Podcasts about convertkit

What does it really mean to operate from integrity and how do you know when a business relationship has crossed a values line? Are you making decisions based on strategy alone, or are you filtering them through what you actually stand for?In this episode, Kathryn shares two candid, real-world examples from her own business, leaving ActiveCampaign after five years and downgrading her Kajabi membership to illustrate how a personal value system shapes even the most practical business decisions. The core tension isn't about right or wrong; it's about recognizing when something feels off and having the clarity to act on it.BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL DISCOVER:● Why Kathryn made the decision to leave ActiveCampaign after five years, moving to Kit (formerly ConvertKit) for roughly $300 a year instead of $3,000 and how the company's refusal to honor a publicly listed lower rate for an existing loyal customer revealed a fundamental values misalignment around client retention and people-first business practices.● How Kajabi's shift in their referral program, requiring three new referrals per year to maintain existing payout status felt deeply manufactured and integrity-compromising to Kathryn, ultimately leading her to downgrade her plan and begin migrating predominantly to ThriveCart, a one-time payment platform free from ongoing price increases.● Why the coming paradigm shift Kathryn describes as beginning around 2027 will make authenticity non-negotiable as people become increasingly attuned to energy and able to see through fabricated affiliate promotions, performative engagement, and brand personas that don't match the behind-the-scenes reality of how founders treat their teams and customers.● How your own intuition and gut responses are already your values filter in action and why you don't need a written framework or prescribed list to discern when something feels off, only the willingness to ask yourself why it doesn't feel right and trace it back to what truly matters to you.And while you're here, follow us on Instagram @creativelyowned for more daily inspiration on effortlessly attracting the most aligned clients without spending hours marketing your business or chasing clients. Also, make sure to tag me in your stories @creativelyowned.https://www.instagram.com/creativelyowned/Start using Wispr Flow, the crazy handy voice-to-text AI that turns speech into clear, polished writing in every app. Click here.https://ref.wisprflow.ai/kathryn-thompsonGet Blotato, the content engine I use that combines 8-apps-in-1 to streamline content creation across multiple platforms. Click here.https://blotato.com/?ref=kathrynGet n8n, a workflow automation platform that uniquely combines AI capabilities with business process automation.Find out how to own your unique edge, amplify who you truly are and get paid for it, take your business to cosmic proportions, and have fun doing it, grab it here!!https://www.creativelyowned.com/quizBuild your own quiz using Interact Quizzes, click here.https://get.tryinteract.com/n6e4h5axrophJoin The Selling the Invisible AI Lab, a curated membership for founders who want to discover how to use AI in their business.https://creativelyowned.com/ai-lab

You keep hearing that big investments are what unlock growth, but deep down you know that is not always true. Sometimes it is the small, overlooked purchases that quietly shift everything, how you think, how you show up, and how much you earn. If you have been second guessing where to spend your money to actually move your business forward, this one is going to hit close to home. In this episode, Omar breaks down 10 low-cost buys that have had a surprisingly massive impact on his business results. These are not flashy or complicated tools, but simple apps, subscriptions, and even a book that have reshaped the way he works and makes decisions. Each one has paid for itself over and over again, and a few might even challenge how you currently think about spending in your business. Hit play up top and discover which under $200 investments could be the quiet game changers your business has been missing. MBA2787 10 Low Cost Purchases Under $200 That Changed My Business Omar's 10 Low Cost Tools 1. How To Get Rich by Felix Dennis 2. YouTube Premium 3. Google Workspace 4. Claude Pro 5. Spotify Premium (with audiobooks) 6. DualShot Recorder App 7. Stripe 8. Kit (formerly ConvertKit) 9. Basecamp 10. Wispr Flow Recommended episodes to explore: The 5 AI Tools That Replace A $60,000 Employee (How A Team Of 3 Becomes A Team Of 1 With AI) Nathan Barry – How to Grow a Self-Funded Software Business to $34 Million and Beyond 10 Low Cost Purchases That Can Drastically Improve Your Life Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://lm.fm/GgRPPHi SUBSCRIBE YouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FREE Two Day Event: Farm Marketing Week - June 2026 Sign Up HERE Does Email Marketing Actually Work for Farms — and Why Are My Emails Going to the Promotions Folder? Email marketing is the most powerful tool a farm has — when it's done right. This episode covers why email outperforms every other platform, why your emails might be sitting unread in the promotions folder, and exactly what to send your list once you have one. Why is email marketing more effective than social media for farms? Email marketing is estimated to be thousands of times more effective than other marketing platforms because subscribers have given explicit permission to be contacted, there's no algorithm filtering your message, and you own the list. Social media is where people scroll. Email is where people buy. When someone is ready to make a purchasing decision, they go to their inbox, because that's where trust lives. Why are my farm emails going to the promotions folder? Emails go to the promotions folder for two main reasons: deliverability problems (account setup, sending patterns, list hygiene) and weak subject lines that don't earn the open. Both are skill gaps, not signs that email marketing doesn't work. Subject lines are the single most fixable variable. They need to feel personal, specific, curious, or directly tied to a problem your reader has right now. Generic subject lines like "Farm Update" get ignored every time. How do you write farm email subject lines that actually get opened? Write subject lines that sound like a friend texting you, not a marketer broadcasting an announcement. Think about your own inbox: you open emails that feel personal, that hit on something you care about, or that promise to solve a real problem. Subject lines like "The 5:30 freezer moment" outperform "Farm Update" because they're specific to a real situation your customer experiences. How do you build a farm email list from scratch? Build your list through three channels: a lead magnet on your website, social media posts that funnel people to your list, and in-person opportunities like library workshops, garden clubs, and partnerships with local wellness businesses. A great example: Charlotte's student Cassie built "5 High-Protein Dinners to Simplify Your Life." Five recipes featuring her ground beef, with a meal plan and her phone number on the last page. Made in Canva in an afternoon. Other farmers asked her for the file before she finished showing it. What should farmers email their customers about? Email about things your customers actually care about: their lives, problems, and goals. Not just what's available this week. Pure transactional emails ("Eggs available, $6/dozen") feel like a stranger asking for money. Story-based emails build relationship. Charlotte once sold out of London broil she didn't know what to do with by sending one email with a recipe and the story of how she figured it out. Relationship comes first; the sale follows naturally. How often should farmers email their customers? More often than you think. At least weekly during selling seasons, and consistently year-round to stay top of mind. A cold list is hard to sell to. The goal is for customers to see your name in their inbox and feel something positive. Not every email is a pitch. Some are stories, some are tips, some are farm updates, and the rhythm matters more than the perfection. Can someone write farm marketing emails for me? Short answer: yes. For the June 2026 cohort of the Profitable Farmer Marketing program, full-pay students get a private 2.5-hour session with Charlotte's operations lead, Rebecca, who builds an entire year of marketing assets specifically for their farm. This includes the lead magnet, welcome sequence, weekly emails laid out across the year, seasonal launch emails, and matching social posts (all customized to your customer interview language). The first farmer who tested this cried when she saw it. This bonus is only available for full-pay June 2026 enrollment; the next opportunity is October. Resources mentioned in this episode: Free email marketing course for farmers  - charlottemsmith.com/free-email-course Profitable Farmer Marketing program — June 2026 cohort opens with 'The Power of One' welcome workshop on Tuesday, June 23rd. Full-pay enrollment includes the done-for-you year-of-marketing-assets bonus. Sign up at charlottemsmith.com/masterclass FAQ Q: What email platform should farmers use? Kit (formerly ConvertKit) and MailerLite both have free tiers under 1,000 subscribers and work well for farms. Pick one and learn it well rather than switching tools. Q: How long should a farm marketing email be? Long enough to tell the story, short enough that nothing extra survives. Most strong farm emails land between 200 and 500 words. Q: Will my customers unsubscribe if I email weekly? Some will, and that's fine — those weren't your customers anyway. The right people will look forward to your emails. Q: Do I need to write a year of emails before I start? No. Start with one email a week. The discipline matters more than the inventory. Q: How do I avoid sounding salesy in my emails? Read every email out loud before sending. If you wouldn't say it to a friend at your kitchen table, rewrite it.   Connect with Charlotte Sign up for Farm Marketing Week at charlottemsmith.com/masterclass.   Subscribe and Review Subscribe to The Profitable Mindset Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. And consider leaving a review. Your reviews help other farmers find this work.   Click HERE and Let's Meet! Chat with us to see if The Profitable Farmer can break you out of marketing misery.  

Does having a mailing list feel like too much for you? Like it's adding “one more thing” to your list as a one-person business?That's what I hear constantly when I coach solopreneurs. Either they don't have a newsletter because it feels like too much work, or they have one, but they're paying for a plan they don't actually need. And in almost every case, it's not a strategy problem. It's a tool problem.That's why I'm making the case for Kit (formerly ConvertKit) — not because it's the flashiest option, but because it removes work instead of adding it. In this episode, I break down four specific reasons Kit is my go-to for solopreneur automation: easy setup, powerful evergreen automations, direct integrations with the tools you already use, and RSS-to-email that turns your podcast or blog into a newsletter without lifting a finger.I also share how I saved my client Laura to a bunch of money thanks to Kit's free plan.If your newsletter has been sitting on the back burner, this one's for you.Wondering if you're leaving money on the table with tools you're not using or overpaying for? Learn how to find them with the free Solopreneur Sweep: streamlined.fm/sweepShow NotesKit (formerly ConvertKit)Growth in Reverse — Chenell Basilio's newsletter growth resourceHow I Saved Laura Brazan More Than She Spent on My Coaching ————Streamlined Solopreneur is the podcast for solopreneurs who want to automate their business and take time off worry-free. Each week, Joe Casabona shares practical systems, tools, and strategies to help you reclaim your time and run your business without sacrificing your the rest of your life, or your health. Start with the free Solopreneur Sweep — a step-by-step method for finding where your business is losing time: https://streamlined.fm/sweepIf this episode helped you, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts helps other solopreneurs find the show — it only takes a minute and means a lot.Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Join Flodesk Partner, Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS for a robust deep dive into the evolving landscape of email marketing, practical technical strategies, and AI's impact — all centered around the power of Flodesk for creators, small business owners, and marketers. Discover how Flodesk outperforms industry standards with 17% higher email visibility and why its technical backbone (including Amazon SES integration) leads to superior open and click-through rates. Favour dispels myths about pricing, reveals pitfalls of competitor platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and ConvertKit, and walks through the essential metrics and best practices that drive sustainable growth.Explore actionable tactics for segmenting your list, building workflows, ensuring compliance, managing DNS records, and even leveraging backlinks from within your email platform. Gain insight into content strategy, the importance of high-quality list growth over vanity numbers, and how to work through mental blocks or burnout as a digital creative. Favour also unpacks the risks and opportunities of AI-driven content, the importance of protecting your web assets from scraping, and emerging best practices as AI reshapes marketing. For creators feeling overwhelmed by platform choices, technical jargon, or skepticism about automation and visibility stats, this episode offers clarity, step-by-step guidance, and a boost of confidence to take your email marketing to the next level. Learn from real-world examples, industry benchmarks, and practical tools that favor sustainable relationship-driven marketing over spammy tactics.Who Is This For?Entrepreneurs and small business owners Solopreneurs and digital creators Email marketing beginners to intermediates Marketing professionals looking for actionable technical advice Anyone considering Flodesk or seeking more ROI from email tools Creatives interested in building sustainable, compliant audience relationships List managers wanting to increase engagement and deliverabilityReady to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

#875 If you've ever dreamed of turning digital products into a six-figure income stream, this episode is a must-listen! Host Brien Gearin chats with Becky Beach — AI-powered business strategist, digital product coach, and founder of MomBeach.com — about her journey from a toxic 9-to-5 job to earning over $100K per month online. Becky shares how she built her business through blogging, printables, spreadsheets, courses, and memberships — all while using AI to double her income and save time. Learn how she creates products, markets them with content and email, and automates her sales using tools like Canva, ThriveCart, ConvertKit, and ManyChat. Whether you're new to digital products or ready to scale, Becky's story is packed with insight, strategy, and inspiration! (Original Air Date - 8/22/25) What we discuss with Becky: + Starting a mom blog while pregnant + Escaping a toxic 9-to-5 job + Making first money with affiliate links + Transitioning into selling printables + Growing income to $100K/month + Using AI to create digital products + Building and monetizing an email list + Running multiple memberships and courses + Automating sales with ManyChat and Instagram + Hiring VAs to scale product creation and support Thank you, Becky! Check out Becky Beach at ⁠CoachBeckyBeach.com⁠. Get Becky's free masterclass, ⁠AI Digital Product Creation⁠. Watch the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠video podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this rich conversation, Lantz Howard sits down with Barrett Brooks — executive coach, former COO of ConvertKit (now Kit), host of The Good Work Podcast, and steward of Presence-Based Coaching.Barrett shares openly about:The power of curating experiences and “hosting the party” (everyone wants to attend, few want to host)Date nights at Nostrana and what they reveal about intentional leadershipThe shift from false self (superhero, achievement-driven) to true self (enough, presence, “that'll do, pig”)Lessons from burnout at Kit and acquiring Presence-Based CoachingHow to create meaningful entry and exit rituals in group coachingBuilding the organization he's always longed for — one rooted in autonomy, wholeness, and long-term stewardshipWhy the coaching industry needs both deep skill and entrepreneurial clarityA thoughtful, practical episode for leaders, coaches, and creators who want to lead from wholeness rather than hustle.--Learn more about coaching with Lantz Howard at www.lantzhoward.com

