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==================================

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Josh Spector—marketing strategist and publisher of For The Interested: a one-paragraph newsletter for experts with simple, proven ways to use writing to grow your business.

Josh has been publishing For The Interested for 8 years and has built a substantial following transforming his insights into a pivotal resource for experts aiming to monetize their skills.

In this episode, Dylan & Josh explore:

• Rapid Growth Techniques: How can small, daily actions significantly boost your newsletter subscriber count? Josh unveils practical, bite-sized strategies.
• Engagement Metrics: What’s the single most telling metric for newsletter success, and how can it guide your content strategy?
• Advertisement Innovation: Why traditional newsletter ads fail and how a simple shift in focus can multiply your click-through rates.
• Revenue Boosting Moves: Josh discusses straightforward levers you can pull to dramatically increase your newsletter’s income.
• A Thought-Provoking Take: Are we really in a newsletter bubble? Josh shares his unique perspective on the state of the newsletter industry.
• ...and much more

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
For The Interested newsletter
JoshSpector.com
Skill Sessions (sign-up and receive a $100 Amazon GC—listen to the end of the episode to find out how!)
Josh on LinkedIn
Josh on Twitter
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop Certified Experts Directory
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations — the game-changing way to instantly monetize your newsletter.
SparkLoop Partner Programs — grow your newsletter at 10x speed.
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest — recommend other newsletters to SparkLoop for a chance to win a FREE trip to Cancun!

Enjoying the podcast? Then you'll LOVE the Send & Grow newsletter where we share deep dives, tips, and news for smart newsletter operators like you.

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE >>

==================================

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Gunnar Holm of Grow Joy, a newsletter growth agency focusing on paid Meta ads.

In this episode, Dylan & Geoff discuss…

• The Genesis of Lookout Media: how Geoff identified a niche for local newsletters in Canada's media landscape
• Keys to Local Newsletter Success: the essential elements that have fueled Lookout Media's growth and how they differentiate themselves from other local media
• Innovative Growth Strategies: learn how Lookout Media expands its reader base in competitive cities.
• Monetization Mastery: Geoff shares Lookout Media's unique formula for reliable & diversified revenue.
• Expanding the Scope: why they've branched into food journalism and how diversification has enriched their offerings and audience engagement
• Valuable Advice for Operators: Geoff offers tips for local media operators based on his experiences, successes, and failures.
• ...and much more

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
Lookout Media
Vancity Lookout
Ottawa Lookout
Geoff on LinkedIn
Geoff on Twitter
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations — the game-changing way to instantly monetize your newsletter.
SparkLoop Partner Programs — grow your newsletter at 10x speed.
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest — recommend other newsletters to SparkLoop for a chance to win a FREE trip to Cancun!

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Tom Alder of Strategy Breakdowns — a weekly newsletter diving into .

Tom recently quit his job at Atlassian to go *all in* on Strategy Breakdowns—a big gamble for many, but with a LinkedIn audience of over 75k followers, Tom has increased his odds for success with taking Strategy Breakdowns to new heights.

In this episode, Dylan & Tom discuss…

• Exceptional Growth: Discover how Tom leveraged his LinkedIn to amass a following of 75k.
• Conversion strategies: Tom reveals his most successful tips for converting LinkedIn followers to newsletter subscribers.
• Content Mastery: How Tom crafts engaging content that not only educates but also entertains, increasing the potential for virality.
• Monetization Pathways: How Tom is crafting multiple revenue streams, optimizing for long-term sustainability—and why.
• Strategic Insights for Newsletter Creators: Tom shares the why and how of his strategic decisions, offering actionable advice for newsletter operators seeking growth and engagement.
• ...and much more!

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
Strategy Breakdowns newsletter
Tom Alder on Linkedin
Tom Alder on Twitter/X
Strategy Breakdowns - 6 Months Into Strategy Breakdowns ("build-in-public" post)
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop.app
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations
SparkLoop Partner Programs
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Yong-Soo Chung, the visionary behind First Class Founders – a cutting-edge platform designed to intertwine the creative and entrepreneurial spirits.

Yong-Soo, a serial entrepreneur, has embarked on a journey from owning several businesses to launching First Class Founders. His innovative approach bridges the gap between content creation and business operation, aiming to equip the next generation of creators-turned-company founders.

In this episode, Dylan & Yong-Soo discuss…

• The Evolution of Creators into Entrepreneurs: Why the future belongs to those who can blend creativity with business.
• Building in Public: Why Yong-Soo is building First Class Founders in public—and if you should do it too.
• The Synergy between Newsletters and Podcasts: How leveraging one boosts the other, and how to execute it.
• Growth Levers for Newsletters: Learn Yong-Soo's Five Growth Levers on scaling your audience & newseltter.
• Predictions for the Newsletter Space: What's next for newsletters? Yong-Soo shares his bold predictions for the industry.
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
First Class Founders newsletter
First Class Founders podcast
Yong-Soo on Twitter/X
Yong-Soo on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop.app
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations
SparkLoop Partner Programs

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Tyler Parker & Colton Sakamoto, the co-founders of Office Party, a free 2x-weekly newsletter that's a curated guide for career advancement, tackling everything from job market trends to the impact of AI on employment.

Colton and Tyler's partnership approach in managing and growing Office Party is a path far less traveled in the newsletter space—which is what makes this conversation unique and fascinating. 

