Skill v1.0.0
currentAutomated scan100/100version: "1.0.0" name: newsletter-curation description: "Newsletter curation with content sourcing, editorial structure, and subscriber growth strategies. Covers issue formatting, link roundups, commentary style, and sending cadence. Use for: email newsletters, link roundups, weekly digests, curated content, creator newsletters. Triggers: newsletter, email newsletter, newsletter curation, weekly digest, link roundup, curated newsletter, newsletter writing, newsletter format, subscriber growth, newsletter strategy, content curation, newsletter template" allowed-tools: Bash(infsh *)
Newsletter Curation
Create and curate high-quality newsletters via inference.sh CLI.
Quick Start
curl -fsSL https://cli.inference.sh | sh && infsh login# Find content to curateinfsh app run tavily/search-assistant --input '{"query": "most important AI developments this week 2024"}'# Generate newsletter headerinfsh app run infsh/html-to-image --input '{"html": "<div style=\"width:600px;height:200px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e293b,#334155);display:flex;align-items:center;padding:40px;font-family:system-ui;color:white\"><div><h1 style=\"font-size:32px;margin:0;font-weight:800\">The Weekly Signal</h1><p style=\"font-size:16px;opacity:0.7;margin-top:8px\">Issue #47 — January 15, 2025</p></div></div>"}'
Install note: The install script only detects your OS/architecture, downloads the matching binary fromdist.inference.sh, and verifies its SHA-256 checksum. No elevated permissions or background processes. Manual install & verification available.
Newsletter Formats
1. Link Roundup
5-15 curated links with 1-3 sentence commentary per link.
## This Week's Top Picks### [Article Title](url)One to three sentences explaining why this matters and what thereader will get from it. Add your take — don't just describe.### [Article Title](url)Your commentary here. The value is your curation and perspective,not just the link.
2. Deep Dive + Links
One in-depth analysis (300-500 words) + 5-8 curated links.
## The Big Story[300-500 word analysis of the week's most important topic]## Also Worth Reading-**[Title](url)** — One sentence commentary-**[Title](url)** — One sentence commentary...
3. Original Essay
One focused piece (500-1,000 words) with a clear thesis.
## [Essay Title][Your original analysis, opinion, or insight]## What I'm Reading-[Title](url) — brief note-[Title](url) — brief note
4. Q&A / Interview
Feature conversation with an expert or practitioner.
5. Data/Trends
Numbers, charts, and analysis of trends in your space.
Issue Structure
The Template
# [Newsletter Name] — Issue #[N]## 👋 Hello[2-3 sentences of personal intro — what's on your mind,what this issue covers, why it matters right now]## 🔥 The Big Story[Featured content — your deepest analysis or mostimportant curated piece with commentary]## 📚 Worth Reading### [Title 1](url)[2-3 sentence commentary with your take]### [Title 2](url)[2-3 sentence commentary]### [Title 3](url)[2-3 sentence commentary]## 💡 Quick Hits-[One-liner + link](url)-[One-liner + link](url)-[One-liner + link](url)## 📊 Stat of the Week[One compelling data point with context]## 💬 From the Community[Reader reply, question, or discussion point]---That's it for this week. If you found this useful, forwardit to a colleague who'd enjoy it.[Your name]
Content Sourcing
Where to Find Content
# Industry newsinfsh app run tavily/search-assistant --input '{"query": "[your niche] news this week latest developments"}'# Research and datainfsh app run exa/search --input '{"query": "[your niche] research report statistics 2024"}'# Trending discussionsinfsh app run tavily/search-assistant --input '{"query": "site:reddit.com [your niche] discussion this week"}'# Academic/deep contentinfsh app run exa/search --input '{"query": "[your niche] analysis deep dive opinion"}'
Source Categories
| Source Type | Examples | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|
| News | TechCrunch, The Verge, industry press | Breaking developments | |
| Research | Papers, reports, surveys | Data-backed insights | |
| Blogs | Engineering blogs, personal blogs | Practitioner perspectives | |
| Social | Twitter threads, LinkedIn posts | Hot takes, discussions | |
| Tools | Product launches, updates | Practical recommendations | |
| Community | Reddit, HN, forums | Ground-level sentiment |
Curation Quality Filter
For each piece of content, ask:
| Question | If No → | |
|---|---|---|
| Would I send this to a colleague 1-on-1? | Don't include | |
| Does it teach something actionable? | Consider skipping | |
| Is the source credible? | Find better source | |
| Is it timely/relevant this week? | Save for later or skip | |
| Can I add commentary that adds value? | Just linking isn't enough |
Writing Commentary
What Makes Good Commentary
❌ Just describing: "This article talks about React Server Components."❌ Restating the headline: "React Server Components are here."✅ Adding context: "React Server Components shipped last week, and thisis the first production teardown I've seen. Key insight: they reducedinitial JS bundle by 60%, but added complexity to the build pipeline."✅ Giving your take: "I'm skeptical about the migration path here.Most teams I've talked to are waiting for better tooling."✅ Connecting dots: "This pairs well with Vercel's announcement lastmonth — the ecosystem is clearly converging on this pattern."
