Paved vs. Refind Ads: Monetize or Grow Your Newsletter?

When you're running a newsletter, you typically face two big questions: how do we make money from the audience we have, and how do we get more readers? Paved and Refind Ads both live in the newsletter world, but they tackle these questions from different angles. We're looking at which one helps you do what best.

Quick Verdict

If your main goal right now is to monetize your existing newsletter audience through direct sponsorships, Paved is probably your go-to. It connects you with advertisers and streamlines that whole process. If you're focused on growing your subscriber list by promoting your newsletter on other platforms, or if you want to earn money by promoting other newsletters to your audience, Refind Ads offers a more direct path.

Features That Actually Matter

Let's break down what these platforms actually do for us.

Paved is built around helping you sell ad space in your newsletter. They act as a marketplace, connecting publishers like us with advertisers. You manage the whole sponsorship process, from finding leads to tracking how well ads perform in your newsletter. Paved also offers payment protection, which is a real benefit when dealing with new advertisers.

Refind Ads, on the other hand, gives you two distinct options. You can use it to grow your own subscriber base by promoting your newsletter to their audience and partner publications. You set a Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) and only pay when someone actually engages with your promoted newsletter, which means they open your emails. Refind also offers a way to earn money by promoting other newsletters to your existing audience, paying you per click.

Here’s a quick overview of how they differ:

Pros and Cons

We always want to know the good and the bad upfront.

Paved

• Pros:
  • We don't pay subscription fees to use it.
  • They offer payment protection, which is reassuring when working with new advertisers.
  • You get access to a large network of advertisers looking for newsletter sponsorships.
  • Tools are available for tracking how well sponsorships perform in your newsletter.
• Cons:
  • The platform does not detail specific integrations with other tools we might use.
  • Managing many different sponsorships at once could become complicated without more integration.

Refind Ads

• Pros:
  • It's cost-effective for subscriber acquisition because we only pay for engaged subscribers.
  • Users report high open rates for promoted newsletters, often over 60%.
  • There's potential to earn a good amount per click if we promote other newsletters to our audience; the average payout is $1.91 per click.
  • You can set your own CPA, giving you control over acquisition costs.
• Cons:
  • While you only pay for engaged subscribers, costs for acquiring new subscribers can still add up if your CPA is high or your newsletter isn't highly compelling.
  • The process for qualifying to earn by promoting other newsletters isn't clearly laid out in the description.

Who Should Pick What

Let's get practical about this:

• Pick Paved if: You have a decent-sized, engaged audience and want to start bringing in revenue by selling ad slots directly within your newsletter. You're looking for advertisers and appreciate a streamlined workflow for sponsorships. You want the security of payment protection.
• Pick Refind Ads if: Your primary goal is to grow your subscriber count, and you're ready to pay for quality, engaged readers. You value the ability to set your own CPA to control costs.
• Also consider Refind Ads if: You have an existing, engaged audience and want to add another monetization stream by promoting other high-quality newsletters. You could earn money per click by sending your readers to other newsletters that fit their interests.

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your immediate priorities. Are you focused on earning from your current audience, or building that audience out further?