How To Monetize Your Writing, Create Irresistable Offers & Systemize Your Substack Growth
Substack Mastermind Monday #10
Welcome to another Substack Mastermind Monday!
Every week, we share three actionable tips and strategies (inspired by our Substack Mastermind members) to help you grow your audience, build your online business, and get a spark of inspiration to start the new week motivated and energized.
Let’s dive straight into it!
#1: The 2-Step Strategy To Monetize Your Writing
One of the simplest—and most effective—approaches to building a successful online business is to solve a problem for yourself, and then sell the solution to others.
Instead of agonizing over what market to target or which topic will “sell,” start by reflecting on the problems you’ve already solved in your own life or business.
Here’s the thing: if you’ve faced a challenge, chances are there are countless others dealing with the exact same issue right now.
By sharing how you overcame it, you position yourself as a guide for those who are still stuck.
From there, the opportunities are endless:
Create content to share your insights
Build a digital product (like an e-book or course) to teach your solution
Offer coaching or consulting for those who want more personalized help
Launch a paid newsletter here on Substack for people who want ongoing guidance
What’s so powerful about this approach is that it’s grounded in experience.
You’re not just picking a random niche or copying someone else’s strategy—you’re leveraging your own lived expertise.
So, what’s a problem you’ve already solved? How can you package that solution in a way that helps others? The answer might just be the beginning of your next big thing.
#2: Make Selling Effortless By Creating An ‘Irresistable’ Offer
The secret to effortless selling is creating an offer so compelling that your audience feels it would be stupid not to buy it.
When your offer is truly irresistible, selling stops feeling like an uphill battle.
You’re no longer pushing to convince people—but they’re actually excited to grab what you’re offering.
(And honestly, that makes the entire process of running your business not only easier but wayyy more fun.)
So, what makes an offer a no-brainer? Here are a few key ingredients:
Clear and Specific Value: People need to instantly understand what they’re getting and how it will improve their lives. A vague promise won’t cut it—your offer should solve a specific problem or help them achieve a specific outcome.
High Perceived Value: The benefits of your offer should far outweigh the cost. Think about it this way: if your audience feels like they’re getting 10x the value for what they’re paying, the decision becomes a no-brainer.
Simplicity: The easier it is for someone to understand your offer and say “yes,” the better. Confusion kills sales. Make it simple, clear, and actionable.
Social Proof or Credibility: People are more likely to buy when they trust you or see that others have had success with your product or service. Share testimonials, case studies, or your own expertise to build confidence.
A Risk-Free Commitment: Eliminate doubt by offering guarantees or low-risk entry points, like a free trial or money-back guarantee. If they have nothing to lose, they’ll be more likely to buy.
Urgency or Exclusivity: Add a compelling reason to act now. This could be a limited-time bonus, special pricing, or simply the fear of missing out on an opportunity.
Take a moment to think about your own offers. Are they ticking these boxes? If not, how can you tweak them to make them more irresistible?
Remember, the easier you make it for your audience to say "yes," the faster you’re turning your ideas into income.
#3: Systemize Your Substack Growth
Treating your Substack like a funnel leads to faster, more consistent growth because it systemizes your approach.
Instead of taking random actions, you have a clear roadmap:
Discover → Subscribe → Pay
Step 1: Turn Eyeballs Into Followers
The first step is exposure. You need to get your work in front of new people.
Substack Notes is an incredible tool for this. It allows you to share short, engaging posts that appear in front of readers who don’t yet know you.
Think of Notes as your top-of-funnel strategy: it’s about creating content that grabs attention and draws people in.
Step 2: Convert Followers Into Subscribers
Once you’ve caught people's attention, the goal is to get them to subscribe to your Substack.
This is where optimizing your profile and publication homepage is key.
It needs to be crystal clear within the first seconds of clicking on your profile and publication homepage:
Who you are
What your Substack is about
Why people should subscribe (what’s in it for them)
If your value proposition isn’t crystal clear, people are much less likely to subscribe to your Substack.
Step 3. Give Subscribers A Reason To Pay
The final step is turning free subscribers into paying subscribers. This is where your offer becomes critical.
It’s not enough to just give “extra articles”—you need to provide real, high-value exclusives.
Think video workshops, live Q&A sessions, detailed guides, or other premium content that feels like a steal for the price.
Here’s a tip: frame your paid offering as a solution rather than just more content.
For example:
A live training to solve a specific problem
A detailed guide that walks them through achieving a desired result
A private community where they get access to you or like-minded peers
This ties back to making your offer a no-brainer—when subscribers see how much value they’ll get, it becomes “stupid” not to buy.
🧡 All of the Notes featured in this newsletter are from our Substack Mastermind members (thank you,
, , and ).If you’re committed to growing your Substack and want to join a like-minded, supportive community of Substack creators, click the link below to get more information about how to apply:
While I may be biased since I'm included here, but a very solid curation of tips. I love the through line of providing solutions, and not over complicating things.
This post offers a practical framework for writers navigating the complexities of monetizing their craft.
The idea of solving your own problems first is compelling—it reframes expertise as something lived rather than studied.
The funnel system is a reminder that audience growth isn’t random but deeply intentional.
It makes me wonder: how many creators struggle because they lack clarity on the steps outlined here?
There’s a lot to unpack and apply, particularly around the simplicity of structuring an offer.