Let me guess, you want to stay relevant.
These days, that means finding ways to share your expertise, build influence, and let’s be honest, put some extra cash in your pocket.
Starting a blog or newsletter are great ways to do that, but here’s an even better way.
It’s a newsletter business idea that’s tailor-made for Gen X professionals who want to stay relevant and build income streams without starting over.
It’s called the Blogletter Strategy, a modern 2-in-1 approach that combines the reach of a blog with the connection of a newsletter. Together, they help you share your expertise, test new tools and trends, and even build a future-proof business—all while you sleep.
It solves two big problems:
Newsletter creators often struggle to get discovered.
Bloggers often struggle to build real relationships.
A blogletter kills both birds with one efficient, time-saving stone.
And the best part?
It’s designed for people with real experience and responsibilities, so you can start without quitting your day job or becoming a viral TikTok star.
And in a world where social platforms come and go and AI is reshaping everything a Blogletter gives you something no one can take away: a direct line to your audience, powered by your experience.
Ready to learn how this newsletter business idea works?
Read on…
Let's Start with the Basics
A blog is like your own space on the internet where you write about what you know. Think of it as your personal website where you share your expertise.
A newsletter is when you send those writings directly to people's email inboxes, building a more personal connection with your readers.
A blogletter combines both - it's the smart way to share your knowledge and build relationships without doubling your work.
If you are a Gen X founder, professional or creator looking to build an asset online, you have likely hit a common roadblock. You are trying to decide between a blog vs newsletter.
It is a valid debate.
Blogs are great for discovery. Google sends strangers to your site, and you get traffic. But those strangers rarely stay long enough to buy anything.
Newsletters are great for connection. You own the relationship and the email list. But without a blog, it is almost impossible for new people to find you.
So, which one do you choose?
Here is how they stack up against each other:
Feature | The Blog | The Newsletter |
Superpower | Discovery. It sits on the open web, waiting for Google to send new people your way. | Intimacy. It lands in a private space (the inbox) where you have the reader's full attention. |
Traffic Source | Search engines and social shares. | Direct delivery to subscribers. |
The Risk | The Ghost Town. You can write amazing content that nobody sees because you have no way to notify people. | The Walled Garden. You write amazing content, but only the people already on your list see it. Growth is brutal. |
If you want to build a sustainable income stream without burning out, the answer isn't one or the other. It is both.
We call this a Newsletter Business (or a "Blogletter").
If you're in your late 40s or 50s, this is your moment. Here's why:
You've got decades of real experience (that's gold)
You've lived through massive workplace changes (giving you perspective others don't have)
You know what actually works (not just theory)
You're old enough to have wisdom, young enough to master new tools
You need future-proof skills (not just another job)
Plus, let's be honest - the job market isn't exactly kind to us Gen Xers. A blogletter lets you bypass the traditional gatekeepers and create your own opportunity.
Why Gen Xers Can't Afford to Think "Traditional" Anymore
Let me tell you a story about the biggest myth in corporate America: job security.
For 17 years, I worked in a cubicle, getting ONE paycheck from ONE company at the mercy of ONE boss. Then one morning, without warning, HR showed up at my desk. Just like that, game over.
I call it the "Kill Shot":
KILL SHOT = losing your ONE job = F#@K!
When you rely on a single source of income, you are fragile. Your grandparents were right about not putting all your eggs in one basket.
A Newsletter Business is your insurance policy against the Kill Shot. It allows you to bypass traditional gatekeepers and create your own opportunities. It turns your experience into an asset that you control.
It saved me…
While I was still employed, I was building side projects. Some blogging here, some music-related affiliate marketing projects there. Nothing huge on its own, but together? They became my life raft.
Today, those "little" projects have grown into 10+ income streams. Not only did they help me survive the Kill Shot, but they've also created a much more interesting life than the one I had staring at cubicle walls for 17 years.
Why This Matters for Every Gen Xer Right Now
Here's the hard truth: thinking like an employee is risky.
Thinking like an entrepreneur? That's security.
One income stream can vanish in a morning
Multiple streams mean true stability
Your experience becomes an asset YOU control
You're building something that pays you, not your employer
Technology makes it easier than ever to start something on the side
A blogletter isn't just another side hustle - it's your insurance policy against the Kill Shot. It's about taking control of your future instead of hoping some employer takes care of it.
My Story: From Cubicle to Freedom
Back in 2004, I was stuck in a cubicle as a mechanical draftsman. My redesigns were saving the company thousands, but my reward? A measly $1,000-$3,000 annual raise and the classic corporate "pat on the back."
That's when I started experimenting with blogs. I wrote about fantasy football (total geek stuff) and music - just things I loved. Something crazy happened: Google started sending people to read my stuff.
Soon enough, my fantasy football blog was making $300-$500 a month just from ads. Then I started selling guitar courses through my music blog, having $500+ days. All this while keeping my day job and taking care of three kids and a mortgage.
Those newsletters and blogs were the foundation of what eventually became my one-person business that has been my main source of income since 2013.
