Jessica DeFino shares her insights on converting subscribers from a single viral tweet, going paid in order to free herself from pressure and deadlines and write a book, and experimenting with the newsletter form.
Also, your "about this newsletter" pinned post is a masterclass in concise writing and newsletter marketing. I literally just printed it off so I can study it and adapt my own. (Again, thank you!)
What a great post! I especially liked the idea of writing shorter posts... never really thought about it. Maybe even title it "We all need a break," thanks for inspiration!
The idea that we all need a brain break -- yes! It's so refreshing to hear that people respond to this. I regularly work on shorter posts....but somehow they balloon, so I'm going to refocus and apply this lesson as I work on my newsletter today. Thanks, Jessica!
The most helpful writer interview Substack has published, yet!
So many helpful tips and approaches I agree with and have observed myself (not publishing at the same time as everyone else, no deadline pressure on yourself, experimenting with and mixing up formats).
Thank you for sharing your mature sense of self-awareness and offering helpful gems of advice to fellow Substackers.
Super helpful, Jessica, thank you! I write about cooking and baking and have gotten pretty heavy in my March content because of the war in Ukraine. I’ve created something fresh, new, and weird for next week and you just gave me the confidence to do it! 🤣
Fantastic tips Jessica. Thankyou. Especially the ones making it easy for new arrivals to landing and profile pages to work out what you're about and then convert into fans. One question: do you open up your bi-weekly piece for paid subscribers to free subscribers later on?
Instantly subscribed to her newsletter - a much needed one!! Plus, this interview was very insightful. I've tried to stick to a consistent publishing schedule to "gain trust", but some times, it can be very hard to maintain (and ironic when I actually want to write MORE). Glad to know I'm not the only one.
It's so good to read your words about not needing a scheduled time to post--it's validating! I try for a 7-10 posts/month and when they come, they come... Likewise your words about length. Thank you!
Thanks Jessica for giving such wonderful insights.My takeaway is one line "Give your best content for free and eventually some readers would pay for it".I am going to surely implement it in my newsletter thehiddenhistory.substack.com.
Whether beauty, graphic novels, fiction, food , music, art, history, Substack really does have it all. I love stumbling on platforms like this because, as a dude, I'm not into beauty products, per se, but the whole dismantling thing is very attractive. It parallels the mood of the country, distrustful and highly suspicious of traditional institutions, and said institutions just not progressing
Also, your "about this newsletter" pinned post is a masterclass in concise writing and newsletter marketing. I literally just printed it off so I can study it and adapt my own. (Again, thank you!)
What a great post! I especially liked the idea of writing shorter posts... never really thought about it. Maybe even title it "We all need a break," thanks for inspiration!
The idea that we all need a brain break -- yes! It's so refreshing to hear that people respond to this. I regularly work on shorter posts....but somehow they balloon, so I'm going to refocus and apply this lesson as I work on my newsletter today. Thanks, Jessica!
The most helpful writer interview Substack has published, yet!
So many helpful tips and approaches I agree with and have observed myself (not publishing at the same time as everyone else, no deadline pressure on yourself, experimenting with and mixing up formats).
Thank you for sharing your mature sense of self-awareness and offering helpful gems of advice to fellow Substackers.
9,000 free subscribers from 1 tweet thread. Damn, that's good.
Super helpful, Jessica, thank you! I write about cooking and baking and have gotten pretty heavy in my March content because of the war in Ukraine. I’ve created something fresh, new, and weird for next week and you just gave me the confidence to do it! 🤣
Fantastic tips Jessica. Thankyou. Especially the ones making it easy for new arrivals to landing and profile pages to work out what you're about and then convert into fans. One question: do you open up your bi-weekly piece for paid subscribers to free subscribers later on?
Instantly subscribed to her newsletter - a much needed one!! Plus, this interview was very insightful. I've tried to stick to a consistent publishing schedule to "gain trust", but some times, it can be very hard to maintain (and ironic when I actually want to write MORE). Glad to know I'm not the only one.
Sucked up every word! Dazzled! Giddy! And am now a devotee of Jessica DeFino!!
It's so good to read your words about not needing a scheduled time to post--it's validating! I try for a 7-10 posts/month and when they come, they come... Likewise your words about length. Thank you!
This is all super high value stuff! The Unpublishable was one of the first substack newsletters I subscribed to on my personal account and I love it!
Thanks Jessica for giving such wonderful insights.My takeaway is one line "Give your best content for free and eventually some readers would pay for it".I am going to surely implement it in my newsletter thehiddenhistory.substack.com.
Really insightful. I’m always looking for creative ways of growing our reach and this was spot on! Thank you!
Super inspiring interview!
Whether beauty, graphic novels, fiction, food , music, art, history, Substack really does have it all. I love stumbling on platforms like this because, as a dude, I'm not into beauty products, per se, but the whole dismantling thing is very attractive. It parallels the mood of the country, distrustful and highly suspicious of traditional institutions, and said institutions just not progressing
Well done
ko