Newsletter & Email Growth: Growth In Reverse

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“I think you are being financially irresponsible if you do not have a newsletter.” — Nathan May, The Feed Media The GIR Podcast is approaching it's 1st anniversary of publishing! To celebrate, we pulled six standout clips from some of the smartest newsletter operators and creators we interviewed this year.Each clip highlights a growth or monetization tactic that actually works in the real world — from using testimonials strategically, to building self-liquidating flywheels, to using DMs to drive thousands of subscribers.KEY TAKEAWAYSHow Eddie Shleyner drives high conversion rates on his landing pageThe Self-Liquidating Flywheel Olly Richards uses to fund his paid growthThe IG + ManyChat strategy Sam Vander Wielen uses to convert viewers to subscribersHow Katelyn Bourgoin uses an incentivized newsletter poll question to drive salesThe successful + unscalable strategy Justin Moore used to get his first devoted subscribersNathan May's private newsletter strategy earning $1M ARR. LINKS MENTIONEDEddie Shleyner's GIR Podcast episodeVeryGoodCopy.comOlly Richards' GIR Podcast episodeOllyRichards.coSam Vander Wielen's GIR Podcast episodeSam on IGNathan May's GIR Podcast episodeTheFeedMedia.com (Nathan's business)Katelyn Bourgoin's GIR Podcast episodeWhy We Buy newsletter (sign-up to get the Fri-Yay email)Justin Moore's GIR Podcast episodeCreatorWizard.comMilly Tamati's GIR Podcast EpisodeChenell on InstagramDylan on InstagramJoin a community for newsletter creators: Growth In Reverse Pro Get The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | Substack | InstagramOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Music from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/21-on-the-block/i-knowLicense code: 1XP9IRXHPZSBPGMM

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“The quiz brings them in, the newsletter builds the relationship, and the community closes the loop.” — Milly Tamati, Generalist WorldThis week on Growth In Reverse, we sat down with Milly Tamati, founder of Generalist World — a thriving online community for multi-passionate professionals.Milly’s story is a masterclass in building an ecosystem that grows itself. She used a quiz funnel to attract her ideal audience, a newsletter to nurture them, and a lifetime-membership offer to monetize — all without relying on constant product launches or heavy ad spend.In this conversation, we dig into how Milly designed her quiz to drive newsletter sign-ups, how she uses TikTok and LinkedIn differently to drive new subscribers, and how the Generalist World newsletter feeds directly into her paid community. She breaks down conversion numbers, lessons learned, and the surprising reason she decided to cancel recurring monthly revenue—and switch to a lifetime membership model.If you’re looking to turn your newsletter audience into a self-sustaining business, this episode is packed with ideas you can steal today.KEY TAKEAWAYSHow Milly went from 0 to 15,000 subscribers in under a year with one quiz.The exact structure of her quiz that’s driven 23,000+ completions.How she optimizes quiz results pages to convert visitors into newsletter subscribers.How Milly uses TikTok to fuel growth.Her LinkedIn strategy that has her posting for 1000+ weekdays in a row.How her newsletter now reaches 40,000+ globally — and the flywheel that keeps growth compounding.The reason she switched to a lifetime membership offer.How she's driving newsletter revenue after cancelling monthly subscriptions.How Milly landed her Big Four "dream" sponsors.The metrics she tracks weekly to measure real growth (not vanity metrics).What she’d do differently if she rebuilt the Generalist World from scratch today.LINKS MENTIONEDGeneralist WorldGeneralist Quiz – “What Kind of Generalist Are You?”Milly on LinkedInMilly on TikTokJoin a community for newsletter creators: Growth In Reverse Pro Get The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | Substack | InstagramOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Music from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/21-on-the-block/i-knowLicense code: 1XP9IRXHPZSBPGMM

