How to start a newsletter as a student in India

The short answer: to start a newsletter as a student in India, pick one topic and one type of reader, choose a simple platform, write your first issue plainly in your own voice, and publish on a schedule you can actually keep. The tool matters much less than the topic and the habit.

I am Boobesh, aka Boo. I write Build With Boo, a newsletter about college, freelancing, startups and building in public. I publish it on beehiiv and Substack, and I have written several issues. This is how I would start from zero.

Step 1: Pick one reader and one topic

Before you open any platform, decide who you are writing for. The common advice in newsletter guides is to choose one topic and one type of reader first, and I agree.

My newsletter is for students and young builders who are figuring out college, freelancing and starting things. I write from my own experience, so I know exactly who I am talking to.

If you cannot answer "who is this for?" in one sentence, you are not ready to pick a platform yet.

Step 2: Choose a platform and move on

Newsletter guides compare Substack and beehiiv again and again, and most are written for the US. The rough summary is:

• Substack is often described as the simpler start, good if you want to write with minimal setup and maybe charge for subscriptions later.
• beehiiv is often described as aimed at growth, with extra tools for growing a list and treating the newsletter like a business.

Pricing, fees and payment options for Indian creators change, so check each platform's own page before you commit. Do not spend a week choosing. Pick one and write. I publish on both, and you can start with just one.

Step 3: Start plain

A first issue does not need a logo, a template or a content plan. Beginners tend to overbuild the first issue. Write what you would say to one friend who is in your position.

My own issues sound like me. I open with "Hey hi" or "Vanakkam" and I write the way I talk. If you want to see the tone, read issue one of Build With Boo.

Step 4: Write from your own experience

Everything I write comes from something that happened to me. For example, one issue was about why your LinkedIn is not getting you internships, after I ran LinkedIn sessions for 100+ college students. Another was about being nominated for Best Student Freelancer. A third was about what I should have started writing earlier.

You do not need expert-level knowledge. You need a real experience and an honest account of it.

Step 5: Pick a rhythm you can keep

A newsletter dies when the writer disappears. Decide how often you can really publish, weekly, every two weeks or monthly, and stick to it. It is better to send one issue a month for a year than four issues in one month and then nothing.

Step 6: Get your first readers

Share it where your reader already is. For me that is LinkedIn, because I post there most consistently, and I write the way I talk. Tell your friends, your classmates and the communities you are part of, and ask them to forward it.

Do not obsess over numbers at the start. The first goal is to publish the next issue.

Step 7: Reuse what you write

One newsletter issue can become a LinkedIn post, a few short posts and a blog post. I explained this in how to become a content marketer and in my guide to what content marketing is.

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for the perfect name, logo or platform.
• Writing for everyone instead of one reader.
• Trying to sound like a company instead of a person.
• Publishing nothing for months and then apologising.

Questions people ask me

Which is better for a beginner, Substack or beehiiv?

Guides usually call Substack the simpler start and beehiiv the more growth-focused option. Check current pricing on both, then pick one and begin. I publish on both.

How often should a student publish a newsletter?

As often as you can keep up without burning out. A steady monthly issue beats an ambitious weekly one that stops.

Do I need a lot of subscribers to start?

No. You can start with zero. The first goal is writing and publishing the next issue.

What should I write about?

Write about something you are living through and can describe honestly, like college, a first job or a side project.

Can I make money from a newsletter?

Some people do, through paid subscriptions, ads or their own services. I would not promise income to anyone, and I do not want to pretend I have cracked it.