In this episode, Dylan, Colton, and Tyler discuss:

• How they decided to split up their roles and why.
• Their collaborative approach to growing the subscriber base—with a surprising & successful Facebook strategy.
• Their insights on the benefits, challenges, and dynamics of running a newsletter as a duo.
• Whether or not you should consider a partner for your newsletter

...and much more!

Other links mentioned
Office Party newsletter
Colton on Twitter/X
Colton on LinkedIn
Tyler on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop.app
SparkLoop Upscribe Paid Recommendations

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Bill "Doc" Kerr, founder of Open Source CEO, a weekly newsletter helping founders, investors, and leaders in tech who want to outperform the competition.

Bill's journey as the founder of Open Source CEO offers a unique perspective on newsletter creation and growth—given he's a full-time CEO himself at his own startup, Athyna. His insights provide invaluable lessons for founders & CEOs keen on exploring similar paths.

In this episode, Dylan & Bill delve into:

• The Genesis of Open Source CEO: How Bill carved a niche for this newsletter separate from his business at Athyna.
• Growth Strategies for Newsletters: Bill's approach to using social profiles, ads, and referral programs to scale up.
• Synergizing Roles: How Bill harmonizes his responsibilities at Athyna and Open Source CEO, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.
• Content Creation Insights: Bill's take on reducing friction in the creative process and utilizing advanced tools for content research.
• Expansion and Future Plans: The roadmap for Open Source CEO and how it aims to broaden its reach and content spectrum.
• Advice for CEOs and Founders: Bill's tailored guidance for those at the helm looking to venture into newsletter creation.
• Impact Assessment: Exploring how Open Source CEO enhances Athyna's business, from lead generation to team engagement.

...and much more!

Other links mentioned
Open Source CEO
Athyna
Bill on Twitter/X
Bill on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop.app
SparkLoop Upscribe Paid Recommendations

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with LeQwane Lynch, founder of Alerts Daily, a daily newsletter he started, scaled, and sold in under a year.

In this episode, Dylan & LeQwane discuss…

• The Rapid Growth of Alerts Daily: LeQwane shares how he leveraged a private community & social media into a newsletter reaching tens of thousands.
• Effective Growth Strategies: How LeQwane nailed organic growth, reaching a massive audience—without paid advertising.
• Monetization Techniques: How LeQwane transitioned from a community-based model to integrating sponsors effectively.
• The Art of Selling a Newsletter: How LeQwane built Alerts Daily with a sale in mind from the beginning so he could attract the right buyers.
• Future Endeavors: How LeQwane's new venture is helping newsletters grow organically.

...and much more

Other links mentioned
ReachSubs.co
Alerts Daily IG
LeQwane on Twitter/X
LeQwane on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop.app

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Anthony Castrio of the Bot Eat Brain newsletter.

Anthony launched Bot Eat Brain (BEB) in Sept. '22 alongside his full-time project, Indie Worldwide. Despite BEB being a side project, Anthony earned over $50k in revenues for 2023 and scaled growth to over 20k+ subscribers—going from 1k to 20k in 4 months!

In this episode, Dylan & Anthony discuss…

• The Birth of Bot Eat Brain: Uncovering the initial spark that led Anthony to dive into the AI newsletter space.
• Growth Strategies: How Anthony grew his newsletter from 1,000 to over 20,000 subscribers—in 4 months!
• Secrets to Monetization: Navigating the challenges and triumphs in building a profitable newsletter.
• Building a Content Team: The behind-the-scenes look at how Anthony assembled a winning writing crew.
• Envisioning the Future: Anthony's ambitious plans for Bot Eat Brain and the potential game-changers on the horizon.

...and much more

Other links mentioned
Bot Eat Brain newsletter
Anthony on Twitter/X
Anthony on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitter/X

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Dan Barry of the Revenews newsletter.

Dan has managed brand partnerships for major media businesses like Finimize and The Daily Upside where he was responsible for bringing in over $3M in ad sales revenue in just over 3 years.

In this episode, Dylan & Dan discuss…

• How to prospect for ideal brand partners—and how to know if they're ready to advertise.
• Dan's 5-step approach to newsletter ad sales, from Prospecting all the way to Post-sale management.
• How to manage expectations during the sales process—and what to do if an ad flops.
• The number one thing to do before you share ad pricing. 
• What Dan is doing now with his latest Revenews newsletter venture—and why you should pay attention.

...and much more

Other links mentioned
Revenews newsletter
Dan on Twitter/X
Dan on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitter/X

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Amanda Goetz of the Life's a Game newsletter.

Amanda's journey in the newsletter world is as fascinating as it is instructive. From her experiences in marketing and entrepreneurship to finding her unique voice in the newsletter space, she shares valuable insights from reaching 20k subscribers in a few months while maintaining a high engagement rate and driving revenue. 

In this episode, Dylan & Amanda discuss…

• The two most important things Amanda considered when choosing her newsletter niche—and why.
• How Amanda scaled newsletter growth while maintaining incredible engagement levels.
• Amanda's clever Octopus vs. Swordfish approach to sponsorship sales & monetization.
• Her 90-10 Rule when it comes to content—and what makes a newsletter a "must-read".  
• Amanda's advice on starting a newsletter—including content creation, audience building, and staying authentic.
• Her vision for the future of newsletters and what she believes to be the biggest opportunities for growth in 2024.

