Hey there, Solopreneurs~

How’s it going, everyone? Welcome to K.I.S.S., the newsletter built by business owners for business owners.

(And, of course - Aspiring business owners are especially welcome!)

This newsletter aims to break down high-level business concepts into easily understandable chunks of knowledge. No more Reddit/YouTube holes!

Today’s Concept: Email Lists

This is basically like inception but for entrepreneurship.

I’m gonna be talking to you about email lists FROM my email list!

Whaaaaat!

Here’s a quick peek at today’s docket:

• Weekly Resource Recommendation

• Do You REALLY Need An Email List?

• Choosing A Solid Topic

• Beehiiv Vs. ConvertKit

• Getting People to GAF: Three Methods

Weekly Resource Recommendation

If you’ve been trying to connect with an email marketing expert with actionable content instead of random fluff, I’d check out Haley on LinkedIn.

She has offered me so much advice, but none has been paid. While I’ve considered purchasing some of her resources, she’s given me so much guidance through the kindness of her heart, her posts, and her freebies.

Do You REALLY Need An Email List?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve put off building your email list for a WHILE. But, I have to tell you, it’s a waste not to!

“I have a strong social media following.” OKAY?

Here’s the thing, pal: There’s always a chance that your account gets shadowbanned, or randomly reported, or the platform itself starts to fall off.

People are never getting rid of their email accounts. Plain and simple.

Not to mention, it’s more than a standard social media account. It’s a community. It’s an excellent place not only to drive more leads but also to cultivate a group of like-minded people who genuinely want to learn from each other.

So… Yeah. Get on it, lazy!

Choosing A Solid Topic

When you do decide to start a list (or if you have started one and aren’t seeing any growth), your biggest problem is going to be your topic.

The question you have to ask yourself, one that you should ask any time you produce new content, is “Why would anyone bother reading this?”

If you can’t answer that question clear as day, just assume no one is going to.

Here are examples of topics you should probably avoid:

• Anything that’s already been done, especially if it’s a popular alternative.

• A topic that you don’t know about, but think “could be interesting.”

• A topic you thought up with only money-grubbing intentions in mind.

• Things that don’t have enough sub-genres/areas to elaborate on.

• Topics so niche that your readership is significantly limited.

Now, this doesn’t mean that your newsletter won’t succeed if you pick a topic that falls into one of those categories.

But it does mean that you’ll have some trouble getting it off the ground.

Beehiiv Vs. ConvertKit

Now, let’s consider the two most-used newsletter platforms.

(These opinions, by the way, are 100% my own. I WISH I was sponsored.)

Getting People to GAF: Three Methods

This probably goes without saying, but there’s no point in having an email list if no one will read it. (Unless you’re doing a diary-type thing, but those odds are slim.)

So, here are the best methods I’ve found to get readers who actually care:

1. Find The In-Groups

A GAMECHANGER for growing this newsletter was dipping my toes into groups and other areas that I simply haven’t before. There are so many business-oriented Slack groups, Discord groups, and Facebook groups that need a resource like mine.

I simply asked people, in earnest, to join and learn more about solopreneurship. Guess what? It worked! Crazy, I know.

2. Ask Your Network For A Plug

Do you have a friend who has a successful newsletter?

How about just asking them for some help?

Now, I’m not saying “take advantage of people you know,” I’m saying “earnestly ask someone who you’ve had a previous rapport with if they could give you an endorsement.”

Sometimes they won’t, sometimes they can’t. That’s okay!

But, the point is that there’s no harm in asking!

3. Link That Bad Boy Everywhere

If someone posts something on LinkedIn that directly reflects this week’s edition of my newsletter, best believe I’m going to be linking to this newsletter in the comment section.

It’s in my email signature, my Linktree, and has a featured card on my LinkedIn profile. You need to audit yourself and make sure you’re placing your offer right in front of everyone’s face. People won’t just go looking for this stuff, believe me!

That’s All, Folks 👋

That’s all for this week’s edition - I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

If you’re holding back on building your newsletter, consider this your sign to take the fucking jump! It’s truly not as tedious or daunting as it might initially seem.

(Or, of course, you can always just hire me to write it!)

If you have any further questions about today’s topic, or any general insights/inquiries, don’t be afraid to shoot me a message on LinkedIn or simply reply to this email!

Until next time - Remember to keep things simple!