How To Get PAID To Grow Your Email Newsletter

• Originally broadcast November 19, 2024 via email •

In today’s newsletter, I’ll be talking about some pretty advanced strategies that make us $50,000+ per month.

So, if ANY of this is slightly over your head, that’s okay (I’ll share less intimidating content next week 😜)

Now, let’s talk about one of the most important pillars of a successful travel blog: your email list.

If you’ve been following me since the early days, you know I’m a huge advocate for email marketing.

Why?

Because relying on algorithms to connect with your audience is risky. It’s like building a house on rented land.

That’s why I’ve always said: All roads lead back to my email list.

Over the years, I’ve tested countless ways to grow my email lists.

From freebie pop-ups on my blog to collaborations with other bloggers, I’ve tried it all. While those strategies work, my absolute favorites are the ones that pay me to grow my list.

Yes, it’s possible!

3 Ways I Get Paid To Grow My Email Lists

So today, I’m going to highlight three ways I get paid to grow my email lists.

1. Facebook Ads Arbitrage

This year, I started experimenting with Facebook ads arbitrage, and let me break it down as simply as possible:

→ I run Facebook ads to drive traffic to my highest-earning blog posts. The goal is to make more money from Mediavine ads than I’m spending on Facebook ads.

The bonus?

When tens of thousands of people visit my site daily, I end up with a steady stream of new email subscribers without even trying.

To make this strategy work, here’s what you’ll need:

A blog that qualifies for Mediavine or Raptive ads.
(You’ll need 50,000–100,000 visitors per month to apply)
High RPM blog posts. (For example, my “Where To Stay In Moorea” post makes about $120 in ads per 1,000 views!)
An email-optimized blog. (Think pop-ups, freebies, and CTAs designed to grow your list)

Sounds exciting, right? That’s because it is!

But here’s the thing: Facebook ads arbitrage takes a LOT of trial and error. It’s not one of those “set it and forget it” strategies; you’ll need to test, tweak, and refine constantly.

That said, when you get it right, the results are so worth it.

Not only do you grow your traffic and income, but you also grow your email list in the process.

2. SLO Funnels

I first heard about SLO (Self-Liquidating Offer) funnels years ago from Russell Brunson’s books (which, by the way, you have to read if you haven’t already).

But honestly, I didn’t give them a shot until my friend Dani Rodriguez from Dani the Explorer walked me through her success with them.

So, what exactly is an SLO funnel?

In simple terms:

→ You run ads to a low-cost offer.

→ Once someone buys it, you offer them additional products they might love.

Here’s how it works step by step:

STEP #1: The Low-Cost Offer

A product priced low enough to attract buyers. For travel bloggers, here’s are some examples:

An ultra-detailed itinerary ebook (e.g., “7-Day Iceland Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide”)
A budget planner for a destination (“How to Travel Paris on $1,000”)

STEP #2: The Order Bump

Once they decide to buy the first offer, you show them a small add-on product related to it. Examples:

Printable travel journal pages to track their trips
A digital guide for saving on flights (“How to Find Flights 40% Cheaper to Your Dream Destination”)

STEP #3: The Upsell

If they’ve purchased both the initial product and the order bump, you introduce a slightly higher-priced offer. Examples:

A complete course or video series on planning a dream vacation
A consultation call to help them plan their trip for a destination where you’re an expert

Our first low-cost offer typically covers ad spend, making the funnel break even. From there:

80% of buyers add the order bump, creating profit.
15% of those purchase the upsell, boosting revenue further.

The best part? Every buyer joins our email list, which means we profit while growing a highly engaged audience.

3. Workshops + Digital Product

Another way I get paid to grow my email list is by hosting workshops that provide tons of value while seamlessly leading into a related product.

Here’s how it works:

I run Facebook ads promoting a workshop packed with actionable tips.
During the workshop (usually 45–60 minutes), I share strategies my audience can apply immediately.
At the end, I introduce a digital product that helps them achieve those goals faster or easier.

Here’s an example of how you could use it as a travel blogger…

Let’s say you’re passionate about language learning for travelers. You could:

Create a Workshop Topic: “How to Learn a New Language in 30 Days Before Your Next Trip”
Teach Actionable Tips: During the workshop, you might explain:
- A daily 15-minute practice routine
- Phrases to focus on for travel (greetings, ordering food, asking for directions)
- How to build confidence speaking with locals
Introduce Your Product: At the end, pitch a digital product or service like:
- A mini-course on mastering conversational skills in popular travel destinations.
- Language lessons with you!

See how that works? You obviously can’t teach someone to be fluent in a language within an hour, but you can give them easy steps to get started!

This is what I do each week, and not only do I easily cover my ad spend with the digital product at the end of my session, but I add thousands of people to my email list each month because of it.

If these strategies feel a little overwhelming, I totally get it. They’re more advanced and work best for bloggers who already have a foundation and are ready to reinvest in growing their email list.

💡 My Favorite Resources This Week 💡

20 Ways to Monetize Your Newsletter – Beehiiv

3 Killer Businesses Hidden in Plain Sight – My First Million

Earning $100k for Every 1,000 Email Subscribers? Yes, It’s Possible – Chenell Basilio

Coming Up Next…

🚨 The seasonal blogger’s guide: what you need to know all year long

Keep an eye on your inbox for this email update!

Have a great week!
Laura

P.S. Here are my top recommended blogging resources.

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