Thrillist: $5 million from “unsexy” email

Ben Lerer, Thrillist, Content

I know that I’m not blowing your mind by telling you that Thrillist is making $5 million through its email-based newsletter for affluent men. You’ve probably read about it on other sites.

I didn’t invite Ben Lerer, the company’s co-founder, to Mixergy just so he could tell you that there’s money in email. I wanted him to teach us HOW he’s doing it and WHY email is still profitable and WHAT you can do to integrate Thrillist’s best techniques into your business.

I keep reading in the Mixergy comments and emails that entrepreneurs love when I dig deep into how profitable companies work, so I know you’ll appreciate this program.

Ben Lerer

Thrillist

Ben Lerer is the co-founder and CEO of Thrillist, which scouts bars, gadgets, sites and fashion finds for its audience of urban, affluent men aged 20-35.

 

Andrew: This interview is sponsored by HayStack, that’s where you’re going to find the right web designer for your next project. Check then out. HayStack.com. Hey everyone, it’s Andrew Warner. I’m the founder of Mixergy.com home of the ambitious upstart. And what I mean by that is I d

Andrew: 28. He is the cofounder and CEO of a company called Thrillist. Thrillist has 1.5 million E-mail subscribers. We’re talking old school Web 1.0 business that he’s got but he has 1.3 million people who are subscribing and Thrillist scouts bars, gadgets and fashion for it’s audience of urban affluent men aged 20 to 35. How am I doing reading that right off the screen?

Interviewee: Great. That’s beautiful.

Andrew: And what’s exciting for me is big audience, but revenue too. You guys are doing… I read over $5 million. Can you say publicly how much you’re bringing in?

Interviewee: I mean we say sort of...

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