For me, the biggest shift was not writing for an audience, but for a person. Imagine your ideal reader profile, and keep them in mind for every article you write.
Thank You very much for these tips! I just started my own newsletter and this is very helpful. I know I need to improve some skills, and this gives me a guideline of where to start.
I started writing online just a few months ago, and these points are spot on. I'm trying to work on them, and with every new post, it gets a bit easier, but still, as a whole, writing a newsletter feels overwhelming in the beginning. Thanks for sharing your advice!
Thank you for sharing these aspects, and above all, for doing so in a timely manner. Similar advice on writing is often given, but it does not go into depth into the why and how of things, into the practical aspects that writers want to know in order to apply them in a personal way. I think the topic of collaborations is a great topic, and I think Substack is a great place where although you should certainly lean towards someone on the same point of the journey, you can write very interesting issues even for larger or smaller newsletters and have the pleasure of a sincere welcome - if there is a real effort from the writer - and an appreciation focused above all on what is written, as well as on who. This is probably the focus: the quality of what is written and, as has rightly been said, quality networking. Even when I appreciate - often - the work of other writers, especially those who write about topics similar to mine, what I do is actually explain why I appreciated an issue or in general the approach of another author. And you don't just do it because I think it's right, but because on the other hand it is of great value for the writer to know these things.
Great write up. Collaboration is the key, that's why my rule was to start with someone I already know who shares the same view on Technology. Now we run our blog together, which also helps to distribute the load - https://packagemain.tech/
Loved the article, Raviraj. I have been struggling to get off the ground with my newsletter but mostly due to my inability to "block" the time to write. I love writing and sharing, but cant stick to the cadence. All your advice resonates with me. I would love to chat with you for your feedback.
This is an interesting post, Raviraj. Thank you for writing in such detail. Having a distribution channel is the key to growth; I guess this is where Substack has an edge. Reddit has quite a big number of mean anonymous users who are ready to bash you for no reason, I second that. What's your view on Notes? Been working for you?
Also, if we could discover folks easily who are ready for cross-promotions it would be helpful as well. Right now I do not see how we can find them.
I still post on reddit but just mute the notifications :)
Notes work for me sometimes but restacks from others work better.
> Also, if we could discover folks easily who are ready for cross-promotions it would be helpful as well. Right now I do not see how we can find them.
I feel you. It feels hard. I stalked a handful of creators I knew and found who were commenting on their posts regularly and if they were newsletter writers as well. From that I found more people.
You can stalk folks like hemant pandey, akash mukherjee, etc. on LinkedIn to see who interacts with them and vice-versa.
True for those that show as recommended on the home page. However, if we could cross promote within the newsletters maybe that could help, though I am not sure. Have no data on this.
1. What medium do you think works best for short form articles: a LinkedIn post/ or witter or any other platform?
2. Have you considered video based sharing? I believe a good part of audience would prefer this mode of learning. I know it also comes to the motivation of the owner, some may prefer writing over speaking.
1. I think LinkedIn or twitter can be great for shorter content. I use LinkedIn mainly to drive traffic to my newsletter.
2. Yes, I did. I feel I would do alright with videos but don’t have time for that with a full time job and a 15 month old. I did dabble with it a bit during my paternity leave last year.
I also think video can connect you better with your audience and boost growth.
Thank you Ashish! Not sure how your journey looked like given you were already active on LinkedIn. As a social media recluse before writing, it was an uphill battle for me.
Agree.. having an online presence was definitely helpful in my growth on substack and made things a bit easier. But I feel I can improve my writing skills a lot by publishing long form articles on substack.
Your advice on "picking one audience", "identify the person you are writing for" and "starting with a compelling hook" makes a lot of sense.
Great advice my friend!
For me, the biggest shift was not writing for an audience, but for a person. Imagine your ideal reader profile, and keep them in mind for every article you write.
Dude, thanks so much. I am using this as my framework to start my own newsletter 🙏
the best comment is when someone reads your content and writes this ^
thanks
Very helpful.
Thank You very much for these tips! I just started my own newsletter and this is very helpful. I know I need to improve some skills, and this gives me a guideline of where to start.
Thanks for sharing!
Great tips Raviraj! Thanks so much for sharing!
Great post, Raviraj!
I started writing online just a few months ago, and these points are spot on. I'm trying to work on them, and with every new post, it gets a bit easier, but still, as a whole, writing a newsletter feels overwhelming in the beginning. Thanks for sharing your advice!