Kickstarter has become a key part of the author business for those who want to make more money per book, connect directly with readers, and produce beautiful editions they're proud of. In this episode, I share excerpts from interviews with Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter, Russell Nohelty, and Sacha Black, alongside my own hard-won lessons from six campaigns that have now made over $140K combined. Whether you're considering your first campaign or looking to refine your process, we cover everything from overcoming your fears to rewards, fulfilment, shipping, marketing, and why I keep coming back for more. In the intro, Writing StoryBundle; Spotify Expands Audiobook Features and Printed Books; Draft2Digital Activation and Maintenance Fees; comment by Kevin McLaughlin; and Barnes & Noble Press change to Minimum Retail Price for Printed Books; AI-Assisted Artisan Author webinars. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, short stories and travel memoir under J.F. Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors and hosts The Creative Penn Podcast. What Kickstarter is and why it works differently from a normal book launch The fears that held me back for almost a decade — and whether they were justified Starting small: Why you don't need sprayed edges and special hardbacks to run a successful campaign. Creative reward ideas beyond merch: digital rewards, experiential rewards, naming rights, and bundling your backlist Common mistakes that sink campaigns: overestimating your reach, getting shipping costs wrong, and not allowing enough time Fulfilment realities, printing timelines, and reinvesting profit into future stock Marketing your campaign: pre-launch signups, content marketing, email lists, social media scheduling, and Facebook/Meta ads My update for campaign #7, Bones of the Deep: what's changed, what I'm doing differently, and how AI tools are part of my process now Why I now love Kickstarter campaigns and how the spike income model fits a sustainable creative career You can find my Kickstarter campaign for Bones of the Deep here (until 5 May, 2026) and all my previous campaigns here. Introduction Jo: In this episode, I've included excerpts from my own previous solo show about Kickstarter, as well as excerpts from interviews with Oriana Leckert, the Head of Publishing at Kickstarter; Russell Nohelty, who has done lots of successful Kickstarter campaigns and teaches direct sales; and Sacha Black, who did a six-figure campaign last year. I've also added my updates to the end of the episode filling in any last thoughts. You can listen to the full episodes here: Kickstarter for Authors with Oriana Leckert The Mindset and Business of Selling Direct with Russell Nohelty Lessons Learned and Tips from Pilgrimage, My First Kickstarter Campaign Two Different Approaches to Selling Direct with Sacha Black and Joanna Penn What is Kickstarter, and why use it instead of a normal book launch? Here's Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter — and the numbers she shares will be higher now, as the episode is from February 2025. Oriana: Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform. We are unique in the crowdfunding landscape for a few reasons. We are only for creative projects, so you can't use Kickstarter for medical bills, investment funding, or charitable donations. Every project has to create something new to share with the world. Jo: Have you got any numbers on how big the Kickstarter industry is now with publishing, or anything you can share around that? Oriana: Yeah, I would love to. First I'll tell you Kickstarter overall by the numbers. Since our inception, there have been 273,000 projects funded, eight and a half billion — with a “b” — billion dollars pledged, from more than 24 million backers. In publishing specifically, we've had 69,000 projects launched, 3.2 million unique backers, and over $380 million pledged to campaigns. I have lots of other stats, but a few things I'll share. The publishing category keeps growing The publishing category has grown year over year, every year since 2017, in terms of number of projects launched, number of projects successful, and the overall success rate. There has never been a dip since 2017. Another stat I really love about the publishing category: if you look at campaigns that have at least 25 backers, the overall success rate is 84%. I think that's really telling, because 25 backers is a little bit more than your mum, your best friend, the folks who are essentially obligated to support anything you do. So if you can get a little bit beyond that inner circle, your chances of succeeding on the platform are tremendously high. Backers are paying more — and waiting longer Another thing I wanted to call out — I just got some new numbers around this. The average backing amount per backer across the whole category has nearly doubled since 2020. We used to see an average backing around $40, and it's currently at $72 per backer. I think this is clearly around the trend of special and deluxe editions, but it's a great indication that backer behaviour on Kickstarter is just very different from your general book-buying public. People don't come here looking for 99-cent ebooks — the lowest bargain-basement prices. Folks are really willing to pay more because they understand this is a different kind of thing. It's not exactly a purchase. It really is supporting, bringing a strange and wonderful new thing into the world that wouldn't exist before. People are also much more forgiving about timelines. If you buy something from most online booksellers, you're expecting to have it in your hands within a couple of days. People wait months and sometimes years to get their Kickstarter rewards, and they don't mind if the creator is clear and transparent. You're also doing the work of demystifying the publishing process. Why does it take so long? Where are books printed? How long does it take them to ship via freight over the ocean? What do all these things really look like? So it's really interesting just figuring out what your backers want and will bear versus the general book-buying public out in the world. Kickstarter is not just for “desperate” authors anymore Oriana: People used to think Kickstarter was just for desperate folks who couldn't get a book deal through the traditional systems. The change has been so dramatic — people now understand that Kickstarter can be transformative for an author's career, and that it can work for traditional publishing, indie publishing, hybrid publishing, all kinds of authors. Kickstarter is really about collapsing the boundaries between a writer and their readers, a publisher and their fan base, any creative person and their audience. And there are so many benefits to doing that. You get to really thrill your backers with new and exciting rewards. You get to turn what can be a standard book release into a moment. You get to build your brand, your profile, get press, test out ambitious projects. You get to understand so much more about your audience and what they want and how you can give it to them. It's been really marvellous seeing the great success that people can have on our platform and outside of it. Why do a Kickstarter campaign? Jo: Why Kickstarter and not a usual book launch? Benefits for backers If you back a Kickstarter, you get special editions, bonus content, interesting merchandise, bundles, digital specials, print specials, early access. All of them pretty much are really cool books from creators you either already love or those you've never heard of, because you just want to see their cool stuff. I've started buying books from people I have never heard of because I think their books are really cool. Once you start supporting campaigns on Kickstarter, the algorithm will recommend campaigns for you. It's essentially a different way of shopping for great books and other products, and it's just another part of my ecosystem for how I shop. It's a form of direct sales, so you also have a closer connection with the creator. You can message them, for example, and they get it — rather than buying through an online retailer or bookstore. Benefits for creators In terms of benefits for creators, you get to know people in a more personal way through the campaign, messaging with people and connecting more than you would when selling through a retailer, when you don't know who is buying your books. As an author, you can make more money more quickly and retain a higher percentage of the royalties, rather than wait months or years to get paid and have a large percentage taken out by everyone down the chain — publishers, platforms, distributors, and retailers. Brandon Sanderson's $41 million Kickstarter was clearly the pinnacle of what can be achieved, but many authors are happy making a few thousand for their book project upfront and use campaigns multiple times during the year. Kickstarter takes 5% for their fee, although of course you have to factor in the cost of production and marketing. But even then, I make more profit on my book sales through selling ebooks and audiobooks direct, and also printing with BookVault, than I do with KDP Print or IngramSpark print on demand. Higher average order and faster payment Another way you make more money is that the average order per customer is higher with Kickstarter than sales on the usual stores. The average order on my campaign was £37.24 — that's around $45 US — which is at least four times higher than I might have made selling Pilgrimage in the usual way on the major retailers. You get paid two weeks after the campaign finishes, so the money is in your bank account much faster than if you sell on retailers. In terms of cash flow, make sure you time your campaign so you get the money before you have to pay for printing, shipping, and other significant bills. Spike income vs monthly income There are many creators who now make Kickstarter the core of their business. It's a spike income model rather than a monthly income, which most indie authors are used to. The monthly income model is fantastic — I love getting money every month — but it also has the effect of making indie authors behave as if this is a normal job: work every month, get paid every month, put out another book so you get paid in another few months' time. With the Kickstarter model, you can get a bigger chunk of money in one go, so you could potentially move to a big launch and then take more time off before ramping up to the next launch months later. And amusingly, this sounds a bit more like traditional publishing. It's just that as an indie author, when you get that amount of money, it's much bigger. So that kind of launch tempo is an attractive prospect if you think about it: if I just get this big spike of money even once a year, that's really cool. And then of course you can sell it later. What are some of the fears that might stop you? Jo: I held back from doing a Kickstarter for years — almost a decade, in fact — where I backed campaigns and resisted doing a campaign for my own books. Here are some of my fears. Prepare to face your fears Jo: This entire experience thrust me out of my comfort zone and into a new way of creating, launching, and connecting with readers. Pilgrimage is my first memoir, my first special hardback with colour photos, and my first Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. So I had a lot to learn. The book is very personal and I bare my soul about some dark times, so that was terrifying in itself, let alone trying a new product edition and publishing platform. On the evening I clicked the launch button — and yes, you have to actually click an actual launch button — my heart was hammering out of my chest. I have not felt that nervous since probably the first time publishing on Amazon. I was afraid of failure. I was afraid of being embarrassed if my campaign didn't fund. I wrote a book on marketing — how to market a book — so I would be mortified if I had not funded. In fact, I even changed my target from £5,000 to £1,000 the night before, as I was so terrified it wouldn't fund. I was afraid of getting something terribly wrong and ending up out of pocket through issues with printing and shipping. I was afraid of letting backers down by promising something I might not be able to deliver. I was afraid I had overcommitted myself to a whole load of work I might even resent doing. I am a one-person business, and although I work with freelancers, I still do pretty much everything myself. I am a control freak — you might have noticed. So yes, there was a lot of apprehension and fear. You don't have to go huge Another fear might be the fear of failure — that you'll put up a campaign and no one will buy from you. But one answer is just to do a modest campaign. You don't have to do special hardbacks or merchandise. As Russell says: Russell: Somehow all of the teaching that we have given over the last two years has been executed in a way that makes it seem like you have to do this enormous campaign with sprayed edges and big, beautiful hardcovers and interior illustrations and vellum and all of that stuff. And I want to say first: that is absolutely not true. You don't have to do any of those things. If you look at two of the last three campaigns I've done, all I was offering was paperback books and ebooks, and then audio commentary for one of the campaigns. You can do a Kickstarter — and I often will tell people, especially if they're not an already successful author — do a campaign that is small and easy to get data on before you do something big. The direct connection is actually the point Jo: One of my resistances to this was a sort of, “Oh, I'm actually going to have to do a more higher-touch thing.” But as you say, the reframe is: oh my goodness, this is amazing, because I actually do get to connect with people. Just yesterday I sent a signed book — Pilgrimage, which I did my last Kickstarter on — and this guy was like, “I bought it for myself. Can you sign it to me, because I'm going to do the Camino in a wheelchair?” And I was just so touched. Emailing him back, I just felt, oh my goodness, I'm having a connection with this person that if they'd just bought a book on Amazon, I would not have had. So now it's almost like — it's this totally different view of my business, which is that direct-first means a much more personal way. It really is like we're in that thousand true fans moment that we first talked about 20 years ago. Were my fears realised? Jo: Just to recap, I was afraid of failure and embarrassment if I failed to fund, of getting something wrong and being out of pocket, of letting backers down, and of overcommitting myself and resenting the workload. Really, the only thing that happened was overcommitment and a lot more work than I expected. But the time I put in was also likely the reason for the campaign's success and the reason that the other things didn't happen. I had to learn a new platform and a new approach to publishing and book marketing, so it was kind of a mini degree at the same time. So yes, I will do another Kickstarter — but only for special projects that are suited to this kind of intensive campaign. Tips for campaigns In this section, Oriana shares her thoughts on rewards, and then I'll go into some more of my tips. Thinking beyond merch Oriana: The rewards are really at the heart of the Kickstarter proposition and what makes this kind of fundraising so interesting and thrilling. Basically, your process is you're inviting people on a creative journey. You're saying, “I'm going to make this cool thing. I want your support, and in exchange, you're going to get stuff, you're going to get to be part of my process.” Obviously your main reward is going to be your book, or your series, or if you're a publishing company, your season — whatever it is. That's your main tier. Then you're going to build everything else out above and below that. A lot of people think rewards means swag and merch. Which is fine, but merch can add a lot to your production costs. It's causing you to learn how to produce all kinds of things that maybe you've never done before. So that's not the only way to do it. If you're going to do some merch, I think it's nice to come up with some custom items that feel really related to the work that you're doing. If you've got a romance novel with a pivotal scene on the beach, maybe you'd make some candles that smell like the ocean. Maybe you do some kind of handkerchief that's printed with the pattern of the dress your heroine is wearing. Digital and experiential rewards Oriana: But you can really think beyond merch into digital rewards and experiential rewards. There are a lot of parts of the writing process that can be pulled out and packaged as rewards — things like notes from the field, outtakes, deleted scenes. I've had people write bloopers, as if it were a comedy movie, added new scenes or novellas, other pieces from different works that you've done. Certainly your backlist and other books you've written can all be included. We've seen people do tours of the writer's studio, things like that. Also think about what skills you have in addition to your writing. Perhaps you're excellent at marketing or social media or poetry — you can offer webinars on those sorts of things. Other kinds of ways that people can experience your creative practice. High-end and naming rewards Oriana: Then you can get into high-end, one-off, crazy rewards. One whole section of rewards I love is naming rights. We've seen all kinds — “We'll name the dragon after your dog, or after your mother-in-law. We'll name the hero after your son.” There's a LitRPG novelist named Matt Dinniman who does this really well. He writes these big-cast novels — there are dungeons, and you're in an intergalactic reality TV show with hundreds of characters. In his last campaign, for $666 he would kill you off in his next book, and for $777 he'd let you live and write a whole scene around you personally. You can also do book release parties. You can do book clubs. If you're writing children's books, you can do colouring pages or supplemental material for teachers or other educators. The sky is really the limit, and it is based on your creativity and the things that both you can make and that your audience wants. This is another opportunity — talk to them. Ask them: if I'm going to do a piece of swag, would you rather have an enamel pin or a makeup bag? If I'm going to do alternate covers, would you like the blue cover or the red cover? See what your people are interested in, and then figure out whether it's possible for you to deliver it to them. Learn about the platform from experts Jo: I've been publishing and selling books through online retailers, as well as my own store, since 2008. I know what I'm doing, but I still had a lot to learn. With Kickstarter, it's essentially a completely different ecosystem, with different rules and a different audience, so you have to learn the ropes. Even if you're super successful in other places, you might crash and burn on Kickstarter unless you understand how it works and change your approach accordingly. Start backing campaigns Jo: See how it feels to back Kickstarter campaigns and discover what draws you in as a reader and a fan of specific things. You might find projects you love outside of books — there's plenty of other projects outside of books. You can browse the publishing category to find new books, and also use the search to find things you might like. In this way, you can support fellow creators and learn how the Kickstarter site works for discoverability and marketing. Make sure you go through the Kickstarter.com resources — they have a creator pack which will give you direction on the campaign. Also, their terms of use are really important to read, as there are some assumptions you'll have because you've published on another platform that are incorrect. So do not assume you know what you're doing if this is your first campaign. Ask for feedback before launch Jo: Once you have a draft of your campaign, ask specific people to review it before it launches. You can share a preview prior to launch and get feedback on your page. This helps you refine your story and the rewards, answer any questions before the campaign goes live, and it can also help pique the interest of your audience. I asked specific people who had done Kickstarter campaigns for help at different stages of the process, and this was really useful too. Review common mistakes from other campaigns Jo: If you examine how others made mistakes, you can learn from them. The most common seem to be: Not finishing the book before the campaign Getting the financials wrong for production, shipping, and any other rewards. I know some authors who have ended up breaking even, or sometimes even out of pocket from campaigns. Don't do that. Not making the most of the story sales page and not including everything necessary, so backers don't understand and don't want to support the campaign — essentially, not being clear enough Setting unrealistic goals, like expecting to make six figures on a first campaign Not allowing enough time for everything Not seeking feedback from people who have done it before Not marketing the campaign enough Overpromising and under-delivering Poor communication with backers about the status of rewards Set aside more time than you think you need Jo: The campaign ended up being far more significant than I expected in terms of workload and time to complete. Everyone told me that beforehand, but it was still a surprise. It took time to prepare the multiple editions for the rewards. I usually produce an ebook, paperback, and a large print edition, and I narrate my own nonfiction audiobooks. But for this Kickstarter, I also wanted to do this special hardback with colour photos, a flyleaf cover and silver foil. I wanted to create a special print product I could be proud of. I'm proud of all my books in terms of the content, but the usual paperback print-on-demand books are more about the content than the true beauty of the product. For Pilgrimage: A Book of My Heart, I wanted a special edition, so I worked with Jane on the design, going through my photos from the various pilgrimages to find those that resonated with the content — for example, the cadaver tomb at Canterbury, and my Compostela from the Camino de Santiago. Once we finished, I had that proof copy rushed so we could turn around everything. And I love, love, love the hardback. It has a silken-finish cover and it feels lovely and weighty. The pictures came out well, as the paper is of a higher quality and weight to allow for colour printing. Overall, I am incredibly proud of the finished product. I even sent a copy to my mother-in-law, which I have never done before. And yes, she thinks it's good. I definitely should have allowed more time, as I spent most of the Christmas and New Year period working on the book, recording and editing the audiobook, and preparing for the campaign. I also didn't have time to prepare, record, edit, and produce the Writing Setting and Sense of Place course until after the campaign, and it was really hard to find the energy to do this afterwards. Building the campaign page Jo: It took time to build the Kickstarter campaign page, create the video, and incorporate feedback. Most authors don't write sales pages anymore. Sure, we write a sales description for the book page on the retailers, but we don't often do a whole page for multiple editions. On Kickstarter, you are basically writing a sales page for your campaign, which they call a “story.” Some of your existing audience might just click through and back the campaign without reading it, but most backers will check out the details to find answers to any questions they have. It is a very long page, and you also need a video — or you don't need one, but it's highly recommended. It's best to record the video at the last stage when everything else is done. You can still see my Kickstarter video on my campaign page, so I won't go through everything in detail. But the key aspects are: Who the campaign is aimed at Why the campaign is important to me and the book What products are available Pictures of everything — the page should be really visual — and I included the images in the video as well Sample chapters and sample audio Specifications, with weight, pages, listening time, table of contents About me, the author Stretch goals Add-ons Any questions, risks, and challenges So it's pretty long. Then the reward levels have to be set up carefully for each pledge level with shipping costs, and specific details about what's included. Eventually, I felt like my page had way too much information, but since I didn't really get many backer questions, I guess it did what it was supposed to do. I rewrote and edited that page so many times — adding and changing the order of things, responding to feedback, switching things around. But hopefully I can use that as a template for other campaigns. Marketing takes time too Jo: It took time to prepare the marketing for the campaign. I'm pretty low-key for most launches these days — I publish a book, send a few emails to my lists, announce it on the podcast, do a little social media, update my websites, and move on to the next book. So this was probably my biggest effort in terms of a launch since my first novel back in 2011. I only had a two-week campaign, so I needed to make the most of that window. I'm going to detail the marketing in a separate section, but it took a lot of time to prepare the various things and execute them, as well as keep the energy up for promotion during the campaign. Two weeks was definitely the longest I would want to do — I was really over it by the end. Delivering stretch rewards Jo: It took more time to create and deliver the extra stretch rewards I promised. Since I had pretty low expectations of funding, I set my first stretch goal at £10,000 for “Lessons Learned from Writing a Travel Memoir.” When I promised it, I thought it might be a few pages of tips, and I didn't even think we would get there. But I'm incapable of delivering something that is half done. So when we did hit £10,000, I wrote essentially a short book on the topic, which I then formatted as an ebook and recorded as an audiobook. I'm actually going to turn that into a proper book at some point, so the content will get reused. But that definitely took more time than I expected, because I hadn't prepared it in advance. The backer spreadsheet and fulfilment Jo: It took time to figure out the backer spreadsheet and check all the fulfilment details. Once you finish your campaign, you send out surveys for mailing addresses and to fulfil rewards. I also needed to turn the backer report into a printing order for BookVault, and that was nerve-wracking. The spreadsheets were different formats, and then we spot-checked the orders to make sure people got the right books based on their orders. I was petrified that some people might get the wrong book, and I checked and checked and checked — both on the spreadsheet, and then once the orders were loaded, I checked BookVault as well. I was worried I'd have to resend the right book, which would end up with me out of pocket because they'd have to do double printing and shipping. But thankfully, all the checking made everything good, and I haven't heard from anyone who got the wrong book. Following up with backers Jo: It took time to follow up on failed payments and address issues. Most backers were easy to deal with — they received the updates and Kickstarter emails, they filled in the surveys, and I didn't have any problems. But there were problems with about 5% of backers, most of which were not their fault. There were failed payments when banks thought Kickstarter might be fraud. There were missed emails because of issues with deliverability, so backers didn't receive the rewards, or they didn't fill in the survey and return their address, which meant I couldn't do the order with BookVault — I had to do it later or manually. I had to follow up with every single one of these, some of them multiple times, and I slowly reduced my list of outstanding backers. A tip: If you back a Kickstarter campaign, please log on to Kickstarter a few weeks after the campaign has finished and check for updates. It's possible that you're not receiving the emails from Kickstarter, and the creator may need details from you in order to fulfil your pledge. Tax implications Jo: It took time to figure out the tax implications. This is not legal or financial advice, and your taxes will vary by jurisdiction. Please ask your accountant how you need to treat Kickstarter or any other book-related income. Wherever you are in the world, you will need to pay tax on the income, because we all have income tax, but the complicating factor is whether you also need to consider sales tax. And this definitely differs by jurisdiction. I went to my accountant, who said we should handle it as per any other book sales. I followed my accountant's advice, which treats backers the same way as my customers who buy on Shopify. Ask a professional in your jurisdiction about taxes and finances, even if you are in the UK. I cannot answer any questions. I'm not an accountant. Closing the loop Jo: I haven't had much time to do anything else, as I felt like I couldn't start anything new until everything in the campaign was finished. As soon as the campaign window closed, I felt like I had an open loop in my brain. I desperately wanted to close it in order to say the project was done. I have now delivered all the book and course rewards, and these lessons learned are really the last part of it. I've talked before about the different kinds of energy you need as an author — starting energy, pushing-through energy, and finishing energy. Once the campaign was funded, my finishing energy kicked in and I was driven to get everything finished as soon as possible. I sent the digital rewards out within a few days of the campaign closing, and also shipped the unsigned books, ordered the print books, then went and signed them, and then recorded the course. It has been my primary focus for the last few months, and I haven't been able to do much else except the podcast, which is my weekly commitment to you. Once again, I should have blocked out the time. Bonus tip: Don't plan an international speaking and book research trip during the campaign. International shipping and fulfilment Jo: Be careful with international shipping and fulfilment of signed books or products. Shipping costs can sink your campaign if you get them wrong, so be very careful with this area. I have sold books in 175 countries, and this podcast has a listenership in 228 countries, so I really wanted to have a completely international campaign. I wanted to ship Pilgrimage in any format to any country. Originally I thought I would just charge a bit extra for the book and include shipping. But once I set the book editions up at BookVault and I had the weight and dimensions sorted, I started checking the shipping costs to different countries. For example, we lived in New Zealand for seven years — my husband is a New Zealander, so we go back — so I definitely had to sell in New Zealand. And of course the shipping to New Zealand is very, very different to the US, for example. It is crazy how much shipping costs vary. I discovered I couldn't just assume it would all wash out and I'd end up making a profit somehow. I had to be a lot more careful with the calculations. So I focused on my biggest markets, which in terms of my book sales are the US, UK, European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. I added a note on the campaign to say I would add any other country for print shipping if people contacted me. As it turned out, no one asked for any other countries, so that was the best way to go in the end. If you're in a country where the shipping is outrageous — if you're willing to pay for the shipping, then that's absolutely fine. It's just that for the campaign, I had to focus. When the unexpected happens Jo: Of course, you can try to prepare for everything and then something unexpected and out of your control happens. A big spanner in the works for my campaign was the Russian hack, which took down the UK Royal Mail just before my launch. If you're not in the UK, you wouldn't have heard about this, because in some ways it's a very small issue — but it basically took down Royal Mail and a lot of shipping went into flux. It specifically hit the international side, and other shipping firms ramped up to take the slack. But it made planning for the launch difficult, as the prices were shifting and I didn't know how delivery was going to work. Even for posting in the UK it was hard, because the mail offices were getting backed up. Once again, I'm grateful for BookVault's adaptability, because I could check different addresses and shipping prices even as things changed, and they added new providers for shipping. About 95% of my shipping ended up being within an acceptable range of what I charged. So do your research, weigh and measure your items so you can get exact quotes for each. Check what kind of packaging you need. If you're doing your own shipping, you have to actually type in the shipping costs per reward and per country — it's a lot of manual setup to get it right. But this is critical, so check and double-check — and in fact, I triple- and quadruple-checked, then went to sleep, and then the next day checked again. Having spent 13 years as an IT consultant prior to this career as an author, I will always remember and have learned from the fact that something just might not be working, and then literally if you just go away, go to bed, come back the next day, it'll probably just be working. Sometimes it actually works. So yes, I did that, and every time I checked, pretty much I found something I'd typed in that didn't quite match, because you also have to retype — if you include all the books in the add-ons, you have to type it again. I didn't stop checking until the day before the launch, and then it was right. I was happy, and everything seemed to be fine. Shipping is always a moving target Jo: Revisiting this section made me laugh, because as I record this, in the week before I launch Bones of the Deep, international shipping is disrupted again — by the war in Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz being closed, which is affecting fuel prices. This underscores yet again how important it is to check your shipping. Of course, you can add shipping on later — Kickstarter allows this, as does BackerKit and other services. But as a backer, a customer of people on the platform, I hate being asked to pay shipping later. And since I hate that myself, I don't want other people to feel the same way. So just add a little buffer in, as asking people to pay an extra dollar in their pledge is not that big a deal, but you being out of pocket for every book shipped may well be. Sacha Black on pre-launch and fulfilment In an interview I did with Sacha Black, who writes as Ruby Roe, in December 2025, we talked about her issues with fulfilment. Sacha does a lot of complex printing, shipping, and custom book boxes and more. Her last campaign made over six figures, but of course it had its challenges. Here's Sacha with some of her tips, and then Oriana to close out this section with some other mistakes. Sacha: The first thing is — even before you start your Kickstarter — the pre-launch followers are critical. A lot of people think, “Well…” I guess there's a lot of loud noise about all these big numbers about how much people can make on Kickstarter, but actually a lot of it is driven by you, the author, pushing your audience to Kickstarter. You need more pre-launch followers than you think you do. Lots of people don't put enough impetus on the marketing beforehand. Almost all of our Kickstarter marketing is beforehand, because we drive so many people to that follow button. The other thing we do is early-bird pricing. We get the majority of our income on a campaign on day one. I think it was something wild, like 80% this time was on day one, so that's really important. Fulfilment takes longer than you think Sacha: The second thing is, it takes so, so very much longer than you think it does to fulfil a campaign, and you must factor in that cost. Because if it's not you fulfilling, you're paying somebody else to fulfil it. And if it is you fulfilling it, you must account for your own time in the pricing of your campaign. The other thing is that the amount of time it takes to fulfil is directly proportionate to the size of the campaign. So you do have to think about that. The other lesson we have learned is that overseas printing will drag your timelines out far longer than you think. So whatever you think it's going to take you to fulfil — add several months more onto that, and put that information in your campaign. Reinvesting profit and exclusive rewards Sacha: The last thing — if you have some profit in the Kickstarter, because not all Kickstarters are actually massively profitable. They either don't account enough for shipping, or they don't account enough in the pricing. Thankfully, ours have been profitable, but we've actually reinvested that profit back into buying more stock and more merchandise, which not everybody would want to do if they don't have a warehouse. However, we do have one. We are stockpiling merchandise and books so that we can do mystery boxes later on down the line. It's probably a year away, but we are buying extra of everything so that we have that in the warehouse. So it depends on what you want to do with your profit. For us, it was all about buying more books, basically. The other thing to think about is: what is it that you're doing that's exclusive to Kickstarter? Because you will get backers on Kickstarter who want that quirky, unique thing that they're not going to be able to get anywhere else. But what about you? You've done more Kickstarters than me — what do you think is the biggest lesson you've learned? Tiers, bundles, and AI for planning rewards Jo: Well, I think all of mine together add up to the one you just did. Although I will comment — you said something like £75 per pre-launch backer. That is obviously dependent on your tiers for the rewards, so most authors won't have that amount. My average order value, which I know is slightly different, but I don't offer things like book boxes as you have — so a lot of it will depend on the tiers. Some people will do a Kickstarter just with an ebook — just with one ebook and maybe a bundle of ebooks — so you're never going to make it up to that kind of value. So this is important too: have a look at what people offer on their different levels of Kickstarter. In fact, here's my AI tip for the day. What you can do — what I did with my Buried and the Drowned campaign recently — is, you know, I'm happy uploading my book. I uploaded it to ChatGPT and said, “Tell me, what are some ideas for the different reward tiers that I can do on Kickstarter?” And it will give you some ideas for what you can do, what kind of bundles you might want to do. So bundling your backlist is another thing you can do — as upsells, or you can just do it like I did for Blood Vintage, where I did a horror bundle of four standalone horror books in one of the upper tiers. Bundling is a good way to do it, and also upselling your backlist is a really good way to up things. And also, if you do it digitally — for ebooks and audiobooks — there's a lot less time in fulfilment. Oriana on the biggest mistakes Jo: What are some of the top mistakes you see that mean the campaign doesn't fund, or there are other issues? Oriana: Totally. I mean, the biggest mistake I think authors make — or any creator — is overestimating their ability to reach their crowd. Making sure that your ambition matches your reach is the number one most important thing to come close to guaranteeing that you will be successful. If you're an emerging writer and you're still building your audience and you don't have that many followers or subscribers out in the world, you should not try to fund a multi-volume leather-bound omnibus. Do a real honest assessment of who's in your crowd, how to find them, what percentage of them are likely to support what you're doing, and then find a project that feels realistic based on those numbers. That's really the biggest thing, conceptually. Building a strong project page Oriana: As far as tips for a project page — again, back campaigns and look at what other people are doing. A project page can be either as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. You definitely want to talk about the book: what is in it, what you're writing. Do a trope card if you want — we're seeing those all over the site. Say what kind of book it is, and the specs: page count, trim size, cover design. Obviously if you're doing a special edition, exactly what sorts of bells and whistles, with a prototype if you can. But you can be really expansive from there. What are your inspirations? Who are your collaborators? What brought you to this work? What are some of the things that make you excited about your writing practice, your timeline, your budget? What made you choose these rewards and how you're going to produce them? All those sorts of things will make backers feel both more trusting that you will do the things you're promising, and just more excited to be part of your journey. Marketing your Kickstarter campaign Let's talk about marketing. First, a snippet from Oriana, and then I'll share specifics around marketing tips — many of which are useful if you're launching in any other way. Kickstarter's algorithm rewards attention Oriana: Being on Kickstarter will help you grow your audience, but it's definitely not everything. You really do need to bring your people first. Our algorithm works on attention, so any project that's getting clicks, getting backings, getting comments — our algorithm says, “Oh, people want to look at this. We will expose it to more and more people.” That means raising it up in search results, slotting it into various of the macros and carousels around the site. Our recommendation engine powers recommended projects on the top of campaigns and at the bottom of emails. We are doing a lot to make sure that projects are being surfaced to folks who want to see them. Talk about the book while you're writing it Jo: Talk and share about the book while you're writing it, even though you might not know what it will turn into. I always share my book research and projects in progress, so this was nothing new. But Pilgrimage was years in the making, so I had years of sharing aspects of it. I've shared pictures from every pilgrimage walk on Instagram at @jfpennauthor and Facebook at J.F. Penn Author, and sometimes Facebook The Creative Penn. I've talked on this podcast about each walk, and I've done solo episodes and blog posts about each on my Books and Travel podcast and blog. I also did a poll and shared my book cover design process, and then I did an article on why I ignored target-reader feedback in the end. All this meant that many in my community — including you listening — became aware of my solo walking and also my ecclesiastical interest, my architecture interest, and you enjoyed my photos along the way if you follow me on social media. So when I announced the launch, it was the culmination of years of build-up. Use the pre-launch page early Jo: Set up the Kickstarter pre-launch page as early as possible, and keep promoting it. You can launch a pre-launch page once Kickstarter has approved your project, and you don't have to have finished everything to make it available — just complete the personal and business setup, and fill in enough detail so they can verify your identity and judge the campaign to be real and within the guidelines, and not a scam or spam campaign. I started to promote my pre-launch page, and by the time we went live, I had people signed up on launch. Those people get an email from Kickstarter. Those people were responsible for my campaign funding within the first few minutes, and then taking it to 5x the target within the first 24 hours. Then I started to email my lists, and all of this type of thing. But it was those pre-launch signups that really kick-started — see what I did there? — the whole thing. The benefit of using Kickstarter for multiple projects is that previous backers are notified of your new project. This compounds the effect over time, and is why those who use Kickstarter successfully do multiple campaigns. Kickstarter SEO and on-platform marketing Jo: Kickstarter has its own ecosystem. There's a discovery algorithm that can help you find projects you might like as a backer, and there are different ways to search, but only certain aspects appear in the search. So your title, subtitle, and your header image need to be optimised so people can find you. Your story sales page needs to be clear, with a compelling pitch. People also have to want your rewards, so marketing has to be baked into the products you're offering and who you're trying to attract. Your video doesn't need to be a professional-level product, but it does need to connect with potential backers, so take the time to make a good one. If you've never made a video before, you will need time to upskill. Kickstarter also has social media. Use #KickstarterReads and tag @KickstarterReads. If your project funds quickly and has a good trajectory, you might get picked for the “Projects We Love” badge, which also gives you better discoverability. I got that pretty fast. You can also tag Kickstarter on social media and inform them of your campaign. Content marketing Jo: Content marketing is offering something useful or interesting or inspiring or funny or entertaining for free, in order to attract your target market so they buy your book. This might be an article or blog post, video, audio, podcast, social media, whatever. For fiction, it's usually a free book or a short story or other free examples of your writing that draw people in. Content marketing is my favourite form of marketing, as it is about attraction, not interruption. It also involves creating something in the world that lasts over time, as opposed to an ephemeral spike ad or a social media post that quickly disappears. Each has its place, of course, and I use them all. This podcast is content marketing, although it now also provides direct revenue in the form of corporate advertising and Patreon support. Thank you, patrons and advertisers — and I consider this to be part of my creative body of work. My Books and Travel podcast is also content marketing. Guest appearances for the launch Jo: For this launch, I did content marketing on my own sites and shows, as well as other people's, which I arranged and recorded in advance. I've also mentioned the campaign in the introduction to every one of these shows leading up to the launch and during the launch. I was on some podcasts: Sacred Steps with Kevin Donahue, Wish I'd Known Then… For Writers with Sara Rosett and Jami Albright, Travel Writing World with Jeremy Bassetti, and Into the Woods with Holly Worton. I also did several of my own. I did one on this feed. I did another on the Books and Travel feed. I also included two chapters from the audiobook on the Books and Travel podcast. All of these took time to prepare and produce, but each is a chance for another person to hear about the book. Plus, they're evergreen, and Pilgrimage is available for everyone to buy now, so I can point people at Pilgrimage on other stores. Use a redirection URL Jo: For all my marketing, I used JFPenn.com/pilgrimage, which I can redirect using the Pretty Links plugin on WordPress and point to wherever I want it to go. Before the launch, it went to the pre-launch page; then the campaign itself; and now it goes to the book page. Once I build a special landing page, it will go there. Depending on where you're listening will depend on where it goes, but that's JFPenn.com/pilgrimage. The URL needs to be easy to say out loud for use in podcast interviews and audio-first media. Email your list multiple times Jo: Some things change in book marketing — like the emergence of new platforms like TikTok — but one thing has stayed the same for decades: if you have an email list, you can always sell books. Your email list consists of people who have opted in to hear from you, so you can email them about normal launches as well as your Kickstarter campaign. I have two email lists: one for The Creative Penn around writing, and the other around J.F. Penn for my fiction. I emailed both lists multiple times at different times in the campaign. I use ConvertKit for my email, but there are other options for authors. Use referral links for tracking Jo: Use specific referral links for different aspects of the campaign for tracking returns. Kickstarter allows you to create different tracking links so you can link revenue to specific marketing events. For example, I used one link for my Creative Penn email list, another for my J.F. Penn email list, and yet another for my Facebook advertising. You can also add the Meta pixel and Google Analytics code to the campaign, which can also help with figuring out advertising. And if you don't know what those are, don't worry — you don't have to use them. Book images and social media Jo: I initially mocked up the book using cover images on MockupShots.com, and then resized them in Canva in order to create social media images. I later did a book photo shoot with the hardback in different places to give me more marketing assets to play with — all of which I will use over time as part of ongoing marketing. I prepared and scheduled social media posts to go out every day, and I did that in advance, primarily for Twitter at @thecreativepenn, my Instagram and Facebook at J.F. Penn Author, and also Facebook at The Creative Penn. It was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed it — weirdly — and I need to do more of this for my other books, especially as with Shopify, Facebook, and Instagram link directly into my store, so I can tag books. These days social commerce is a lot smoother through mobile, so someone can see an image on social, click through, and buy immediately. I also did some quotes from the book — so I did pictures, I also did quotes — and I blatantly used our cute British Shorthair cats, Cashew and Ramen, for marketing reasons. I use Buffer to schedule my social media, but there are other tools. I also asked some friends who are travel influencers to share the book, and I sent them the hardback in advance so they could review if they liked. Thanks to Sarah Baxter and Alastair Humphreys for sharing the book, and especially a big thank you to Anna McNuff, who gave birth to twins that week and still managed to share about Pilgrimage. Backer engagement and stretch goals Jo: Let's be clear — it was not natural for me to push a book every day for two weeks. I also felt awkward about engaging with backers multiple times, let alone the wider community who I was sure was sick of my book, but I did it anyway, as it was only a short campaign of two weeks. I sent four updates during the campaign to backers, some of which are visible to the public on my Kickstarter, and then I sent updates afterwards with delivery of the rewards. Although I did resist the stretch goals, as I mentioned earlier, I went with “Notes on Writing a Travel Memoir” and the backer live Q&A. I did scramble to decide on and deliver those, as I really didn't think I would need them — which is crazy. I had such low expectations of what I might achieve. But next time I would definitely plan stretch goals in advance and in more detail. Facebook advertising Jo: I did some Facebook ads for the campaign — although I should call them Meta ads, because they're also on Instagram. I primarily aimed them at my email lists and people who follow my pages, but also some wider reach using lookalike lists and walking interests. I used a tracking link, so I know that the revenue that came in through people backing it more than paid for the ads. So I would do more of this next time. Marketing things I didn't do Jo: I didn't try to get any press or traditional media attention, mainly because I would have had to approach outlets much earlier in the process. I didn't have the hardback finished until a few weeks before the campaign, rather than a few months before, which is when pitching for press is a better idea. I also didn't collaborate with other creators on Kickstarter, even though I knew other authors doing campaigns at the same time. A couple of people asked me about cross-promotion, but their campaigns were not at all related to Pilgrimage. As with all book marketing, there is only a point to cross-promotion if you target the same readers. I had intended to do some Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Live videos, but I struggle with live videos in general — and especially when I'm tired — so I didn't go ahead with those. I might consider more of those next time. Do a survey for everyone Jo: My tip is — do a survey for everyone. As part of a campaign I previously backed, I noticed that I didn't actually need to do a survey for the digital backers, because they could just get the rewards if I emailed through Kickstarter. And sure enough, you can just email the BookFunnel links, the course discount code, etc., through the campaign. But this was a mistake. I should have done a survey for everyone. If you do a survey, you can get the real email, as some people use a cloaked email. You can also include a checkbox asking people if they want to sign up for your email list. Respecting backer data Jo: So while you do get the email addresses of everyone who backs your campaign in your backer report, you cannot just upload them to your email provider and start emailing them about your other books. Kickstarter's terms of use include the following: When you use Kickstarter, and especially if you create a successful project, you may receive information about other users, including things like their names, email addresses, and postal addresses. This information is provided for the purpose of participating in a Kickstarter project. Don't use it for other purposes and don't abuse it. This is about data protection and privacy laws. Basically, Kickstarter is the platform in this instance, and people have signed up to receive emails from Kickstarter, but not from you. All emails about the campaign go through Kickstarter, and you don't have permission to just upload that list to your own email system and start sending more emails. They have not specifically said they want that, unless they have in a survey with opt-in — which I didn't do. Of course, there are indirect ways to attract people to sign up for your list. My book Pilgrimage includes ways to hear from me further, so some backers will go on and sign up for my free thriller ebook at JFPenn.com/free, or my Author Blueprint at TheCreativePenn.com/blueprint. You can also do updates later, for example when you have a new campaign, and in this way Kickstarter acts as a different ecosystem for email. Should you consider a Kickstarter campaign for your book? Jo: To be honest — only if you consider this to be a career you want to invest in, and a platform you want to do more than one campaign with. If you just have one book or a couple of books, or you're just starting out, or you don't want to do marketing and connect with readers, then definitely don't do a Kickstarter. It is not some magic button that will make you money — like uploading to Amazon is not a magic button that will make you money. It takes time and effort to have a successful campaign. But if you do want to build a long-term author business, then selling direct should have some part to play, and Kickstarter is a great way to make more money per book and connect with readers. It's really only the beginning of the trend of authors selling direct, so don't worry — you can learn how to do this over time. Update for Bones of the Deep, my 7th campaign in April 2026 Jo: It was interesting to revisit my lessons learned and other people's tips, and really, there are only a few things that have changed. I love doing Kickstarter campaigns now Firstly, I absolutely love doing Kickstarter campaigns. I am not nervous at all anymore, and I am just so thrilled to produce gorgeous hardback editions of my books this way. I love delivering beautiful books and new stories or nonfiction to my readers. I love doing the discovery writing webinars and the coaching, and just in general, I appreciate the opportunity to publish this way. I feel like a “real author” — with beautiful hardbacks, doing a signing, getting photos and emails from readers who receive the books. Custom printing keeps expanding In terms of other changes, over the last few years since Pilgrimage, BookVault has expanded their custom printing, so now I have custom endpapers, sprayed edges, different kinds of foil, as well as the silken paper and the ribbon and photos inside. These gorgeous editions are my personal creative reason to keep doing campaigns. I love saying “I made this!” And over time, I would love to get all my backlist into special editions. A repeatable process I'm still doing similar kinds of rewards — the book in all editions — and it's all finished so it's lower stress. Even the audiobook narration is done, so I can fulfil immediately. There's just the live discovery writing webinar to do, and stretch goal Q&A and consulting sessions. I'm also doing bundles, and all my backlist gets bundled in the add-ons, so I have a repeatable process, which makes things easier. Using AI in production I'm using more AI, specifically in the images and video. I love making book images with ChatGPT and Gemini's Nano Banana, and story images with Midjourney, and I use ElevenLabs with my voice clone for audiobooks. I fill in all the details in the AI section of the Kickstarter page, so you can go have a look at that and model it as you like. Spike income, realistic expectations I still like the spike income — but to be clear, my campaigns have varied in terms of financial success, as would be expected given they are all so different. My highest was Writing the Shadow at over £36,000 ($48,000), and my lowest was The Buried and the Drowned, a short story collection, at just under £8,000 ($10,700) — not a surprise at how different they are, given the audiences. Together my campaigns have now made £105,868 (just over $140,000), which I am very happy with. And of course, that's just the beginning, as then I put the books on my stores — JFPennBooks.com and CreativePennBooks.com — and on the usual platforms. A sustainable launch rhythm I still like the project approach — the short-term campaign focus — as I am good at sustaining marketing energy for a short period, and then I can drop off again. As I discussed with Sara Rosett last week as well, it feels sustainable for my career, unlike constant social media or ads. Lower-key marketing this time around I'm putting a lot less energy into marketing in general, relying on pre-launch signups over months of build-up as I talk about my writing process on the podcast, then emailing my lists, announcing it here, and scheduling some social media. It's pretty low-key these days, and that is a happy thing. However, for this campaign, I am planning to run some Meta ads direct to the campaign page, since I have Claude Code/Cowork to help me set them up and run them and crunch the data — and that takes the strain off considerably. More campaigns to come I will definitely be doing more Kickstarter campaigns, most likely a nonfiction one next. I am so glad I was able to get over my fears and do that first one, and I hope that encourages you to consider what might be possible for you and your book. So, if you'd like to check out my campaign for Bones of the Deep — even if you don't want the book, you can always model the sales page, or check out the book trailer — it's at JFPenn.com/bones. That link will go to the Kickstarter campaign from 20 April until early May 2026, and will then redirect. The post Kickstarter Tips for Authors: Rewards, Shipping, Marketing, and Lessons Learned first appeared on The Creative Penn.

