# How I Grew My Newsletter to 50,000 Subscribers in 20 Months - Harry Dry ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IdJwCJK2T6E/maxresdefault.jpg) ## Intro [(00:00:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=0s) - An individual who was previously a [[Web developer | web developer]] transitioned to marketing after writing [[Case study | case studies]] that gained sponsorship. [(00:02:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=156s) - This individual's website is marketingsamples.com. [(00:02:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=172s) - The two key elements of growing a newsletter are getting content seen and converting viewers into subscribers. [(00:02:58)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=178s) ## How to get people to see your work [(00:03:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=222s) - To gain attention for his website, the speaker identified online communities where marketers gather, including [[Facebook]] groups, [[Twitter]], [[LinkedIn]], Designer News, Indie Hackers, [[Slack (software) | Slack]] groups, and [[Reddit]] forums. [(00:03:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=223s) - The speaker's strategy involved repurposing his website articles into content tailored for each specific platform, such as threads on Twitter, full articles on Indie Hackers and Entrepreneur, and slideshows on [[Instagram]] and LinkedIn. [(00:04:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=295s) - The speaker emphasizes the importance of email subscriptions for building a direct and lasting connection with his audience, as opposed to relying solely on [[Social media | social media platforms]] where algorithms can change. [(00:06:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=419s) ## Selfpromotion [(00:07:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=468s) - Self-promotion is most effective when it is genuine and helpful, rather than forceful. [538] - Building relationships within communities, such as Indie Hackers, provides opportunities for authentic promotion by offering valuable contributions and resources. [(00:08:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=488s) - Engaging in conversations and providing assistance to others, as exemplified by helping someone interested in SAS sales, can lead to reciprocal support and promotion. [(00:08:15)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=495s) ## Sharing your content [(00:09:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=547s) - To grow a newsletter, focus on improving the conversion rate of your existing traffic rather than solely trying to increase traffic. [(00:09:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=597s) - Improving the conversion rate from 1% to 3% can be achieved relatively quickly, potentially in a day, especially if the website hasn't been optimized. [(00:10:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=619s) - A crucial aspect of conversion is creating something people genuinely want to subscribe to, avoiding the common mistake of generic offerings. [628] ## Conversion [(00:10:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=633s) - A common issue is websites featuring a generic "subscribe for updates" section without a defined purpose. [646] - An example of an effective subscription call to action is offering a free course on houseplant care in exchange for signing up. [(00:11:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=691s) - Improving the newsletter description from a simple invitation to a detailed overview of the content increased subscription rates from one percent to three percent. [(00:12:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=748s) ## Make it easy [(00:12:32)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=752s) - There are four ways to sign up for the newsletter on the website: a fixed navigation bar, at the end of each article, a pop-up, and a dedicated subscribe page. [(00:12:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=762s) - Instead of using generic language, ask people to subscribe using a more human and personal approach. [(00:13:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=816s) - Creating a network effect by linking different platforms, such as [[Twitter]], [[LinkedIn]], and [[Instagram]], can help drive traffic and engagement. [(00:17:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1022s) ## Building your own formats [(00:17:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1059s) - The speaker attributes their unique approach to having no prior experience in marketing, leading them to develop their own methods. [(00:18:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1101s) - The speaker observed that people are increasingly engaging with platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn instead of traditional websites. [(00:18:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1126s) - The development of the speaker's format involved significant experimentation and a period of trial and error. [(00:19:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1142s) ## Scaling your newsletter [(00:19:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1153s) - The speaker believes that making friends is an underrated way to gain traction. [(00:22:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1336s) - The speaker got their first 100 subscribers after the founder of NomadList shared one of their articles. [(00:22:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1324s) - The speaker believes they were in the right place at the right time to meet people who would help their website gain traction. [(00:22:11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1331s) ## How long do you spend on content [(00:22:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1341s) - The speaker initially aimed to create one piece of content per day but realized that the most effective content is the most comprehensive on a given topic. [(00:22:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1367s) - The speaker's current goal is to create the definitive work on each topic, investing the necessary time to achieve this. [(00:23:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1397s) - The speaker believes that consistently producing high-quality content is crucial for building a strong reputation and maintaining an audience. [(00:23:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1409s) ## Early traction on Twitter [(00:23:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1430s) - [[Twitter]] growth was initially driven by creating "quick tips" inspired by a designer who found success with a similar format, adapting the concept for marketing by creating visually appealing images with marketing advice. [(00:24:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1465s) - A suggested strategy for gaining followers is to invest significant effort in creating high-quality content (e.g., spending eight hours on a single tip) and then using paid advertising to target the audiences of relevant influencers or accounts. [(00:25:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1521s) - Reposting older content is valuable because a significant portion of a large following may not have seen older posts, ensuring that high-effort content reaches a wider audience. [(00:25:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1557s) ## Define your target audience [(00:26:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1581s) - The target audience is marketers and entrepreneurs who want practical advice and examples for their marketing strategies. [(00:26:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1598s) - The content is designed for people who want to learn by doing, rather than just hearing about strategy. [(00:27:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1621s) - The target audience prefers easily digestible information and a straightforward approach to marketing. [(00:27:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1648s) ## Manage your time [(00:27:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1668s) - A balance between creating content and engaging with the community is necessary but hasn't been figured out yet. [(00:27:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1677s) - Weekends are dedicated to emails and messaging people. [(00:28:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1688s) - Five to seven hours are dedicated to focused, distraction-free writing without external interruptions. [(00:28:35)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1715s) ## Do it all yourself or outsource [(00:28:55)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1735s) - All aspects of the work and design are done by a single person. [(00:29:05)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1745s) - Hiring someone is not financially feasible at this stage. [(00:29:18)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1758s) - The first area to consider outsourcing in the future is community communication and management. [(00:29:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1763s) ## Final advice [(00:29:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1792s) - There is no one right way to approach marketing, everyone is figuring it out as they go. [(00:30:16)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1816s) - A practical suggestion is to experiment with running ads and starting a newsletter, but this advice is generic without knowing the specifics of the business. [1846] - Everyone, even successful entrepreneurs, are continuously learning and adapting in the business world. [(00:30:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJwCJK2T6E&t=1852s)