Hey there 👋, check out this week's top digital media and market updates!

We’re covering Newsletters aren’t dead, they are just evolving.

We’d love your feedback! Hit reply and let us know what you think.

Charlie Patel, Owner of Media Assets Newsletter

“Bloated Lists = Broke Deals — Clean It Up.”

Newsletter growth has long been obsessed with removing friction—one-click sign-ups, auto-filled forms, and endless growth hacks. But when subscribing is too easy, you end up with a bloated list full of disengaged readers who tank your open rates, hurt deliverability, and make sponsors hesitant. The fix? Strategic friction. Adding small hurdles—like a name field, a “false double opt-in,” or even a quirky checkbox (“I promise I’m actually interested”)—filters out low-intent subscribers while keeping conversions high. The result? A leaner, more engaged audience that actually opens your emails.

But friction doesn’t have to mean turning sign-ups into an obstacle course. It’s about balancing ease with intent—whether that’s upfront (like multi-field forms for paid growth) or post-sign-up (like gamified welcome sequences that weed out passive subscribers). Even unconventional tweaks—putting the unsubscribe link at the top, capping your list size, or adding humor to your opt-in—can make your list healthier without killing growth. The bottom line? Stop chasing vanity metrics. A smaller, rabid audience beats a giant, indifferent one every time. (LINK)

Ok that’s it for this week, give us a reply if you have any suggestions or comments…

Cheers!