Turn Your Newsletter into a Podcast with Eleven Labs: A 2025 Guide for Solo Creators

What is an audio newsletter?

Think of it as your newsletter, but in podcast form. You turn your text into an MP3 or an embedded player so your audience can listen instead of read. It’s short, snackable, and portable - perfect for building into someone’s daily routine.

Why add audio? (Real impact example)

Adding an audio option isn’t just a nice extra. It can actually move the needle.

One publisher that layered audio into their newsletter saw:

• A 30% jump in click-through rates
• Almost a 50% drop in unsubscribes in just a month

Readers said they listened while driving or on walks, which made the newsletter feel more like a habit than a task. You can see the full story at The Audio Newsletter.

Why this guide uses Eleven Labs

• The voices sound natural and keep people listening
• The process is dead simple (paste text, choose a voice, download MP3)
• Free plan available for testing the workflow
• Built-in limits keep projects manageable

Trust also matters here. With Eleven Labs, you paste your text directly into your account, generate audio, and download the MP3 yourself. No sending your newsletter to some third-party service.

Read next: How ElevenLabs became the voice behind 2025's content boom

Step-by-step: Turn your newsletter into audio with Eleven Labs

Step 1: Prepare your text for audio

• Remove references that rely on visuals (“see the chart above”)
• Summarize or skip code blocks/tables
• Add short cues for URLs or important images
• Expand acronyms and tweak punctuation for natural pacing

Step 1:

Paste your text into Eleven Labs

• Long issues may need splitting into sections
• Free plan: ~2,500 characters per generation
• Paid plans: up to ~5,000 characters per generation
• Official details: see character limits here

Step 2: Pick a voice

• Preview a few and settle on the one that fits your style (casual, polished, narrative, etc.)

Step 3: Generate the audio

• Hit “Generate” and wait a few seconds. Repeat if you split sections.

Step 4: Listen through

• Check for weird pronunciations, robotic pacing, or mistakes with numbers/dates.

Step 5: Refine

• Adjust words phonetically if needed
• Use commas and punctuation to fix pacing
• Rerun sections if something sounds off

Step 6: Download MP3

• Save your finished file, or combine multiple parts into one.

Make it sound great (quick fixes)

• For mispronunciations: spell phonetically (“en-eff-tee” for NFT) or rewrite the sentence
• For pacing: shorter sentences + strategic commas
• For consistency: stick with one voice across all issues to build a recognizable audio identity

Compare tools: Murf.ai vs. ElevenLabs – For those curious about alternatives. You can also try Murf.ai, which has strong voices and a built-in editor.

Distribution: Get your audio to subscribers

Here’s the often-missing piece - how to actually deliver the audio once you have it.

Substack

• In the editor, click the headphones icon to upload your MP3
• The player shows up at the top of the post and “Listen” is available in the email
• You can also share audio through Substack’s podcast RSS
• Details: Substack’s guide

Beehiiv

• On certain plans, you can toggle “Enable Audio” for a post
• A player appears at the top of the web version, and the email gets a listen link
• Some content (like code blocks) will be skipped
• Details: Beehiiv documentation

Universal link

• Host the MP3 (on your site, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
• Add a bolded “🎧 Listen to this issue” link near the top of your email

Podcast feed (optional)

• Use Substack’s RSS or a host like Spotify for Podcasters
• Every newsletter issue becomes an episode in your audience’s podcast app

What to expect after launch

• Place the player or link near the top so readers see it immediately
• Ask readers if it helps them stay caught up
• Track clicks and listens over a few issues
• Many publishers see longer engagement times, stickier readership, and - like in the case study - higher CTRs and lower churn

Related: Make money online with ElevenLabs – For turning your audio workflow into revenue streams.

Quick FAQ

How do I add audio on Substack?

Upload your MP3 as a voiceover in the editor. It will be playable in both email and web, and can push to your podcast feed. Step-by-step guide here.

How do I add audio on Beehiiv?

Toggle “Enable Audio” on supported plans. A player is embedded in the issue; emails get a listen link. Some sections won’t read. See FAQs.

How long can a generation be in Eleven Labs?

About 2,500 characters on the free plan and 5,000 on paid plans. Split longer issues into parts. Reference: ElevenLabs help doc.

Final Takeaway: Let Your Newsletter Speak

You don’t need podcast gear or editing chops to give your newsletter a voice. With Eleven Labs, you can turn each issue into audio in minutes, upload it where readers already are, and see how it impacts your engagement.

Start with one edition, clearly link or embed the audio, and ask readers what they think. If your results mirror the case study, audio could be the difference between skimmers and truly loyal subscribers.