...and much more

Other links mentioned
Life's A Game newsletter
AmandaGoetz.com
Break An Egg newsletter
Amanda on Twitter/X
Amanda on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitte/X

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, podcast host Dylan Redekop sits down with Tiffany Uman, a career coach and workplace expert, and the creator of the Peak Performers newsletter.

With her Peak Performers newsletter, Tiffany channels her wealth of experience from her time at L'Oreal into empowering others in their careers. She's a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a LinkedIn learning instructor, an author, and speaker.

In this episode, Dylan and Tiffany discuss…

• The Genesis of 'Peak Performers': What drove Tiffany to create an intimate, community-focused newsletter.
• Evolving Newsletter Strategies: Learn how Tiffany shifted her newsletter approach in 2023, and how the change has impacted her business.
• Significant Growth and Engagement: Insights into how Tiffany's strategic changes resulted in a 70% growth in her email list and a nearly 50% open rate.
• Community Leveraging and Monetization: Strategies Tiffany employs to grow her newsletter audience, including her collaboration with SparkLoop and approaches to monetization.
• Looking Ahead to 2024: Tiffany's massive newsletter aspirations for subscriber growth—and how she plans to achieve them. 
• Creating with Passion: The importance of a clear mission and genuine enthusiasm in newsletter creation, and direct impacts on subscriber engagement and content quality.

...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
Peak Performers newsletter
TiffanyUman.com
Tiffany on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitter

Welcome to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. Today, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop sits down with Brad Barrett, co-founder of ChooseFI, to explore the pivotal role of newsletters in the journey of content creation and community building.

Brad shares his rich journey from modest beginnings with a personal finance blog to the monumental success of ChooseFI, a podcast that has achieved over 65 million downloads. Along his journey, Brad's experienced the transformative power of newsletters, which have been instrumental in nurturing a dedicated community, facilitating growth and generating significant revenue.

In this episode, Dylan & Brad delve into:

• The Evolution of Brad's Newsletter Strategy: Learn from Brad's early experiments with email autoresponders to his more sophisticated, targeted strategies.
• Building Community through Newsletters: How Brad's focus on community engagement and personal connection turned his newsletters into a thriving platform for interaction and growth—and exactly how he's executing this strategy.
• Earning Revenue & Maintaining Trust: Learn how Brad's unique approach to affiliate marketing and product endorsements maintain & build trust while driving 6-figure revenues.
• The Power of Cross-Promotion and Networking: Find out how Brad has successfully leveraged cross-promotions with other content creators and its impact on growth.
• Localized Community Engagement: The innovative approach to transform Facebook groups into segmented email lists for more meaningful, direct community interactions.

...and much more

Other links mentioned
ChooseFI newsletter
ChooseFI podcast
Brad on Twitter
ChooseFI community
Dylan on Twitter

Enjoying the podcast? Then you'll LOVE the Send & Grow newsletter where we share deep dives, tips, and news for smart newsletter operators like you.

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE >>

==================================

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Gunnar Holm of Grow Joy, a newsletter growth agency focusing on paid Meta ads.

In this episode, Dylan & Gunnar discuss…

→ The Dominance of Meta Ads: why Gunnar uses Facebook & Instagram ads as a newsletter growth platfrom
→ Crafting High-Converting Ad Creatives: the secrets behind creating ad content that feels native to social platforms, significantly lowering your cost per acquisition
→ The Power of Targeting and Retargeting: how specific targeting and leveraging lead magnets can drastically improve growth
→ Landing Page Optimization: learn the essentials of a high-converting landing page
→ Innovative Growth through Paid Recommendations: how Gunnar uses SparkLoop to offset ad costs and achieve rapid growth without breaking the bank
→ Practical Advice for Newsletter Operators: actionable tips you can apply to your newsletter growth strategy immediately
→ ...and much more

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
GrowJoy.co (Gunnar's Growth Agency)
Gunnar on LinkedIn
Gunnar on Twitter
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations — the game-changing way to instantly monetize your newsletter.
SparkLoop Partner Programs — grow your newsletter at 10x speed.
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest — recommend other newsletters to SparkLoop for a chance to win a FREE trip to Cancun!

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Sam Klemens of The Rollup, a unique and irreverent newsletter about finance. 

Sam started The Rollup less than a year ago. In its short existence, The Rollup has garnered over 14k subscribers and now makes enough revenue for Sam to devote his full-time focus on it—and even hire an assistant. 

In this episode, Dylan & Sam discuss…

• Sam's Unique Approach to Content: How The Rollup differentiates itself by curating investment information while offering a fresh perspective
• Subscriber Growth Insights: How Sam went from unscalable strategies to leveraging scalable growth through 
• Innovative Revenue and Advertising Strategies: How Sam overcame newsletter ad pricing challenges to selling out, and the critical role of analytics in targeting subscriber growth
• Advice for Aspiring Newsletter Creators: Sam's three biggest success factors for aspiring newsletter publishers
• Focus on Quality and what's next: How Sam maintains high-quality content with a manageable schedule and his future aspirations for 'The Rollup'
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
The Rollup newsletter
Sam on Twitter
Dylan on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Jay Clouse of Creator Science, a newsletter. 