We just sold out our entire Spring Plant Sale in 48 hours… and I had to shut the store down five days early. I don't think it was luck. This year, I approached the plant sale differently. I built it like a launch. And in the process, I uncovered a few new strategies (and a few surprising insights) that I haven't shared before. If you've ever run a promotion and thought, "Why didn't this sell as well as I hoped?"... this episode is your behind-the-scenes look at what actually moves the needle. I'm walking you through the anatomy of this year's Spring Plant Sale launch -- what I changed, what worked better than expected, and a few "a-ha" moments that apply to any kind of farm promotion (not just plant sales). We'll talk about: Why I focused almost entirely on email (and what happened because of it) The subtle shifts I made to the offer that dramatically increased average order value What I did during the first few hours of the launch that most people overlook And one simple post-purchase move that can shape how your customers behave next time This is part case study, part workshop; and if you're planning any kind of seasonal promotion, you'll want to listen. Resources Mentioned: Listen to my podcast from last year's Spring Plant Sale Launch Ep 253, and the discoveries I made then. Do you hear similar themes? Ep 253 How to Build a Spring Plant Sale Promo Campaign What email provider do I use for my email promotions? I recommend Kit.com (formerly ConvertKit.com) -- it is easy to use, powerful, and getting better every year. It also integrates with most e-commerce providers and tools. Use my affiliate link! Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2026. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step membership program for direct-to-consumer farmers who are ready to treat marketing like a system, not a guessing game. Inside, you'll get plug-and-play projects, templates, monthly coaching, and a repeatable framework to help you grow your email list, run stronger promotions, and increase sales (whether you're a vegetable, meat, CSA, flower, dairy, microgreen, or value-added farm). Your investment is only $69/month. Over 15 marketing projects to choose from.

