The 10 ways my 2 podcast newsletters have helped me grow my network

Global Podcast Editors newsletter is 2 years old and Podcast To Connect is 5 months old. Both have a podcast & YouTube channel with a combined follower population of about 1,300 people. I don't think the newsletters alone would have the same impact that the podcast-newsletter-YouTube channel have. It's these three components working in conjunction with each other that generates this momentum. Thus the flywheel I mention below. Even so, for this post, I'm focusing on the cozy aspects of the newsletter alone that have helped. 

​Why did this medium work well for me to grow my 100% online business? Let me show you. 

1. Direct communication: YouTube channels have a place for short comments but podcasts communication is still a mess. Newsletters into someone's inbox is powerful. I've made more genuine connections with people I admire with the help of the newsletters than any other medium.

2. Privacy: This might seem obvious considering #1 but it's important. I post in online forums all the time but I know its public. There's a different level of getting to know someone you can do in a public place like a newsletter REPLY conversation.

3. Experimentation: I've been able to experiment with different writing styles in the issues. I've been using Substack most of the time with the 2 newsletters and can see how many readers click on a link, how many open the newsletters (was the title intriguing) and so on.

4. Time to be myself: I talk a lot, lol. But I really like the curation that goes into a newsletter. It's an artform. There's a holistic endpoint where things connect, flow. This curation shows my personality so the right clients can get to know me before they even meet me.

5. Content freedom: Even the newer outline format of the newsletters is a form of expression. I can add my comments wherever I want. I also curate the content so when there's a great PR blog post from Maya of Proud Stutter, I can add it. Add value and connect people, that's my focus.

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Want to know more about a podcast-newsletter-YouTube content flywheel? check this out. 

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6. Selling online products: I started creating micro courses about 3 months ago, inspired by Josh Spector's Skills Sessions. Right now, 65% of the purchases are coming from links in the newsletters. That's huge. and it helps me create more courses (see #7)

7. Business ideas: that are wanted Hearing from newsletter readers about what they're doing, challenges they're having and so on helps me understand what's needed in the space. I want to create things that are needed AND make a living.

8. Connect people: Connecting readers to each other is powerful! If I'm honest, this is THE most rewarding part to me. Community doesn't have to be a set platform but it does have to be personal. Being able to highlight readers tips and such helps readers find each other.

9. Quantifying the flywheel: followers can enter my content ecosystem at so many different points. I mentioned the podcast-YT-newsletter trio, but I've got a long list of other places as well. If people are subscribing, reading, replying, I've hit a nerve.

10. Authenticity: Well before podcasting, I felt the most me when I wrote. The sound of typing, the feel of words flowing out of my fingers, it's always been a welcome release. And when I'm relaxed I can be myself more. It's about picking the medium that you feel YOU in, right?

How has a podcast newsletter helped your network grow?

Podcast To Connect: https://podcasttoconnect.substack.com
Global Podcast Editors:https://globalpodcasteditors.substack.com/​