. What stood out to you in the session? What questions do you have? What’s your one key takeaway? Let’s discuss! ⚡️
🎁 BONUS PRIZE: Engage in the next hour for a chance to win a set of Lucy’s best-selling books—”Hype Yourself” and “Brand Yourself”—and a pack of her 52 PR Tips prompt cards. Winner to be announced here within 24 hours.
Hyping up your work is such a key part of what we're doing here on Substack ... thank you, Lucy, for so many good ideas! First question for you ... what's your favorite way to generate your own buzz?? ⚡️
Thanks for hosting and the great question Christin. For me, it is definitely something that makes me laugh because I think the most important part of promotion is to enjoy it. If I'm having a good time then I know my audience will too.
Lucy, thanks for all the great tips you shared with us today! One question for you: how receptive have you found established Substackers to be in agreeing to be a featured guest for other Substack platforms that are newer and smaller...and what tips do you have for how best to approach them?
Interesting question. Am I right in assuming when you say established Substackers you mean people with a larger audience?
There are a few things that I think come into play. I came over with an audience before hand and I'm sure others do so I'm wondering if that comes into the 'established' category or not.
For me personally, I don't care about audience size or how new someone is. I mostly care about if we have an existing relationship and / or an audience overlap.
With the directory I created, the best matches are when there is a natural subject matter collaboration.
The relationship needs to be authentic, so I would be a subscriber, know them and their work well so that when you do make an approach you can show that you know them. If you are already recommending their publication this could help as you will have the stats on any reader referrals and audience overlap too!
Thanks Lucy! By established I was referring to the amount of experience someone has on Substack vs audience size, so your tips definitely resonate with building a natural relationship first that is mutually beneficial.
Hi Lucy! Every time someone mentions the word "hype" on Substack, it makes me think of your Substack. I like the idea of what Tamsin is offering for her yearly subscribers. Currently, I run free monthly doodle drawing/painting challenges with the intention of offering them for free initially and then putting them behind the paid wall. However, as a creative artist, I'm brainstorming ideas that I can offer to paid subscribers, such as affirmation cards, packs of illustration cards, or collaborations with other people on Substack. I'd love to get your insight or other suggestions.
Hello Susan! Awww thank you - hopefully that means I am doing something right.
I love all of these ideas and if I'm honest I would test and reiterate with your audience. If it was illustration cards for example perhaps they are different each quarter?
I think having micro-moments that change for your promotion can keep it fresh for you AND your audience and then after a year you can look back and see which ones worked better.
I think the tangible gifts could work well.
For collaboration with other people on Substack, do you mean to cohost a live?
Yes - a well matched guest can work wonders. Randomly from my lives, I've only worked with people who have zero presence on substack and I think that has also helped me to bring an audience over! Worth considering.
I've always thought myself to be an outside-the-box thinker, but I realize after watching your presentation that I have a comfort zone I tend to not explore! I'm generally a more reserved (but still silly) lady, and I bet I can think of a few ways to put myself out there without feeling easily embarrassed.
YES Diana! Thank you for your comment and that is exactly the one takeaway I would want anyone to have. It should feel good! It shouldn't feel embarrasing. And of course, I want to know more about the silliness.
Were there any particular ideas that resonated that you thought, ok, I could do a spin on that?
I have a deep love for all things stationery and have a box of old letters from way back in the day. I miss snail mail! The idea of sending a postcard with a personal sentiment sounds great! As for my silliness, I love quoting movies. And sometimes in real life (especially around my big brother) we'll full out re-enact the scene.
Would people really sign up to receive hand-made postcards? I love sending them to family and friends when I am travelling but I've never tried to send one with my own art!
All you can do is test? I can't say for sure but if Mr. Bingo started out by getting people to pay to send hate mail I'm sure someone is going to pay to receive a hand-made postcard!
I am a big fan of one-size-fits-no-one and on here you can trial a special new subscribers offer and see if it converts?
Hi. Thank you! I wanted to ask about the directory idea. On substack would this be a post or a section? Do you update it and send emails with every update or just in the beginning? Are there links to examples? TY
Thank you. I love the idea of coming up with something repeatable that becomes the way people remember me. Also, the idea of taking people on a journey. So may actionable ideas in this talk!