Jay Clouse is the successful founder and operator of Creator Science — a creator-led business that did over $300k in 2022 and is on pace to nearly double that in 2023. But Jay's journey started with a newsletter way back in 2017. And despite many other projects & initiatives, Jay's newsletter is still one of his most powerful distribution channels. 

In this episode, Louis & Jay discuss…

• Why narrowing your target audience could be the key to growth
• How Jay has increased trust & a deeper connection with video 
• Strategies for leveraging the recent newsletter "boom" to grow your own list
• Ways to diversify your newsletter revenue streams
• Key factors in creating a resilient newsletter business
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
The Creator Science newsletter
The Creator Science podcast
The Creator Science YouTube channel
Creator Science Revenue Model (swipe file)
Jay Clouse on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Mike Benitez of The Merge, a newsletter delivering military news & technology trends for people in the national security space. 

Mike is a retired US military fighter pilot. Since retiring, he's been working in the military tech space -------- while publishing The Merge as a passion project. 
 

In this episode, Louis & Mike discuss…

• How Mike maximizes his audience to help with growth AND content
• The pillars of success for The Merge's referral campaign
• The creative ways Mike is driving revenue
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
The Merge newsletter
The Merge podcast
The Merge on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Michael Houck of Houck's Newsletter, a newsletter for startup founders. 

Michael has worked for world-renowned startups like Uber and AirBnB. Those experiences—along with building his own startup—have helped him build Houck's Newsletter to over 63k subscribers while quickly approaching $1M in total revenue, including $250k in ARR. And it all started as a side hustle.
 

In this episode, Louis & Michael discuss…

• How Michael has grown his newsletter by 50k subscribers in a few months
• The key mindset shift more newsletter operators can benefit from
• All the ways Houck's Newsletter earns revenue (not just paid subscription!)
• The most important metrics Michael's focused on for revenue growth
• How Michael drives paid subscribers with free content
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
Houck's Newsletter
Megaphone
Michael on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Aleyda Solis of SEOFOMO, a newsletter for SEOs. 

Aleyda Solis started the SEOFOMO newsletter to keep up with SEO news for her consulting services. "I was saving all the links anyway," she told us. Now SEOFOMO goes out to over 27,000 SEO professionals (or SEOs). And her newsletter brings in over $80k per year in addition to her consulting service.
 

In this episode, Louis & Aleyda discuss…

• How she used her newsletter to grow her consulting business 
• How Aleyda created giveaways to maximize growth—for free
• Her unique referral program strategy
• How she manages affiliates & sponsorships
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
SEOFOMO Newsletter
Aleyda's SEO Consulting website
Aleyda on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Matt Brown of Extra Points, a paid newsletter for the college sports industry. 

Matt was laid off from working at Vox during the pandemic. He started the Extra Points newsletter as a business experiment. And it's paid off. With 16k subscribers, including 3k paid, Matt's leveraged his experience, business savvy, and network to build & sell a newsletter in under 3 years. After selling to D1 Ticker, Matt's remained as head publishing for Extra Points. 
 

In this episode, Louis & Matt discuss…

• Starting a newsletter as a business
• Matt's philosophy for free vs. paid content
• How to leverage earned media for growth
• Using a video game as a lead magnet for paid subscriptions 
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
Extra Points newsletter
Athletic Director Simulator 3000 (video game)
D1 Ticker
Matt on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Jon Elder of Amazon Insiders, a super niche newsletter set to hit $100k in revenue. 

Jon is an ex-Top3000 Amazon Seller who grew his Amazon business to over $10M in sales—and then sold for 7 figures. Now he publishes Amazon Insiders — the fastest-growing newsletter for Amazon sellers. 

In this episode, Louis & Jon discuss…

• The key strategies he used to go from 100 to 10k subscribers
• How Jon is leveraging his expertise to monetize to $100k
• His strategy for hitting his 100k subscriber goal
• What makes his newsletter stand out among the competition
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
Amazon Insiders newsletter
Jon's Consulting business (Black Label Advisor)
Jon on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Eric Lam of Exploding Ideas, a fast-growing newsletter about business start-up ideas on trending topics. 

Eric is always looking for business ideas. So he started the Exploding Ideas newsletter where sends curated startup ideas in "million dollar niches" to all his subscribers. But for paying subscribers, Eric sends a second weekly edition with an even deeper dive (more information, tips & resources) for that week's business idea.

In this episode, Louis & Eric discuss…

• How Eric's newsletter has grown quickly since starting up 4 months ago
• His Reddit growth playbook: how to organically grow your newsletter with Reddit
• Eric's newsletter monetization funnel anyone can replicate 
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
Exploding Ideas
Eric on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Ryan Carr of the Blakely Digital: an agency dedicated to helping newsletter operators grow their audience & revenue. 

And Ryan knows a thing or two about newsletter growth. Ryan was the Growth Lead at The Hustle when they were acquired by Hubspot and now — with his agency — helps drive growth for newsletters like Bankless DAO and Matthew Berry's Fantasy Life, to name a few. 

In this episode, Louis & Ryan discuss…

• 3 common traits of newsletters creating "high-quality content"
• The first—and most important—question Ryan asks new growth clients
• The best channels to test the waters with paid growth
• What's working right now for paid growth on Twitter
• ...and much more!