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“Organic needs to be your biggest channel if you want a real audience that feels connected to you.” — Sean Griffey, Industry DiveYou might not have aspirations of building a $100m newsletter empire. Neither did Sean Griffey.But 10 years after cofounding Industry Dive with two peers, Sean and his cofounders sold their newsletter media business for a reported $500 million. We sat down with Sean Griffey, to understand what it took to build a behemoth like they did with Industry Dive, and whether or not Sean is still bullish on the newsletter business model.In our chat, Sean breaks down exactly how they grew Industry Dive—from buying LinkedIn groups to mastering first-party data—and shares what today’s newsletter operators can learn from Industry Dive’s playbook.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe real reason Industry Dive launched with five newsletters on day one (and why Sean says they all “sucked” at first).How a bad story accidentally proved their newsletter finally “mattered.”The exact growth levers they pulled early on — including buying LinkedIn groups.Why Sean believes “organic audience growth beats paid growth every time” for long-term brand value.How they turned a small B2B news business into a 500-person company operating globally.The virtuous cycle of investing revenue back into better content.What their content studio does—and how it now drives ~40 % of total revenue.What Sean believes is the most valuable data point in newsletters.How Industry Dive decided which metrics actually mattered. The lessons creators today can steal from a company that built 9 figures in newsletter revenue.LINKS MENTIONEDIndustry DiveSean Griffey on LinkedInInforma (the company that bought Industry Dive)Join a community for newsletter creators: Growth In Reverse Pro Get The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Music from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/21-on-the-block/i-knowLicense code: 1XP9IRXHPZSBPGMM

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“People think automation sounds hard. But If you do automatic bill pay, direct deposit, an email autoresponder, you're automating.” — Joe Casabona, casabona.orgChances are all of us writing newsletters could benefit from some more automation. It can save us time and energy so we can focus on creating Insanely Valuable Content™️. But what should we automate—and how? So we brought on our favorite automation expert, Joe Casabona, to break down simple, creator-friendly automations that save time, reduce mental load, and make newsletters and online businesses run smoother. Joe shares the automations he uses in his own business, why you don’t need to be “techy” to build them, and how small workflow tweaks can free hours every week.KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy automating parts of your newsletter doesn’t have to be complicatedThe simple automation Joe uses to welcome new members with a personal touch (and a dopamine hit).The 3-step checklist to figure out if something should be automated.The four building blocks every automation is made of—and how to combine them for powerful systems.A sneaky automation cheat sheet Zapier page no one talks about.How to automate personalized follow-ups for subscribers—without being creepy.The underrated platform Joe’s doubling down on for audience growth.How automation can actually increase your human connection with subscribers.Why creators should start small: Joe’s rule of thumb for the “one automation everyone should build first.”LINKS MENTIONEDCasabona.org/growthJoe on LinkedInJoe's YT ChannelJoe's podcastZapier.comZapier AppsMake.comBonjoro.comJoin a community for newsletter creators: Growth In Reverse Pro Get The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Music from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/21-on-the-block/i-knowLicense code: 1XP9IRXHPZSBPGMMMusic from SoundStripe: END-USER COPYRIGHT LICENSE AGREEMENTSubject to your compliance with the Terms, Soundstripe Inc. grants Tim Forkin a non-exclusive,limited, non-sublicensable, and nontransferable license to download, reproduce, preparederivative works, distribute, perform and display the song Slayin It solely as combined withyour work of authorship, titled Growth In Reverse. This license was created for the Pro planand is approved for personal or commercial use only.

