TDC 070: Seven "Non-Obvious" Email Lessons I've Learned Writing This Email Newsletter Each Week.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque reveals the seven most impactful lessons from writing 70 consecutive weekly newsletters by hand.

You'll learn how less AI usage led to higher engagement, why creative volume beats perfectionism, and discover the custom dashboard metrics that actually matter for email success.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of these 7 lessons resonates most with you? Drop a comment and let me know!

Key Take-aways

• Custom AI dashboards beat vanity metrics – track engagement scores, not just opens and clicks
• Less AI in writing process correlates directly with higher reader engagement scores
• Creative fecundity is essential – you never know which piece will break through
• Buffer days between writing and sending prevent newsletter stress and missed deadlines
• Make it great before you make it grow – optimize for impact, then scale

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

01:26 – Lesson #1: Let data drive decisions (AI dashboard reveal)
05:03 – Lesson #2: Less AI = More engagement (the shocking data)
06:38 – Lesson #3: Creative fecundity is the key to success
08:38 – Lesson #4: Keep your cutting room floor
09:20 – Lesson #5: Build in a buffer day
11:25 – Lesson #6: Make it non-negotiable (decide to win)
13:25 – Lesson #7: Make it great before you make it grow
14:26 – All 7 lessons recap

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue 001 of The Digital Contrarian – "An Embarrassing Confession" → https://ryanlevesque.net/authentic-business-communication-confession/
• Issue 027 of The Digital Contrarian – "Your Strategic Content Ecosystem" → https://ryanlevesque.net/strategic-content-ecosystem/
• Issue 058 of The Digital Contrarian – "Bombshell Week in AI" → https://ryanlevesque.net/bombshell-week-in-ai/
  • Related video: "Bombshell Week in AI" → https://youtu.be/BAnNrTQC47M
• Issue 062 of The Digital Contrarian – "Is the AI Bubble Bursting??" → https://ryanlevesque.net/is-the-ai-bubble-bursting/
  • Related video: "Is the AI Bubble Bursting??" → https://youtu.be/153Y_LP2oYc
• Issue 066 of The Digital Contrarian – "A Crazy Person's Guide to Living Life" → https://ryanlevesque.net/a-crazy-persons-guide-to-living-life/
  • Related video: "A Crazy Person's Guide to Living Life" → https://youtu.be/tbDx0R2j0GQ
• Private Advisory (7-8 figure business owners) → https://ryanlevesque.net/1-1-vip-waitlist/
• Strategic Mastermind (6-7 figure entrepreneurs) → https://ryanlevesque.net/strategic-advisory-group-mastermind-waitlist

Connect & CTA 🎯

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Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.