struggles because you’ve experienced them firsthand.

10. Tyler Denk (Big Desk Energy)

Time running: 233 days

Why this works:

In a world full of slick digital marketing, this handwritten Post-it note approach feels refreshingly personal.

Combined with the specific value proposition (a $2.6M pitch deck free for only 48 hours), it feels direct and urgent without being pushy.

The time constraint adds just enough pressure to encourage immediate action, but what really sells it is the concrete value.

When you can attach a specific dollar amount to what you’re offering, it becomes much easier for people to justify subscribing.

How to apply this concept:

• Use handwritten or other non-digital visuals to stand out in online feeds. 

• Use specific results or numbers when describing your offerings. “2.6M pitch deck” does a lot more than “successful pitch deck.”

• Combine urgency with concrete benefits to drive immediate action. Let people know what they’ll gain only in the set timeframe or what they’ll miss if they wait.

👋 THAT’S A WRAP

Before you go, here are 3 ways we can help you

1. 🎯 Explore past winning ad breakdowns + templates on our website.

2. 🗂️ Grab the swipe file from this week’s newsletter ads – it includes all the ad descriptions, headlines, original images/videos, and landing pages they linked to.

3. 📧 Haven’t launched your newsletter yet? Try Beehiiv – it’s what we use, and honestly the best newsletter platform right now. They’re currently offering the first month FREE, plus 20% off for your next 3 months.

That’s it for this week’s issue – thanks for reading! I’ll see you next week for more.

– Alex

P.S. If this email ends up in your Junk or Promotions folder, mark it as “Not Junk” or move it to your Primary inbox. That way, you won’t miss the next issue!