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Quick note: We ran a 30-day Social Growth Challenge that we opened to the public for a $100 fee to join. But all purchasers of The Growth Vault were able to join for FREE ;)  --------------------------------------“I love the concept of a challenge—I just don’t know that social media is the goal anymore.” — Chenell BasilioWe ran a "public" 30-Day Social Growth Challenge. But was it worth it?This episode breaks down the fallout and lessons learned from the GIR 30-Day Social Growth Challenge. We dive into whether or not we thought the challenge was a success—and whether it was worth it for each of us. We also share some pretty epic wins from several of our challengers. KEY TAKEAWAYSWhat can happen when you post 30 days straight.Whether or not a challenge like this is worth it.The hidden ROI of consistency—even when follower growth looks small.How one participant landed $2M in investor interest from a single post.Is daily posting “an exercise in futility”—and what you could do instead.How a 12-week Content Flywheel became the ultimate anti-burnout system.The channel appears to be the best long-term growth play for newsletters.How to design a challenge that actually moves your business forward.The surprising power of small wins and how to build momentum fast.LINKS MENTIONEDOur Challenge Winners: 🥇 Tom Orbach || 🥈 Danny Naz || 🥉 Alejandra RojasAdam Schaeuble's 12-Week Content FlywheelJoin a community for newsletter creators: Growth In Reverse Pro Get The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“If you’re not exceptional at one of the Big 3 — it’s impossible to build a content business.” — Dylan quoting Matt McGarry We're sharing the biggest stories, trends, and lessons from the newsletter space over the past few weeks. From Bari Weiss’s $150M Substack newsletter sale to gamified engagement strategies and the rise of YouTube as the new discovery channel, we're unpacking what these moves mean for creators and operators running newsletters today.KEY TAKEAWAYSWhat the $150M acquisition of Bari Weiss's The Free Press proves about newsletters.How creators can reverse-engineer their dream roles or acquisition partners.The game that The Assist launched to boost engagement & reader affinity.What LinkedIn’s games can teach creators about streaks, competition, and retention loops.A referral program so smart it practically funds itself.The "Big 3 Media Strategy” that should reshape your content marketing.The #1 fear that's holding back most newsletter creators.LINKS MENTIONEDThe Free Press by Barri WeissNews: CBS parent company Paramount Skydance buys The Free PressWorkle by The Assist newsletterThe Dink Deep Dive (via GIR)The "Big 3 Media Platforms" article via Matt McGarry Get Chenell's brand-new offering for newsletter creators: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“Stop wasting time picking the ‘perfect’ newsletter tool. Just start publishing. You can always switch later." — DylanWe're breaking down the most common mistakes newsletter creators make in the early days — from obsessing over tools and automations to focusing on viral growth too soon.We are challenging the conventional “how to start a newsletter” checklists floating around online (and even ChatGPT’s advice), showing how little you actually need to start. And why over-planning, over-designing, and over-automating are the real growth killers.If you’ve been “getting ready” to launch for months, this episode will hopefully convince you to just start.KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy most creators waste weeks setting up automations they don’t even needWhy you don't need a welcome sequence at first How Chenell recommends for getting your first 10 subscribers without a landing pageThe one tool mistake that can cost you hundreds of dollars—and zero new readersWhether or not you should invest in paid ads for early growthWhy planning your “perfect” newsletter launch might actually be procrastination in disguiseWhy tracking analytics in the beginning doesn't matter (and what to track instead)Why chasing virality before you’re ready can backfire hardHow to use early replies and feedback to shape your newsletter directionThe mindset shift that separates stuck creators from those who actually hit sendLINKS MENTIONEDTom Alder's GIR Deep Dive The Obvious Choice by Jonathan GoodmanDylan's 'Resend To Unopens' Experiment & ArticleGet Chenell's brand-new offering for newsletter creators: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here—filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“I sent this short email—and got over 200 replies—when I usually get maybe 8 to 15. It was wild." — ChenellIn this episode, we're digging into the art (and science) of getting more replies to your newsletter. Why replies?Because we believe (and we're not alone) that replies should be the #1 metric most newsletter creators should be focusing on—even more than open or click rates. We unpack why replies are a powerful signal for deliverability, engagement—even creator mental health—and we share practical strategies for getting more of them. Everything from welcome email tweaks to pattern-interrupt campaigns. And we even highlight our own examples—plus some examples from major newsletter experts like Mario Gabriele’s “Puzzler,” Toby Howell’s gamified email, and Katelyn Bourgoin’s Fri-Yay edition (part of her Why We Buy newsletter).KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy replies are the ultimate engagement metric (and why open/click rates can mislead you)How replies directly impact email deliverabilityThe underrated mental health boost creators get from reader repliesWhy your welcome email is the #1 place to prioritize a reply CTASimple frameworks to write reply-worthy content (like Shaan Puri’s 7 emotions)How pattern interrupt emails can spark hundreds of responses overnightThe surprising downsides: why Chenell’s 200-reply email also had record unsubscribesReal-world examples: Mario Gabriele’s “Puzzler,” Toby Howell’s “Button Game,” and Katelyn Bourgoin’s Fri-Yay interactive pollsHow replies can reveal new content ideas, products, or even potential clientsWhy even a short personal story in your newsletter can trigger authentic responsesLINKS MENTIONEDShaan Puri's 7 Key Emotions (+ AI Prompt Elicitor)Mario Gabriele ('The Puzzler') GIR Deep DiveToby Howell's 'The Game' newsletterKatelyn Bourgoin on GIR PodcastKatelyn's Why We Buy (+ Fri-Yay) newsletterGet Chenell's brand-new offering for newsletter creators: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here! The Growth Vault is filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“One of the worst things you can do is send new subscribers to a dead-end thank you page. That kills engagement immediately." — ChenellWe're breaking down the most overlooked (yet critical) part of growing a newsletter: onboarding new subscribers.  We'll take you through Chenell's 3-step onboarding process every newsletter creator should have in place—and show how to optimize each for higher engagement, deliverability, and long-term retention. We also tease an advanced 5-step version and share examples from top creators like Katelyn Bourgoin, Tom Alder, and Eddie Shleyner. Whether you’re just starting out or already running a large newsletter, you’ll learn how to avoid common pitfalls and set up onboarding that actually works.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe 3 Cs of a high-converting landing pageWhy default Thank-you pages kill engagement (and what to do instead)How "sniper links" can push new subscribers directly into their inbox to find your emailThe #1 mistake welcome emails makeThe most important job your welcome email hasA simple incentive trick to encourage repliesThe difference between a “true” and “false” double opt-inHow (and why) to include surveys in your onboardingWhat top creators do with their “almost there” pages to hook new subscribersLINKS MENTIONEDThe Growth Vault →Katelyn Bourgoin's Why We Buy landing page →Eddie Shleyner's 'Social Proof Avalanche' →Tom Alder's Strategy Breakdowns → Growth.Design →Senja →RightMessage →Growth In Reverse PRO Community →Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | Substack | Bluesky OUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new offer for newsletter creators is here! The Growth Vault is filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“Sometimes less is more. Cut the clutter and highlight the one thing that matters." — ChenellIt's newsletter roast time 🔥🔥 We're putting the spotlight on Hobby Card Life: a newsletter covering sports cards and collectibles. We roast and review everything from the sign-up flow to newsletter design to growth levers. You’ll hear what’s working, what’s holding this newsletter back, and the exact opportunities we see for growth and monetization.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe first impression a niche newsletter makes on readers (and where Hobby Card Life missed).The simple opt-in tweak that could dramatically increase subscriber conversions.Why design consistency matters more than you think—and how this newsletter could fix it quickly.What to do when your niche is too broad for new subscribers to understand instantly.The surprising monetization angle that could be a major revenue driver.How partnerships inside a passionate niche can compound growth.The retention risk we spotted in this newsletter’s publishing cadence.Where we’d focus first if we were growing Hobby Card Life from here.LINKS MENTIONEDHobby Card Life newsletterHobbyCardLife.comGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityThe GIR Social Growth Challenge Get Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!

