How To Start a LinkedIn Newsletter (And Why Writers Should Consider One)

If you’re a freelance writer, solopreneur, or creator looking to grow your audience and land more opportunities, starting a LinkedIn newsletter might be one of the smartest moves you can make right now.

Not only does it give you direct access to your professional network, but it also puts your ideas right in front of the people most likely to hire you, recommend you, or collaborate with you. And unlike traditional email newsletters, you don’t have to start from zero subscribers.

I run my own weekly LinkedIn newsletter, and one of the biggest advantages I’ve found is this: LinkedIn newsletters give you permission to link to external content, which is something regular LinkedIn posts don’t handle as well. Whether it’s sharing affiliate products, podcast episodes, or blog posts, a newsletter lets you send readers to other places without getting penalized by the algorithm.

Let’s break down how to start a LinkedIn newsletter, why it’s worth your time, and the key things to watch out for so you launch smoothly.

Why Start a LinkedIn Newsletter?

LinkedIn gives you a built-in audience that trusts the platform, so you’re not just shouting into the void.

Here’s why starting a LinkedIn newsletter is a smart move for writers:

☑️ Instant access to your network
Unlike an email list, you don’t need to convince people to hand over their contact details. When you launch your first newsletter, LinkedIn notifies your followers and connections automatically (if you tick the right box—more on that later).

☑️ Platform trust
People on LinkedIn are there to learn, connect, and grow professionally. That means they’re primed to read useful content and less likely to treat it as spam.

☑️ Double exposure as posts (with lasting visibility)
Here’s something many people don’t realize and I only discovered by accident: When you publish a LinkedIn newsletter, you also get the option to share it as a post/article on your profile. That means even people who aren’t newsletter subscribers have a chance to see it in their feed and engage with it.

Even better? These posts and articles stay on the platform forever (unless you delete them), which means you’re slowly building up a permanent, public archive of your work. As a writer, you can include these links in your portfolio to showcase your expertise, style, and authority to potential clients, collaborators, or employers.

☑️ Showcase your expertise
Whether you’re sharing writing tips, industry insights, or case studies, a newsletter lets you position yourself as an expert. And experts attract clients, collaborations, and speaking opportunities.

☑️ Test ideas
Want to write a book? Launch a course? Offer a service? A LinkedIn newsletter is a fantastic place to gauge interest and see what resonates.

☑️ Boost visibility
Every time someone engages with your newsletter or its related post, it has the potential to appear in their network’s feed, expanding your reach far beyond your direct connections.

How To Start a LinkedIn Newsletter: Step-by-Step

Creating a newsletter on LinkedIn is easier than you think. The hardest part is naming it without sounding like a 2008 blog.

Here’s your step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Click “Write article” from your homepage
   At the top of your LinkedIn homepage, you’ll see a “Write article” option in the share box. That’s your starting point. Click "Write article" to enter the publishing tool.

2. Next, head over to the right side of your screen and find the "Manage" dropdown menu.

3. On the dropdown menu, click on "Create Newsletter"

LinkedIn will pop up a form asking for:

• A newsletter name
• A description
• Your preferred publishing frequency
• An optional logo or image

Once that’s filled out, click Done — and you’re officially a newsletter publisher. And you should celebrate this small, but mighty step.

Now it's time to actually create your very first newsletter.

Repeat the first two steps, i.e. click on the "Home" icon at the top of the page, then click "Write article".

Next, find your name in the top left corner
When you click the little down arrow, your newsletter setting options will open up. If you manage any company Pages, LinkedIn will ask who you want to publish as — you personally or as a Page admin (if applicable). See next step.

Choosing your settings

First, choose who you want to publish as (you or a business page).

Then choose whether you're publishing this as an individual article or to a newsletter.

📢 Important: And I can't emphasize this strongly enough. When you publish your first edition, LinkedIn will automatically invite all your connections and followers to subscribe — but only that one time. After that, people who connect with you will get a subtle prompt to sign up, but the mass invite is a one-off. So a word to the wise ... make that first issue count!

🏆 Pro Tip:
When you hit publish on each edition of your newsletter, LinkedIn gives you the option to share the newsletter as a post. Do it. It helps you reach way beyond your subscribers. Plus the post sticks around permanently, giving you content you can link to in your portfolio or pitch emails. I've often used links to old LinkedIn article posts for proof that I can write about a specific topic.

Key Settings To Check Before You Launch

Your profile is part of your pitch so make sure it’s ready before you hit publish.

Before you send out your first LinkedIn newsletter, do a quick check of these:

☑️  Headline and summary
Your profile headline and about section appear next to your newsletter. Are they compelling and relevant to the audience you want to attract? Here's a previous blog post I wrote about how to set up your LinkedIn profile as a writer.

☑️  Logo and visual identity
Even a simple Canva-designed logo can make your newsletter look more polished and trustworthy. And the banner image at the top of profile is gold when it comes to visually showing/telling people who you are and what you do. Make sure this complements your newseletter visuals, instead of clashing.

☑️  Content focus
Know what you’re offering. Are you giving practical tips, deep dives, curated resources, or personal stories? Pick a focus and make it clear in your description.

Common Gotchas and Mistakes To Avoid

Don’t waste your one-time invite on a sloppy first issue!

Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

⚠️ You only get one mass invite
That initial automatic notification to all your followers and connections only happens once. Make sure your first edition is something you’re proud of. Because it sets the tone for whether people subscribe ... or not.

⚠️ Avoid spammy content
LinkedIn has rules against over-promotional posts. Keep your newsletter helpful, informative, and relevant. Pro Tip here - if your newsletters and their headlines and visuals don't make people stop and read them, LinkedIn rules aren't going to matter much anyway.

⚠️ Be realistic about your cadence
It’s tempting to commit to a weekly newsletter, but if you can’t keep up, you’ll burn out. Consider starting monthly and increasing the frequency if you’re comfortable you can keep up the pace. I've known people who have started a newsletter and quickly given up because it's just too much work.

⚠️ Understand LinkedIn’s limitations
Unlike email tools like Kit (affiiliate link), LinkedIn only gives you basic stats (like opens and subscribers), but you can’t do fancy segmentation or automation. Keep that in mind if you want to funnel people elsewhere later.

The Key Strength of a LinkedIn Newsletter

(if you're already posting on LinkedIn)

Over the years of running my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, I’ve found that one of its biggest hidden strengths is how it lets me direct people off-platform. While regular LinkedIn posts tend to bury or throttle links that take people away from LinkedIn, the newsletter format lets me freely link to:

• Affiliate products I recommend
• Podcast episodes I’ve hosted or appeared on
• Blog posts or articles on my websites
• Resources or tools my audience might find useful

Plus, and I can't say it enough ... every time I publish a newsletter, LinkedIn lets me turn it into a public post, giving my content extra reach and long-term visibility. Over time, I’m creating a searchable archive of work that I can point to in my portfolio, showing not just what I do but how consistently I show up with value.

Ready To Launch Your LinkedIn Newsletter?

If you’ve been thinking about launching your own newsletter, LinkedIn is one of the easiest ways to get started, especially if you already have a network.

With a built-in audience, minimal setup, and the credibility of the LinkedIn platform, launching your newsletter can open doors you hadn’t even considered.

👉 Action step: Set a timer for 30 minutes, follow the steps to start a newsletter on LinkedIn, and get that first draft written. Even if you’re not sure what to say, starting is the hardest part. The good thing is you can always refine as you go.

If you want more LinkedIn newsletter tips, writing advice, or business-building strategies, be sure to subscribe to my LinkedIn newsletter here.