Nurture subscriber growth off platform in brand new ways!
Learn exactly what Lucy does and why it works!
Hi folks,
Following on from our DEEP DIVE membership call on Scaling from 0-5000 subscribers, I invited
to come and guest for us to share more about how she grows her email newsletter list outside of Substack. Lucy is no stranger to the power of an email list in-fact she has built the core of her business eco-system around it.She popped over to talk about it live for our summit last year…I’ll link her BRILLIANT video talk at the end. (*)
Lucy’s mentoring style makes me feel anything is possible and PR will work for me. I booked a 1-2-1 session when I was promoting our book last year and got a tonne of great fit opportunities afterwards…
She’s honestly a confidence boost in a person - she’s wonderful. I have her membership here as a business expense and one call is worth the full annual cost. It’s totally brilliant!
Over to Lucy…
Here are the ways I grow off the Substack platform
I am one of the anomalies on Substack.
Most of my paid growth comes from outside the platform.
I know many of you have seen or reported a stagnation in growth in the last month due to the most recent changes at Substack. It’s a hot topic and you’re feeling frustrated - I get it.
All is not lost, and in fact, there is a lot you can do off platform to support your brand awareness and Substack growth.
Here are 5 Ways to build your PR Muscles and promote your Substack publication to drive new and engaged readers and paid subscribers OFF Substack!
1. TAP IN
Whether this on Substack, Beehive, Kit it doesn’t matter.
Target Another Platforms Interested Network.
Now when I say platform, this could be an Instagram (IG) live collab, a blog post on someone’s website, LinkedIN, YouTube - there are a tonne of them out there.
This works well for several reasons:
Positions you with complimentary voices you want to be seen alongside
Pick wisely and you are reaching a new audience that is perfect for you (a bit like me writing this for Claire)
Gives you an opportunity to talk about something that you wouldn’t on your own channel. (Like when I was interviewed about resilience for Chris Anselmo:
2. Let them hear you speak…
I can’t rate guesting on other peoples podcasts more. If I had to go chips in on any publicity technique this is what I would go for. They are intimate and build a connection. The listeners are often doing something else like cooking dinner or in the bath so you are with them at a personal time.
You are most likely reading this on Substack.
There has never been more opportunities to speak to media owners (aka newsletter writers or podcasters) then there is right now.
3. Guest lectures or workshops
I have two signature workshops that I use for multiple memberships.
One is how to grow your newsletter (not a Substack - Claire is your substack expert here!) mine is very much a ‘grow your thing’ without paying for ads or drowning in social media.
OR I talk about a beginners DIY PR class. The things founders and entrepreneurs need to think about to get out there.
Claire talks about it in this post…
Over time, this compounds, whether it is students or attendees themselves, even if they are not there for joining the newsletter paid they often become part of my eco system and might be a one-to-one, a book or something else.
If you have an area of expertise, a great hobby, any kind of teachable skill it is likely there is a place for you.
I hosted a guest talk for Creative Mornings Virtual Field Trip and had ten people upgrade to paid within 24-hours from 900 people who had registered, approx 400 attendees live.
And at least 100+ people joined the newsletter as free subs.
4. Social media
I am not going to teach you how to go viral or create posts that get traction but here are a few things I would absolutely make sure you do.
If someone lands on your social media profiles
Are your newsletter subscription details front and centre?
Have you got a pinned post about your newsletter?
Do you share every article you write?
This might sound a bit much but as a bare minimum I like and share every article I write. It’s like muscle memory now. (I don’t use the automated graphics, I share in my own way).
5. Traditional press
Much easier to get traditional PR if you are replying to press requests rather than pitching your own narrative. Look out for #journorequest on Twitter (X), Threads or LinkedIn OR connect with some of your favourite journalists on their social media channel of choice as they often put our call outs.
OR my absolute favourite PR expense. Joining Charlotte Crisps FB Group Lightbulb. Where journalists call out for entrepreneurs to respond to articles. (currently £5.99 a month)
Final Thoughts
Remember, test and learn. If all of the above feels too much, campaign for a few months on just one and see what the results are.
If speaking is your thing go live, get on podcasts do the public speaking. If you are more of an introvert or writing is your craft, go down the written route.
Either way, don’t let one platforms algorithm get you down. There are a gazillion ways to hype yourself. Find the one that feels good for you.
You’ve got this! I’m cheering you on!
(*)
Watch on YouTube if you’d prefer…
Remember, members - we went DEEP on aligned actions to grow your Substack and boost your confidence here… it’s a call of two halves…
 | A guest post by
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The one that excites me the most is guesting on podcasts… and also my own podcast as I just adore sharing other incredible people on there. I think this is the one that resonates the most with me right now. I always struggle to position myself though as the scope of topics I could talk about is so vast (Manifesting Generator life!!) so I think this stops me from going all in on my PR! X
Thanks for this great post, Claire and Lucy. I’m already guest teaching and sharing everything I write. Going on podcasts and developing my YouTube channel are my next steps, I think. Just trying to think what I can share on YouTube! Got a meeting lined up later this month about my first guest podcast appearance.