Get 30+ video lessons and ideas for optimizing your newsletter: https://growthinreverse.com/vault--------------------------“All roads point to the email list." — Sam Vander Wielen, Sam's SidebarIn this episode, we interview Sam Vander Wielen—a lawyer-turned-creator who has sold over $9M in legal templates with a 50k-subscriber newsletter. Sam shares how her motto of "All roads point to the email list" has helped her earn over $9M in total revenue since starting her business in 2017. And she's done it with a small team and a replicable funnel strategy most creators could copy. KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy she decided to walk away from strategies that “should” work — and what happened afterThe $100k turning point that reshaped how she runs her businessHow she blends storytelling with practical education to keep readers engagedHow her newsletter fuels her entire content ecosystemWhat creators misunderstand about legal protections (and how to fix it)Why she believes the boring stuff is actually the growth engineThe platform she almost abandoned — and why she came back strongerHer advice for creators chasing growth but ignoring long-term sustainabilityLINKS MENTIONEDSam's websiteSam's book: When I Start My Business I'll Be HappySam's Socials: LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTubeAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

The Growth Vault is LIVE: Chenell's brand-new product —The Growth Vault— is here. Filled with newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.--------------------------------------“If content is king, AI is storming the castle." — Darren Vesterfelt, Mighty Networks Chenell was just in Cleveland for the annual CEX conference. And she wasn't *just* in attendance—she was also a speaker! So we're recapping the biggest lessons and takeaways from Chenell's experience at CEX (Content Entrepreneur Expo) — where she basically opened the conference with her keynote, traded notes with some content economy heavy hitters (like Jay Acunzo, Ann Handley, Mark Schaefer, Robert Rose), and soaked up the big trends. We dig into why slowing down beats AI-first content, the power of community and IRL relationships, how to think about discovery vs. relationship platforms, and why some SEO pros are betting on social over search.  KEY TAKEAWAYSThe case for “as slow as possible” content: let ideas marinate; don’t outsource your thinking to AI. How to use AI as an editor rather than a first-draft brain replacement—and why this matters more than ever. Driving audiences from discovery platforms → relationship platforms. Community is a durable moat when content sameness rises (AI is “storming the castle”). Social > Search (sometimes): comments from real humans can beat 10k empty pageviews. Testing ideas fast with social media—and how commenting sparks even more ideas.IRL still trumps all: stages, dinners, and small masterminds create outsized serendipity. Are physical newsletters back? Should you try AI sobriety?LINKS MENTIONEDCEXAnn HandleyJay AcunzoMark SchaferGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityThe GIR Social Growth Challenge Get Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Want your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!

