Unlock the Magic of Your Newsletter: A Mini Editorial Audit in Minutes

When overwhelm strikes, this easy audit can help you pivot with purpose

Sometimes we’re so eager to grow, grow, grow that we start trying to add all the bells and whistles to our newsletter experience. 

Chat! Notes! Audio! Zoom meetings! Video! Office Hours! Q&A! (These are all wonderful tools, by the way, but they come with a production weight that’s often overlooked.)

If you’re feeling spread too thin, it’s possible that your readers feel the same.

If you’re feeling like you want to throw in the towel completely, I want to remind you that it’s OK to pivot. In fact, I see pivoting as a sign of deep listening and intention.

And there’s likely a way to do so in a way that makes this whole newsletter business a little more enjoyable and effective. 

Let’s talk a little bit about the editorial audit

The purpose of an editorial audit is to look for editorial and publishing information in a way that separates our feelings of attachment to our work from the reader’s objective experience with and relationship to what we’re creating. It’s here to give you information about what’s working inside your newsletter experience, so that you can confidently navigate the next steps of what you need.¹

And today I’m going to teach you how to do a mini editorial audit for yourself.

Go to your list of posts in Substack and write down the top five that have the most comments on them. (There are other places I like to measure, but comments are a strong, straightforward indicator of engagement in the Substack ecosystem.) 

• What are the themes in those posts? 

• What format do they use? Podcast, video, essay, hybrid? 

• What do you remember about producing these posts? Was it life-giving to pull all the pieces together? To research, interview, write, edit, find imagery, record audio and publish on Substack? Was it technically challenging but rewarding? Were they a slog and super exhausting?

Take this information and ask yourself a few questions:

1. What can I learn about the intersection of my creative interests and what resonates with my readers?

2. If I had to produce a newsletter around this one theme in this one format, could I do that consistently for the next year? Why/why not?

The goal of an editorial audit is to look both inwards at the experience of what you’re giving yourself as a creator and also outwards to see what’s resonating with readers. In my work as an editorial strategist, I always want to help creators find where that intersection exists. Because this is a magical sweet spot — and it can make producing a newsletter (and getting paid for it) so much more enjoyable. 

How often should you perform an editorial audit?

Ideally, you will stay in the flow of creator-reader exchanges as much as possible. Audits tend to jiggle us into a different mental state, which I find to be the most productive in a few situations:

• when things feel stuck;

• when a creator feels uninspired; or

• when a creator is ready to create a paid offering.

Outside these “newsletter life events,” I might deeply audit once or twice a year. Any more than that would probably not yield reliable patterns to track.²

Why an editorial audit now?

An editorial audit gives you a chance to step back and see what’s really working in your newsletter — and how to intentionally add more layers to your newsletter experience (or how to pull back into the best parts). It’s about understanding where your creative joy meets your readers’ interests. By taking a closer look at your most engaging posts, this simple audit can help you realign with what resonates with your audience and what feels good to create.

Additional Resources for You

If you’ve been feeling that tug to turn your creative newsletter into something more than just a passion project, you’re in the right place. I offer bespoke strategy projects designed specifically for DIY writers and creative entrepreneurs who want to make their newsletter work for them. Whether you’re navigating audience engagement, figuring out pricing or deciding how to structure your writing plan, we’ll dig into the details to unlock your newsletter’s full potential.

Some of the things I offer include:

• The Reader Connection Boost – Want your readers to interact more with your newsletter? I’ll help you create a game plan to foster engagement and transform your audience into a vibrant community.

• The Pricing Gut Check – Worried about undercharging or overpricing? Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of your pricing structure and paywalls, ensuring that you’re offering the right value while making sure your readers are ready to hit ‘subscribe.’

• The Writing Plan Makeover – Overwhelmed by what to write next or how to keep up with your publishing schedule? I’ll help you map out a content plan that works for your bandwidth and keeps your readers excited.

These bespoke strategy projects are custom-tailored to your needs, whether you’re looking for a quick gut check or a deep dive into your newsletter’s overall strategy. We’ll work together to find that sweet spot where creativity meets profitability, ensuring your newsletter is both engaging and financially rewarding.

Whatever you need, I’m here to help you navigate the next steps of your newsletter journey with clarity and confidence. Ready to make your newsletter work for you? I’d love to learn more through my custom interest form.

1. It’s also a great tool when you’re ready for a new season of creation or wanting to add value (and increase pricing) on your current newsletter. They’re also super helpful for designing a brand new paid launch strategy, a paid offering pivot or a general Writing Plan refresh. 

2. Thanks to

Caroline Donahue

for the great question in the comments. I edited this piece to make sure everyone had this context for evaluating what’s best for them and their newsletter.