Thank you for sharing these aspects, and above all, for doing so in a timely manner. Similar advice on writing is often given, but it does not go into depth into the why and how of things, into the practical aspects that writers want to know in order to apply them in a personal way. I think the topic of collaborations is a great topic, and I think Substack is a great place where although you should certainly lean towards someone on the same point of the journey, you can write very interesting issues even for larger or smaller newsletters and have the pleasure of a sincere welcome - if there is a real effort from the writer - and an appreciation focused above all on what is written, as well as on who. This is probably the focus: the quality of what is written and, as has rightly been said, quality networking. Even when I appreciate - often - the work of other writers, especially those who write about topics similar to mine, what I do is actually explain why I appreciated an issue or in general the approach of another author. And you don't just do it because I think it's right, but because on the other hand it is of great value for the writer to know these things.
Great write up. Collaboration is the key, that's why my rule was to start with someone I already know who shares the same view on Technology. Now we run our blog together, which also helps to distribute the load - https://packagemain.tech/
Congratulations Raviraj.
Thanks for sharing these
Loved the article, Raviraj. I have been struggling to get off the ground with my newsletter but mostly due to my inability to "block" the time to write. I love writing and sharing, but cant stick to the cadence. All your advice resonates with me. I would love to chat with you for your feedback.
1. Figure out your "WHY" and you will find the motivation.
2. Block a time window and only write it in that time window. Not sure about you, but I get distracted when I would do something new/hard. (https://newsletter.techleadmentor.com/p/perceived-difficulty-is-a-productivity)
3. Ping me on LinkedIn :)
Thanks for the kind words.
Thank you for your advice, Raviraj. Will connect on LI
This is an interesting post, Raviraj. Thank you for writing in such detail. Having a distribution channel is the key to growth; I guess this is where Substack has an edge. Reddit has quite a big number of mean anonymous users who are ready to bash you for no reason, I second that. What's your view on Notes? Been working for you?
Also, if we could discover folks easily who are ready for cross-promotions it would be helpful as well. Right now I do not see how we can find them.
I still post on reddit but just mute the notifications :)
Notes work for me sometimes but restacks from others work better.
> Also, if we could discover folks easily who are ready for cross-promotions it would be helpful as well. Right now I do not see how we can find them.
I feel you. It feels hard. I stalked a handful of creators I knew and found who were commenting on their posts regularly and if they were newsletter writers as well. From that I found more people.
You can stalk folks like hemant pandey, akash mukherjee, etc. on LinkedIn to see who interacts with them and vice-versa.
Another unsolicited advice, cross promotions is overrated. It doesn't do as much as you would hope.
True for those that show as recommended on the home page. However, if we could cross promote within the newsletters maybe that could help, though I am not sure. Have no data on this.
Yes those kind of cross promotions help a lot. When other creators share my profile / articles on linkedin I get a lot of traffic.
Great takeways.
I would love to know your insights on:
1. What medium do you think works best for short form articles: a LinkedIn post/ or witter or any other platform?
2. Have you considered video based sharing? I believe a good part of audience would prefer this mode of learning. I know it also comes to the motivation of the owner, some may prefer writing over speaking.
Glad it resonated.
1. I think LinkedIn or twitter can be great for shorter content. I use LinkedIn mainly to drive traffic to my newsletter.
2. Yes, I did. I feel I would do alright with videos but don’t have time for that with a full time job and a 15 month old. I did dabble with it a bit during my paternity leave last year.
I also think video can connect you better with your audience and boost growth.
Thanks for sharing your views!
As someone who started writing few months ago, this is a really valuable advice. Thanks for sharing these tips Raviraj.
Thank you Ashish! Not sure how your journey looked like given you were already active on LinkedIn. As a social media recluse before writing, it was an uphill battle for me.
Agree.. having an online presence was definitely helpful in my growth on substack and made things a bit easier. But I feel I can improve my writing skills a lot by publishing long form articles on substack.
Your advice on "picking one audience", "identify the person you are writing for" and "starting with a compelling hook" makes a lot of sense.
Glad it was helpful :)
congrats and thanks for sharing these tips.
I'll read the books you listed soon, thanks again.
I am glad it resonated with you! Thanks Neo.
Epic stuff man!
I'll share this with my audience 🙏🏽
Thank you.