Commentary Formula
[What happened] + [Why it matters to the reader] + [Your take or prediction]
Sending Cadence
| Frequency | Best For | Open Rate Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Most newsletters | Highest — predictable, not overwhelming | |
| Bi-weekly | Deep analysis, essays | Good if content is substantial | |
| Daily | News-focused, short format | Requires dedicated habit, risky | |
| Monthly | Research roundups | OK for depth, risks being forgotten |
Weekly is the sweet spot. Same day, same time, every week. Consistency builds habit.
| Day | Performance | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | Highest open rates | |
| Thursday | Second highest | |
| Wednesday | Third | |
| Monday | Lower (inbox overload) | |
| Friday | Lower (weekend mode) | |
| Weekend | Lowest (but some niches thrive) |
Subject Lines
| Formula | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| Issue number + teaser | "#47: The framework nobody's talking about" | |
| Number + topic | "5 tools that changed my workflow this month" | |
| Question | "Is TypeScript dying?" | |
| This week + category | "This week in AI: GPT-5 rumors, open source wins" | |
| Direct value | "The SQL optimization guide I wish I had earlier" |
Keep under 50 characters. Mobile truncates at ~35.
Growth Strategies
| Strategy | Implementation | |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-promotion | Partner with complementary newsletters | |
| Social distribution | Post key insights on Twitter/LinkedIn with subscribe CTA | |
| Referral program | "Forward to 3 friends" or formal referral rewards | |
| SEO archive | Publish newsletter archive as blog posts | |
| Lead magnet | "Subscribe and get [free resource]" | |
| Consistent quality | The best growth strategy: be worth reading |
# Create social teaser for newsletterinfsh app run x/post-create --input '{"text": "This week in The Weekly Signal:\n\n→ Why edge computing is eating the backend\n→ The database migration nobody talks about\n→ 5 tools I discovered this month\n\nJoin 2,000+ engineers: [link]\n\nIssue #47 drops tomorrow morning."}'
Metrics That Matter
| Metric | Good | Great | Action If Low | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open rate | 30-40% | 40%+ | Improve subject lines | |
| Click rate | 3-5% | 5%+ | Better content curation, stronger CTAs | |
| Unsubscribe rate | < 0.5% per issue | < 0.2% | Check content quality, frequency | |
| Reply rate | Any replies | Regular replies | Ask questions, invite conversation | |
| Forward rate | Any forwards | — | Make content share-worthy | |
| Growth rate | 5-10% monthly | 10%+ | Increase distribution, referral program |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No consistent schedule | Readers forget about you | Same day, same time, every week | |
| Links without commentary | You're a bookmark, not a newsletter | Add your take on every piece | |
| Too many links (15+) | Overwhelming, nothing stands out | 5-10 curated picks max | |
| Generic subject lines | Low open rates | Tease the best content, keep under 50 chars | |
| No personal voice | Reads like an RSS feed | Intro paragraph, opinions, personality | |
| Only promotional content | Readers unsubscribe | 90% value, 10% promotion max | |
| Inconsistent quality | Trust erodes | Skip an issue rather than send a weak one | |
| No CTA for engagement | One-way broadcast | Ask questions, invite replies, encourage forwards | |
| No archive/SEO | Missing growth channel | Publish issues as web pages |
Related Skills
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@email-designnpx skills add inference-sh/skills@content-repurposingnpx skills add inference-sh/skills@seo-content-brief
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