Overview

A self initiated creative newsletter that I plan on turning into a directory

This project started off as a social media channel idea based on some trends I am interested in.

But evolved as a culmination of a lot of my unique interests:

No code:

Framer offering decent payouts and the ability to make my own products

Digital marketplace affiliates:

Lemon squeezy and gumroad offering high quality products plus super easy to join affiliate programs

Newsletters:

I noticed how newsletters, substacks, and beehiiv’s have been taking off and are more interesting in depth ideas compared to social media

They have the added benefit of being an owned marketing channels which is very enticing to someone like me who loves to put a lot of time and effort into customizing everything.

I am an introvert and I feel much more comfortable writing (typing) my ideas down in detail.

I also want the added benefit to make content that doesn't disappear on an algorithm and require any skills more than I currently have (like recording or video editing).

Also I am personally reading, subscribing to and finding newsletters on search and from socials everyday.

Design related directories:

The brand identity

I love creatives

Mobbin

One page love

Sections

Why Now?

Some social trends that influenced my decision: no code, the rise and longevity newsletters, underratted/bulletproof marketing strategies: email,seo, directories, pinterest alts, ai image platforms

Design and platform wise I was inspired by a defunct along with other media/marketplace combo platforms like the brand identity, gumroad

The unique combination of interests means there are very few competitors and the ones that exist are so different from what I am doing that I could hardly consider them competitors.

Unique value:

I believe that there is an undersupply of creative directories and a low ability or willingness to start new ones

These directories I believe are under invested in and under marketed

Most have limited shopping experiences

I can differentiate through more interesting content

Unique branding and art direction

Ideas that only I can connect together

Pay off:

My own platform and marketing channel

Potential revenue source from affiliates and eventually maybe subscriptions 

brand deals, my own products

Potential client acquisition channel

Portfolio case study

Outlet for my ideas, interests, and inspiration

Unique experience

Challenges:

Low prices

Low TAM

Med-High effort development, branding and posts

Larger platforms like the brand identity and others do something similar

Monetization:

Other newsletters directories are using membership subscriptions/purchases

I will utilize both affiliates from lemon squeezy and other platforms. The ones from lemon squeezy are niche but high quality, plus the payout percentages are high

Roadmap:

My current mvp is just the newsletter, website, notion banks and IG channel

Eventually I may build a full directory from it