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Hey Creatorpreneurs,
This community keeps surprising me. We just crossed 6K subscribers in just 5 months. Thank you all for being part of this! 🙏
Two weeks ago, I broke down how to monetize. Last week, I shared the exit strategy playbook that helped me walk away from my 9–5.
Each issue is meant to go a bit deeper into the creator-entrepreneur journey, and this week we’re tackling something bigger than social algorithms … your email list.
In the welcome survey, one question kept coming up … “How do I grow my newsletter?”
So today’s issue is dedicated to exactly that.
In this issue:
Superhuman AI
Why email beats social for long-term growth
The 5-step playbook to grow from 0 → 1,000 subscribers
Let’s get to work 👇
— Brandon Smithwrick
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📮 Email > Social
“Social media is rented space". Email is owned.”
It’s a cliché, but there’s truth to it.
Most creators underestimate email, but it gives you things social can’t.
Pipeline: a direct path to any future products, offers, or clients.
Distribution: guaranteed reach vs fighting algorithms.
Promotion: less friction moving people from “interested” to “action.”
It’s hard enough to get someone to follow you on a new platform.
Getting them to click a bio link? Even harder … but an email list is built for that.
I’ve tested a lot of tactics, but these are the five things that actually work if you’re serious about growing from 0 → 1,000.
📨 The First 1,000 Subscriber Playbook
This isn’t about “writing a newsletter” for the sake of it.
It’s about building a list you can activate whenever you need it.
1. Don’t speak to everyone…
Before you can start, you need clarity.
Are you building a full newsletter or simply an email list to support your business?
People want to know exactly what they’re signing up for. A clear goal makes it easy for someone to hit subscribe and stay subscribed.
Ask this: Who is this for, and what value will they get when they open an email from you?
Keep the positioning simple and repeatable. If you can’t explain it in 30 seconds, it might not be worth pursuing.
Revisit your promise. As your audience grows, your clarity should sharpen, not drift.
2. Use What You Got.
Your first 1,000 will come from where you already have attention, not from inside your email platform.
Choose one main platform to funnel attention (LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, TikTok).
Add sign-up CTAs to your top-performing posts.
Stick with one channel consistently for 90 days before expanding.
3. Evergreen Content Flywheel
Your content will attract new people on a weekly basis.
Think less about promotion and more about creating posts that give a reason to subscribe.
Create evergreen posts (a snippet of your emails) that stay relevant months after publishing.
End those posts with a simple CTA: “Want more like this? Join my list here.”
If you need help, share you’re emails with ChatGPT and ask it to create 5 short-form text posts for you to promote your newsletter.
4. Create a Lead Magnet
A lead magnet can be your biggest accelerator.
It grows your list during weeks when you’re too busy to create a social post.
But the secret is alignment. It must directly reflect the value of your list.
Create a resource that mirrors your promise (e.g., monetization → pitch kit; content strategy → format map).
Keep it small but valuable — a one-page template, calculator, or script beats a bloated 20-page guide.
Promote it everywhere: social bios, posts, DMs, and collaborations.
5. Keep putting in reps.
The first 1,000 isn’t about a single viral moment, it’s about building repeatable systems and staying consistent long enough for compounding to kick in.
Add your signup CTA everywhere: your social bios, your email signature, even your LinkedIn headline.
Use a referral incentive once you hit 500+ subs to accelerate word-of-mouth growth.
Stick to a consistent cadence (weekly if possible).
👇 keep reading for more…
Was This Edition Helpful?
📪 What Platform Should You Use?
There’s also the question of what platform I should use?
Honestly, it doesn’t matter as much as people think.
Whether it’s Substack, Beehiv, Kit, or something else, the most important part is simply getting started.
I personally use Beehiv and love it. It’s carried me through every stage of this journey.
And because the question comes up so often, here’s an exclusive link for this community: you’ll get a 30-day free trial + 20% off for 3 months if you want to give Beehiv a try.
Plus, their free plan is all you need to get started.
30-day free trial + 20% off for 3 months
No pressure at all, I just know these questions pop up organically, and I want you to have every tool to be successful.
Pick one, start writing, and let the compounding take care of the rest.
That’s all for this week’s playbook.
Keep building, stay consistent, and I’ll see you back here next Saturday.
♻ ICYMI…
Each week, I share strategies on branding, growing your business, exclusive discounts, and cool events I’ll be at.
Here’s a curated list so you can catch up in minutes:
I’m heading to TEDNEXT 2025 and sharing an exclusive invite with this community.
A LinkedIn tool that helps me create better content and sends me weekly post breakdowns — try it for yourself.
The Instagram Summit by Manychat goes live Sept 19 in LA (virtual Oct 22–23). Network, learn, and get paid for referrals — grab your ticket.
How to Land Your First Brand Deal: A guide showing the exact steps to secure paid partnerships — even with zero experience. [Download the Guide →]
Brandon Smithwrick
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