Join our September Social Growth Challenge: https://growthinreverse.com/social --------------------------“You have to be first—or you have to be best. That's how you win at paid content." — Nathan May, The Feed MediaIn this episode, we interview Nathan May, founder of The Feed Media. Nathan shares how he turned a small, private newsletter into a $1M ARR business in under a year, and how his agency helps some of the biggest creators and media companies scale their audiences with paid growth. We dig into the playbooks behind The Feed Media, the experiments that worked (and the ones that didn’t), and why even a small but mighty list can generate outsized revenue. Whether you’re looking to monetize a niche newsletter or scale a larger media brand, Nathan’s story offers a unique perspective on growth and revenue. >>Get 30+ video lessons and ideas for optimizing your newsletter: https://growthinreverse.com/vaultKEY TAKEAWAYSThe surprising first step Nathan took before writing a single newsletter issueWhy building around a niche community gave him an unfair advantageThe revenue model he used before sponsors ever came knockingHow The Feed Media structured its first monetization funnelThe newsletter flywheel Nathan swears by for compounding growthThe counterintuitive move that actually boosted subscriber trustWhy his first 1,000 subs mattered the mostThe overlooked channel that drove some of his fastest growthHow Nathan would start & scale a B2B newsletter todayThe single most important metric he tracks inside The Feed MediaLINKS MENTIONEDTheFeedMedia.comNathan May on LinkedInAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

>> Join the 30-Days of Growth Social Challenge: https://growthinreverse.com/social--------------------------------------“The first 6 months taught me that consistency beats everything — even if you’re not perfect."In this episode of the Growth In Reverse podcast, Dylan and Chenell rewind the clock to when Chenell was just starting her newsletter. She breaks down the two strategies that fueled her early growth to 11,000 subscribers in six months: creating insanely valuable content and consistently engaging on Twitter. PLUS: We're launching a new challenge to boost your content's visibility on social media—just like Chenell did to reach her first 11k subscribers: https://growthinreverse.com/socialKEY TAKEAWAYSThe simple posting strategy Chenell used to get her first subscribersHow one Twitter comment brought subscribers instantlyThe role of curiosity and passion in standing out with your contentWhy treating your social profile like a landing page mattersHow early replies and comments built relationships with influential peopleThe burnout risk of trying to post every day (and what Chenell would do differently)How a newsletter & podcast shoutouts boosted early credibilityLINKS MENTIONEDThe GIR Social Growth Challenge Ask us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

“If you spend 80% of your time making incredibly good content, you probably only have to spend 20% marketing it." In this special episode, we’re bringing you Chenell’s conversation with Darrell Vesterfelt, VP of Growth at Mighty Networks, for a recent Creator Summit. In the chat, Chenell talks about why she started a newsletter — and why she chose a newsletter — way back in December 2022. Chenell and Darrell also dive into the art and science of growing a newsletter from scratch — from picking a topic you’ll never get bored of, to building relationships that fuel growth, to deciding when and how to monetize. If you’re looking for a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the most well-known newsletter growth strategists thinks about audience building, this episode is loaded with ideas you can apply immediately.>>Get 30+ video lessons and ideas for optimizing your newsletter: https://growthinreverse.com/vaultKEY TAKEAWAYSWhy passion for your newsletter topic is a wildly underrated growth leverHow Chenell leveraged “content-led growth” to get early tractionThe commenting strategy that landed her first subscribersWhy treating your social profile like a landing page mattersThe balance between high-quality content and active marketingHow to use “cryptic teasers” to generate curiosity before publishingThe biggest mistake she made with social posting frequencyWhy she didn’t run Facebook ads for Growth In Reverse (and when she would)The simple poll that landed her first paid sponsorHow she would structure a paid newsletter if starting todayLINKS MENTIONEDMighty NetworksDarrell Vesterfelt on LinkedInChenell's first Deep Dive on Mario Gabriele @ The GeneralistAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

