Contrarian Thinking

A few of the first podcasts (and then webinars) I did didn’t do very well, then I started adding a quick link and the giveaway - that worked well in converting subscribers to the tune of a few thousand.

I also started offering a discount code for one of my courses of 50% for each podcast and that led lots of people to take action

I REALLY have done well with LinkedIn so I added a weekly video segment, super simple filmed on my iPhone and have had some great engagement and some that ABSOLUTELY no one watched.

I changed my podcasts/webinars I did to be laser focused on buying businesses which drew people in

Used YEC’s (a mastermind I’m in) ability to guest blog post on Forbes etc and link to my newsletter.

Velocity starts to hit.
I reach out smarter to larger audiences.
I get lucky with trends and a few other publications start picking it up.
I post every single week no matter what.
Hit 36 issues.
I promised I wouldn't stop until 100
I'm still having fun.

I’m over Mailchimp, too designed, doesn’t have paid and most importantly doesn’t have a community. Aka no comments and historical posts.

I Sign up for Substack and read how to get your first 100 subscribers, first 2,000 and first 5,000 subscribers.

I create a folder for newsletters I like in my gmail, and start creating content

I make a list for growth hackers on twitter to help cross-pollinate tweets.

The posts on LinkedIn, Facebook pick up some steam. Pass 250 sign ups.

I post on twitter and on Instagram. 22 signups.

Instagram stories with a swipe up to subscribe link work. I’ll do them weekly.

I put it in my bio link on Twitter and Instagram 13 signups.

Brainstorm growth ideas in a google doc (now need to actually do them)

I come up with a content calendar - post every week at weds at 9:15am

Issue goes out - 82% open rate, 46% click rate. (Because basically only my mom on there and she better f*ing click).

I start hosting a weekly webinar with Arcview Group - grows my LinkedIn by 4,000 so I use that to post more on LinkedIn and get a 100+ subscribers.

I want to work smarter, not harder by using my relationships with bigger followings

I make a list of friends who have podcasts, I get myself on a couple of them. Generate 100’s of subscribers in following days/wks (10 podcasts in 2 weeks).

Include buttons to share in my post those work:

Ask if I can email a few of the businesses I invest in’s lists (15k+ subscribers) with a giveaway and an opportunity to sign up. A few say yes.

Create a flywheel and a process to use all my different social sites to spin faster

Podcasts start hitting and I see subscribers grow

Create a list of all media to hit them up when we have new ideas or content

Posts and flywheel start hitting

Twitter reposting and including links didn’t get huge engagement but 10-20 signups

I add a pop up on my site using Squarespace templates at codiesanchez.com

I update the first signup box on my website to link to the newsletter signup

I use Unsplash images because I hate stock photos.

I post on LinkedIn and get good engagement. 5 newbies join.

I tried Reddit and failed, got my posts deleted from 3 groups. I know nothing about Reddit and feel like a boomer doing a Tik-Tok video.

I post in facebook groups, Masterminds I’m in w/ people who know me. (5 in total) 27 people join. Here’s an example but couldn’t find originals.

Day Two: 0 - 102 People Who Care
I create a mailchimp account (it’s basically free)

I use Squarespace’s free logo creator for original logo. Kinda lame but FAST AND did I say, FREE.

Pull a list of all my emails in gmail, phone and old mailchimp accounts (1,000+ in total) and send them an opt in email.

102(ish) people do it… that tickles my little heart

Don’t love those first emails (and they were all in mailchimp) but here’s a sample

Day Three: 0 - 135 People Who Care
I send an email to my buds explaining what the newsletter is and why.

Day One: (No One Cares ‘Cept Me)
Get the idea from my friends at the Dispatch who launched a paid newsletter and made $1MM in less than a year. Ears perked.

Spend evening looking through Evernote on things that get me fired up to talk about.

Get amped up from my hubs and friend Joe saying they’d read mine… first 2 subscribers (takes a bow).

Come up with name Contrarian Thinking by looking through my journals.

Draft a welcome email, about me section, and a first post (Thinking Critically & Why it Matters) here.