I've been experimenting with ways to grow my list (if you didn’t check out the 7 newsletter strategies training, I’d recommend you check it out inside the course platform—the ecosystem training is there too).

Two days before the start of 2025, I had an idea that led to an extra 1000 new subscribers (and 2.6k sign-ups).

You might have seen it: A free 30-day writing challenge.

Fairly simple to set up, but here are the best parts:

1. All content is repurposed from another product (MCM)
2. I used the challenge to promote my own ideas and content. It’s a crash course into my core values and unique perspective—crucial for relationship building
3. Throughout, I build interest for my other products
4. I'll run a bonus launch at the end of the challenge for people still interested
5. The 30 day challenge will then be repurposed into an ebook and social media content

The key is to get as much output from minimal input. If I ran a 30 day challenge without these bells and whistles, it's not that effective for my business.

Side note: ‘effective’ is my word of the year in 2025.

There are people working 10x less than you getting 100x the result.

This is one reason I’ve set aside a non-negotiable 4-hour thinking window each week. I pick an obstacle in the business and brainstorm. For instance, this idea was to try inject some life into my growth.

There are so many levers in your business to transform linear into exponential results. We’re just too busy to find them.

(let me know if you’d like a write up of the reflection process).

Now, I didn't expect so many subscribers, but four tips.

1. 30-day challenges have inbuilt urgency. Lean heavily into that deadline.
2. Reach out to people who are serving a similar audience and ask them to promote it too (in exchange for promoting their list at a future date). This follows the cross promotion tip inside the training.
3. Build hype. Similar to any launch. 2 days before was not a smart move from me.
4. Get people to engage throughout. I asked people to reply with their posts/results. Fantastic for relationships, but also your deliverability. We’re getting 50+ replies per day atm. The only downside is I’m swamped, but you gotta do the things that don’t scale

What can you break down for your audience?

What content do you already have that you can repackage? (make your words work)

Business challenges requires creative solutions. Think strategically.

Kieran

P.S.

One of the most enjoyable (and effective) courses I’ve taken is Copyhour.

It’s a 90-day course that combines copywork with a fantastic explanation of copywriting—the most important skill you can learn online.

Copyhour only launches a few times a year. The deadline is tomorrow. Come see why 4,000+ students have taken the course here: https://portal.copyhour.com/a/2148027147/bFZHG8wY​

(aff, for good reason).