If my 947,235 followers vanished tomorrow...
I'd still wake up smiling.
I'd still do my work.
I'd still expect my income to be stable.
Most people who make money online can't say the same.
The question is - why?
The creator economy should have fixed money problems
For some, it has. You've probably heard the stories too...
- An author named Mark makes $500,000 self-publishing books on Amazon.
- A woman working the front desk at a gym now makes $32,000 composing long Instagram posts.
- Myself and many others make over six figures on Medium.
If you've got the least bit of creativity, you should be seeing dollar signs right now.
But that economy has a gaping hole...
I call it "The Algorithm Apocalypse."
Medium, Amazon, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and all the rest have all drastically changed their algorithms in recent years.
What happened?
Creators lost access to their followers...
Which means they lost views on the platform...
Which means they lost money.
And not just a little money.
Certain individuals saw a $100,000 (or more) pay cut. That's the sort of loss that would make a big-time investor fling his latte out the window.
But the big-shot investor will recover.
Most side-hustlers won't.
With great power comes great vulnerability
Yes, the creator economy gives you a chance to make $100, $1,000, or $10,000 per month.
But here's the critical question to ask:
How long until someone changes the rules?
The dirty secret nobody is telling you - a follower is meaningless
Here's the truth:
Followers are the wrong number to chase.
Followers cause people to lose their minds.
Followers inflate your ego.
Followers make you think the only path to success is more followers.
If followers aren't the answer, what is?
It's possible to escape the uncertainty of social media
The path to succeeding online hasn’t changed.
Smart hustlers know this.
Those who stand the test of time will spend most of their energy on something more reliable than any fleeting social media platform.
You must be able to make direct contact with your audience through an email list
It doesn't matter if you don't want to sell.
It doesn't matter if you aren't an "email person."
It doesn't matter if you think email is dying (it isn't).
If you don't own the method of contact, if you can't send a message directly to the people who care about you, the next Algorithm Apocalypse will wreck you.
There’s never been a better time to start an email list
There’s never been a better time to start an email list
As you read these words, a new opportunity is emerging.
It’s not a social media platform.
It’s not an old-fashioned email list.
It’s a place that is mixing the best of both worlds… all with a writer-first philosophy.
Substack is the future of email.
For a small window of time, you have a unique opportunity.
You can join Substack before it is saturated.
By taking advantage now, you have the ability to get new readers, find new fans, and build a true foundation for your writing career.
Oh, and did I mention writers are making seven figures there?
Now for the true beauty of Substack.
Readers want to pay for content there.
It’s common to pay for the privilege of being a subscriber.
Which means that you aren’t just building an audience…
… you can get paid to do it.
However, it will be a gold rush
Naturally, I’m not the only one talking about this.
That means other writers are rushing in.
Before long, Substack will reach a plateau. Only those who have established themselves quickly will reap the maximum benefits.
I can help you take a shortcut to Substack success
Who is this course for?
Writers
Writers use The Writer's Email List Playbook to grow readerships, own their audience, and earn money for writing thoughtful articles
Experts
Experts use The Writer's Email List Playbook to gain clout and renown in their industry by distributing their extensive knowledge to those who need it.
Business Owners
Business owners use The Writer's Email Playbook to add another line of revenue to their income by sharing life stories.
When I looked for other Substack courses, I was disappointed.
First of all, there weren’t many.
Second of all, those that exist aren’t very comprehensive. They focus mostly on Substack itself, and not the actual sending of emails.
You need 2 big talents to succeed at email lists:
- The foundational principles of email list management
- The subtle nuance of Substack.
I set out to deliver both.