What actually happens inside a Farm Marketing School coaching call? In this episode, you're getting a rare, behind-the-scenes listen to a real 1:1 strategy session with MacKenzie Wright from Jones Brothers Farms, serving the Louisville and Northern Kentucky area with home-grown tomatoes, produce, and beef. In this conversation, we dig into social media strategy, what's actually working, and how to think about content in a way that builds your email list—not just your follower count. We also explore what it looks like to step more fully into your role as the "face" of your brand… even when that feels a little uncomfortable. What You'll Walk Away With: A clearer understanding of what social media is actually supposed to do for your farm A fresh perspective on video content and its purpose Insight into how strong brands are built A glimpse into the kind of feedback and coaching that can unlock your next level If you've ever wondered: "Am I doing this right?" "Why isn't my content growing my audience?" "What should I actually be focusing on next?" …you'll be inspired by this episode! Listen here. Resources: After three months inside Farm Marketing School, members can book calls just like this one. It's one thing to learn the material. It's another thing to have someone look at your business and help you see what you can't. If you've ever wished for that kind of clarity and direction… join my community of go-getter farm marketers here:

What's the real engine behind turning online visibility into paying clients? According to email marketing expert Minal Patel, it's not your social media following — it's your email list.In this episode, LinkedIn expert Louise Brogan sits down with Minal for a wide-ranging, practical conversation about everything email marketing: how to build a list from scratch, how often to send, single vs. double opt-in, writing subject lines, improving deliverability, and — crucially — how to actually sell through email without feeling sleazy about it.Whether you're a solo service provider who's been putting off pressing send, or a business owner sitting on a dormant list, this episode is packed with honest, no-fluff advice to help you show up consistently in your subscribers' inboxes and convert that trust into revenue.About the GuestMinal Patel is an email marketing strategist with over 12 years in the industry, including four years at Constant Contact. For the past decade she has run her own business, Marketing by Minal, helping solo and small service providers build confident, consistent email systems they can manage themselves. She works primarily with coaches and consultants who want to turn their email lists into a genuine sales channel.

You don't have a marketing problem. You have a hesitation problem. I see it all the time. Farmers build the offer. They may even grow the list. They do the marketing prep work. And when it's time to promote?... They pull back. The question is why? This episode aims to uncover those beliefs quietly running your marketing. If you've ever thought: "I don't want to be annoying." "If they didn't buy, maybe it's me." "Good products should just sell themselves." You're not alone. We dig into the three mindset blocks that keep farmers from selling confidently. We uncover what's going on behind the thought, and reframe a new way of thinking about marketing -- one that positions you as a servant leader to your customers. Resources: What email provider do I use? I recommend Kit.com (formerly ConvertKit.com) -- it is easy to use, powerful, and getting better every year. It also integrates with most e-commerce providers and tools. Use my affiliate link! Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2026. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step membership program for direct-to-consumer farmers who are ready to treat marketing like a system, not a guessing game. Inside, you'll get plug-and-play projects, templates, monthly coaching, and a repeatable framework to help you grow your email list, run stronger promotions, and increase sales (whether you're a vegetable, meat, CSA, flower, dairy, microgreen, or value-added farm). Your investment is only $69/month. Over 15 marketing projects to choose from.

