It Comes Down To This… Newsletters Aren’t Dead—You Just Suck at Them

Everyone wants to go viral on social—Reade Milner quietly built empires through your inbox.

In this episode of It Comes Down To This…, Monte Clark sits down with Reade Milner to break down the real value of email newsletters—why they’re making a major comeback and how to do them right.

Reade, founder of a digital agency with over a decade of experience, reveals why email remains the highest ROI marketing channel and how companies (big and small) are quietly building massive impact with a well-curated list and consistent publishing.

 

If you’ve ever wondered:
“Do I really need a newsletter?”
“Where do I even start?”
“Is email still relevant in a world of social?”
…this is your episode.

 

Topics include:
Why email outperforms social by 40x
The three kinds of email: marketing, cold, and spam (yes, they’re different)
How to build a list from scratch—even with zero subscribers
The right way to combine newsletters, video, and social into one flywheel
Why consistency, not fancy platforms, makes or breaks your email game

🎧  Listen in and learn how to turn your inbox into your most powerful marketing asset.

👉  Want to be a guest on the show? Go to: MonteClark.com and click "Be a Guest."

Guest Introduction:
Reade Milner is the founder of a digital marketing agency based in Atlanta, GA, with over 15 years in the industry. He’s helped hundreds of businesses rethink their approach to content by doubling down on email marketing and leveraging newsletters as a relationship-building engine. Reade specializes in turning simple conversations into high-impact campaigns—and his take on email? It's not dead. It's dominating.

Key Takeaways:
– Email is still king. It delivers a $38 return for every $1 spent and outperforms social by 40x in customer generation.

• Your list already exists. Start with your contacts, CRM, or phonebook—don’t overthink it.

– The platform doesn’t matter nearly as much as your consistency. Mailchimp, Beehive, Kit… pick one and stick to it.

–There are 3 types of email: marketing, cold, and spam. Know the difference and avoid the gray areas.

– Newsletter content can (and should) fuel your entire content ecosystem—social, blog, podcast, and video included.

Chapter Markers:
00:00 Top Three Reasons to Invest in Email Newsletters  
00:32 Introduction to Reed Miller  
01:22 Why Email Marketing Still Reigns  
04:10 Newsletter Misconceptions and Effectiveness  
06:03 Choosing the Right Email Platform  
09:15 How to Start Building Your Email List  
12:10 Who Should Be on Your List?  
15:20 Opt-In Rules and Email Compliance  
17:15 Spam vs Cold Email vs Email Marketing  
21:25 Types of Newsletters You Can Create  
25:17 Structuring and Repurposing Your Newsletter  
30:29 Client Success Stories Using Newsletters  
35:22 Budgeting and Frequency of Sending  
38:56 Using AI to Support (Not Replace) Newsletter Creation  
42:41 Final Thoughts and Reflections  

 

Keywords:
email newsletter marketing, how to build an email list, email vs social media marketing, Reade Milner, Monte Clark podcast, It Comes Down To This, email marketing strategy, content repurposing, newsletter growth tips, digital marketing podcast, personal brand marketing, business newsletter strategy