Hi Reader, I started my writing business back in 2014. As your internet elder, I’m here to report that 2014 was a simpler time. TikTok hadn’t wrecked the internet, and our attention spans back then with short-form content. Elon spent his days building SolarCity and not trolling the woke left on X. And my inbox wasn’t stuffed full of pitches for AI “developers” hawking a ChatGPT port and overpromising cha-ching affiliate commissions. In 2014… My writing blog was a fun side project. I wrote blog posts and tinkered with SEO tools before my day job. I also worked as an in-house copywriter for a SaaS company. For my day job, I wrote about why business owners should ditch Microsoft Excel for accounting software. Fun times. (When I started my writing business, I ditched the spreadsheets… for an accountant.) I learned on the job how to write copy that sells. Profitable times. (I’d need those skills later) I didn’t realize I’d started a writing business until 2016. I somehow stumbled into the world of display advertising and affiliate marketing. It didn’t happen at once, but… Money from my side gig or blog outpaced my salary from my copywriting job. Even then… I didn’t march into my boss’s office and declare, “I quit!” until 2020. I’ve always been the last person to turn up at a party. Years earlier, I got burnt. I tried to launch a freelance writing career… with no clients, no savings, and no plan. (Don’t do that) My writing business model has changed many times since I said, “I quit!” Earning a living writing in 2024? Somedays, it feels like I’m fighting in a war for attention. Mine and my ideal clients. I sometimes miss working with a big team. But I could never go back into a hellscape that is a fluorescent-lit glass office. I’d rather rub lemons in my eyes than spend an afternoon sitting through hours of bland PowerPoint presentations over Microsoft Teams. If I were starting a writing business today, I’d do three things: First up… I’d write a daily newsletter. In 2014, an email list was the cornerstone of a profitable writing business. In 2024, an email list IS the cornerstone of a profitable writing business. I started my first email list with MailChimp. MailChimp was free, and writers love free things. Plus, they’d cute monkey branding. But cute branding wasn’t enough. I quickly discovered that MailChimp prefers retail businesses and e-commerce stores over lone Irish bloggers. Today… ConvertKit is better for creators. They say so on their homepage! The best way to grow your email list? Practice in public by writing daily emails. Writing in public, even if you think no one is reading your work. You might be surprised. A while ago, a reader wrote in. He told me he’d read all my stuff. He wanted me to know I wasn’t writing into the void. Pressing publish clarifies your thinking, no matter how small your list or audience is. It forces you to cement a writing habit. You’ll need that later. When a client asks, "What do you write?" point to your back catalogue of published works. I coached a writer on this strategy a while ago. They recoiled from the thoughts of writing and sending that many emails. Does writing a daily newsletter sound like the equivalent of deadlifting your body weight after spending months binging Pizza and Friends on Netflix? If so, start small. No need to tear a disc. Warm up with a weekly newsletter. Like a novice weightlifter racking more plates on the barbell each week, gradually increase your cadence. The ConvertKit Creator network helps writers grow a list organically without spending money on ads. You refer them. They refer you. A flywheel, if you will. That said… I’d also write online to attract readers and potential clients. More on that tomorrow. I’d like to invite you to a Pro Writers Only workshop next week on this topic. How to Start a 6-Figure Newsletter Business. Buy a ticket. Write on,
|
Do you want to grow a profitable content business? If so, join 25,000 readers. I share daily insights about personal brand building, writing online and growing a profitable business. It's for creators, coaches and business owners.
I take our youngest son to hurling and GAA football training on Saturday mornings at the local GAA club. For my American readers, hurling is an Irish sport, like stick and ball. We’re from the same town as Paul Mescal. (Google “Paul Mescal GAA”) Because I’m in the midst of a mid-life crisis, I’m also training for a long-distance triathlon in Roth, Germany, next July. So I’ll go for a two-hour run in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Or I’ll spend an hour or two stuck on a turbo trainer while...
"Great walk bro!" Nothing grinds my gears more than growth gurus preaching generic advice like "Comment for an hour every day and you'll grow your account." Do that, and you'll spend an afternoon commenting on post after post about daily walks! I don't have time for that. I'll wager you don't either. A few days ago, I wrote about a system I created to attract high-quality leads on LinkedIn. This system is particularly effective for coaches, consultants, and business owners. The LinkedIn...
I’ve worked with marketers who hid behind complicated words and terminology for years. They mistakenly believe this type of language conveys knowledge and expertise. The problem? Complex writing is like a maze - readers often give up before finding the exit. (The only exceptions are literary fiction and academic writing.) Savvy writers and content creators know people’s attention spans are strapped. Most of them scan while bored at work or waiting for a train. They’re not just reading. So,...