Other Links Mentioned
Blakely Digital
Ryan on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop content marketer Dylan Redekop sits down with Joe Pulizzi of The Tilt Media. 

Joe is considered the "godfather" of content marketing, founding Content Marketing Institute in 2007 and selling it 9 years later. In addition to writing a number of content marketing books, he's founded The Tilt Media, a growing newsletter & education business, along with its own live event: the Creator Economy Expo. Joe has been in the media game for a long time and has a lot of lessons to share. 

In this episode, Dylan & Joe discuss…

• How to make a newsletter model successful for your business
• How to leverage the "Subscriber Hierarchy"
• Why most operators should only focus on ONE platform   
• 10 different ways to monetize a media business 
• Why right now is the best time ever to build a content or media business 
• and so much more!

Other Links Mentioned

• Joe Pulizzi on Twitter
• Joe Pulizzi on LinkedIn
• Dylan on Twitter
• Content Inc. Podcast
• This Old Marketing Podcast

Enjoying the podcast? Then you'll LOVE the Send & Grow newsletter where we share deep dives, tips, and news for smart newsletter operators like you.

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE >>

==================================

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Ryan Sneddon of Naptown Scoop, a pioneering local newsletter dedicated to Annapolis, Maryland.

In less than four years, Ryan's grown Naptown Scoop to a full-fledged local media business with a small staff and a target annual revenue of $350k. He plans to grow to over $1M in revenue in the upcoming few years—all from a local newsletter with under 18k subscribers. 

In this episode, Dylan & Ryan explore:

• The Genesis of Naptown Scoop: How Ryan's dissatisfaction with traditional employment pathways led him to create a local newsletter that now connects thousands.
• Overcoming Growth Challenges: Strategies and insights on expanding a local newsletter's reach and engagement, including the pivotal role of community involvement.
• Monetization Pathways: From direct advertising to innovative community events, Ryan shares how Naptown Scoop has turned local attention into a thriving business model.
• The Power of Local Influence: How owning a local newsletter opens unparalleled opportunities for business ventures, partnerships, and community impact.
• Future Visions: Ryan's ambitious plans for Naptown Scoop and advice for aspiring newsletter creators looking to make a difference in their communities.
• ...and much more, including Ryan's candid thoughts on the balance between being a local 'celebrity' and a committed newsletter operator.

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
Naptown Scoop newsletter
The Life of Scoop newsletter
Ryan on LinkedIn
Ryan on Twitter
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations — the game-changing way to instantly monetize your newsletter.
SparkLoop Partner Programs — grow your newsletter at 10x speed.
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest — recommend other newsletters to SparkLoop for a chance to win a FREE trip to Cancun!

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Ryan Sager & Jesse Watkins of Who Sponsors Stuff. 

They are the co-founders of Who Sponsors Stuff—a database that tracks which brands & businesses are advertising in email newsletters and brings the data straight to you. Ryan and Jesse have a wealth of combined knowledge and success working in the newsletter ad space.

In this episode, Louis, Ryan, and Jesse discuss…

• The best ways to prospect for ideal newsletter sponsors
• What you should include in your rate card
• How to increase repeat advertisers
• What you should do if a campaign doesn't perform well
• and so much more!

Other Links Mentioned

• Who Sponsors Stuff
• Newsletter ad calculator 
• Louis on Twitter
• Who Sponsors Stuff on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Katelyn Bourgoin of the Why We Buy newsletter.  

Katelyn's newsletter is earning over $300k in annual revenue—and it's not even her full-time business. She founded Customer Camp in 2019 where she helps businesses figure out what triggers customers to buy so they can market smarter. 

In this episode, Louis & Katelyn discuss…

• How she leverages social media to grow & promote her newsletter
• How Katelyn created gamification inside her newsletter
• The lessons Katelyn learned from selling newsletter sponsorships
• Her #1 piece of monetization advice for new newsletter operators 

Other Links Mentioned
Katelyn on Twitter
Louis on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Manny Reyes from Workweek Inc. 

Manny was on the Morning Brew team before joining Workweek in a paid acquisition role.  

In this episode, Manny & Louis discuss:

• the key differences in marketing & publishing a B2B newsletter vs. a B2C newsletter
• the best way for creators to get started with paid newsletter growth
• the most important metric Workweek looks at to determine paid growth budgets 
• what Manny would do to get 100,000 subscribers starting from scratch
• ....and much more!

You can find Manny Reyes on Twitter, and Louis is at @louisnicholls_ . 

Other links mentioned: 

Workweek 

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Emanuel "Manu" Cinca of Stacked Marketer—and now also of Psychology of Marketing. 

Manu is the first returning guest to the Send & Grow podcast, back for round #2 (listen to the first episode here). We invited Manu back after he & the Stacked Marketer team acquired the Psychology of Marketing (PoM) newsletter, started by Abhishek Shah. 

In this episode, Manu & Louis discuss the acquisition, including:

• how the acquisition talks evolved from a brief message to closing the deal
• the #1 reason why they acquired PoM
• the positive signals & red flags Manu looked for during the process
• Manu's advice for anyone interested in selling their newsletter 
• ....and much more!

You can find Emanuel Cinca on Twitter, and Louis is at @louisnicholls_ . 

Other links mentioned: 

Stacked Marketer newseltter
Psychology of Marketing newsletter
Tactics newsletter
Emanuel on LinkedIn

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Nathan Barry, founder & CEO of ConvertKit. 

