280. How I Got My First 1,000 Subscriber...

Everyone's talking about Substack — and maybe you're curious, a little skeptical, and 100% wondering if you actually need to add another platform to your already-full plate. (Spoiler: you don't need to. But you might want to after this.)

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on exactly how I grew my Substack, Beyond Business, to 1,000 subscribers using only organic strategies — no importing my 60,000+ person email list, no fancy custom design, no team of people building it out for me. Just consistent writing, a growth mindset, and a few simple (but powerful) tactics I wish I'd known earlier.

You’ll hear…

1. Why I started a Substack when I already have an email list of 60,000+ people (and why it's absolutely not an either/or decision)
2. The #1 mindset shift you need before you ever publish your first post Why becoming a fan of the platform first is one of the most underrated growth strategies out there
3. How I built a consistent writing habit — and what happened to my creativity when I actually stuck with it
4. The "idea bank" strategy that keeps me showing up even when inspiration goes on vacation
5. Why you need to bank essays before you let the world respond to your writing
6. How to use Substack Notes to grow your audience without burning out
7. The referrals and recommendations strategy I used to accelerate growth (and exactly how to ask for them without being weird about it)

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

1. Get Sam’s free weekly newsletter, Sam’s Sidebar
2. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
3. Episode 271. Why I Started a Substack When I Already Have an Email List
4. Episode 279. What to Focus on First If You Want to Build an Audience
5. Sam's episode of Amelia Hruby's podcast, Off the Grid
6. AI All Stars by Gemma Bonham-Carter (custom GPTs for your business) (affiliate link)
7. Click here to be notified when new episodes of On Your Terms® come out

CONNECT:

1. Get Sam's weekly newsletter, Sam's Sidebar
2. Follow Sam on Instagram
3. Follow Sam on YouTube
4. Subscribe to Sam's Substack, Beyond Business
5. Take Sam's free legal workshop "5 Steps to Legally Protect & Grow Your Online Business"

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