Re: frequency, I couldn't agree with this more: "don’t burn out!". Starting a newsletter is a bit like trying to form a new habit, similar to learning a new language, setting a reading goal, or trying to start a meditation practice. Early on, people will have a burst of stuff they want to write about, but then lose steam. It's a marathon — try to be patient and think about how to develop a durable writing/publishing habit.
"You have to get over yourself to promote yourself." → I'm finally feeling the depth of this pain & trying to get better at it.
This is a fantastic piece, thank you Lulu. Many of us are doing this on our own and it can be hard to focus on the right things all the time. It's nice to have a list that helps that focus!
Thanks Lulu! This is a nice summary of best practices. My 2023 goal for "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies" is to keep the once-a-week publishing schedule. It's getting a bit more difficult lately due to life changes etc., so we'll see how it goes. 🤞 I even posted a "best of" list of "moviewise" posts recently because of the time crunch:
Lulu, I love this! It's really exciting to dive into unique and lesser-known topics, isn't it? But there's a little twist in the tale. Imagine putting your heart and soul into writing about something as obscure as the tribal people in central Borneo – a group of about a quarter-million strong, living lives that most of us have never even heard of. It's like uncovering hidden treasure. The only catch? These folks aren't exactly checking their inboxes for my newsletter updates, and English might as well be an alien language in their world.
So, here I am, crafting these stories that are practically a conversation with myself. It's a bit like having a party where you're the only guest, right? But let's be real, that's not the jackpot for me or even for platforms like Substack. Sustainability's the name of the game, and to keep the wheels turning, a bit of moolah doesn't hurt.
But here's the catch-22: How many folks out there are itching to fork out cash for tales about unknown tribes tucked away in the farthest corners of the globe? Not a crowd you'd spot on every street corner, I bet. And that's where things get a bit sticky – you've got bills to foot, the platform needs its cut, and your passion-project-turned-business is in a bit of a pickle.
If you ask me, I feel alone in this adventure. Nonetheless, there've got to be others out there, fellow adventurers caught in the same whirlpool, trying to find a way to make a living out of the fascinating niches they've unearthed. So, don't be shy – reach out, connect, share the highs and lows, and maybe, just maybe, together we can find that golden ticket to keep your unique storytelling venture afloat.
Thank you. Can you offer advice on how to find a following in a foreign-language setting where there are no contacts on social media? Despite the fact that English is not my first language, I want to write my blog in this language.
Thanks Lulu. Great advice. Do you do coaching or consulting for Substack writers. I'm feeling I need some extra guidance and would be willing to pay for it, My substack is snarkysenior.com.
How do you decide what content is worth putting on a blog for SEO benefits, and what content should be shared on Substack, or Medium? Or can it be both since Substack isn’t indexed by Google and subject to duplicate content penalty?
Also, I reached out to you on LinkedIn for a content writer role on your team at Activision Blizzard and you replied asking me to send my writing samples over to you so you can send them to the HR. I did. But I haven’t heard from you since your last reply.
I’m trying to reach out to you on all platforms so I thought I’d use this opportunity too.
How to grow your newsletter audience
Thank you, Lulu! This is excellent advice. I will be putting some of it into practice.
True masterclass — awesome stuff, Lulu! 👏
Re: frequency, I couldn't agree with this more: "don’t burn out!". Starting a newsletter is a bit like trying to form a new habit, similar to learning a new language, setting a reading goal, or trying to start a meditation practice. Early on, people will have a burst of stuff they want to write about, but then lose steam. It's a marathon — try to be patient and think about how to develop a durable writing/publishing habit.
"You have to get over yourself to promote yourself." → I'm finally feeling the depth of this pain & trying to get better at it.
Bookmarked! Thanks a lot for sharing!
This is a fantastic piece, thank you Lulu. Many of us are doing this on our own and it can be hard to focus on the right things all the time. It's nice to have a list that helps that focus!
this is great stuff. now I just need to follow it instead of just doing my thing. :)
this is EXCELLENT, Lulu! I need to reread, frame and then start to put this into practice. You are truly the best of the best!
Great advice, thanks for sharing! Just starting my own newsletter and will definitely be putting these into practice.
Thanks Lulu! This is a nice summary of best practices. My 2023 goal for "moviewise: Life Lessons From Movies" is to keep the once-a-week publishing schedule. It's getting a bit more difficult lately due to life changes etc., so we'll see how it goes. 🤞 I even posted a "best of" list of "moviewise" posts recently because of the time crunch:
https://moviewise.substack.com/p/the-wisest-most-helpful-movie-wisdom
We just have to do the best we can and keep on keeping on. 😉
hahah, I literally posted this morning about how I grew my substack to 2200 subscribers -- https://botharetrue.substack.com/p/how-i-grew-this-newsletter-from-56
def a lot of overlap between the stuff we talk about
Lulu, I love this! It's really exciting to dive into unique and lesser-known topics, isn't it? But there's a little twist in the tale. Imagine putting your heart and soul into writing about something as obscure as the tribal people in central Borneo – a group of about a quarter-million strong, living lives that most of us have never even heard of. It's like uncovering hidden treasure. The only catch? These folks aren't exactly checking their inboxes for my newsletter updates, and English might as well be an alien language in their world.
So, here I am, crafting these stories that are practically a conversation with myself. It's a bit like having a party where you're the only guest, right? But let's be real, that's not the jackpot for me or even for platforms like Substack. Sustainability's the name of the game, and to keep the wheels turning, a bit of moolah doesn't hurt.
But here's the catch-22: How many folks out there are itching to fork out cash for tales about unknown tribes tucked away in the farthest corners of the globe? Not a crowd you'd spot on every street corner, I bet. And that's where things get a bit sticky – you've got bills to foot, the platform needs its cut, and your passion-project-turned-business is in a bit of a pickle.
If you ask me, I feel alone in this adventure. Nonetheless, there've got to be others out there, fellow adventurers caught in the same whirlpool, trying to find a way to make a living out of the fascinating niches they've unearthed. So, don't be shy – reach out, connect, share the highs and lows, and maybe, just maybe, together we can find that golden ticket to keep your unique storytelling venture afloat.
Thank you. Can you offer advice on how to find a following in a foreign-language setting where there are no contacts on social media? Despite the fact that English is not my first language, I want to write my blog in this language.
Thanks Lulu. Great advice. Do you do coaching or consulting for Substack writers. I'm feeling I need some extra guidance and would be willing to pay for it, My substack is snarkysenior.com.
Thanks! It was very usefull. I travel around Colombia by bike and tell stories in a newsletter called elpedalista.com. You are so welcome!
How do you decide what content is worth putting on a blog for SEO benefits, and what content should be shared on Substack, or Medium? Or can it be both since Substack isn’t indexed by Google and subject to duplicate content penalty?
Big fan of the "How To" format ;) Do you have any suggestions for authors writing spicy content under pseudonyms?
Hi, Lulu! Nice piece. Learned a lot.
Also, I reached out to you on LinkedIn for a content writer role on your team at Activision Blizzard and you replied asking me to send my writing samples over to you so you can send them to the HR. I did. But I haven’t heard from you since your last reply.
I’m trying to reach out to you on all platforms so I thought I’d use this opportunity too.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers,
Adeniyi.