# Topics Bank + Sponsor Rate Card

## 30 issue topics (each = one tool + one freebie + one deal)

Tools (week 1–10):
1. MicroTools-style utility sites that work offline
2. Free PDF merging/signing without uploads (browser-only)
3. Free fonts with real commercial licenses (where to check)
4. Free stock photo sites that don't require attribution
5. Free screen recording tools (no watermark)
6. Free project management tiers that are honestly free
7. Free AI prompt libraries (and how to judge them)
8. Free favicon/logo generators — which are actually usable
9. Free hosting tiers compared: Pages, Netlify, Vercel, GitHub
10. Free transcriptions (and their accuracy ceilings)

Freebies (weave one in per issue):
11. Free printable planner packs (budget, habits, study)
12. Free wallpaper packs (AMOLED/dark)
13. Free icon sets with commercial licenses
14. Free resume templates that don't hide behind paywalls
15. Free coding courses with certificates worth listing
16. Free stock music for videos (license notes)
17. Free ebook classics: Project Gutenberg picks
18. Free language-learning tools beyond the obvious app
19. Free mockup generators for product shots
20. Free QR code generators without expiring links

Deals & fine print (one per issue):
21. Domain promos: first-year vs renewal — the renewal trap
22. "Free trials" that need cancel-by calendars
23. Lifetime deals on software: when they're real
24. Free business bank accounts: what's actually free
25. Student discounts that work without .edu email
26. Free cloud storage tiers honestly compared
27. Free CRM tiers for freelancers
28. Grammar/spell tools: free vs paid truth
29. Free-tier AI image generators and their watermarks
30. Referral credit stacking (ethical version)

Evergreen rotation: re-run best performers every ~12 weeks with updated links.

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# Sponsor rate card (The Freebie Ledger)

| Slot | What | Price |
|------|------|-------|
| Primary sponsor | 2 sentences + link, top of issue, "SPONSORED" label | $30/issue (at ~300 subs) |
| Classified | 1 line + link, bottom | $10/issue |
| Bundle (4 issues) | Primary ×4, one week apart | $100 |

**Rules I publish (builds trust, attracts better sponsors):**
- One sponsor per issue, always labeled, never disguised as a pick.
- Products I wouldn't recommend get declined (and I say so).
- Subscribers + open rates shared honestly before booking.

**Price ladder:** raise $10/issue at every 250-subscriber milestone. First 10 sponsors:
offer 2-for-1 to fill the calendar; a filled calendar beats a proud empty one.

**Outreach:** 10 personalized emails/week using template #3 (in `templates/email-templates.html`).
Reply rate expectation: 1–3 per 10. Ask for a 2-issue trial.