The hottest Growth Strategies Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

How To Give Yourself A Promotion And Grow Your Business Beyond Solo Freelancing

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 99 implied HN points • 09 Sep 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. To grow beyond solo freelancing, you need to stop doing everything yourself. Focus on what you do best and outsource the tasks that take up too much of your time.
  2. It's important to package your services in a way that clients understand and can buy easily. This means creating fixed-fee services that have clear pricing and deliverables.
  3. You should regularly audit how you spend your time to figure out what tasks can be delegated. This helps free up your schedule for the high-value work that you enjoy.

LinkedIn

Public Universal Friend • 79 implied HN points • 02 Sep 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Using a customer engagement platform like Customer.io can help marketers improve their targeting and maximize growth. It offers better data management and less need for technical support.
  2. Spring is a great time for businesses to focus on improving conversions through digital marketing strategies. Real-time data can help companies get more return on their investment.
  3. Personal connections and genuine interactions are valuable, even in business communication. Taking the time to show real interest can make a difference.

Why Most Online Advertising Benchmarks Are BS (And What To Do Instead)

Nail It and Scale It • 119 implied HN points • 22 Jul 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Many online advertising benchmarks are unreliable because they don't account for differences in pricing and offers. This means you might be comparing apples to oranges, leading to wrong conclusions.
  2. To get better benchmarks, focus on two key metrics: Cost-Per-Click (CPC) and Conversion Rate. These give you a clearer picture of how your ads are performing compared to others.
  3. Joining groups or talking to industry experts can help you find more accurate conversion rates for your products. Sharing data with peers is a good way to understand what's normal in your field.
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65 successful media entrepreneurs share their top growth hacks

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Many media entrepreneurs are sharing their success stories to help others learn how to build and grow their businesses. These stories often include practical tips that can be applied to different media projects.
  2. Building a strong online presence is crucial, whether through newsletters, podcasts, or social media. Engaging an audience consistently can lead to loyal subscribers and increased revenue.
  3. Finding a specific niche can be a great strategy for media startups. Focusing on a particular topic or audience allows entrepreneurs to create content that truly resonates and stands out in a crowded market.

What we would’ve done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

Founders Confidential • 51 HN points • 28 Jul 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Start content marketing early because it takes a long time to build an audience. This way, you can also learn what your users really need.
  2. Target specific keywords in your SEO content. This helps your articles show up in search results and reach the right audience.
  3. Understand your users' experiences more deeply. Talking to them can give you valuable insights to improve your product.

Managing Expand Projects

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1193 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. In a phase of rapid growth, problems can emerge suddenly, and it's crucial to focus on quick fixes instead of getting bogged down in perfect plans. This might mean using basic solutions to keep things running.
  2. When facing high demand and limited resources, the goal is to delay or prevent resource shortages. This can involve spending more money or reducing the growth rate to manage resources better.
  3. It's important to stay calm and creative during crises. Experimenting with new ideas in small, parallel teams can help find solutions quickly, which is necessary to continue growing without causing irreversible problems.

The emerging startup playbook

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 962 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Create a minimum remarkable product that really stands out. This means your initial product should be good enough to impress people right away, as getting their trust back later is tough.
  2. Use storytelling to engage your audience. Instead of a big launch event, try to build a community around your product through authentic content and personal stories.
  3. Stay lean by using automation and AI to keep things efficient. It's better to have a small, skilled team that can innovate rather than hiring lots of people to get things done.

The 10 biggest mistakes I made bootstrapping to $1M ARR

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 788 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Launching on Product Hunt was a big effort, but it didn't really help with getting customers. It was a good learning experience, though, and helped shape our messaging.
  2. Hiring digital marketing agencies didn't work out well because we didn't understand marketing ourselves. We realized we needed to learn the basics to direct our strategy effectively.
  3. Spending a lot on affiliate marketing and event sponsorships didn't pay off. Having a great product isn't enough; you need a solid plan to get others to promote it effectively.

How to Avoid Becoming a VC Meme and Actually Add Value

The Generalist • 700 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Venture capitalists should focus on actually helping founders by connecting them with great talent, customers, and funding. It's important not just to say you add value, but to really do something meaningful.
  2. It's better for investors to set realistic expectations about their contributions. Overpromising can damage relationships with founders, so honesty about what you can offer is key.
  3. Investors should respect the founder's role and not try to take over. They bring valuable insights but need to let entrepreneurs lead their own companies and make their own decisions.