Flashback: Check out this screenshot of my fantasy football blog WAY back in 2008…
FantasyFootballGoat circa 2008 (via waybackmachine.com)
Why Should You Care?
Because what I stumbled into by accident, you can do deliberately. Today's tools make it easier than ever to:
Share your expertise
Build an audience
Make money from your knowledge
And the best part? You don't need to be some tech wizard or quit your job or go back to school.
You just need:
Experience (which you've got after decades of working)
Stories to share (which you've got plenty of)
The right platform (which I'll show you)
A Newsletter Business is a modern 2-in-1 approach. You publish content that lives on a website (like a blog) and gets emailed directly to subscribers (like a newsletter).
It solves the two biggest problems creators face:
Discovery: Your web archives attract traffic from Google (answering the "Blog" part of the equation).
Retention: Your email delivery builds trust and relationships (answering the "Newsletter" part).
Here is why this hybrid model is the best starting point for us Gen Xers.
Visual Learner?
Sometimes it’s easier to see the whole ecosystem mapped out.
In this video, I hit the whiteboard to sketch out exactly how the hybrid 'Blogletter' engine works.
The Three Skills You'll Develop
Running a blogletter helps you master three future-proof skills:
Writing - Don't worry, you don't need to be Shakespeare. People just want to hear your real experiences.
Marketing - Simply learning to share your ideas with people who care (easier than ever with today's tools).
Continuous Learning - Using your natural curiosity to stay ahead (especially with AI tools making everything easier).
The Modern Resume is a Google Result
In the old days, you sent a resume to a stranger and hoped for the best.
Today, when someone wants to hire you or do business with you, what is the first thing they do? They Google you.
If you have a newsletter business, your website acts as a living, breathing portfolio. It shows:
How you think.
What you know.
Your consistency.
A blog archive is proof of competence that a static resume can never match.
Networking on Autopilot
Networking used to mean driving to a mixer, eating stale cheese cubes, and handing out business cards.
A newsletter business acts as a magnet. When you publish your thoughts, you attract like-minded people. You attract peers, potential partners, and customers who vibrate at your frequency.
Instead of chasing people, you let the content bring the right people to you.
Getting Started Is Easy These Days
Today's tools make this so much simpler than when I started. I use Beehiiv ($) - one simple platform that handles everything.
Add in AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT, and it's like having a 24/7 assistant helping you write better and work faster.
How You Make Money
Once you have the audience, the income streams follow. A newsletter business allows you to monetize in multiple ways:
Ads & Sponsorships: Brands pay to reach your audience.
Affiliate Marketing: Recommend products you trust.
Digital Products: Sell your own guides or courses.
Consulting: Offer high-ticket advice to your subscribers.
Premium Subscriptions: Charge for exclusive content.
It’s how I built a one person business going from making $40k a year as a draftsman to pulling in $10k-$18k monthly using these exact principles.
Why Start Now?
Look, I get it. Starting something new in your 50s might sound crazy. But here's the truth: our generation is perfectly positioned for this.
We're:
Too young to retire
Too tired of the 9-5 rat race
Too experienced for entry-level jobs
Too vulnerable to workplace age bias
Too smart to keep depending on one employer
Too valuable to let gatekeepers decide our worth
Plus, with AI tools making everything easier, there's never been a better time for Gen Xers to start building their own thing.
Why Start With a Blogletter (Instead of Video or Podcasting)?
"But Corey, shouldn't I be on YouTube or start a podcast instead?"
Yep, you could do that. And its natural to think that because video and podcasting are huge right now. BUT here's why a blogletter is the smartest place to start in my humble opinion:
Everything Starts With Writing
Want to make videos? You need a script. Want to podcast? You need show notes. Want to sell anything? You need copy.
Writing is the foundation of all content.
Clarify Your Thinking
Writing forces you to organize your thoughts and refine your message. Trust me, you want to figure this out before you're staring at a camera or microphone.
A Blogletter Beats the Algorithm
AI’s not your enemy, but depending on platforms that can ghost you overnight is.
When you publish on social media, you rent space. When you build a Blogletter, you own the land. It’s your content. Your list. Your leverage.
That’s why we start here.
Lower Barrier to Entry
No expensive equipment needed
No complex editing software to learn
No awkward camera presence required
Just you, your keyboard, and your experience
Build Your Base First
A blogletter helps you:
Build a subscriber base (perfect for launching other media later)
Test what resonates with your audience
Create a "living resume" of your expertise
Develop your voice and message
Monetize your newsletter faster, easier
Get comfortable sharing in public
Plus, you can always add video or podcasting later - and when you do, you'll have proven content to create with and an audience ready to watch or listen.
But Wait There’s More…
Why bother building all this?
Because a newsletter isn't just a marketing channel, it's a digital asset.
Here is why I believe building a list is actually safer (and more profitable) than relying solely on a traditional 401k.
I explain in this video…
Now, let’s get yours started…
Getting started is simpler than you might think. Here's how: