How Dan Koe Writes One Newsletter That Powers His Entire Content Strategy
Repurposing quality content across platforms can multiply your reach without multiplying your workload.
Introduction
Dan Koe has sent over 150 newsletters in the past three years. But he doesn't just write newsletters—he uses them as the foundation for all his content. By repurposing a single, high-quality newsletter into YouTube scripts, Medium posts, podcasts, and social content, he achieves massive output from minimal input. His method hinges on clarity, structure, and a tool called Cortex. This blog unpacks Dan's strategy step-by-step, showing how any creator can turn one great idea into a week’s worth of valuable content.
Quality Over Quantity
Dan believes in producing one high-quality newsletter each week. Instead of churning out separate pieces for every platform, he refines one strong idea and repurposes it across his content ecosystem.
He posts newsletters to Medium, reads them as YouTube scripts, and distributes them as podcast episodes. Despite repeating the same message across formats, his audience doesn’t get bored—instead, they absorb the material more deeply through repetition.
This singular focus has yielded major results: over 175,000 newsletter subscribers and nearly 925,000 YouTube subscribers.
Use Structure to Unlock Creativity
At the heart of Dan's method is a structure he follows weekly. His process starts with outlining, not writing. He spends one or two days gathering thoughts, researching ideas, and brainstorming. This outline is split into three key sections:
Introduction: A hook based on a relatable problem and personal experience.
Insight: A novel idea or "aha" moment.
Process: Practical tips or a step-by-step solution.
Only after fleshing out this structure does he start writing. Even then, he keeps adding to the draft throughout the week as new insights come from reading, walks, or videos.
Cortex: A Creator's Second Brain
Dan uses Cortex to capture, connect, and reference ideas. Unlike generic tools like Notion, Cortex is optimized for writing. It allows for infinite panes, tagging, and cross-referencing. These features help Dan:
Pull in relevant notes, quotes, and highlights.
Organize ideas with tags like "psychology" or "critical thinking."
Easily access past content while drafting new work.
This system turns every note or thought into a building block for future content. It also kills writer’s block by keeping all useful material close at hand.
Find and Angle Popular Ideas
Dan doesn’t guess what topics will resonate—he researches. On YouTube, he filters popular videos in his niche and analyzes titles and topics. He repurposes proven themes in his own words, with better ideas and deeper insight.
He also uses tools like Tweet Hunter to explore high-performing tweets. This helps him shape angles that resonate with audiences, not by copying but by understanding what triggers interest and engagement.
Write Once, Repurpose Everywhere
Once the newsletter is finished, Dan doesn’t start from scratch for each platform. He:
Records a YouTube video by simply reading the newsletter.
Adds post ideas based on the newsletter’s key points.
Uploads videos as podcast episodes for audio listeners.
Editing becomes easier too—editors know to overlay visuals when Dan looks down at his script. The core idea stays the same; the format adapts.
The Power of Cumulative Notes
Dan’s system thrives on interconnected ideas. By tagging and organizing everything in Cortex, he builds a web of knowledge he can tap anytime. Over time, this becomes a powerful creative engine.
Instead of starting from a blank page, Dan begins with a rich repository of thoughts and resources. This cumulative approach keeps the ideas flowing and the quality high.
Conclusion
Dan Koe’s strategy is simple but powerful: create one strong piece of content, then distribute it intelligently. Rather than trying to feed every platform individually, he multiplies the value of a single idea.
His system—built on structure, thoughtful research, and a robust tool like Cortex—makes consistent content creation sustainable. It’s not about working more. It’s about working smarter.
In an era of content overwhelm, Dan’s method is a blueprint for creators who want depth over noise and consistency without burnout.
Takeaways
Write one high-quality newsletter per week and repurpose it across platforms.
Use structure: introduction, insight, and process guide the content.
Store and connect all ideas in one place using a tool like Cortex.
Research popular content and angle your ideas for visibility.
Writing evolves throughout the week—let ideas percolate before drafting.
Source
Cortex | How Dan Koe Writes Newsletters & YouTube Scripts (Full Process)