Nathan started ConvertKit 10 years ago and has since grown it to one of the largest creator-driven newsletter platforms in the world. On top of running an 8-figure business, Nathan's a consistent creator who writes several newsletters, including a new paid newsletter.

In this episode, Nathan talks about the state of creator-driven newsletters today and how creators can build—and are building—massive  6-to-7 figure businesses on the backs of their newsletters. 

We also discuss:

• how Nathan thinks about paid newsletters and his publishing strategy (1:09)
• 3 things he sees the most successful newsletter operators have in common (12:00)
• what the ConvetKit Creator Network is and how it's helping Creators grow & monetize (20:33)
• how Nathan believes newsletter operators can grow & monetize most effectively (26:36)
• ....and much more!

You can find Nathan Barry on Twitter, and Louis is at @louisnicholls_ . 

Other links mentioned: 

• ConvertKit
• Nathan's Paid Newsletter
• The ConvertKit Creator Network
• Upscribe by SparkLoop

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Justin Moore, founder of the Creator Wizard newsletter. 

Justin's creator journey started back in 2009 with a YouTube channel. Since then, he's built a successful business as a Sponsorship Coach, backed by his rapidly-growing Creator Wizard newsletter where he shares weekly sponsorship opportunities with over 22k readers (his list has doubled in size since the time of this recording!).

In this episode, Justin shares why and how he started Creator Wizard—and how it's a LOT different today than just a few years ago when he began. 

We also discuss:

• how he's using backend offers to monetize his newsletter (5:09)
• the lesson he learned from losing 30k subscribers (15:10)
• key growth levers Justin's used (19:40)
• how he 5x'd newsletter subscribers in a year (22:25)
• why Creator Wizard's referral program has worked so well (26:18)  
• the returns Creator Wizard is seeing in paid growth (29:30)
• what he'd do differently if he started over today (35:00)
• his advice to newsletter operators monetizing with sponsorships (39:00)
• ....and much more!

You can find Justin Moore on Twitter, and Louis is at @louisnicholls_ . 

Other links mentioned: 

• Creator Wizard
• Creator Wizard on Twitter
• Upscribe by SparkLoop

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Jason Woodruff, creator of The Pour Over newsletter. 

Jason started The Pour Over as a news-based but "Christ-first" newsletter. Their mission is to provide unbiased, non-partisan news. Jason shares how he struggled through slow growth and missing growth goals to now reaching over 350k inboxes. 

In today's episode, we discuss:

• how they grew to 350,000 newsletter subscribers
• what Jason would do today to grow a newsletter from scratch
• the platforms they're investing in paid growth
• ....and much more!

You can find The Pour Over on Twitter, and Louis is at @louisnicholls_ . 

Other links mentioned: 

• Podletter
• The Pour Over on Instagram

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Mary Tobler, the brains behind the fun puzzles and games you find in the Morning Brew newsletter.

Publishers and newsletter operators alike are waking up to the value of having a “games” strategy and — like with most things newsletters — Morning Brew have been leading the way.

In today's episode, we discuss:

• how games and puzzles fit into the newsletter format
• why publishers are starting to prioritise games and puzzles in their newsletters
• (why) should you add games to your newsletter? And how to get started

You can find Mary on Twitter, and Louis is at @louisnicholls_ .

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Brian Morrissey, creator of The Rebooting newsletter and podcast. 

Before starting The Rebooting as an outlet to share commentary and insight into building sustainable media businesses, Brian was president and editor-in-chief at Digiday Media.

In today's episode, we discuss:

• transitioning from managing a large media brand to being a solo creator
• the value of consistency as a publisher
• how the newsletter industry and "creator economy" are likely to develop in the future

You can find Brian on Twitter, and Louis is at @louisnicholls_ .

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Sophia Patten, Head of Events for Workweek. 

Sophia plans and runs all kinds of different events both for the Workweek brand and their individual newsletter creators.

Events are a super hot-button topic for newsletter operators right now. With the potential to grow community, boost audience growth and add new revenue streams.

We discuss:

• when should you run your first event? And why?
• how to plan your first event
• tips for improving your events and translating it into business results

You can find Sophia on Twitter, and Louis is at @louisnicholls_ .

Enjoying the podcast? Then you'll LOVE the Send & Grow newsletter where we share deep dives, tips, and news for smart newsletter operators like you.

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE >>

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Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. In this episode, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop sits down with Alex Brogan of Faster Than Normal.

Faster Than Normal began as a curiosity-fuelled project but has quickly evolved into a vital resource for over 70k+ subscribers who are learning insightful mental models, concepts, and frameworks for personal growth.

In this episode, Dylan and Alex discuss...

• The Genesis of Faster Than Normal: How Alex's journey from an early passion project to a substantial newsletter unfolded.
• Strategic Growth Tactics: The pivotal role of social media, LinkedIn's fertile ground, and leveraging platforms like SparkLoop and Refind for exponential subscriber growth.
• The Pitfalls and Peaks: Lessons learned from experiments in growth strategies, including the underestimated power of paid and organic recommendations.
• Monetization Insights: From sponsored content to affiliate marketing, discover the strategies that turned Faster Than Normal into a profitable media venture.
• The Infinite Game: Alex shares his long-term vision for the newsletter, focusing on providing unmatched value to entrepreneurs and business leaders.
• ...and so much more!