I am writing a book, Unpacked, about how after 30 years of marriage my husband and I were trying to decide whether to go our separate ways or stay together. Instead, we quit our jobs and left home -- backpacked around South America for 8 months to see what we'd keep and what we'd leave behind on the second stage of life's journey.
My substack is about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable in life.
Right? I believe Kaarin has inadvertently hyped herself to her perfect audience! Chatting in the comments after a live Q&A is now officially Idea 22 of the presentation.
Wow - what a title. I love this. And I mean, you are actually REALLY taking us on the journey with you. I feel like you could tease so much of this with little bits of photo diaries. PR wise I actually think it could work super well for traditional press articles too. There are so many ways you can carve this up. As for getting comforatble with being uncomfortable also a great theme and a great way to collaborate with others to share their little nuggets around the same topic. Can't wait to see more!
Lucy, and the rest of you, are making me want to try Substack for a new newsletter (more niche than my main one on Beehiiv). I hate having so many venues for my work and have been leaning toward the latter for the new one. Anyone use both?
And the bonus prize winner is 🥁 ... Susan Jimenez! Congratulations! I will send you a DM. ⚡️
Hyping up your work is such a key part of what we're doing here on Substack ... thank you, Lucy, for so many good ideas! First question for you ... what's your favorite way to generate your own buzz?? ⚡️
Thanks for hosting and the great question Christin. For me, it is definitely something that makes me laugh because I think the most important part of promotion is to enjoy it. If I'm having a good time then I know my audience will too.
This totally shines through for you! 🤩
Bloody love that answer!
Haha YES
Lucy, thanks for all the great tips you shared with us today! One question for you: how receptive have you found established Substackers to be in agreeing to be a featured guest for other Substack platforms that are newer and smaller...and what tips do you have for how best to approach them?
Interesting question. Am I right in assuming when you say established Substackers you mean people with a larger audience?
There are a few things that I think come into play. I came over with an audience before hand and I'm sure others do so I'm wondering if that comes into the 'established' category or not.
For me personally, I don't care about audience size or how new someone is. I mostly care about if we have an existing relationship and / or an audience overlap.
With the directory I created, the best matches are when there is a natural subject matter collaboration.
The relationship needs to be authentic, so I would be a subscriber, know them and their work well so that when you do make an approach you can show that you know them. If you are already recommending their publication this could help as you will have the stats on any reader referrals and audience overlap too!
Thanks Lucy! By established I was referring to the amount of experience someone has on Substack vs audience size, so your tips definitely resonate with building a natural relationship first that is mutually beneficial.
Hi Lucy! Every time someone mentions the word "hype" on Substack, it makes me think of your Substack. I like the idea of what Tamsin is offering for her yearly subscribers. Currently, I run free monthly doodle drawing/painting challenges with the intention of offering them for free initially and then putting them behind the paid wall. However, as a creative artist, I'm brainstorming ideas that I can offer to paid subscribers, such as affirmation cards, packs of illustration cards, or collaborations with other people on Substack. I'd love to get your insight or other suggestions.
Hello Susan! Awww thank you - hopefully that means I am doing something right.
I love all of these ideas and if I'm honest I would test and reiterate with your audience. If it was illustration cards for example perhaps they are different each quarter?
I think having micro-moments that change for your promotion can keep it fresh for you AND your audience and then after a year you can look back and see which ones worked better.
I think the tangible gifts could work well.
For collaboration with other people on Substack, do you mean to cohost a live?
Thanks for the generous feedback, and suggestions. I should definitely, test them out and change it up quarterly.
For collaboration, I'm referring to offering guest-post and cohosting live :)
Yes - a well matched guest can work wonders. Randomly from my lives, I've only worked with people who have zero presence on substack and I think that has also helped me to bring an audience over! Worth considering.
Amazing, these conversations have been so inspiring and a wonderful way to spend my evening. Thanks , Lucy, I know it's late for you too!