The Growth Vault is LIVE: https://growthinreverse.com/vault----------------------------------------------------------------“During my last year as a CFO, I made more money from my newsletter and podcast than my full-time job."  — CJ Gustafson, Mostly MetricsWe sit down with CJ Gustafson, former tech CFO and now full-time creator of two newsletters—Mostly Metrics and Looking For Leverage—and a podcast called Run The Numbers. CJ is masterful at taking financial and business concepts and making them wildly entertaining. CJ shares how he went from consulting and private equity to running a high-revenue content business, why he thinks about content like product development, and the systems he’s built to keep ideas flowing. If you’ve ever wondered how to blend expertise, humor, and growth strategy into a newsletter people can’t stop sharing, this episode is packed with insights.PS - We recently hosted CJ in the GIR Pro community where he shared more BTS of his newsletter 👀🔥→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSHow CJ built Mostly Metrics into a leading finance newsletter with personalityThe unusual career path that prepared him for creating content CFOs actually readHow CJ uses humor (and dog pics) to make complex topics approachableHow he's building out the “media mullet” business modelHow CJ replaced his CFO salary with newsletter and podcast revenue—and why it happened faster than expectedCJ's revenue streams that drive a multi‑six‑figure media revenue engineHow he uses AI and transcripts to mine hundreds of hours of interviews for writing ideasCJ's favorite—and most important—newsletter metricThe single biggest growth hack for his podcast audienceHis daily creative routine for producing high-value content without burning outLINKS MENTIONEDMostly Metrics newsletterRun The Numbers podcastLooking For Leverage newsletterCJ on LinkedInAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

The Growth Vault is LIVE: https://growthinreverse.com/vault----------------------------------------------------------------“You don’t need to create for everyone. You need to create for the people who value you most — and they’ll carry your newsletter further than you think."  — Matt Johansen, Vulnu.comWe sat down with Matt Johansen, creator of the Vulnerable U newsletter (nearly 30,000 subscribers), to unpack how he’s grown a must-read in the cybersecurity space. Matt has successfully transitioned from working in the cybersecurity space to running a newsletter + content agency business. So we wanted to learn exactly how he's done it. Matt shares how he combines industry expertise with personal storytelling, why B2B creators can command a premium, and what’s working for him across newsletters, sponsorships, and short-form video. If you want to learn how to grow and monetize a niche newsletter, this one’s for you.PS - Matt is not only a brilliant video & newsletter creator, he's also a member of the GIR Pro community 🔥→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSHow Matt grew to over 30,000 subscribers in under 2 yearsHow he's crushing short-form video content for his newsletterHow he monetized through sponsorships and built an agency alongside the newsletterThe strategy behind his short-form and long-form video contentHis approach to setting boundaries with sponsors while maintaining audience trustHow he leveraged industry presence & experience for early newsletter tractionWhy and how he’s adding a paid newsletter subscription tier Tips for avoiding burnout as a solo creator juggling multiple content platformsWhy platform-specific editing matters for short-form video successLINKS MENTIONEDVulnu.com (Matt's website)Matt's socials: Instagram || YouTube || Twitter || LinkedInBuy Back Your Time by Dan MartellAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsGet Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

The Growth Vault is LIVE: https://growthinreverse.com/vault----------------------------------------------------------------“This is the underrated growth strategy every newsletter should be using.” What if every subscriber could turn into 10 more?In this episode of the Growth In Reverse podcast, Dylan and Chenell unpack one of the most underrated newsletter growth levers: referrals.They explore how to turn one subscriber into ten, without even needing a full-blown referral platform. From embedding share prompts into your welcome sequence to clever ways to incentivize email forwarding, this episode is packed with low-lift, high-impact strategies that help creators build a referral flywheel — even without a tech stack.No matter our ESP, get some new ideas and actionable tactics to boost growth using your most valuable asset: your existing subscribers.→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSThe absolute best time to ask subscribers for referrals (and why most miss it)A surprising strategy a deliverability expert recommends to get more sharesHow one subtle tweak in your welcome email can 10x word-of-mouth growthThe low-effort email trick that gets people to forward your newsletter“Send this to your plant bestie” — why hyper-specific asks perform betterWhy sharing via social might outperform traditional email referralsThe hidden moment after a lead magnet download you should be capitalizing onA single click that triggers a referral follow-up (without any tech stack)The tiny line at the bottom of your email that can quietly drive growthA one-referral incentive so clever, readers feel compelled to shareLINKS MENTIONED Get The Growth Vault — a vault of newsletter growth strategies with templates and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Tyler Cook (Email Deliverability)Dan Oshinsky's Growth LeverThe ShareLinkGenerator (Dan Oshinsky's "mailto" tool of choice) Aakash Gupta's GIR InterviewAli Abouelatta's GIR Deep DiveShaan Puri's Viral Post FrameworkAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