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
Faster Than Normal
Newsletter Mastery Course (15% OFF promo code: NEWSLETTERMASTERY)
Alex on LinkedIn
Alex on Twitter
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations — the game-changing way to instantly monetize your newsletter.
SparkLoop Partner Programs — grow your newsletter at 10x speed.
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest — recommend other newsletters to SparkLoop for a chance to win a FREE trip to Cancun!

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with author, podcaster and newsletter creator Arvid Kahl. 

Arvid is in the process of setting up a referral program for his newsletter, The Bootstrapped Founder. And asked me if I could help him with his reward strategy.

We decided to record the whole conversation — to give you an inside look at what to think about when coming up with the perfect rewards for your own referral program.

You can find Arvid on Twitter, or at TheBootstrappedFounder.com

And Louis is at @louisnicholls_ on Twitter.

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Katy Huff, ex-professional-newsletter-ad-slinger for The Hustle, turned cofounder of MadRev.

We jump straight into the details of how to sell more ads and sponsorships for your newsletter. Including:

• how important is is a media deck, really?
• how should you package your ad sales?
• what results should you be reporting to sponsors, and how?
• how did Katy approach ad sales for The Hustle?

... and much, much more.

You can find Katy over at MadRev.co and Louis at @louisnicholls_ on Twitter

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Pat Trousdale, founder and operator of The Daily Upside.

We jump straight into the good stuff, including:

• how The Daily Upside grew to over 300k newsletter subscribers without any social media presence
• what growth and revenue channels are working for The Daily Upside today
• what newsletter metrics is Pat paying attention to

... and much, much more.

You can find Pat on Twitter at @pat_trousdale and Louis at @louisnicholls_

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Jacob Donnelly, GM of B2B at Morning Brew and creator of A Media Operator — a media business covering the business of media.

We jump straight into the good stuff, including:

• how should media brands think about monetizing their email audiences?
• what growth channels worked for the AMO newsletter?
• paid subscriptions vs advertising — which revenue stream wins?

... and much, much more.

You can find Jacob on Twitter at @JayCoDon and Louis at @louisnicholls_

!!Use exclusive coupon "SENDGROW" to get 10% off your subscription to AMO!!

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Emanuel Cinca, creator of the Stacked Marketer newsletter.

We jump straight into the good stuff, including:

• how to actually keep your email-list clean
• what audience growth channels are performing for Stacked Marketer right now
• what mistakes publishers make when trying to close sponsorship & advertising deals

... and much, much more.

You can find Manu on Twitter at @emanuelcinca and Louis at @louisnicholls_

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls sits down with Becca Sherman, cofounder and COO of Workweek.

We jump straight into the good stuff, including:

• what's more important... individual personalities or brand?
• what audience growth channels are performing for Workweek right now?
• what newsletter metrics does Becca really care about?

... and much, much more.

You can find Becca on Twitter at @becsherm and Louis at @louisnicholls_

As a newsletter creator, how do you decide where to put your marketing dollars? And which growth channels will yield best results?

Jenny Rothenberg, Director of Growth at Morning Brew, joined the team as a growth manager a little over two years ago. She’s had a front-row seat as the newsletter grew to 2.5 million highly engaged subscribers, and she shared the engagement-focused approach to growth with SparkLoop cofounder Louis Nicholls.

Morning Brew has grown significantly from branching out into new channels to acquire subscribers, but it isn’t just about the numbers. The key is to keep your eye on quality over quantity.

“Even though they're signing up on the same landing page and they're getting sent the same newsletters, the variance of user quality is so strong across different channels,” Jenny says.

Though Morning Brew’s subscriber count is an impressive and important metric, that’s not actually the metric the company cares about.

What could be more important than subscriber numbers to the head of growth? Engagement.

Listen in to learn about Morning Brew’s approach to newsletter growth and how you can be strategic about growth — even when your budget is limited.

In this week's episode of the Send & Grow podcast, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop sits down with Jeremy Enns, the bearded brains behind the Scrappy Podcasting newsletter and Podcast Marketing Academy.

Jeremy is not just a podcast marketing expert; he's a master at intertwining the worlds of newsletters and podcasts to create a unique blend of content that captivates audiences.

In this episode, Dylan & Jeremy dive into:

• The Synergy Between Newsletters and Podcasts: How Jeremy leverages this dynamic duo to build a loyal audience.
• Podcasting for Newsletter Operators: Jeremy shares why he believes creating a podcast can be a game-changer for newsletter operators and under what circumstances it truly makes sense.
• Practical Steps to Start Your Podcast: From ideation to execution, Jeremy outlines the how-tos of podcasting for newsletter enthusiasts looking to expand their reach.
• Newsletters for Podcasts: Flipping the script — the benefits of having a newsletter for your podcast.
• ...and a treasure trove of actionable advice and insider tips for anyone looking to enrich their content strategy with podcasts and newsletters!

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
podcastmarketingacademy.com/sparkloop
Podcast Marketing Trends Explained on Apple Podcasts
Podcast Marketing Trends Explained on Spotify
Dylan on Twitter/X
Dylan on LinkedIn
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations — the game-changing way to instantly monetize your newsletter.
SparkLoop Partner Programs — grow your newsletter at 10x speed.
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest — recommend SparkLoop, earn commissions, and win a FREE trip to Cancun!

