Plan your newsletter launch: niche, first 3 issues, and a 90-day growth and monetisation plan
The capstone project for Newsletter Building & Monetization — a free Marketing course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
- Free
- 6 steps
- Pass mark 65%
- Graded within minutes
- Beginner-friendly
The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.
What you will submit
A single shareable link (Google Doc or similar) containing the niche definition, platform and payment choice, the three outlined issues with subject lines and CTAs, the 90-day growth plan, the monetisation plan with naira math, and the ethics and consistency note.
What to do, step by step
- Define your newsletter clearly: write your niche in one sharp sentence (who it is for and what they get), name the one real person you are writing to, and explain in 2-3 lines why money already moves in this niche so monetisation is realistic.
- Choose and justify your platform (Substack, beehiiv or ConvertKit/Kit) in a short paragraph, and state exactly how you will collect money in Nigeria (e.g. Paystack, Selar or Flutterwave), noting the Stripe limitation if relevant.
- Outline your first 3 issues: for each, give a working subject line under ~50 characters, a one-line hook for the opening, 3-5 bullet points of what the issue will cover, and the single call to action at the end.
- Write a 90-day growth plan with zero ad spend: name your sign-up incentive (lead magnet), at least three concrete free growth tactics (e.g. recycling issues into social posts, link placements, one cross-promotion idea), and a realistic subscriber milestone for day 90.
- Write a monetisation plan that stacks at least two of the four streams (paid subscriptions, sponsors, products, affiliates), states when you will introduce each (trust first), and shows a rough monthly naira estimate with the math behind it.
- Add a one-paragraph ethics and consistency note: confirm consent-based opt-in only (no buying or scraping lists), a one-click unsubscribe, honest affiliate disclosure, and the realistic publishing schedule you can keep.
Files to work with
Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KBHow it is graded
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Niche and audience: a sharp, specific niche aimed at one named real reader, in a space where money clearly already moves, with a believable reason monetisation is possible. | 20% |
| Platform and payments: a sensible platform choice is justified and a realistic Nigerian payment method (Paystack, Selar, Flutterwave) is named, showing awareness of the Stripe/Nigeria limitation. | 15% |
| First three issues: each issue has a short specific subject line, a real hook, clear bullet coverage and a single call to action, written in a warm reader-focused voice. | 25% |
| Growth and monetisation plan: a credible zero-ad growth plan with a lead magnet, concrete tactics and a milestone, plus a stacked monetisation plan with at least two streams, sensible ordering and realistic naira math. | 30% |
| Nigerian relevance and ethics: examples, money and channels are concrete and realistic for Nigeria, and the plan commits to consent-based growth, easy unsubscribe, honest affiliate disclosure and a maintainable schedule. | 10% |
You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.
Before you submit: make your link public
If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to finish Newsletter Building & Monetization before submitting the project?
Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Newsletter Building & Monetization is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.
How is the project graded?
An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.
Can I resubmit if I fail?
Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.
What do I actually submit?
A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.
Is the certificate real?
Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.
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Ready to earn this certificate?
Newsletter Building & Monetization is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.
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