Mostly Metrics
A newsletter written by CJ Gustafson that focuses on finance and metrics for CFOs.
Why It Works
By offering to write guest posts for financial software companies, he gains exposure and monetizes his writing.
Revenue & Traction
Earns between $6,000 to $12,000 for packages of three to four guest posts.
Founding Story
CJ began by providing free content to companies to build relationships and gain visibility.
Business Playbook
Creates valuable content for brands that lack it, allowing him to charge for guest posts while also driving traffic back to his newsletter.
Why this works now
Most CFOs overlook niche newsletters as a viable source of industry insights. CJ Gustafson capitalizes on this by offering guest posts to financial software companies, generating initial revenue through established platforms like LinkedIn. This approach not only builds visibility but also allows him to earn between $6,000 to $12,000 for bundled posts. A significant risk for Mostly Metrics is the reliance on guest posting as a primary revenue stream, which may lead to fluctuating income based on market demand and the availability of partnership opportunities.
Additional Information
He effectively gets paid twice: once for the content and again when new subscribers become paying clients.
Source
Podcast: The Side Hustle Show
Episode: 681: 15 List Building Tactics that Actually Work
Creation Date: July 10, 2025
31 more ideas and case studies from this episode
This was one of the case studies discussed on 681: 15 List Building Tactics that Actually Work. See every idea and case study pulled from this episode in one place.
See all 32 from this episode →Ideas worth reading next
Vid Angel
Vid Angel is a platform that offers clean versions of popular movies and TV shows by removing objectionable content, catering to families and those seeking a cleaner viewing experience.
Value-Based Streaming Platform
A streaming service that focuses on producing and distributing values-based content, catering to audiences seeking alternatives to mainstream nihilistic narratives.
Angel Studios
Angel Studios is a film and television production company that produces family-friendly content, allowing audiences to invest in projects they want to see made.
More case studies
Angel Studios
A TV and movie studio that focuses on creating family-friendly content and allows audiences to fund projects directly.
A24
A24 is an independent entertainment company known for producing and distributing innovative films and television shows.
Advance Publishing
A family dynasty business that owns a variety of publications and properties, including newspapers and magazines.