Hi Reader, My business was bloated. So, this year, I canceled half a dozen SaaS subscriptions. How I loathe bloated software! I also let my team of writers and editors go. Now, I keep things simple. I run my business using a few affordable tools and a virtual assistant’s help. I write emails in plain text files on my computer, so I’m not locked into any one writing app. I use ConvertKit to manage my daily newsletter because it hooks me up with sponsors. I use WordPress to manage my website because I like owning my content. I use Buffer to plan and share content on my socials because it’s easy to use. I use Canva to create images because it takes the headache out of design. I create landing pages using Caard because it’s cheap and has many great templates. And I write offers in Google Docs because they’re easy to share and read. I use a few other basic tools, too, but to be honest, I don’t need them. The above is my digital equivalent of wearing black T-shirts and white trainers. My goal is to build an engaged list and write a profitable daily newsletter. I am working with a select few clients each week who want to add $10k to their business. I help these types of clients… and my business grows. It’s that easy. If you want to strip away the fat in your business and add an extra $10k instead, reply “SIMPLE” to this email. Write on, |
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I’ve spent thousands on business masterminds over the years. I’ve paid for online and in-person masterminds. Online masterminds are convenient. You can join the weekly accountability calls and check-ins on your lunch break or at night. But I find all those weekly Zoom calls and live cohorts exhausting. It’s also hard to get value from a program where you must wait your turn to ask the facilitator a question. I’ve sometimes paid more to circumvent that problem and get 1:1 time with the...
Over the years, I’ve started and stopped a few Substack publications. I even interviewed co-founder Hamish McKenzie for my podcast. For a while, I figured Substack was more suitable for journalists and politics bloggers. Now, I’m more bullish on the platform than ever. I love reading stats about how other creators are finding success on it. I recently read a report from Ciler Demiralp of The Newsletter Circle. Her team analyzed 75,000 Substack publications. Here are a few findings that stood...
Short one today… If you want to build a relationship with readers and followers, try these 21 tactics: Write and send a daily email. Readers will expect to hear from you. Share a recent win…or a loss (people love the losses more than the wins) Ask a new subscriber, “What are you working on?” Describe your morning or evening routine. Offer up a contrarian take on a topic like AI. My take? Write what AI can’t. Write about something you learned or discovered. Include a photo of yourself, not...