npx skills add ...
npx skills add inference-sh/skills --skill newsletter-curation
Newsletter curation with content sourcing, editorial structure, and subscriber growth strategies. Covers issue formatting, link roundups, commentary style, and sending cadence. Use for: email newsletters, link roundups, weekly digests, curated content, creator newsletters. Triggers: newsletter, email newsletter, newsletter curation, weekly digest, link roundup, curated newsletter, newsletter writing, newsletter format, subscriber growth, newsletter strategy, content curation, newsletter template
npx skills add inference-sh/skills --skill newsletter-curation
Install the belt CLI skill:
npx skills add belt-sh/cli
Create and curate high-quality newsletters via inference.sh CLI.
Requires inference.sh CLI (
belt). Install instructions
5-15 curated links with 1-3 sentence commentary per link.
One in-depth analysis (300-500 words) + 5-8 curated links.
One focused piece (500-1,000 words) with a clear thesis.
Feature conversation with an expert or practitioner.
Numbers, charts, and analysis of trends in your space.
| Source Type | Examples | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| News | TechCrunch, The Verge, industry press | Breaking developments |
| Research | Papers, reports, surveys | Data-backed insights |
| Blogs | Engineering blogs, personal blogs | Practitioner perspectives |
| Social | Twitter threads, LinkedIn posts | Hot takes, discussions |
| Tools | Product launches, updates | Practical recommendations |
| Community | Reddit, HN, forums | Ground-level sentiment |
For each piece of content, ask:
| Question | If No → |
|---|---|
| Would I send this to a colleague 1-on-1? | Don't include |
| Does it teach something actionable? | Consider skipping |
| Is the source credible? | Find better source |
| Is it timely/relevant this week? | Save for later or skip |
| Can I add commentary that adds value? | Just linking isn't enough |
| Frequency | Best For | Open Rate Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Most newsletters | Highest — predictable, not overwhelming |
| Bi-weekly | Deep analysis, essays | Good if content is substantial |
| Daily | News-focused, short format | Requires dedicated habit, risky |
| Monthly | Research roundups | OK for depth, risks being forgotten |
Weekly is the sweet spot. Same day, same time, every week. Consistency builds habit.
| Day | Performance |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Highest open rates |
| Thursday | Second highest |
| Wednesday | Third |
| Monday | Lower (inbox overload) |
| Friday | Lower (weekend mode) |
| Weekend | Lowest (but some niches thrive) |
| Formula | Example |
|---|---|
| Issue number + teaser | "#47: The framework nobody's talking about" |
| Number + topic | "5 tools that changed my workflow this month" |
| Question | "Is TypeScript dying?" |
| This week + category | "This week in AI: GPT-5 rumors, open source wins" |
| Direct value | "The SQL optimization guide I wish I had earlier" |
Keep under 50 characters. Mobile truncates at ~35.
| Strategy | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Cross-promotion | Partner with complementary newsletters |
| Social distribution | Post key insights on Twitter/LinkedIn with subscribe CTA |
| Referral program | "Forward to 3 friends" or formal referral rewards |
| SEO archive | Publish newsletter archive as blog posts |
| Lead magnet | "Subscribe and get [free resource]" |
| Consistent quality | The best growth strategy: be worth reading |
| Metric | Good | Great | Action If Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open rate | 30-40% | 40%+ | Improve subject lines |
| Click rate | 3-5% | 5%+ | Better content curation, stronger CTAs |
| Unsubscribe rate | < 0.5% per issue | < 0.2% | Check content quality, frequency |
| Reply rate | Any replies | Regular replies | Ask questions, invite conversation |
| Forward rate | Any forwards | — | Make content share-worthy |
| Growth rate | 5-10% monthly | 10%+ | Increase distribution, referral program |
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No consistent schedule | Readers forget about you | Same day, same time, every week |
| Links without commentary | You're a bookmark, not a newsletter | Add your take on every piece |
| Too many links (15+) | Overwhelming, nothing stands out | 5-10 curated picks max |
| Generic subject lines | Low open rates | Tease the best content, keep under 50 chars |
| No personal voice | Reads like an RSS feed | Intro paragraph, opinions, personality |
| Only promotional content | Readers unsubscribe | 90% value, 10% promotion max |
| Inconsistent quality | Trust erodes | Skip an issue rather than send a weak one |
| No CTA for engagement | One-way broadcast | Ask questions, invite replies, encourage forwards |
| No archive/SEO | Missing growth channel | Publish issues as web pages |
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