How 1440 scaled its newsletter to 4 million subscribers

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Understanding the true value of a newsletter subscriber is crucial. Knowing how much revenue each subscriber brings helps in making smart decisions about how much to spend on acquiring new subscribers.
  2. Growing a newsletter takes strategic planning and iteration. Utilizing feedback from early subscribers and constantly improving the product can lead to high engagement and retention.
  3. Expanding beyond email can unlock new growth opportunities. Creating a platform for educational content helps connect curious learners with valuable resources, while also providing more inventory for advertisers.

How Scott Porch helps podcasters grow and monetize their audiences

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🎙 Podcasts Growth Strategies
  1. Scott Porch helps podcasters grow their audiences and make money. He connects them with advertising networks and helps them put their shows on YouTube.
  2. Growing a podcast can be tough because many advertising networks only work with shows that have a big following. Scott helps smaller shows get to the next level by fixing issues and improving strategies.
  3. He believes strongly in paid subscriptions for podcasts. The easier you make it for listeners to subscribe, the more likely they are to do it, especially on platforms like Apple Podcasts.

The Unmaking of a Modern Economy: Brexit, Austerity, and Britain's Great Retraction

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 376 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
💰 Finance Growth Strategies
  1. Britain's economy has struggled since 2008, missing out on a lot of potential growth. If things had gone differently, people would be much better off today.
  2. Policies like austerity and Brexit have hurt the economy, but they are not the only reasons for the decline. There have been many mistakes made over the years.
  3. The long-term effects of economic shocks, like the Great Recession, can have lasting impacts on growth. This shows how important it is to be careful with economic policies.

First 1000 by Ali Abouelatta

Newsletter Circle • 216 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Ali Abouelatta's newsletter 'First 1000' grew from 0 to 60K subscribers in 3 years without monetization
  2. Ali Abouelatta sees his newsletter as his personal blog to find answers to questions, not as a business
  3. Ali Abouelatta recommends focusing on writing quality content over growth hacking

NPLG 1.25.24: Should You Use PLG as a Seed Startup? (Sendspark)

Notorious PLG • 98 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Product-led growth (PLG) can be a powerful strategy for startups, offering scalability and customer-centric focus.
  2. However, early stage startups should be cautious with PLG as it can distance them from understanding customer needs and feedback.
  3. Starting with founder-led sales before implementing PLG can help in finding product-market fit and building a strong customer base.

Don't hunt, set traps

Startup Real Talk • 291 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. It's better to set up systems for getting customers rather than just trying to close individual sales. This way, you can get more customers efficiently over time.
  2. Once your product fits the market, focus on creating repeatable ways to attract customers. This is more valuable than closing one deal at a time.
  3. Like setting traps for hunting, having a continuous lead system helps your business succeed without relying on just one person for sales.

Ultimate Guide: How to get started with Google Ads for early-stage B2B SaaS startups

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 56 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Start using Google Ads only after you have some initial traction and a clear understanding of your target audience. It's important to ensure your audience is actually searching for a solution like yours.
  2. Setting up proper tracking and conversion events is crucial. This helps you understand what's working and allows you to optimize your campaigns effectively.
  3. Focus on high-intent keywords and use structured campaigns for better performance. Target competitor keywords, product categories, and specific use cases to attract the right customers.

80/20 rule for solo-founders

Tiny Empires • 36 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Focus on the 20% of your actions that bring in 80% of your results. This helps you work smarter, not harder.
  2. Regularly check which activities make you money, and cut out anything that doesn't contribute. It's about prioritizing the things that actually work.
  3. Spend dedicated time on your top revenue-generating activities each day. Avoid distractions so you can really concentrate on what truly matters.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 25 - we want a Gordon.

The ZIPster • 44 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Hiring experienced consultants can help a business grow quickly without long-term commitments. This helps you tackle competition and make informed decisions.
  2. Forming strong connections is important for business success. Having the right people with industry contacts can pave the way for new opportunities.
  3. Sometimes, it's hard to convince talented people to join your team. Offering them a share of the company can be an attractive incentive.

Fear and metrics

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 30 May 22
🕹 Technology Growth Strategies
  1. Balancing short-term and long-term thinking is crucial for success. It's important to choose wisely between quick fixes and sustainable solutions.
  2. When measuring growth, it's easy to manipulate numbers to tell a comfortable story. Understanding both absolute growth and market share provides a clearer picture.
  3. Choosing comfort in metrics can lead to problems later, just like quick hacks can create tech debt. It's essential to prioritize long-term health over short-term ease.

Josh Spector Chats with Ellen: All things content-led growth

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 5 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
💼 Business Growth Strategies
  1. Content should support your real goals. It's not just about growing your audience or followers, but about what you actually want to achieve.
  2. Your business model needs to match your content strategy. If they don't align, it could hurt your results.
  3. Choosing a pricing strategy and business model should be based on what excites you, not just what seems safe or easy.