Jul 1, 2025
6 min read
ByteSize Newsletter
How I launched ByteSize, a technical newsletter that grew to 200K+ subscribers, drove 60% open rates, and created a $1.65M+ revenue channel in under 8 months.
When I joined the leadership team at Experts Exchange, we had a sizable but stale asset: an email list of over 200,000 IT professionals. Engagement was low. Open rates hovered around 10%, and there was no compelling content strategy driving subscriber value — or revenue.
So I built ByteSize.
The Opportunity
Technical professionals are overwhelmed with dry, redundant content. We needed a product that respected their time, added value fast, and felt genuinely enjoyable. I saw an opportunity to create a branded newsletter that would entertain, inform, and ultimately build trust with our audience — all while creating a scalable ad channel.
The Strategy
ByteSize wasn’t just an email campaign — it was a full product. I led every aspect of its development:
Branding: Name, voice, visual identity, content format.
Content: Wrote and curated early editions, eventually moving into an executive editor role.
Design: Created cover images, designed the UX for readability and mobile performance.
Delivery: Managed formatting, QA, and weekly distribution to 200,000+ subscribers.
Monetization: Built sales collateral and helped land multiple $10K+ ad deals.
We built ByteSize to feel like something you wanted to read — not something you were being marketed to.
The Results
The response was immediate and overwhelming:
60%+ open rates (up from 10%)
2–3% click-through rate
$80K+ in early-stage revenue
$1.65M+ projected ARR with 1x/week cadence
Helped unlock new ad deals and client conversations
ByteSize didn’t just fill inboxes — it created anticipation, conversation, and long-term brand value.
Why It Worked
The success of ByteSize came down to a few key principles:
Respect the audience: Keep it smart, tight, and useful.
Consistency is everything: Strong brand = strong engagement.
Cross-functional ownership matters: Product, content, design, and revenue all rolled into one.
Email is not dead — boring email is.
Final Thoughts
ByteSize is now a cornerstone of our content strategy. It’s proof that product marketing isn’t just about positioning features — it’s about building experiences people actually want.
