Axios Newsletter Template For Content Curators
6 Rules Of Writing Less To Say More
In 2022, Axios media was purchased for a jaw-dropping $525 million by Cox Enterprises.
That's wild for a daily newsletter with fewer than 300 words in most issues.
Co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei built the company on one simple idea:
Write less, say more.
VandeHei knew readers were drowning in 200+ notifications a day and didn’t have time for long-winded news.
To solve this, he developed Smart Brevity.
The 6 Rules Of Writing Less To Say More
If you don’t want to read the book, here it is in short:
Write for your audience, not yourself
Grab attention with a short, concrete headline
Say “what’s new” and “why it matters” in single sentences
Use simple subject-verb-object sentences. Write like a human.
Make writing scannable with short paragraphs and bullets
Stop when you’ve said enough (less is more)
The bottom line?
Give your readers the information they need so they can move on with their busy lives.
Why Smart Brevity Matters For Curators
What’s true for news is true for most content—readers want a lot for a little.
Summarize a 2,000 word article in 2 sentences
Condense a 3-hour webinar into a 5-bullet summary.
Highlight the best clips from a 60 minute YouTube video.
Your reader’s time is precious.
So, if you spend a lot of time curating articles, videos, podcasts, and tools for your audience, the Axios format will help you extract and share the most meaningful insights from all your curated content in a single ChatGPT prompt.
How Smart Brevity Works In Practice
To achieve this, Axios uses bold phrases, called "Axioms", to guide readers through their articles and newsletters.
Each bold phrase is followed by 1 sentence or a couple bullet points. That’s it.
For example:
The most important Axiom in every newsletter?
Why It Matters
It furthers the goal to “help people get smarter, faster.”
Never leave this section out.
Fold in additional sections as needed to help your reader understand the point.
Write An Axios Style Newsletter With AI
To get started, gather 1-5 URLs you want to share with your target audience.
Copy and paste the prompt into ChatGPT, then add your URLs and target audience in the designated sections. ChatGPT will analyze the content from each URL and generate an Axios-style newsletter that follows the Smart Brevity principles.
For example:
First, I searched Google for the keyword “how to generate leads on LinkedIn.”
Then, I skimmed through a few articles that I thought would resonate with my target audience—productivity coaches in this case. Finally, I took the links from the best articles and added them into the prompt.
Note: If you don’t provide a specific target audience, ChatGPT will still summarize the key points. But when you do, it frames the output in context for your readers, which means less editing for you.
The newsletter template includes four sections commonly seen in Axios newsletters. You can use them all, remove what doesn’t fit, or create your own bold phrases to make it more relevant.
Just remember, the secret sauce is “why it matters.”
Here’s the prompt:
Target Content =
{List of URL(s)}
You are an expert content curator.
Your task is to read the provided URLs and write a 250-450 word analysis based on the content.
Tailor the analysis for my target audience.
Target audience: {Insert your Target Audience}
Throughout your analysis, focus on:
- The potential benefits and risks of the developments
- How key players in the field are approaching the topic
- The importance of any safety measures, regulations, or ethical considerations
- The potential impact on various stakeholders or industries
- Any concerns or criticisms raised by experts
<VOICE>
Write using Smart Brevity principles (like an Axios newsletter).
</VOICE>
<TEMPLATE>
*Today's post is [word count] words, a [X]-minute read.*
Sources:
{URL List}
## 1 big thing: [Main headline]
[1 sentence nut graf]
**Why it matters:** [1-2 sentences on the story's significance]
**Driving the news:**
[Explain in 1 sentence]
- [1 key point about recent developments]
- [Additional key point]
**Zoom in:**
[Explain in 1 sentence]
- [1 specific example or case study]
- [Quote or perspective from key figure]
**Yes, but:** [Counterpoint or caveat to the main story]
**Be Smart:** [What this really means (savvy smart takeaway. read between the lines)]
**The bottom line:** [Quick concluding thought or key takeaway]
## 2. [Secondary story headline]
**Why it matters:** [1-2 sentences on this story's significance]
**What we found:** [Key findings or details]
**How it works:**
- [Explanation of process or methodology]
- [Additional details]
**Yes, but:** [Caveat or limitation]
**The bottom line:** [Concluding thought for this section]
## 3. The Scoop
- [Brief news item or update]
- [Another brief news item]
- [Additional news item]
## 4. + This
[Interesting or quirky closing item]
</TEMPLATE>
Remember: Follow the template.
That’s it for today.
Chat soon,
—Dickie & Cole
Co-Founders of Ship 30 For 30
Co-Founders of Premium Ghostwriting Academy
Co-Founders of Typeshare
Co-Founders of Write With AI
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