[yata69420]

Does that work when "x" is 0? under 10? under 100?

What was the first "x" you used in that message early on? How did you get that many of initial subscribers?

It seems to me that the only way to bootstrap something like this is with ad spend or viral social media content that inspires people to subscribe, but that's sort of a chicken and egg problem if you don't already have wide reach.

[ryangilbert]

I wouldn't give a # early on. Simply stated I was starting a newsletter that was highlighting creative workspaces.

I think these early guests simply loved the idea of being able to share their space with their community so probably gathered all of the content for themselves and then had no issue sharing with me as well.

I have never spent on ads or any sort of growth driver like that. All organic to this point.

[petercooper]

It seems to me that the only way to bootstrap something like this is with ad spend or viral social media content that inspires people to subscribe, but that's sort of a chicken and egg problem if you don't already have wide reach.

It's not as chicken and egg as it may seem. Let's say you want to create a newsletter about, oh.. TCP/IP, say. You write some interesting articles about TCP/IP related topics, interview some people in the field, put together some cheat sheets or something.. build up a useful Web site about TCP/IP teasing your newsletter somewhere on each page, submit things from it to Hacker News, Reddit, and relevant places enough, and eventually something will work out.