203: How to grow your online audience (with Ana Calin)

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Episode 3 is here!

Today, I chat to

Ana Calin

about the best ways to grow an online audience, particularly here on Substack (where she’s absolutely flying!).

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Ana grew a 40k Substack audience in a matter of months

• How her background in marketing helped prepare her for life on Substack

• What it means to “just start” your creator journey

• Which kinds of Substack Notes are most effective

• How to make paid content irresistible

• How to be serious about having fun

• And much more!

Make sure to drop a question for Ana in the comments after listening.

And as always, paid members can watch every full video episode in our Member Resource Hub.

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If you’re thinking about starting a podcast of your own here on Substack, definitely give my course a try:

Want to advertise on How to Write for a Living? Just email hello@davidmcilroy.com.

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I also share snippets from each podcast episode on my YouTube channel (feel free to subscribe when you’re there if you want to put a smile on my face!):

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Want to find out more about Substack Notes? Try this next:

I ran a 42-day audience growth experiment on Notes. Here's what I did, and everything I learned.

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What’s next?

I’m ready and waiting to support you in the next stages of your creator journey. Here’s how I can help:

1. Start Your Podcast on Substack: A complete course guiding you from concept to launch, based on everything I’ve learned so far during my own podcasting journey. Learn to plan, brand, record, edit, publish, and promote your podcast while building an audience. Perfect for creators eager to share their voice with the world!

2. Sustainable Scalable Social Strategy: This 6-part, online, self-driven course will guide you through the same process I used to develop a strategy for my social media management. When you finish, you’ll have a sustainable social strategy in place that will help you scale your business properly.

3. One-To-One Coaching: Live coaching sessions over Zoom plus a full video audit of your Substack publication. Ideal for those who want to grow their online presence, identify their key strengths, and develop a long-term business strategy. Upgrade to Sustaining Membership for full access.

4. Promote to 13,000+ readers: Get yourself in front of a highly-engaged online audience via email, podcast and social media.

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