Hellooooooo,
March is almost here, which means we only have 30 days to accomplish our Q1 goals. I don't remember mine, but I am reminding you of yours.
It’s time to get locked in! Cause we are!
We crossed 800 subscribers this week and it somehow feels surreal. We have a side goal in March to cross 1000 subs! And since I get all my subscribers from LinkedIn, I wanted to share what it looks like.
Some posts bring in 100s of subs if they go viral.
First things first.
I’ve been publishing this newsletter every Friday since August 2024.
Consistency matters. A lot.
But if I kept publishing and never talked about it on LinkedIn, most of you wouldn’t even know this newsletter exists.
Discovery does not happen automatically.
Occasionally, freelancers stumble upon it. They read a few editions. Maybe they subscribe.
But when done intentionally, one post can bring in 100+ subscribers in a day.
Here’s how that actually works.
Step 1: Create something genuinely valuable
The newsletter has to be strong on its own.
For example, one of my most subscribed editions was about how I went from charging ₹1 per word to ₹6 per word.
It wasn’t fluff. It included:
Real numbers
Timeline
Mistakes
What changed
Since my readers are mostly freelance writers, this topic hit home. But just publishing it won’t be enough unless I share it with more people (not just subscribers).
Which brings us to Step 2.
Step 2: Add a subscriber break inside the newsletter
Not all my newsletters are gated, but the super valuable ones are definitely behind a subscriber barrier.
If your content is valuable enough, people will subscribe to read.
But how do they know it’s valuable? You do step 3!
Step 3: Write a LinkedIn post with a specific growth hook
Look at the first 2 lines. They clearly say the start, the journey and the end. It doesn’t just end there. The post goes on to give you a premise.
How the increase happened. Acknowledges the rejections (showing that it’s honest), agrees that luck plays a role, and confidence can be shaky one day and skyrocketing the next day.
But it only shows you what. The HOW is shared in the newsletter.
Think from the reader's perspective.
They see 4xed prices, they click on see more! The see the journey and understand it’s real and not an overnight success or some magic trick.
And then leads you to actionable tips in the newsletter!
People who don’t want tips will like the post, maybe comment and move on. But for everyone who does wanna know ‘HOW’ I get a new subscriber.
“I went from ₹1 to ₹6 per word in 12 months.”
or
“This one shift helped me sign my first retainer.”
Specificity drives clicks.
Growth hooks work because they signal an outcome.
Step 4: Don’t just redirect. Lead them.
Another example:
Do not say:
“New newsletter out.”
Instead, say something like:
Give the backstory
Share 2–3 insights directly in the post
Let them benefit even if they don’t click
Example format:
Mistake I made
What changed
One tactical insight
Then mention: I broke down the entire framework in this week’s newsletter.
I usually end my mind with read here :)
When readers already feel helped, they are more willing to subscribe.
Step 5: Put the link inside the post
This is controversial.
But if the post is strong enough, the link does not kill reach.
I have tested both.
When the hook and content are strong, the algorithm does not punish you for adding the link inside the post.
Look at both the examples above!
The problem is rarely the link.
The problem is weak content.
I did the same thing with this newsletter, too! I’ll share how it worked in the next newsletter.
Lemme know if you try this!
I wish you would complete your Q1 goals before March 31st.
Best,
-Nikita