Enjoying the podcast? Then you'll LOVE the Send & Grow newsletter where we share deep dives, tips, and news for smart newsletter operators like you.

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Ryan Sager & Jesse Watkins of Who Sponsors Stuff. 

In this episode, Dylan, Ryan & Jesse discuss…

• How they became Experts: Ryan and Jesse's journey from managing a multimillion-dollar newsletter ad division to founding Who Sponsors Stuff
• 2023 Ad Market Retrospective: A look back at the challenges and shifts within the newsletter ad space in 2023, setting the stage for what's to come.
• 2024 Ad Market Trends & Predictions: What newsletter operators should be paying attention to in 2024. 
• Starting with Sponsorships: Whether you're at 1,000 or 100,000 subscribers, uncover the right time and strategy to introduce ads to your newsletter.
• Pricing and Performance: Learn how to set your ad rates and ensure your ads perform well, enhancing sponsor relationships and securing renewals.
• The Future of Newsletter Sponsorships: Ryan and Jesse's take on the balance between subscription and ad-supported models, and why ads can be a win-win for your content and audience.
• ...and much more!

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
Who Sponsors Stuff
The Newsletter Conference (use code SPARKLOOP for $100 off your ticket!)
Ryan on LinkedIn
Ryan on Twitter
Jesse on LinkedIn
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations — the game-changing way to instantly monetize your newsletter.
SparkLoop Partner Programs — grow your newsletter at 10x speed.
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest

Enjoying the podcast? Then you'll LOVE the Send & Grow newsletter where we share deep dives, tips, and news for smart newsletter operators like you.

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Noor Chopra. Noor writes the Touristy newsletter: "quick bites on Business, Tech and the Future of Consumer Culture, served with a side of millennial sarcasm."

Touristy, loved for its witty tone and skimmable format, has captivated a diverse audience, soaring to an impressive 111,000 subscribers in just four years. The impressive part? She's grown it 100% organically. 

In this episode, Dylan & Noor discuss…

• The Birth of Touristy: How a pivot during the pandemic led to the creation of a unique newsletter platform.
• Growth Tactics: The unscalable yet effective strategies Noor employed to kickstart subscriber growth.
• Content Creation: The art of curating engaging and relevant content that resonates with readers.
• Monetization Journey: From the first ad dollar to a diversified revenue stream without spending on ads.
• Engagement Secrets: Maintaining an astonishing open rate and the role of visual content.
• Future Aspirations: Noor's vision for Touristy and potential ventures into podcasting.
• ...and much more!

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
Touristy newsletter
Noor on LinkedIn
Noor on Twitter/X
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop.app
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations — the game-changing way to instantly monetize your newsletter.
SparkLoop Partner Programs — grow your newsletter at 10x speed.
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest

Enjoying the podcast? Then you'll LOVE the Send & Grow newsletter where we share deep dives, tips, and news for smart newsletter operators like you.

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Chenell Basilio. Chenell writes the popular Growth In Reverse newsletter.  Since publishing her first edition to 4 people, she has since grown her newsletter to over 30k subscribers organically in the past year. 

In this episode, Dylan & Chenell discuss…

• The Genesis of Growth In Reverse: How Chenell's curiosity about newsletter monetization led to the birth of an invaluable resource.
• Research-Driven Content Creation: The meticulous process behind each deep dive and how Chenell uncovers the secrets of newsletter growth.
• The Power of Community and Networking: Chenell's strategy in leveraging social media and genuine engagement to boost her subscriber count.
• Monetization Without A Paywall: How Chenell utilizes sponsorships and coaching to sustain her newsletter, maintaining free access for her audience.
• The Future of "Growth In Reverse": Chenell’s vision for expanding her content through coaching, speaking engagements, and potentially, audio formats.
• ...and much more!

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
Growth In Reverse newsletter
Chenell on Linkedin
Chenell on Twitter/X
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop.app
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations
SparkLoop Partner Programs
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Tarzan Kay. Tarzan has written a weekly newsletter to her email list for over 7 years. In that time, she went from making $15,000/yr as a piano teacher to over $2M a few years later. 

But the success wasn't all it was cracked up to be. She's since made a 180° change in her approach. Since doing so, She's built a robust community around her newsletter, primarily serving course creators, coaches, and service providers by sharing invaluable insights on emails. 

In this episode, Dylan & Tarzan discuss…

• From Email Marketing to Newsletter Pro: How Tarzan transitioned from an email marketer to a full-fledged newsletter operator.
• Relational vs. Transactional Communication: Learn the stark differences between traditional email marketing and the more personal, engaging world of newsletters.
• Building Trust Through Consent: Tarzan shares her strategies for maintaining subscriber trust through consent practices and why it's crucial for newsletter success.
• Monetization and Content Creation: Uncover the nuances of newsletter monetization, including ads, sponsorships, and creating compelling content that resonates.
• Sustaining Engagement Over Years: Tarzan reveals her secrets to keeping a newsletter fresh and engaging for over seven years.
• ...and much more!

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED
Tarzan Kay's newsletter
Tarzan on Linkedin
Dylan on Twitter/X
SparkLoop.app
SparkLoop's Paid Recommendations
SparkLoop Partner Programs
SparkLoop Affiliate Contest