The Retirement Newsletter: Launching my subscription newsletter - The Retirement Hustle
Issue Number: 7 — A failure to launch?
Welcome
Welcome to issue seven — launching a paid newsletter. How did it go?
The plan
I like to make plans. And I had a plan.
I planned to launch this week, but life and the weather got in the way.
A plan so cunning
If you have looked at the Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter, you’ll see that I am delivering (producing?) it in a different way to this newsletter. That is, the Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter is video-based.
I planned to record the first video over a couple of weeks while I got to grips with the technology and a new approach to editing. But life got in the way, and I struggled to find the time to do the recording. Who knew I could be so busy in retirement?
I did a couple of trial runs, recorded some material and experimented with the new editing software I would use. But time slipped by, and I was a few days away from launch week before I knew it. And then the rains came, and boy, did it rain. I finally managed to record the video the day before the launch and edit it in the afternoon.
The how
When the UK went into lockdown during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to move all my teaching online. So, I already had a production process for recording videos and planned to use this process for the Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter with a few changes.
The first stage of making a video is developing the idea and deciding what you will say. This can be a fairly lengthy process, and there are several ways it can be tackled. I will look at this in detail in the Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter. Anyway, I completed the plan for the first issue of the new newsletter a few weeks ago.
Above, in ‘A plan so cunning’, you may have wondered why rain affected the video’s production. Well, there are two reasons.
The first was that the rain was so heavy that if I recorded anything in my home office (spare bedroom), I could hear the rain and the wind in the background.
Second, I wanted to record the videos outside, as I have recorded videos in this way when I had to get my teaching online and it is an approach I like.
Recording outside may seem an odd choice. But I have found it works for me. By recording outside, I don't have all the hassle with lighting, and I get out and get some exercise and fresh air (not a bad thing). Also, it gives my videos a unique look and feel as I record things while walking through woods and fields. It looks different. Anyway, I have a video recording rig that is easy to use, and it's just a case of getting outside, going for a walk and pointing the camera at me.
From the production of my teaching videos, I know that editing can take a very long time, often longer than it takes to plan and record the video. So, for the Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter, I am experimenting with a new way of editing. Again, I will say more about that in the Newsletter.
The launch
Well, the launch went smoothly.
I was very impressed with my new video editing software and with the ease of creating a video post on Substack. Substack has done an impressive job creating a platform that makes posting video content a breeze.
There was no big fanfare or advertising campaign for the launch. I have publicised it only in this newsletter, and on Notes on Substack. That’s it. I will be sharing viewing figures later in the new newsletter.
The future
So, what will be in my new newsletter?
Well, I plan to offer short videos and podcasts of practical tips and insights into setting up side hustles. I may also post longer videos showing how to complete specific tasks, such as using certain software — that is, tutorial or training-type videos.
I also plan for the newsletter to offer a transparent look into my side hustle journey, detailing production costs, profits, and the evolution of online ventures.
This week in the Retirement Hustle
This week, in the Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter, I talk about the newsletter, why I am launching it, my plans and goals, and what you can expect.
If you go to Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter, you can sign up as a free subscriber and claim a free newsletter issue. As a free subscriber (assuming you have taken your free copy), you will get a short free newsletter preview in future releases.
Warning
I am pretty sure this is a scam:
I assume the email I received is a scam (see image). So beware. It is very well done. The clues to it being a scam are that the links in the well-crafted email do not point to UK government pages, the sender's email address is not the UK government, and the email address used for me is not the one I use with the UK government. And, the date is not in the UK format of dd/mm/yy but mm/dd/yyyy.
Travel — Nostalgia Corner
This week, here are three more stories from my first time in Hong Kong:
Hong Kong — Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System 中環至半山自動扶梯系統, Hong Kong — That is one giant escalator, and it has to be seen to be believed.
Hong Kong — Man Mo Temple 文武廟, Hong Kong — A temple of literature and war.
Hong Kong — The trams and tramway of Hong Kong — I like trains and trams, and taking the tram in Hong Kong is a great way to get around.
Next week, I will wrap up my time in Hong Kong.
Reflections
That was one busy week — I thought retirement was supposed to be relaxing and easy!
Next week
Next week, in issue number 8, I will examine how long I can expect retirement to last. Yes, it’s a bit depressing, but planning and thinking about these things doesn’t hurt.
Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter, and please don't hesitate to share it with your friends or on social media using the buttons below.
If you want to say 'thanks' for the newsletter, why not buy me a cup of tea?
Until next time,
Nick
PS: If you want to contribute something to the newsletter—a story, advice, or anything else—please get in touch.