Are you selling a product… or are you selling an offer? Most farmers think they're selling the product. "I sell lamb chops." "I sell bouquets." "I sell eggs." But customers don't actually buy products. They buy offers. In this episode, I unpack the difference between the two, and why learning how to build an offer around your farm product can dramatically increase your sales. If you've ever felt stuck thinking, "I just have this product… how do I sell it?" this episode will open your eyes to a whole new way of thinking about marketing. You'll learn what an offer actually is, why it matters, and how to start spotting powerful offer ideas everywhere you look. Resources  Mentioned In This Episode: What email provider do I use? I recommend Kit.com (formerly ConvertKit.com) -- it is easy to use, powerful, and getting better every year. It also integrates with most e-commerce providers and tools. Use my affiliate link! Ep 236 – How to Raise Your Prices (and Make More $) Using Price Anchoring https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/28288169 Ep 334 – The Anatomy of a Great Email Offer — An Audit https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/38448215 FunctionHealth.com -- this is the monthly health membership I joined that allows me to get 2 sets of comprehensive blood tests per year (the ones that most doctors don't check for, but are really significant! It's been an empowering step for me!) The cost is $399/year, and covers the tests! Use this affiliate link and get $25 off. Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2026. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Citizen Salmon Alaska Citizen Salmon Alaska is my go-to seafood partner for CSA farms. This is my fifth season working with them, and I keep coming back for a simple reason: it works. They offer wild sockeye salmon, halibut, black cod, shrimp, and smoked seafood — all sourced directly from independent fishermen out of Homer, Alaska. What makes this partnership such a win for farms is the model: I promote Citizen Salmon to my customers, they order directly from Citizen Salmon's website using a farm-specific code, Citizen Salmon ships frozen fish straight to them, and I earn a commission — without handling inventory, packing, or delivery. It's an aligned, ethical way to expand your product suite and serve your customers well. If you're curious about adding seafood to your CSA without adding work, learn more and reach out to Aaron at citizensalmonalaska.com. Farm Marketing School: Want a plug-and-play marketing system for your farm? Join Farm Marketing School, my monthly membership where I teach farmers how to build simple, repeatable marketing systems that actually drive sales. Inside, you'll get: ✅ Step-by-step marketing projects (emails, website design, lead magnets, promotions & more) ✅ Templates & swipe files to save you hours of work ✅ Live coaching calls every month for strategy & support Inside, you'll get access to over 15 marketing projects like: -Creating a promotion calendar that drives consistent sales -

Are you pouring energy into social media, podcast guesting, and SEO — only to watch those visitors disappear with no way to reach them again? In this episode of Her Faith at Work, Jan Touchberry reveals why your email list is the single most powerful organic marketing tool a Christian woman entrepreneur can build — and why every other visibility strategy you use becomes exponentially more effective when it feeds into a well-tended list.Jan breaks down the "bucket with a hole in it" problem that plagues even the most visible online businesses, walks through what a healthy email list actually does for your bottom line, brings a faith-based perspective on email stewardship, and gives you a practical 5-step framework — including a complete welcome sequence breakdown — to start building and tending your list today.What We Cover in This EpisodeWhy social media is "borrowed ground" — and what that means for your business stabilityThe mindset shift: your email list is the engine of visibility, not the reward for it4 things a healthy email list does for your business (including the one that directly impacts revenue)Why building an email list is an act of faith-based stewardshipThe 5 practical components you need to start growing your listA complete breakdown of the 5-email welcome sequence that warms up new subscribersWhat to do right now — whether you have no list, a dormant list, or a thriving oneKey Takeaways1. Social Media Is Borrowed GroundYou do not own your Instagram following, your Facebook page, or your TikTok audience. Algorithms shift, accounts get shut down, platforms disappear. Your email list is the one audience asset you actually own — and you can take it with you anywhere.2. Your List Is the Engine, Not the RewardWaiting until you have a "big enough" following to focus on your email list is a costly mistake. Every piece of visibility content you create — podcast appearances, SEO blog posts, collaborations — becomes dramatically more effective when it flows to a list that captures and retains interested people.3. Email Converts Better Than Social MediaPeople on your email list have already taken a step toward you. They are not passive scrollers — they are engaged. The data consistently shows that email subscribers convert to buyers at a significantly higher rate than social media followers.4. Your List Is a Stewardship ResponsibilityWhen someone hands you their email address, they are trusting you with something personal. Stewarding that access well — showing up with intention, delivering real value, not abusing the relationship — reflects the kind of business you are called to build.5. Consistency Is CompoundingEvery email you send is a deposit into the relationship. Going silent for months and then appearing in someone's inbox to sell something is a trust-breaker. You don't have to email daily — but you do have to show up regularly enough that people remember who you are.The 5-Email Welcome Sequence BreakdownJan walks through her recommended welcome sequence for new subscribers:Email 1 — Deliver & Introduce (Send immediately)Deliver the freebie, introduce yourself in 2-3 sentences, and tell subscribers what to expect from you going forward. Keep it short and warm.Email 2 — Your Story (Send 1-2 days later)Why do you do what you do? What brought you here? People buy from people they relate to — this is where that connection starts.Email 3 — Address the Core Problem (Send 2-3 days later)Speak directly to the struggle that brought them to your list. Show them you understand. This is not a sales email — it's an "I see you" email.Email 4 — Teach Something Useful (Send 2-3 days later)Give a quick win. A tip, a framework, a simple shift they can apply immediately. Proving your value before you ask for anything builds trust fast.Email 5 — Make an Offer (Send 2-3 days later)Now you've earned the right to invite them into something. Keep it natural and low-pressure: "If you want to go deeper, here's how I can help."5 Things You Need to Start Building Your List1. A compelling opt-in offerSolve one specific problem for one specific person. A checklist, guide, private podcast playlist, or short video training — something that gives her a quick win.2. A dedicated landing pageA clean page that answers three questions: What is it? Who is it for? What do they get?3. An email platformFlodesk, ConvertKit, MailChimp, ActiveCampaign — the best one is the one you will actually use. Set up automated delivery so your freebie reaches subscribers immediately.4. A welcome sequenceThree to five emails that introduce you, build trust, and set up a natural first offer. Don't leave new subscribers in silence.5. ConsistencyShow up regularly. Not necessarily daily or even weekly — but often enough that your subscribers remember who you are when your email lands.Resources & Links MentionedJoin Jan's email list: jantouchberry.com/newsletterFlodesk (email platform Jan uses) — https://jantouchberry.com/emailYour Next StepNo email list yet?Start today. Pick a platform, create a simple freebie, set up a landing page. Done is better than perfect.Have a list but haven't emailed in a while?Send an email this week. No explanations needed — just show up, deliver value, and start rebuilding the habit.Already emailing consistently?Make sure your opt-in is connected to every visibility strategy you're using. Every podcast appearance, SEO post, and partnership should have a clear path to your list.CONNECT WITH JAN:Here are all the best places and FREE stuff

I thought the goal of my recent promotion was simple: sell 40 prepaid online store credit memberships. That was it. 40 spots. Hit the revenue goal. Move on. But as I was building the emails, teasing it on social media, and checking my stats inside Kit (my email service provider), I noticed something unexpected… My email list had jumped a LOT. And it wasn't random. It was happening because of how I positioned the promotion before it ever opened. That's when it clicked! Every promotion has a second goal. And most farmers completely miss it. Yes, promotions are meant to generate revenue. But they can also be powerful email list growth engines -- if you structure them intentionally. Inside Farm Marketing School, I serve vegetable CSA farmers, grass-fed meat producers, flower growers, dairy farms, microgreen subscriptions, and value-added brands — and this principle applies to every single one of them. In this episode, I unpack: Why most farmers unintentionally leave this opportunity on the table How to rethink the "runway" before you open the doors Why insider access can transform your email list into a VIP club And how this strategy works whether you're selling vegetables, meat, flowers, dairy, microgreens, value-added products, or farm experiences If you want to know exactly how to structure this strategy for your next launch, you'll need to listen in. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: What email provider do I use? I recommend Kit.com (formerly ConvertKit.com) -- it is easy to use, powerful, and getting better every year. It also integrates with most e-commerce providers and tools. Use my affiliate link! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step membership program for direct-to-consumer farmers who are ready to treat marketing like a system, not a guessing game. Inside, you'll get plug-and-play projects, templates, monthly coaching, and a repeatable framework to help you grow your email list, run stronger promotions, and increase sales (whether you're a vegetable, meat, CSA, flower, dairy, microgreen, or value-added farm). Your investment is only $69/month. Over 15 marketing projects to choose from.

Ever sit down to write your weekly email… Cursor blinking. Brain dead. And you're thinking: "I KNOW I should email my list… but what on earth do I say this week?" In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on how I actually find ideas when I feel stuck! Most great emails don't start with "content ideas" at all! They start with stories hiding in plain sight. If writing your weekly email feels harder than it should, chances are you're looking in the wrong place for ideas. In this episode, I walk you through how to identify the central story of an email, and why leading with a simple, relatable story is often the difference between an email people skim… and one they actually look forward to opening. I share: How to think in parables, metaphors, and everyday object lessons Real examples of emails I've written that started with ordinary moments The creative prompts I use when my brain feels totally empty A simple habit that trains your eye to notice stories all week long (before you ever sit down to write) If you've ever thought, "I don't have anything interesting to say," this episode will change how you see your own life (and your email content) completely. Resources  Mentioned In This Episode: 50+ Email Writing Prompts for Farm Businesses: Not sure what to say in your weekly farm email newsletter? This free download gives you 50+ email writing prompts designed specifically for farm businesses, so you're never staring at a blank screen again.

#798 What if the secret to scaling your solopreneur business was hiding in your tech stack? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Ernesto Mandowsky — founder of MDM (Million Dollar Machine) — to explore how entrepreneurs can use tools like Notion, ConvertKit, and more to streamline operations, deliver five-star client experiences, and build systems that actually support growth. Ernesto shares his journey from throwing a $35K party at 18 to transforming legacy restaurants and launching a tech integration consultancy that serves coaches, consultants, and creators. Whether you're stuck in survival mode or scaling to seven figures, this episode is full of actionable insights for turning your business into a well-oiled machine! (Original Air Date - 7/1/25) What we discuss with Ernesto: + $35K party kickstarted entrepreneurship + From Deloitte to culinary school + Helping solopreneurs scale with tech + Using Notion as a business hub + The Five Recipes business framework + Solving tech overwhelm with systems + Building a team to free up time + Using AI for podcast prep and automation + Client journey from “pop-up” to “brasserie” + Scorecard tool for business clarity Thank you, Ernesto! Check out Million Dollar Machine at ⁠YourMDM.co⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Ernesto on ⁠LinkedIn⁠. Watch the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠video podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few months ago, I opened my mailbox to find a beautifully packaged starter box of goat milk soap from Allan Laird of Hooves and Feathers. Allan is a Farm Marketing School student… and he was proudly showing me his homework.

Have you ever stared at your farm's website homepage and thought… what am I even supposed to put here? Your website is the source of truth for your brand. It's where people go to learn more, double-check you, and decide if they want to buy. And if your homepage is unclear or overwhelming, most people won't stick around. In today's episode, I'm breaking down a simple framework for what actually belongs on your farm's website homepage—so it's clear, strategic, and helps turn visitors into customers. We're talking about the specific messaging blocks every strong farm homepage is built from, and how to stack them in a way that creates clarity, builds trust, and guides people toward action. You'll learn my "pancake stack" framework, the foundational homepage sections I recommend for most farm businesses, plus optional add-ons you can pull from depending on your sales model (CSA, online store, shipping, farmers markets, meat, veggies, and more). If your homepage feels messy, confusing, or outdated, this episode will give you a much clearer path forward. Resources  Mentioned In This Episode: What email provider do I use? I recommend Kit.com (formerly ConvertKit.com) -- it is easy to use, powerful, and getting better every year. It also integrates with most e-commerce providers and tools. Use my affiliate link! Ep 19 – The Copywriting Sales Formula: PASTOR - Learn more about how this acronym can help you put your website home page "stacks" in the right order. Ep 9 – The Anatomy of a Great Lead Magnet- Not sure what a lead magnet it? This deep dive training will reveal it all. Ep 39 – Formula for a Perfect Tagline - use this episode to find your home page's header tagline Download my Free PDF: The 10 Most Common Website Mistakes -- use it to audit your own website as you review this project! https://mydigitalfarmer.com/websitemistakes

Tired of shouting into the social media void? What if your email list became your most powerful tool for building authority and staying connected?  In this practical episode of Bootstrap MD, host Dr. Mike Woo-Ming draws from his experience running two newsletters to deliver a step-by-step guide on creating emails that people actually open and read. He breaks down common failure modes: writing like you're charting or only emailing when you want sales, and offers a repeatable structure for hooks, stories, and soft calls to action.  Dr. Woo-Ming covers content buckets tailored for physician entrepreneurs, ideal sending frequency, simple tools like ConvertKit or Beehiiv, and organic growth strategies. Whether you're a doctor launching a side gig or a healthcare entrepreneur nurturing leads, this episode shows how newsletters foster trust and relevance without overwhelming your schedule. Perfect for busy physicians who want to own their audience and turn emails into meaningful conversations that drive opportunities. Three Actionable Takeaways: Newsletters Build Relationships, Not Just Lists Email is the only channel without algorithms blocking you, focus on staying relevant in readers' minds through consistent, value-driven content rather than sales pitches. Avoid Common Pitfalls Like Inconsistency and Self-Focus Write conversationally, not formally; send weekly to build habits; and reframe content around what helps your audience, not announcements about yourself. Use Simple Structures and Tools for Success Hook with provocative openers, share stories or insights, and end with soft CTAs. Tools like Beehiiv simplify workflows, while lead magnets like checklists grow your list organically.   About the Show:  Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it's your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career.  Tune in weekly at  http://bootstrapmd.com   About the Host: Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He's built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy. Let's Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com   Want to start a podcast? Check out the Doctor Podcast Network!    

   What if your farm didn't have to "scale up" to be successful? What if it could stay small, seasonal, creative — and still feel deeply worth it? In this conversation, I sit down with a farmer who has intentionally chosen a different path: one rooted in values, flexibility, and creativity — and who's built a beautiful business around it. This episode is a quietly powerful case study. Claire and I talk about: Running a farm while not being a full-time farmer Letting creativity lead your product development Using one strong "gateway product" to anchor your marketing Why slow food, intentional processes, and values-based pricing actually work And how storytelling — not hustle — fuels her business growth If you've ever wondered whether there's another way to farm besides "bigger, faster, more," this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. Meet Our Guest: Claire Troemner Today's guest is Claire Troemner, who owns and operates Troemner Farm with her husband Matthew in Atlantic Mine, Michigan. Claire is a lifelong plant lover and cook who grows diversified vegetables, keeps a small flock of laying hens, and creates artisan value-added foods like sourdough bread, broths, jams, syrups, and Mediterranean harissa — all deeply influenced by her Sicilian roots. She also runs an interview series called The Dish, where she highlights local farmers, foodies, and chefs across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Follow & Connect with Claire Farm Website: https://troemnerfarm.com Instagram & Facebook: @troemnerfarm The Dish Interview Series: Instagram & Facebook: @dishtheup Website: https://dishtheup.com Resources  Mentioned In This Episode: What email provider do I use? I recommend Kit.com (formerly ConvertKit.com) -- it is easy to use, powerful, and getting better every year. It also integrates with most e-commerce providers and tools. Use my affiliate link! Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors!  Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2026. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School: Marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step system for building a profitable farm marketing plan. Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like:

What if I told you I recently ran a 7-day CSA Chicken + Pork Share promotion on my farm, using only email, a private Facebook group, and a simple promotion framework? It went REALLY well, exceeding my sales predictions. If you've ever thought about launching a monthly meat share — or already have one and want to sell it more consistently — this episode is your behind-the-scenes look at how I design, organize, and execute a high-performing farm promotion from scratch. I walk you through: How I structured the product How I worked with my partner farm How I decided pricing, timing, and cart-open strategy The promo email sequence I used, and how I came up with content topics The role of FAQs, social proof, urgency, and bonuses How I organized everything into a master Google Doc so I could use it next year And how I used ChatGPT to speed up writing This is a nuts-and-bolts, copy-the-framework episode. Listen here. Resources  Mentioned In This Episode: What email provider do I use? I recommend Kit.com (formerly ConvertKit.com) -- it is easy to use, powerful, and getting better every year. It also integrates with most e-commerce providers and tools. Use my affiliate link! Episode 13: How to Create an Irresistible Bonus Offer - Want to get more ideas for bonuses to use in a promotion for CSA shares? Listen here. Want the actual promo materials I wrote for this promo? Inside Farm Marketing School, I've now uploaded the entire Chicken + Pork Share Promotion Google Doc, including: ✅ The exact emails I used ✅ The social media posts I used ✅ The daily timeline so you can see the positioning ✅ Links to the Canva images So if you'd rather not start from scratch… you can literally copy my doc's elements and adapt it for your farm. Join Farm Marketing School to gain access to this resource -- along with 15+ other marketing projects to help you build your farm marketing machine! Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2026. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Citizen Salmon Alaska Citizen Salmon Alaska is my go-to seafood partner for CSA farms. This is my fifth season working with them, and I keep coming back for a simple reason: it works. They offer wild sockeye salmon, halibut, black cod, shrimp, and smoked seafood — all sourced directly from independent fishermen out of Homer, Alaska. What makes this partnership such a win for farms is the model: I promote Citizen Salmon to my customers, they order directly from Citizen Salmon's website using a farm-specific code, Citizen Salmon ships frozen fish straight to them, and I earn a commission — without handling inventory, packing, or delivery. It's an aligned, ethical way to expand your product suite and serve your customers well. If you're curious about adding seafood to your CSA without adding work, learn more and reach out to Aaron at citizensalmonalaska.com. Farm Marketing School: Want a plug-and-play marketing system for your farm? Join Farm Marketing School—my monthly membership where I teach farmers how to build simple, repeatable marketing systems that actually drive sales. Inside, you'll get: ✅ Step-by-step marketing projects (emails, website design, lead magnets, promotions & more) ✅ Templates & swipe files to save you hours of work ✅ Live coaching calls every month for strategy & support Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like:

Last summer, I got invited to be on TV. Exciting, right? Then they asked a simple follow-up question: "Can you send over your media kit?" And I froze. I didn't have one. I wasn't even totally sure what should be in one. Fast forward to this winter, as I start doing more speaking, partnerships, and visibility work for both my farm and My Digital Farmer -- I realized this was a gap I needed to close. So I invited someone back on the show who lives and breathes this stuff. On today's episode, I'm joined again by Erika Tebbens from Taste the Local Difference. If Erika sounds familiar, she was previously on the podcast in Episode 322, where we talked about collaborations as a powerful farm marketing strategy. This time, we're diving into something just as practical -- and often overlooked:

Ever wondered how some businesses skyrocket to success while others seem to spin their wheels endlessly? In our latest episode of the Happy Hustle Podcast, we dive deep into the world of flywheels with Nathan Barry, the mastermind behind ConvertKit. With a SaaS empire generating over $40 million per year, Nathan spills the beans on how he keeps the wheels turning smoothly in his business and how you can do the same.Nathan is not just your typical entrepreneur; he's a designer, writer, podcaster, father, husband, soon-to-be airplane pilot, and of course, a Happy Hustler.Join us as we uncover the secrets behind Nathan's tangible tactical flywheels that can revolutionize the way you approach your business tasks. From creating momentum to leveraging specific strategies, Nathan breaks down the four laws of flywheels.Discover how these principles can skyrocket your business growth and streamline your operations. Plus, learn about revenue and reach flywheels, the importance of focus, and posture in entrepreneurship, and actionable steps for creating a referral flywheel.Tune in to the episode now and let Nathan guide you through the transformative power of flywheels. In this episode, you will learn: 03:15 Understanding Flywheels11:18 The Four Laws of Flywheels25:49 Creating a Referral Flywheel29:24 Conclusion and Action Steps32:45 The Importance of Posture in Entrepreneurship35:01 The Posture in Sales and Recruiting37:20 Building a Successful SaaS Company38:15 The Challenges of SaaS and the Skills Needed43:08 The Long Game in Building a SaaS Company46:07 Happy Hustle Hacks: Health, Money, and Spirituality53:27 Rapid Fire RoundWhat does Happy Hustlin mean to you?Nathan says I think it's just working on interesting problems with interesting people.Connect with NathanInstagramFacebookLinkedinXYoutubeFind Nathan on his websites:https://convertkit.com/https://nathanbarry.com/ Connect with Cary!https://www.instagram.com/cary__jack/https://www.facebook.com/SirCaryJackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-jack-kendzior/https://twitter.com/thehappyhustlehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDNsD59tLxv2JfEuSsNMOQ/featured “It's time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!” Episode sponsor BIOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough (https://magbreakthrough.com/vip?gl=65132c943f5d60f00f8b4567&coupon=hustle)This stuff is a game-changer! Magnesium Breakthrough packs all 7 forms of magnesium, designed to support stress management, promote muscle relaxation, regulate the nervous system, control stress hormones, boost brain function, increase energy, and enhance sleep.I take 2 capsules before bedtime, and it's been a game-changer for me. The best part is, BIOptimizers offer a risk-free 365-day money-back guarantee. No results, no problem – they'll refund you, no questions asked. It's a win-win!Head over to magnesiumbreakthrough.com/hustle and use code "hustle" for an exclusive 10% discount on any order. Plus, for a limited time, you'll score some special gifts with your purchase.

In this episode, I share a full behind the scenes look at everything I have been working on since I made the decision to bring Podcast Answer Man and Podcasting A to Z back as a primary focus in my business. Episode 802 was the story of why this decision happened. This episode is the story of what actually happened next. Over the past month, I have been rebuilding, reconnecting, and reactivating an entire ecosystem that had been dormant for nearly a decade. In this conversation, I walk you through the real work behind the scenes. The relationships, the systems, the strategy, and the momentum that started moving the moment I committed to this direction. I talk about landing a speaking engagement at Podfest Expo and what that means for reconnecting with the podcasting community. I share how reconnecting with people like Nick Pavlidis and Rob Greenlee has already started opening doors and reconnecting relationships in the industry. I also walk through how Podcast Answer Man is now back on a true weekly publishing schedule. Every Friday at 12:01am Eastern Time, there is a new episode. I also announce that The Cliff Ravenscraft Show is now back to a weekly schedule as well. Every Monday at 12:01am Eastern Time, there will be a new episode focused on business strategy, mindset, and the behind the scenes of what I am building. I share some of the emotional responses I have already received from longtime listeners who heard the Podcast Answer Man intro music again for the first time in years. Those messages reminded me just how meaningful this work has been in people's lives for more than two decades. I also talk about the strategic decisions I have made to support this new season, including moving the Podcast Answer Man website to PodPage, setting up new affiliate partnerships, rebuilding the Podcasting A to Z sales page, and launching a new series of live interviews called Where Are They Now featuring former Podcasting A to Z students who are still creating content more than a decade later. A big part of this episode is dedicated to the work I have been doing behind the scenes on my email list. I explain why I moved back to ConvertKit, how I am rebuilding my email sequences, and how I am creating separate paths for people who want podcasting focused content and those who want business, mindset, and entrepreneurial content. This episode is a snapshot of a turning point. It captures what it looks like when an idea becomes a commitment and when momentum starts to build. If you want the deeper story of why Podcast Answer Man came back, listen to Episode 802. If you want to understand how everything is now being built to support that decision, this episode is the next chapter. Thank you for being here and for walking with me through this season of growth and realignment. Links Mentioned In This Episode Podcast Answer Man https://PodcastAnswerMan.com Podcast Answer Man Episode 477 Why I Moved the Podcast Answer Man Website to PodPage https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/477 Podfest Expo https://PodfestExpo.com Use promo code PAM for 10 percent off tickets Podcasting A to Z https://PodcastingAtoZ.com PodPage https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/podpage ConvertKit (Kit) https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/kit Kajabi https://PodcastAnswerMan.com/kajabi What Are You Creating Podcast https://www.cliffravenscraft.com/podcasts/what-are-you-creating Free the Dream Keynote https://MindsetAnswerMan.com/free Podcasting A to Z If you have been thinking about starting a podcast or you already have one but feel stuck, this is your invitation. Podcasting A to Z is my four week live coaching program where I personally walk you through every step of launching or refining your podcast. You get direct access to me, weekly group coaching calls, and the ability to ask as many questions as you want. I will answer every single one. The next session begins January 26. If you are ready to finally put your voice into the world or take your existing podcast to a higher level, go to PodcastingAtoZ.com and join me. This is a guided experience where you have me as your coach. I would love to work with you.

Start selling digital products and services with MiloTree for FREE! If you're an online coach, course creator, or digital product seller, you've probably experienced this: You're working 35-45 hours a week managing sales, manually sending products, and personally following up with every customer. You're making some money, but you're completely burnt out. Sound familiar? In my newest episode, I shared the exact automation strategy that helped our MiloTree customer Ava transform her business. She went from making $1,800 a month while working 45 hours a week to earning over $11,000 a month working just 9 hours a week. The secret? She automated three key parts of her sales process using MiloTree. And in this post, I'm going to show you exactly what she automated and how you can set up the same system to sell digital products on autopilot. Show Notes: MiloTree Free Plan MailerLite (recommended email service provider) Goldmine Product AI Prompt Join The Blogger Genius Newsletter Become a Blogger Genius Facebook Group Subscribe to the Blogger Genius Podcast: iTunes YouTube Spotify The Problem: Manual Sales Are Killing Your Business Growth Here's what's happening to most digital product creators. You've built amazing products—courses, coaching packages, memberships, digital downloads. You're getting some sales, but you're stuck in a manual sales cycle that looks like this: Someone downloads your freebie → You manually add them to your email list → You manually send follow-up emails → You manually process orders → You manually deliver products → Repeat. This manual process has three major problems: Time Drain: You're spending hours every week on tasks that could be automated Revenue Cap: You can only make as much money as the hours you can physically work Burnout Risk: Eventually, managing everything manually becomes unsustainable The good news? You can automate your entire sales process so your business runs without you working harder—you just work smarter. The Solution: Three Types of Sales Automation That Actually Work There are three powerful ways to automate your digital product sales: tripwires, order bumps and upsells, and email sequences. Let me break down each one and show you exactly how they work together to create a sales system that runs on autopilot. 1. Tripwires: Turn Freebie Seekers Into Buyers Instantly A tripwire is a low-cost product (usually $7-$27) that you offer immediately after someone opts in to get your free lead magnet. Here's how it works: Someone sees your content on social media → They click to download your free cheat sheet → They enter their email on your opt-in page → They land on the thank you page → Right there, they see an offer for your complete toolkit for just $17 → They click, they buy → MiloTree delivers the product automatically. You do nothing. It all happens automatically. The beauty of tripwires is that they convert freebie seekers into paying customers right away. Once someone has bought from you once, they're 9 times more likely to buy from you again. 2. Order Bumps and Upsells: Increase Average Order Value Without More Traffic Here's where things get really powerful. Someone's already buying your $47 course. At checkout, you offer a $12 complimentary workbook with one simple checkbox. They tick the box—boom, they've added it to their order. After they complete the purchase, they land on your thank you page. Now you offer them your $97 "done-for-you" premium version. With another click, they've purchased that as well. You just turned a $47 sale into a $156 sale without getting a single additional customer. Order bumps and upsells can increase your revenue by 30-50% without any additional marketing. You're simply maximizing the value of customers you're already getting. 3. Email Sequences: Build Relationships and Sell While You Sleep This is the foundation that makes everything else work. An email sequence is a series of automated emails you set up once that go out to new subscribers automatically. One of our MiloTree customers, Amanda, set up her main email sequence six months ago. That one sequence generates over $1,500 a month for her business, and she hasn't touched those emails since she initially created them. Here's what a good email automation does: Builds Relationships: Your subscribers get to know, like, and trust you through consistent communication Delivers Value: You're providing helpful content that solves their problems Sells Naturally: You're making offers that feel like helpful solutions, not pushy sales pitches Email is one of the best channels for sales. For every $1 you spend on email marketing, you typically make about $36 in return. That's a 3,600% ROI. Why You Can't Do Email Marketing Through Gmail (And What You Need Instead) Here's something crucial to understand: You cannot do email marketing through Gmail, Yahoo, or any regular email account. You need what's called an email service provider (ESP). An email service provider is a platform like MailChimp, MailerLite, Kit, or Flodesk. It's built specifically for business email marketing. Here's what ESPs do that regular email can't: Deliverability: They get your emails into people's inboxes instead of spam folders Analytics: They track who opens your emails, who clicks links, and who buys Segmentation: They let you organize subscribers based on their interests and behavior Automation: They let you set up those money-making email sequences we talked about My favorite email service provider is MailerLite. We use it ourselves for MiloTree's email marketing. I recommend it for three reasons: Free to Start: You get your first 1,000 subscribers completely free User-Friendly: It's the easiest ESP I've used—intuitive drag-and-drop design Seamless Integration: It works perfectly with MiloTree for automated product delivery MiloTree integrates with 24 email service providers, including MailChimp, Kit (formerly ConvertKit), Flodesk, ActiveCampaign, MailerLite, Klaviyo, and many others. We're always adding new integrations based on customer requests. But if you're just starting out and asking me what to try first, I'd go with MailerLite. How MiloTree and Your Email Service Provider Work Together Let me show you the exact flow of how MiloTree and your email service provider work together to automate your sales. This is where the magic happens. Here's the complete automated workflow: Step 1: Someone sees your content on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, or your blog Step 2: You offer a lead magnet (a free download, cheat sheet, template, etc.) Step 3: They click and land on your MiloTree opt-in page where they enter their name and email Step 4: MiloTree captures that email and automatically sends it to your email service provider Step 5: MiloTree instantly delivers the freebie to your new subscriber on the thank you page—they can download it immediately Step 6: At the same time, MiloTree sends a "tag" to your email service provider Step 7: That tag triggers your automated email sequence to start Step 8: Your welcome sequence begins—usually 5-7 emails that go out over the next week Step 9: These emails build the relationship, provide value, and make offers Step 10: When someone clicks to buy, MiloTree processes the payment and delivers the product automatically You do nothing. It all runs on autopilot. The Power of Tags: How to Trigger Different Email Sequences Here's what makes this system so powerful: tags. A tag is simply a label you assign to a subscriber based on what they've downloaded or purchased. Let's say you have three different freebies: A "Social Media Content Calendar" (tagged: social-media-freebie) A "Product Launch Checklist" (tagged: launch-freebie) An "Email Marketing Guide" (tagged: email-freebie) When someone downloads your Social Media Content Calendar, MiloTree automatically tags them with "social-media-freebie" in your email service provider. That tag triggers your social media email sequence. The beauty of this system is that different freebies can trigger different email sequences. Someone interested in social media gets emails about social media. Someone interested in email marketing gets emails about email marketing. You're sending the right message to the right person at the right time—all automatically. How to Set Up Your MiloTree and Email Service Provider Integration in 2 Minutes Setting up this automation sounds complicated, but it literally takes about two minutes. Let me walk you through it step by step. Step 1: Log into your MiloTree dashboard at milotree.com Step 2: Click on "Email Integration" in the menu Step 3: Select your email service provider from the dropdown menu (MailerLite, MailChimp, Kit, etc.) Step 4: Follow the simple connection instructions—every platform is slightly different, but we have step-by-step guides for each one Step 5: Test the connection to make sure it's working That's it. Now every time someone opts into your freebie, their email automatically flows into your email service provider and triggers your automated sequence. If you have any trouble with the setup, just email me at jillian@milotree.com and I'll personally help you get it working. Your Action Plan: Set Up Your Automated Sales System Today Here's exactly what I want you to do right now to start automating your sales: First, if you don't have an email service provider yet, sign up for one. I recommend MailerLite to start because it's free for your first 1,000 subscribers and it's incredibly user-friendly. Second, sign up for MiloTree if you haven't already. Start with our free plan to test everything. You can create a freebie opt-in page for free, sell a product for free, and see how the system works. Then when you're ready to scale, upgrade to one of our paid plans to run your entire digital product business with MiloTree. Third, connect MiloTree to your email service provider using the two-minute process I outlined above. Don't worry if you get stuck—just reach out and we'll help you. Fourth, create your first lead magnet if you don't have one yet. Download my free AI prompts that will help you create an irresistible freebie in about 10 minutes: The 3 AI Prompts You Need to Create a Freebie Cheatsheet Fifth, set up your welcome email sequence. This is the series of 5-7 emails that will build relationships and make sales automatically. Why MiloTree Makes Selling Digital Products Easier Than Any Other Platform At MiloTree, we built our platform specifically for coaches, course creators, and digital product sellers who want to automate their sales without dealing with complicated tech. Here's why creators love MiloTree: All-in-One Platform: Sell digital products, offer unlimited freebies, grow your email list, process payments, and deliver products—all from one simple dashboard No Tech Skills Required: Our AI tools help you create opt-in pages, sales pages, and checkout pages in minutes, not days Start Free: Test everything with our free plan—no credit card required. Create opt-in pages, deliver freebies, and see how the system works before you upgrade Affordable Pricing: Our paid plans start at just $9/month and grow with your business. No surprise fees or complicated pricing tiers Built for Creators: Unlike generic ecommerce platforms, MiloTree is designed specifically for digital product creators, so everything is streamlined for your needs Integrates With Everything: We connect with 24 email service providers, plus all major payment processors Personal Support: When you have questions, you can email me directly at jillian@milotree.com and I'll help you personally