I got a power nap in earlier, don't you worry :)
I've always thought myself to be an outside-the-box thinker, but I realize after watching your presentation that I have a comfort zone I tend to not explore! I'm generally a more reserved (but still silly) lady, and I bet I can think of a few ways to put myself out there without feeling easily embarrassed.
YES Diana! Thank you for your comment and that is exactly the one takeaway I would want anyone to have. It should feel good! It shouldn't feel embarrasing. And of course, I want to know more about the silliness.
Were there any particular ideas that resonated that you thought, ok, I could do a spin on that?
I have a deep love for all things stationery and have a box of old letters from way back in the day. I miss snail mail! The idea of sending a postcard with a personal sentiment sounds great! As for my silliness, I love quoting movies. And sometimes in real life (especially around my big brother) we'll full out re-enact the scene.
I love the idea of sending a postcard with a personal sentiment!
I never stopped sending snail mail. It might not be often, but I enjoy sending those notes as much as I do receiving them.
I LOVE everything about this. I actually wrote about wanting to be a postcard influencer behind my pay wall a while back 😂.
I also think a lot of us have that box of old letters from way back when... a few photos of glimpses of that could be great.
Would people really sign up to receive hand-made postcards? I love sending them to family and friends when I am travelling but I've never tried to send one with my own art!
I would love a postcard from a paid writer! Absolutely! And, to Lucy's point, you bet I would take a pic of it and post a note after receiving it.
I might need to try it out, Diana 💌
All you can do is test? I can't say for sure but if Mr. Bingo started out by getting people to pay to send hate mail I'm sure someone is going to pay to receive a hand-made postcard!
I am a big fan of one-size-fits-no-one and on here you can trial a special new subscribers offer and see if it converts?
Hi. Thank you! I wanted to ask about the directory idea. On substack would this be a post or a section? Do you update it and send emails with every update or just in the beginning? Are there links to examples? TY
I think some people have used it as a google doc link so it can be updated live in real time. I have run it as a post and then update each quarter. Here are my last two directory links: https://hypeyourself.substack.com/p/66-outlets-looking-for-guests
https://hypeyourself.substack.com/p/45-outlets-looking-for-guests
Thank you. I love the idea of coming up with something repeatable that becomes the way people remember me. Also, the idea of taking people on a journey. So may actionable ideas in this talk!
YES! I think something even small like just a catch phrase or a sign-off can be a really small and easy way to start.
Are you working to launch something in particular at the moment?
I am writing a book, Unpacked, about how after 30 years of marriage my husband and I were trying to decide whether to go our separate ways or stay together. Instead, we quit our jobs and left home -- backpacked around South America for 8 months to see what we'd keep and what we'd leave behind on the second stage of life's journey.
My substack is about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable in life.
With no other data, from that blurb I'd buy and read the book.
Right? I believe Kaarin has inadvertently hyped herself to her perfect audience! Chatting in the comments after a live Q&A is now officially Idea 22 of the presentation.
Haha! 💯
You know it’s actually an excellent example of authentic engagement. No sales pitch.
Yes! And the joy on this platform of all the different things that people are working on is so inspiring.
This sounds like an incredible book! 🙌
It really does! ⚡️
Wow - what a title. I love this. And I mean, you are actually REALLY taking us on the journey with you. I feel like you could tease so much of this with little bits of photo diaries. PR wise I actually think it could work super well for traditional press articles too. There are so many ways you can carve this up. As for getting comforatble with being uncomfortable also a great theme and a great way to collaborate with others to share their little nuggets around the same topic. Can't wait to see more!
"always launching" -this will stay with me. thank you!
Lucy, and the rest of you, are making me want to try Substack for a new newsletter (more niche than my main one on Beehiiv). I hate having so many venues for my work and have been leaning toward the latter for the new one. Anyone use both?
We might be a little biased, but Substack really is the best and most flexible platform I’ve used. 👏
I was focused on the information to the point I forgot Substack hosted this. 🤪
Some great ideas and examples , thank you . I going to especially come up with some gift and extra’s 🎁
WOW, my sneaky kitten got into your PowerPoint! What a rascal. ;) Loved this presentation, Lucy. So inspiring!