“I waited to launch my paid newsletter until I had a solid strategy and felt like I’d earned it.”  — Tom Orbach, Marketing IdeasTom Orbach of MarketingIdeas.com — which recently crossed 44,000 free subscribers and over 500 paid subscribers in just the first few days after launching his paid tier — joins Chenell & Dylan to share the exact playbook he used to grow his newsletter and launch the paid version. He became a Substack bestseller within a day of his paid launch! And he did this all while working a full-time job.You'll learn how he engineered a wildly successful Product Hunt launch, and why he delayed monetization for nearly two years. We also dive into the tools he uses, the psychology behind his launch strategy, and how Substack's built-in network helped supercharge his growth after turning on his paid tier. Whether you're at 500 subscribers or 50,000, this episode is a tactical goldmine.PS - Tom is not only smart marketer & newsletter creator, he's also a member of the GIR Pro community 🔥→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSTom shares how he started the newsletter and bought the domain marketingideas.com after selling a viral tool.He explains why he invested in a ".com" domain instead of going with a cheaper optionWhat publishing his first newsletter edition to a waitlist of 1,000+ felt like—and why publishing early and often matters.Balancing a full-time job with weekly publishing.How his job fuels his content.His top growth levers (including one that helped him gain over 7,000 subscribers).Why he waited nearly two years to launch a paid tier.How he designed the offer to feel premium and "non-calculable."Behind the scenes of Tom’s nine-day email launch strategy that brought in 500+ paid subscribers.How Tom reinvests revenue into experiments, gear, and ads to continue scaling.The emotional pressure of going paid—and how he maintains quality content and subscriber trust.Building community and micro-launches as the next phase of his newsletter growth.LINKS MENTIONEDMarketingIdeas.comTom on LinkedInAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>Get Chenell's brand-new course: The Growth Vault — newsletter templates, growth strategies, and real examples you can implement at your own pace.Growth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.

“$250k is when growth changes. It’s when you need systems. You usually can’t do it solo.”  — Matt Gira, The QuarterMatt Gira joins Chenell & Dylan — in person — to share how he went from building underwater drones to launching The Quarter: a newsletter that deep dives into how founders grow bootstrapped businesses to $250K. This is an interview, but also an impromptu coaching session with Matt as we help him figure out how he can grow his newsletter faster and get it in front of the right audience.We talk content strategy, growth experiments, and the surprising data he's uncovering along the way.PS - Matt is not only an up-and-coming newsletter creator, he's also a member of the GIR Pro community 🔥→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy $250k is the key milestone for bootstrapped foundersHow Matt turned a niche data set into a powerful newsletter growth leverHow he grew his newsletter to 1,200+ subscribers without chasing viralityCollaborations, events, and the tour that could 10x his reachThe power of being early, scrappy, and generous in your creator journeyHow Matt reverse engineers founder journeys from YouTube to written contentThe role of YouTube, LinkedIn, and in-person meetups in his growth flywheelStrategies he’s testing now: content swaps, data licensing, servicesLINKS MENTIONEDThe Quarter (Matt's newsletter)The Bootstrapped ReportMatt on LinkedInKit's Craft + Commerce conferenceChenell's Deep Dive on CJ Gustafson of Mostly MetricsAsk us a question or submit a podcast topic idea: growthinreverse.com/questionsCheck out the 30 Days of Growth FREE >>30 Days of Growth Course Pre-launchGrowth In Reverse PRO CommunityWant your newsletter roasted? Submit it here. Check out past Growth In Reverse Deep Dives: https://growthinreverse.com/archive/FOLLOW ON SOCIALChenell: Twitter | LinkedIn | SubstackDylan: LinkedIn | BlueskyOUR NEWSLETTERSgrowthinreverse.comgrowthcurrency.netSubscribe & Leave a Review:If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.