A theme that's dominated 2025 for me (and for many) has been price rises across many subscription-based platforms and services. My correspondence with companies has made clear that loyalty stands for very little. In fact, rather than being rewarded, longevity is increasingly exploited and monetised. In this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, I share a year-in-review through the lens of price rises. The tipping point was an email from my podcast hosting company, Libsyn, announcing a 71 percent increase effective from January. It was the straw that broke this camel's back after a year of similar moves elsewhere. In the episode, I share exchanges with three companies that reveal how loyalty is no longer valued in itself, but engineered to extract profit from those of us who've become reliant on these platforms. https://youtu.be/qrmUSdGwcMs A Symptom of Enshittification Cory Doctorow describes the underlying trend as “Enshittification”, a form of platform decay visible in companies like Facebook, Amazon, Google, Apple, and Adobe. It's not a glitch, but a feature. Doctorow traces a familiar arc: platforms start by serving users well in order to grow. Once established, they pivot toward business customers, monetisation, and scale. Eventually, when users and businesses are sufficiently locked in, services are degraded for everyone so maximum value can be pulled out as quickly as possible. Disproportionate price rises are one symptom of this process, particularly in how companies treat long-standing customers. Lock-in is maintained through network effects (it's hard to leave when everyone else is still there), non-transferable data (your work can't easily be exported), and digital restrictions where purchases only function inside a single ecosystem. Music, books, films, and software are “owned” only as long as the platform allows it. In the name of convenience, we give ourselves over to these systems and become dependent on them. As the digital and physical worlds converge, this logic extends beyond apps and websites into cars, home devices, utilities, and infrastructure. At that point, this stops being a simple matter of consumer choice. Extraction is baked into the products themselves. We are quietly acclimatising to this new normal. It has crept in through corporate consolidation, weak enforcement of anti-trust legislation, and business models that no longer need to meaningfully consider customer relationships once a certain scale is reached. Abusing Trust, Need, and Loyalty Charlie Brooker has cited Enshittification as an influence on Common People, the opening episode of Black Mirror series seven. A couple sign up to a subscription-based medical intervention that escalates in cost, complexity, and dependency. Features are removed. Adverts are inserted. The stakes become existential. One particularly chilling moment sees Mike literally mutilating his own body for money via an OnlyFans-style platform, a stark symbolic image of how value is extracted from people once dependency is established. Price Rises for a “Valued Customer” Libsyn informed me they were raising the price of hosting A Quiet Night Inside No 9 by 71 percent. The justification was a familiar list of added features and growth opportunities, none of which were relevant to how we use the service. We don't want adverts or growth tools. We want reliable hosting and delivery. This exchange highlighted how much podcasting has changed since I joined Libsyn in 2009. Hosting platforms have increasingly positioned themselves as intermediaries between advertisers and podcasters. That relationship now takes precedence. Advertising is framed as a benefit to creators, while enabling hosts to raise prices and skim revenue from both usage fees and ad sales. Listeners, meanwhile, absorb longer ad breaks as the new normal. Is this stage two of Enshittification in the podcasting world? Note, I pledge never to put adverts on my audio podcasts. YouTube is the only exception, because Google inserts them regardless. ConvertKit and Paying for Features I Don't Want A similar logic played out with Kit, formerly ConvertKit. I chose it in 2016 because it was simple and reliable and have been a loyal user ever since. A price increase from $49 to $59 a month was justified by new automations and tools I didn't ask for or use. There is no way to opt out and pay less. The only concession offered was annual billing, which I pointed out mirrors poverty-tax logic: those without upfront capital pay more. Symptoms of a Failing Service Vimeo was the clearest example of platform decay from the inside. Storage rules changed midstream. Long-held assumptions were invalidated. Downgrading meant losing access to years of work. Retention efforts amounted to one-off discounts rather than meaningful alternatives. What stood out wasn't hostility, but indifference. Once a service reaches a certain size, individual relationships no longer seem to matter. Their response felt so extreme that I suspected deeper problems, which seemed to be confirmed when Bending Spoons acquired Vimeo in November. I'm glad I left when I did, though it's still inconvenient clearing up broken links and legacy embeds after fifteen years of use. WishList Member and a Different Choice Not all companies operate this way. WishList Member has honoured the price and feature set I signed up for over a decade ago. While new tiers exist, functionality hasn't been removed to force upgrades. This appears to be a deliberate choice, and it communicates something simple: long-term trust and loyalty matters more than short-term extraction. I’ll let you know if this situation changes… Growth Logic and the Limits of Choice It's tempting to frame all this as a moral failure, but it's structural. Growth-at-all-costs logic makes price rises, feature bloat, and lock-in almost inevitable. These companies aren't malfunctioning; they're functioning exactly as the system encourages them to. This also makes it risky to romanticise alternatives. Newer companies may simply be at an earlier stage of the same cycle. Google once promised “don't be evil”. Facebook positioned itself as a less invasive alternative to MySpace. Scale changes incentives. Meaningful change won’t come from individual consumer choices alone. Competition has been hollowed out, and escape routes are increasingly narrow. Doctorow provides a section of existing and potential solutions that can give us reasons for active hope. Have you felt the pinch of price hikes this year? Feel free to get in touch and share your experiences.

Every December, I love to pull out something fun, festive, and just a little bit cheeky to celebrate the season… and this year, we're doing it farm-style. Today's episode is a playful spin on the classic song The 12 Days of Christmas — but instead of partridges and pear trees, we're singing our way through 12 foundational marketing must-haves every farm business needs to grow, thrive, and sell consistently. You'll laugh. You'll nod your head. And you'll walk away with a massive checklist of the exact pieces you need to build a truly functional farm marketing system. Whether you're brand-new or refining your strategy for next season… this episode is the perfect year-end reset. Think of this as a "greatest hits" episode — a roundup of twelve core marketing pillars that I believe every direct-to-consumer farmer should prioritize. Each "day" of the song highlights one marketing asset (or strategy) that will transform the way you sell. And for every one of the 12 items, I point you to a specific podcast episode in my archives where you can dive deeper. By the end, you'll have a full "12 Days of Christmas" marketing checklist — PLUS a clear roadmap for what to work on next. It's fun. It's educational. It's actionable. Are you ready?!!... Let's sing the song together.

In today's episode, I answer the question: “Should I use Substack for my newsletter or something like Kit (formerly Convertkit)?” I explain that Substack is a good fit for people who primarily want to share their thoughts or report news to an audience, especially writers and journalists. You can set a premium price for subscribers, though Substack takes a percentage of your earnings.SubstackSubstack is a newsletter-first publishing platform built around simple creation and monetization of written content. It lets creators publish posts that go both to an email inbox and a web page, with built-in tools for paid subscriptions and community engagement (comments, chat, Notes).Kit (formerly Converkit)Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is an email-marketing platform designed for creators who want more control over audience relationships, automation, and monetization — not just basic newsletters. It includes advanced segmentation, automation workflows, and tools for selling digital products alongside newsletters.Growing Your ListI talk about the low conversion rate for newsletter signups—typically only 3-5% of your audience might subscribe, and having a strong lead magnet helps increase that number.Personally, I use my newsletter in a hybrid way: I share my thoughts on podcasting, updates on my latest content, things that have caught my eye, and a call to check out the School of Podcasting. However, if your main goal is marketing, Substack isn't the best choice. Tools like Kit, MailerLite, and Beehiv are better for things like automated sequences, lead magnets, and selling advertising.I also discuss how some platforms—like Riverside and Kajabi—offer podcast hosting, but I don't recommend using services that aren't specifically built for podcast hosting. If you're considering a platform, always check if they offer important tools like 301 redirects for your podcast feed.Got More Questions?In summary, if you just want to inform and connect with your audience, Substack is an easy and free option. If you want to do marketing or advanced list-building, platforms like Kit or MailerLite are better suited.If you need help with any of this, don't hesitate to reach out or join the School of Podcasting, where you'll find step-by-step courses, consulting, and a supportive community.This content may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I trust and believe will provide value to you. Thank you for your support!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

When I first started teaching farm marketing, I noticed something right away: most farmers weren't struggling because they were "bad at marketing" — they were struggling because they had never been taught how to do it. They were winging it, trying to piece things together from YouTube videos and Instagram posts, and feeling defeated when sales didn't budge. Farm Marketing School was born out of that gap — a place where farmers could learn the skills, systems, and confidence they need to market their farms well. And since enrollment for next year is now open, I wanted to finally pull back the curtain and answer the question I get asked all the time: "Is this right for me?" In today's episode, I'm giving you a full behind-the-scenes tour of Farm Marketing School — what it is, how it works, who it's for, and why it transforms the way farmers show up in their business. I walk through our monthly step-by-step projects, the templates and swipe files inside, the coaching support, the community, and the special Money Mindset focus we're diving into this winter. If you've ever wished you could feel more confident and competent in your marketing — like you finally had the tools, structure, and support to stop winging it — this episode will help you see what's possible. Join Farm Marketing School here! ==> www.mydigitalfarmer.com/enroll Bonus Free Webinar I mention this in today's episode! Register for my Sales Funnel Framework webinar at www.mydigitalfarmer.com/webinar to learn the eight parts of a marketing system that actually drives recurring sales. This is very similar to the "Sales Funnel" workshop that I ask all my FMS students to watch FIRST inside of the school! So it's like getting a free sneak peek of my FMS workshop. When: Every Tuesday in December at 10 AM EST (no session on Dec. 23) —

What if losing your job became the moment that unlocked your greatest success? In this special episode, Jason Duncan sits down with Pat Flynn, legendary creator of Smart Passive Income, author, speaker, and one of the most influential online entrepreneurs of the past decade. Pat's story is the definition of resilience — from getting laid off as an architect in 2008… to building multiple successful online businesses, inspiring millions, and becoming a true pioneer in digital entrepreneurship. Inside this conversation, Jason and Pat go deep on:

In this week's episode, I sit down with Farm Marketing School member Patty Kloft of Lonely Lane Farms in Oregon — a long-established, family-run operation producing grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, and goat. Patty's story is one of evolution: from a wholesale-focused farm to a thriving direct-to-consumer and retail business with more than 200 value-added meat products. We unpack how Patty scaled her farm while balancing family life, managing a USDA-certified processing facility, and developing consistent marketing systems to support a growing brand.

Sandra Booker is a fractional COO and right-hand woman to some of the top 7-figure business owners I know. In this episode (an Oldie But Goodie), she shares her near-catastrophic business mistake of losing track of her cash flow, and she walks us through her strategies for managing finances, the lessons she's learned, and money management advice for small business owners.We also get into the difference between a virtual assistant and an online business manager, common hiring mistakes, and what to look out for when spending money on tools.Links from the show:https://sidekickcoo.com https://sidekickcoo.com/great-big-list-of-kpis https://emancopyco.com/627 (This is an affiliate link for The 627 Advisory Board)Find the transcript of this episode on my site, emancopyco.com/podcastIf you loved this episode, take a screenshot, post it on Instagram, and tell everyone you know that this is the podcast to listen to. Don't forget to tag me! @emancopycoLoving the podcast?Support the show and leave a rating or review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/mistakesGet the BTS scoop on how this podcast is made in this bonus episode: https://emancopyco.com/btsWork with Eman Copy Co. to power up your email strategy, your launches, and your revenueFill in the enquiry form on this contact page: https://emancopyco.com/contact/Want to learn with me?Take Eman's “What's Your Perfect Newsletter Style?” quiz: https://www.emancopyco.com/quiz Check out my courses and masterclasses: https://emancopyco.com/learn-with-me/Say hi

What would it feel like to generate $250,000 in revenue from your farm in just one week? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of our biggest—and most important—promotion of the year: our CSA Early Bird Renewal Campaign. We just wrapped up the 2026 launch, and the numbers are in: ➡️ 265 shares sold in 7 days ➡️ 234 of them sold in the first 24 hours

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and you might be thinking, "It's too late to pull off a holiday promo." But guess what? It's not. This time of year, your customers are already in buying mode -- planning meals, prepping for gatherings, and looking for unique local gifts. Which means there's money sitting on the table right now for your farm. In this episode, I'm showing you how to grab it. In this week's episode, I'm giving you plug-and-play ideas for last-minute Thanksgiving offers you can launch this week -- even if you feel behind. You'll learn:

This week's episode was inspired by an email from a listener named Jenna, who wrote in with a fantastic question: "As our season ends in December and the next CSA won't begin until spring, I'm wondering how you handle your private CSA Facebook group between seasons. Do you create a new group each year, or do you maintain the same group and remove members who don't continue?" If you run a CSA, you've probably wrestled with this too. What do you do with your private Facebook group when the season ends? Do you close it? Keep it open? Kick people out who don't renew? In this episode, I unpack exactly how I manage my own CSA group, what's worked, what hasn't, and share a roadmap to help you decide what's best for yours. Because your Facebook group isn't just a communication tool… it's a connection tool. It's what helps people feel like they belong; and when they belong, they stay. In this episode, you'll learn: The real purpose of your CSA Facebook group (hint: it's about building community, not just sharing logistics) The three main ways to manage your group at the end of the season -- and the pros and cons of each Why I now keep my group open year-round and DON'T remove non-members How to keep engagement alive through the off-season How to position your Facebook group as a perk of membership  Why "grooming" your group matters, and what to do with members who don't renew This conversation will help you see your CSA group for what it truly is -- a powerful relationship and retention tool that keeps customers coming back season after season. Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School: Marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step system for building a profitable farm marketing plan. Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like:

Laura Jane Barnes is an entrepreneur, creator, musician, and social media savant who also happens to be a TikTok & IG viral sensation. (You've probably heard one of her songs!)In this interview, Laura shares her biggest business mistake: the inability to separate her personal identity from her business. (It's an Oldie But Goodie!)I talk about my own personal loss and Laura recounts her journey from viral music creation on social media to redefining her business approach after a critical injury.Together, we examine how tying your identity too closely to business successes can often be disastrous. Laura's website: https://www.laurajanebarnes.com/Laura on Instagram: @heyitslaurajaneLaura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyitslaurajane/“It Costs That Much” on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4nu49nwy5BZ2OVGQlWVLea?si=16b40becd4064778“We Don't Owe You Affordability” on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4PmbzVBboRLPKzSAxn0RGG?si=3ed4fcdd30234e34Find the transcript of this episode on my site, emancopyco.com/podcastIf you loved this episode, take a screenshot, post it on Instagram, and tell everyone you know that this is the podcast to listen to. Don't forget to tag me! @emancopyco.Loving the podcast?Support the show and leave a rating or review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/mistakesGet the BTS scoop on how this podcast is made in this bonus episode: https://emancopyco.com/btsWork with Eman Copy Co. to power up your email strategy, your launches, and your revenueFill in the enquiry form on this contact page: https://emancopyco.com/contact/Want to learn with me?Take Eman's “What's Your Perfect Newsletter Style?” quiz: https://www.emancopyco.com/quiz Check out my courses and masterclasses: https://emancopyco.com/learn-with-me/Say hi