Take a look for yourself:
- Lesson 0: Watch This First to Give Yourself the Best Chance at Succeeding (8:22)
- Lesson 1 - The #1 Reason Most Writers Will Be Forced Back Into a Real Job (25:41)
- Lesson 2: An Easy-to-Use Email Marketing Strategy... for Non-Marketers (28:32)
- Lesson 3: Making the Mental Shift to "Sell Yourself" (Without Feeling Like a Jerk) (10:19)
- Lesson 4 (Part 1): Foundational Tips for Starting an Email List Anywhere (15:29)
- Lesson 4 (Part 2): Writing and Positioning Dynamite CTAs for List Growth (12:35)
- Lesson 5 (Part 1): The First Key to Running a Healthy Email List - Titles/Subject Lines (12:49)
- Lesson 5 (Part 2): The Second Key to Running a Healthy Email List - Getting Feedback (5:13)
- Lesson 5 (Part 3) - The Third Key to Running a Healthy Email List - Copywriting (23:24)
- Intermission: A Mid-Course Assignment (1:05)
- Lesson 6: Understand the "Leaky Bucket Effect" to Survive Email List Management (12:00)
- Lesson 7: Avoid the Fast Track to Bankruptcy By Choosing the Right Email Provider (11:57)
- Lesson 8: Why Substack is the Ideal Email Platform for Writers (29:04)
- Lesson 9 (Part 1): Setting Up Your Publication for Success (17:51)
- Lesson 9 (Part 2): Upgrade Your Publication With Great Design Elements (6:23)
- Lesson 9 (Part 3): Launching Your Publication With a Bang (16:25)
- Lesson 10 (Part 1) - How to Market Your Substack Newsletter Around the Web (9:10)
- Lesson 10 (Part 2) - Additional Tips to Enhance Early Substack Growth (21:15)
- Lesson 11: The #1 Substack Feature That Makes It Critical to Jump in Now (12:20)
- Lesson 12 (Part 1): Substack Monetization Basics (20:17)
- Lesson 12 (Part 2): 8 Premium Monetization Models for You to Copy (16:53)
- Lesson 13: Masters At Work - Three 7-Figure Substack Case Studies (21:36)
- Bonus Resource: The Writer's Email List Playbook Cheat Sheets
- Bonus Lesson: An Introduction to ConvertKit for Business-Minded Creators (47:03)
- Bonus Lesson: The Substack Tech Start Overview (32:55)
- Bonus Content: Tim Denning's Personal Substack Recommendation List
- Bonus Content: 5 Emails You Can ALWAYS Write
- Final Thoughts (12:07)
- Bonus Resource: EXCLUSIVE ConvertKit Free Trial Signup Code
You'll also get exclusive access to...
Tim Denning (Me)
Medium top writer. LinkedIn Voice of the Year. Six-figure writer. I discovered the magic of email lists the hard way. Now, I'm getting so many subscribers that I've actually DELETED over 10,000. Let me show you what I've learned
Todd Brison
Bestselling author. Email list technician. Copywriting genius. Todd has written six books, and actively managed email lists for nearly a decade now. He helped me take my email list management to the next level.
A community of writers
This course is more than a few videos and a slide deck or two. Once you enroll, you will join a community of writers who win. Both Todd and myself will be in this community as well, talking with you and answering your questions.
Here are some nice things people are saying about us
"Tim is objectively the top guy in the game right now."
“There are very, very, very few writers I look to as equals -- both in terms of writing ability and the ability to teach it to others. Tim is one of the rare few. If you want to learn how to write and make money online, Tim is objectively the top guy in the game right now.”
- Ayo Awosika
"I couldn't be happier!"
"I struggled so long to actually sit down and write. Thank you team T&T (Tim and Todd) for what you guys do for us beginner writers lost in the world of words... I couldn't be happier!"
- Miguel Benitez
"Tweaked to perfection"
One difference separates them from others who teach courses. Tim and Todd have only one goal when they create a course: To help all writers by sharing the techniques they’ve tweaked to perfection. All their courses are profitable investments.
-Linda George
"The community group...usually gives me answers right away!"
"I have learned tons, and I am glad that the community group exists for questions I may have...I usually get answers right away! Thank you, everyone... [it] was huge for me even to start publishing!"
Soojin Jun
FAQs
Q: Do people even use email still?
A: The short answer is yes. The long answer involves the Internet of Things, biometric security, and what "pure" identity is. Eventually, email may not be the primary way to verify who you are for websites or receive business messages. However, that future is a long way off.
Q: Is the Substack technology difficult to learn?
A: Substack has one of the more evolved onboarding platforms I've seen. That essentially means the website is going to hold your hand through the whole process. Even if you can't figure it out on your own, though, we have a tech setup walkthrough in the course.
Q: Should I start an email list before I know my niche?
A: Ok, I'll say it again - YOU ARE THE NICHE. Your parents didn't know what you were going to be when you were born, but they still followed you. Start an email list. Then, educate, entertain, and promote anything you care about.
Q: Is Substack going to go out of business?
A: It's unlikely that will happen any time soon. Given the investments they are making in their technology (Writer/Reader platforms, Flexible Paywalls, NFT Embeds, etc.), it looks like they will be here to stay. Even if they don't, you'll be able to simply pick up your readers and go somewhere else. Substack isn't about hoarding data. They're about helping writers make money.
Here are two simple truths:
One - If you want to live without fear of the ever-changing social media tornado, you MUST own an email list.
There is no other way
Two - If you DON'T have an active, well-running email list, you don't really have a career. You have a hobby.
And hobbies disappear when times get tough.
(I have yet to hear a single professional writer disagree.)
If you want to monetize what you write, own your audience, and whether any storm the platforms can throw at you, this is your chance.
See you inside,
-Tim