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Hey Reader!

Are you going to be at the New Media Summit in Austin next week?

If so, I will see you there!

One of my goals for 2026 was to get onstage and speak.
Somewhere.
Somehow.

And next week I'll be accomplishing that goal (kinda):

I'm beyond fired up to be the New Media Summit MC 🔥🔥

​Join us! Less than 10 tickets left >>​
​(save $200 with code Dylan20off )

A dozen brilliant speakers hit the stage one week from today (February 26th to be exact), and I have the absolute honor of introducing them.

I am beyond excited. And slightly nervous.

I hope to see you in Austin (reply to this if you're coming!) because I want to take as many selfies with readers and friends as possible, so don't be shy and come say hi!

(A massive "thank-you" to Matt & Ahrif for this MC opportunity!)

And I'll be sharing a recap of the event in March -- stay tuned!

Here's what's percolating in today's edition:

→ Should you Gate FREE Content?!!?
→ The #1 email sequence every business needs
→ How to stop getting your newsletter "clipped" by Gmail
→ BTS: how this creator builds his popular weekly email
→ Another dad joke (sorry in advance)

Go get it...

Are gates for cows...
​Or readers?

Well well.

I hit a nerve on LinkedIn last week.

I shared a screenshot of a post from HeyNews that showed a subscribe-to-read gate. I simply asked, "How does this make you feel?"

Well people had feelings about this—and boy did they share them.
So much so that the post went semi-viral (for me).

Turns out most people are NOT a fan of this tactic.

And some people offered some helpful alternatives to a full-on gate.

So where do you stand as a newsletter publisher—and a reader?

MY THOUGHTS ON CONTENT GATES

Here's what I said in that LinkedIn post about gating free content. First, as a reader:

I'm a lot less precious about my email address than many in the comment section. Admittedly, I subscribe to *a lot* of newsletters and analyze them for a living.

But still. C'mon folks.

Have we become so entitled to free content that we clutch our pearls and gasp in horror when a creator puts a "subscribe to read" gate on an article?

You know... an article they wrote.
On their own time.
And dime.

And they aren't asking you for even a penny?

Just your email address. ​
​(Meaning you can easily unsubscribe immediately if so desired)

What if we just put landing pages in front of articles and called them lead magnets instead?

It's the same thing if you boil it down: a value exchange.

People seem to have no issue handing over an email address for a "freebie" (ie. lead magnet) but heaven forbid an article.

It comes down to personal preference. You don't have to cave to the 'subscribe to read' gates. And I respect that.

I just think we could loosen up a little. Maybe?

So... Should You Gate Content As a Publisher?

From my LinkedIn post:

My gut says gated content is the future—whether those who consume free content like it or not (spoiler: they won't).

Gating content (free or paid) has been frowned upon for many reasons. The cries of "what about SEO?!"
The obvious friction to faster growth.

And every platform is optimizing for faster growth. It's their business model. Where do you think those recommendation widgets came from?

😉

And so when you gate free content, it's the veritable opposite of all the 'Recommendations' widgets. It's the opposite of rapid growth.

As a publisher, it's a choice of friction vs. non-friction.

Gates make it harder to grow. But maybe that's not a bad thing?

I mean...

How many of your "recommendations" subscribers are opening and engaging with your newsletters? I'll bet good money it's fewer than your landing page subscribers.

It certainly is for me:

→ 37% of my Creator Network (recommendations) subscribers have been cold for 90+ days (I got some cleaning to do...)​
→ 23% of my non-Creator Network subscribers are 90+ days cold.

That's a big difference.

Growth for growth's sake isn't what it used to be. Plus...

→ SEO isn't the viable traffic strategy it used to be.
→ Making big newsletter bucks with ads & sponsorships isn't what it used to be, either.

What we really need are subscribers who will purchase something from us or our partners.

Here's how you get them:

1) Attract them with high-quality (insanely valuable) content.
2) Filter out the window shoppers with a content gate.

Think about it: if someone IS NOT willing to subscribe to access your free content, what are the chances they'll ever become a customer or client?

Probably zero.

So you can put me in the camp of "gating your free content is not evil."

But how will they know your content is "insanely valuable" if you gate it all?

You don't. 👇

THE OPTIMAL GATE SOLUTION?

Many paid newsletters keep a portion of the content accessible to everyone.

They just put a paywall in front of the good parts.

Look how much Dickie Bush & Nicholas Cole include in their posts before adding a paywall gate:

They illustrate the problem—then if you want their solution, you have to upgrade. They don't show you a "Upgrade now" button at the very top. Instead they prove the content is valuable first. Then—and only then—they add an "upgrade" gate.

This is the way 👏

This is the hybrid solution worth considering. If you've earned the reader's attention and trust to make it that far, they'll be more likely to subscribe to read the rest.

Or you can do what Lex Roman recommended in the comments above: metering the gate. Readers get a few "free" articles to read before they have to subscribe to read more.

The only remaining challenge? Getting your ESP or website configured for a partial gate.

But that's a post for another day...

Kudos to Lex Roman and Chris Cerra for exposing this "metered' or partially-gated idea.

PS - I'd love to hear from you on this. Reply and share your "gated" experiences and your thoughts. I'm all ears and would love to feature other good ideas or examples of successful partially gated content.

Newsletter Hits
Of The Week ⚡

Curated links from others I think you'll enjoy.

⚡ The one email marketing sequence EVERY business needs in 2026 →

⚡ How I write a newsletter with 40,000+ subs, sponsors, and growing →

⚡ Getting your newsletter 'clipped' by Gmail is actually a big problem. Solve it with this →

⚡Join this if you want 88.9% open rates for your welcome emails →

The most-clicked link from last week 👇

⚡ 6 Best Ways To Monetize Your Newsletter in 2026 →

Growing a newsletter
​can be slow & lonely.

So build your newsletter faster.
With our help.

Come hang out with me & Chenell.

Join us Newsletter Nerds in the Growth In Reverse PRO Community →​

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See you in the inbox,

Dylan

​LinkedIn | Twitter | Substack | IG

PS - Dad joke of the week:

If the founding fathers were still alive, what would they be best known for?

Their age.

badum-tisssss 🥁

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​.​