What's the best way to get new customers for your farm? Answer: Word of mouth. And the best part? You already have a loyal fanbase! You just need to activate it. Okay so how do you do that? In this episode, I show you how to build a simple referral system that runs quietly in the background and brings in your dream customers—the ones who are already pre-sold by someone they trust. You'll learn: Why referrals work better than ads (and cost you way less) 5 ingredients of an irresistible referral offer When and how to ask for a referral (timing is everything) Real farm examples by product type (veggies, meat, flowers, cheese) A step-by-step checklist to build your own referral system this month PS: Want to build systems like this for your farm? Join us inside Farm Marketing School this winter where I'll be helping my students build out a simple referral element in their business step by step. Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School: Marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step system for building a profitable farm marketing plan. Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like:

What would you do if the product your customers loved the most—the one they buy first, talk about the most, and happily pay premium prices for—was suddenly GONE… and you knew it would be two years before you could sell it again? This happened to one of my Farm Marketing School members, Stacie. She raises meat and sells a monthly membership that gives her customers first access to everything. But as of this month… her freezers are completely out of beef. Zero inventory. And she won't have more until 2027. She came to our group coaching call in full-on panic mode: "How do I keep selling when I don't have the thing everyone wants? What if my customers leave? What if they go to my competitor? What if my membership loses value?" The coaching that followed turned into one of the most powerful conversations we've had inside FMS. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing real excerpts from that Farm Marketing School coaching call. And between the clips, I jump in with my commentary to unpack the lessons you must hear—because even if you don't sell beef, I promise you… this conversation is about YOU. We'll explore: ✅ Why making assumptions about your customers will keep you stuck ✅ How scarcity can actually make your product MORE valuable (if you position it right) ✅ The mindset shift every farmer must make if they want to grow and evolve ✅ How running out of product might be the very thing that leads to your next breakthrough offer This episode will challenge the way you think about "problems" in your business—and may just help you see your current roadblock in a totally new way. Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School: Marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step system for building a profitable farm marketing plan. Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like:

On the Freelance Business Unlocked podcast with Anja Lordanić, I share how I use email to build trust, spark action, and keep sales steady – without feeling overly salesy.We talk emails that actually gets replies, simple segmentation that doesn't take up your entire week, and the tiny edits that make one email feel impossibly personal.We also get into experimenting (even with a small list), writing that sounds like you (not a template), values-led marketing, and staying consistent when life gets busy.If you want marketing emails people open, read and buy from, this episode gives you strategies you can implement today.Check out the Freelance Business Unlocked website & subscribe to the podcast: https://www.freelancebusinessunlocked.com/Connect with Anja on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjalordanic/Loving the podcast?Support the show and leave a rating or review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/mistakesGet the BTS scoop on how this podcast is made in this bonus episode: https://emancopyco.com/btsWork with Eman Copy Co. to power up your email strategy, your launches, and your revenueFill in the enquiry form on this contact page: https://emancopyco.com/contact/Want to learn with me?Take Eman's “What's Your Perfect Newsletter Style?” quiz: https://www.emancopyco.com/quiz Check out my courses and masterclasses: https://emancopyco.com/learn-with-me/Say hi

In this episode, we dive into the often-overwhelming world of building a tech stack for your coaching business! We know the thought of sorting through all the technology options can make your eyes glaze over, but fear not! We break it down into manageable pieces, discussing everything from accounting software to payment processors, calendaring systems, and even email marketing tools. Adding tech to your process should save you time and money, not cause you headaches and cost you cash. Our goal is to help you streamline your processes so you can focus on what you do best – coaching! Are you ready to take your coaching business to the next level? Listen in as we share our personal experiences with different tools and provide recommendations that can help you build a solid tech foundation for a thriving coaching practice.

As farmers, we live and breathe systems. We know when to seed, when to transplant, when to harvest. It's all about rhythm and routine. So why do we make our marketing so much harder than it needs to be? When I finally embraced this one simple mindset shift in my marketing — rinse and repeat — everything changed. Suddenly I wasn't recreating the wheel every season. I was building campaigns that got easier, faster, and more effective with time. I wish I'd adopted this sooner. In this episode, I unpack the powerful (and often overlooked) marketing hack of repeating what worked — instead of starting from scratch each season. I'll show you how to systematize your promotions so they become as routine as planting cucumbers in May. You'll walk away with permission to simplify and a plan to do it better next time — by doing what you already know works. This episode is a quick but powerful reframe for farmers who feel like marketing is always “starting over.” Don't miss it. Homework Challenge

Every once in a while, an email offer lands in my inbox that stops me in my tracks. It's not just well-written... it's strategic. It makes me want to forward it. Study it. Steal from it. In today's episode, I'm auditing one of those unicorn emails — and I'm showing you why it worked so well. This email (from Function Health) was a masterclass in offer psychology. It played multiple sales motivators all at once, had brilliant positioning, and used subtle language that made it feel like a gift — not a pitch. It's rare to find something this clean, so I knew I had to share it with you.

Finding clarity around what you want is essential, because it guides every decision in your work and in your life. When you design your business or career to fit you, it opens the door to sustainable success and gives you the freedom to create your life around what matters most.In this episode, you'll hear from Holly Haynes, host of the Crush the Rush podcast. Holly shares her story of leaving her corporate job, starting her own business, and committing to creating the quality of life she wanted. Her journey is a real-life example of what life mastery is all about–not having everything perfectly aligned or knowing every step, but embracing the realness, authenticity, and messiness of leaning in to create your life according to your values.Even if you aren't a business owner, you most likely understand the pressure to “do all of the things” in order to succeed. Too many of us end up spread thin and exhausted when we follow that path. Holly Haynes' Anti-Social School and her approach to helping clients grow in a way that feels authentic to them—and the life they want to create—is the key to sustainable success.Allowing yourself to be curious about what lights you up–what you love to do and what would work for you–is the real secret to business growth without burnout. However, the paramount principle is that in order to get curious, you must allow yourself the space and rest you need to access your greatest creativity. Our instinct is often to push harder and do more when we want to make a change in our business or life, but that doesn't lead to the sustainable success and balance we want to create in our lives. Today, we'll talk about how you can challenge yourself to reclaim the time, energy, and space that you want.You can have the quality of life you desire, so give yourself permission and trust yourself to create it. The gifts and abilities you have matter, and when you allow them the space to grow, they will shine. Let's get started!What you'll learn:Why the greatest reward in business often isn't financial, but the freedom to be with the people you love and live on your termsHow to grow your business without using marketing tactics that don't align with your valuesWhy you're not alone when you face challenges on the path to sustainable successHow taking time off can benefit your business and help you create your life the way you wantHow to make your business better for clients without sacrificing your life or wellbeingYou can read the full show notes here.About Holly HaynesHolly Haynes empowers female entrepreneurs to build thriving, scalable businesses without getting lost in the ever-changing social media algorithms. With over two decades of experience, supporting Fortune 500 companies she built her own business while juggling a career, raising twins, and retired herself and her husband in just 2 years. A recognized industry expert and speaker featured by Entrepreneur.com, Thrive, ConvertKit, Honeybook, and Hello Audio to name a few, Holly supports women in achieving their entrepreneurial dreams through her strategic coaching, the Crush the Rush Quarterly Planner, and the global top-ranked Crush the Rush Podcast. Her focus on life-priorities-focused businesses ensures that women can scale their ventures without sacrificing their personal well-being. Holly hosts the top 100 Crush the Rush podcast and runs her strategic coaching business while raising her twin daughters with her husband in Columbus, Ohio.Website:

Most farmers try to push the “big sale” first… but what if your smallest product was actually the secret to long-term customer loyalty? In this episode, I break down the concept of the gateway offer—a key piece of your sales funnel that many farms overlook. You'll learn what it is, why it matters, how to identify yours, and how to use it to grow your customer base on purpose. You'll discover: What a gateway offer is (with examples for veggie, meat, flower, and value-added farms) Why small, low-risk products are often your most powerful marketing tool How to position and promote your gateway item online and at the farmers market What to do after a customer buys it to lead them deeper into your product ladder A mindset shift that will help you stop seeing small sales as a loss—and start seeing them as an investment Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School: Marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step system for building a profitable farm marketing plan. Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like:

One of the biggest struggles for new farm businesses? No testimonials. When you're just starting out, you know your product is amazing—but your customers don't. And without social proof, it's hard for new buyers to feel confident putting your food in their cart (or their bodies). In this episode, I share a simple, repeatable strategy to jumpstart your testimonials—even with zero reviews. And yes, it involves giving away product strategically to build the kind of trust that drives sales. You'll learn: Why testimonials are one of your biggest marketing levers The catch-22 most beginner farmers fall into (and how to break it) A simple script + 5-step plan to get your first reviews fast What to ask for (written, photo, video, or all 3!) Where to use testimonials for maximum impact P.S. Want my full testimonial playbook? It's inside the Social Proof Project in Farm Marketing School → mydigitalfarmer.com/fms Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School: Marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step system for building a profitable farm marketing plan. Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like:

If you're tired of chasing one-off ebook/course sales and want income that stacks every month, a low-key membership is the fastest, simplest path—built with tools you already use (Zoom + Facebook/WhatsApp + your email service). In my latest Blogger Genius episode, I break down the exact approach (plus 2 copy-and-paste AI prompts) to design, launch, and grow a membership that compounds without burning you out. Show Notes: MiloTree Free Plan Low-Key Membership Prompt Pack Digital Product Ladder AI Prompt (Free Download) 6 Purchasing Triggers Test Join The Blogger Genius Newsletter Become a Blogger Genius Facebook Group Subscribe to the Blogger Genius Podcast: iTunes YouTube Spotify TL;DR (Problem → Solution) Problem: One-off product sales force you to keep launching and promoting to make money and for many people that is hard. Solution: A low-key membership: 2 Zoom sessions/month + lightweight community + simple emails. That's it. Recurring payments keep coming in—even when you're not launching. Why “Low-Key Memberships” Win in 2025 Recurring revenue > one-offs: Each new member adds to your baseline. Members stay for community, not modules: Overstuffed content = churn. Connection and momentum = retention. Zero tech headaches: Use platforms people already check daily (FB/WhatsApp) and Zoom they already know. Real-world results shared in the episode: Weight-loss creator: $300/mo → $2,800/mo with Zoom + private FB group. Anxiety coach: $4,100/mo with WhatsApp + biweekly calls. Your Starter Stack (Keep It Simple) Delivery: 2 Zoom sessions/month (Teaching + Q&A). Community: Facebook Group or WhatsApp for quick wins + peer support. Communication: Your existing email service provider (Mailchimp, MailerLite, Flodesk, ConvertKit). Payments & pages: MiloTree—AI sales pages, Stripe checkout, recurring billing. Start free to grow your list; upgrade when you're ready to accept membership payments. 7-Day Launch Plan (No Pre-Recorded Library) Day 1: Pick your promise (one painful problem you'll help members solve monthly). Day 2: Post your interest waitlist with a freebie (see below). Day 3: Price: $27–$97/mo. Add a 10× annual option (e.g., $47/mo or $470/yr). Day 4: Create an outline for your first month's sessions. Day 5: Open your MiloTree membership (AI sales page + Stripe billing). Day 6: DM warm leads (from FB groups/WhatsApp/LinkedIn) with your waitlist link. Day 7: Host a founders' kickoff (set expectations, celebrate early wins). Pro tip: Build with your members. Teach what they ask for next. That “fluid plan” keeps content laser-relevant and retention high. Copy-and-Paste AI Prompts (Use These to Build It Fast) Prompt #1 — Design your membership “Design a low-key membership for my expertise in [YOUR NICHE]. I want something simple that builds community using free platforms people already know. First, validate my niche using these six purchasing triggers: makes money, saves money, saves time, moves toward happiness, moves away from pain, raises social status (explain which apply). Then create a concept that: meets twice monthly (1 teaching call, 1 Q&A via Zoom); uses Facebook Groups/Discord/WhatsApp for interaction; uses email for schedules/recordings/updates; focuses on implementation (not info overload); builds naturally without tons of pre-created content; develops a supportive community; and is priced $27–$97/mo. Finally, give me the name, core promise, monthly structure, and an engagement + referral strategy.” Prompt #2 — Find your first members “I'm launching the [MEMBERSHIP NAME] from the previous prompt. Give me the 10 best places to attract ideal members with specific strategies. Include communities, social platforms, networking, and partnerships. For each, show how to introduce my offer naturally (not salesy), what value to lead with, and how to start DMs that convert. Also give me 5 content ideas that demonstrate expertise and nudge people toward ongoing support.” Pricing & Positioning (Simple Rules) Start $27–$97/mo; add a 10× annual plan to boost cash flow and commitment. Promise one result per month (not a giant library). Sell outcomes: “From stuck to consistent posting,” “From chaos to meal-prep routine,” “From anxiety spiral to daily calm.” Retention Playbook (Why Members Stay) Two predictable touchpoints (Teaching + Q&A). Community micro-wins (weekly check-ins, share wins, peer feedback). Fluid curriculum (teach what members ask for next). Use MiloTree to Power It (Free → Paid, Without Friction) Start free: Use MiloTree Free Plan to build your list fast—create an AI-generated opt-in page for your freebie, store the file, and deliver it automatically. When ready to charge: Upgrade to accept recurring membership payments—MiloTree auto-generates your sales page with AI and runs Stripe billing for you. Set monthly + annual prices in minutes. Freebie to Kickstart Signups Offer something your ideal member can use this week, e.g.: “7-Day Kickstart Calendar” “Swipe Files: Posts/Emails/Templates” “Quick-Wins Checklist” My freebie: Low-Key Membership AI Prompt Pack—the exact prompts above, ready to paste and launch. (Grab it below.) Show Notes / Resources MiloTree Free Plan – start building your email list and delivering freebies today. Low-Key Membership AI Prompt Pack (Free) – copy, paste, launch. Set Up Your Membership in MiloTree – add your name, price (monthly + annual), and let AI build your page; Stripe handles recurring payments. FAQ Do I need a content library before launch? No. Teach live, capture recordings, and let member questions shape the roadmap. That's what keeps it relevant and light for you. Which platform for community? Pick where your audience already is (FB Group, Instagram, Discord, WhatsApp, Slack, etc.). Lower friction = higher engagement. How soon can I hit $1K/month? Many creators reach their first $1K within ~90 days using this simple stack and outreach. Your mileage varies—but the model compounds. Call to Action

Ever wonder what it's really like inside one of my monthly FMS coaching calls? In this episode, you'll listen in on a real strategy session with a first-year chicken & egg farm business. We dig into their sales funnel, troubleshoot the sticking points, and uncover where the energy (and growth potential) really lives. Inside this call, we cover: What's clogging the sales pipeline in their direct-to-consumer model How to build a product ladder that bridges the pricing gap Why their quirky Chicken Bingo event is a marketing goldmine Why the fear of running out of product can actually work in your favor Ideas for leveraging social proof, storytelling, and list-building Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School: Marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step system for building a profitable farm marketing plan. Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like:

In this episode, I walk you through specific customer phrases and dialogue strategies that boost confidence, spark curiosity, and increase conversions at your booth. You'll learn: Buzzwords that create urgency, desire, and trust How to use the "suggestive sell" and assumptive close Upsell, downsell, and cross-sell phrases that increase cart size Tips for building rapport that turns browsers into regulars How to train your team to say the right things—without being pushy Listen to the episode here! Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors: Local Line: Local Line is my farm's preferred e-commerce platform for farmers. Are you looking for a new solution for your farm? I can't recommend it enough. Easy-to-use inventory management, great customer service, continuous improvement, and a culture dedicated to equipping farmers with marketing expertise. Local Line is offering a free premium feature for free for one year on top of your paid subscription. Claim your discount by signing up for a Local Line account today and using the coupon code: MDF2025. Head to my special affiliate link to get started: www.mydigitalfarmer.com/localline Farm Marketing School: Marketing doesn't have to feel overwhelming! Farm Marketing School is my step-by-step system for building a profitable farm marketing plan. Inside, you'll get access to bite-sized marketing projects like: