Win More Paid Subscribers By Adding Mini-Courses To Your Substack Publication

The smartest way to convert free readers to paid subscribers.

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Our new online program, Mini-Course Accelerator, is now live. 🎉

In Mini-Course Accelerator, you’ll learn the exact system we used to build, launch, and automate profitable mini-courses (and generate over $1M in sales), so you can build your own income-generating mini-course.

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Over the past few months, we’ve worked with hundreds of Substack creators to help them grow their reach, build their audience, and monetize their work.

And the truth is, building a successful and profitable Substack publication requires several elements:

• You need systems that help you consistently get in front of new readers.

• You need an attractive publication page with a clear purpose.

• And you need a stellar paid offer people are excited to pay for.

Turning free subscribers into paid members is one of the biggest challenges for Substackers - that’s why we want to help you make your paid tier irresistible through mini-courses.

Even if you publish valuable content, have an engaged community, and a solid reputation, many readers might hesitate before they upgrade to your paid tier.

This is particularly true for non-fiction writers who aim to help and educate their audience by sharing their knowledge and expertise.

Your readers might ask themselves:

“What’s inside the paid tier that I can’t get for free?”

“Will I actually get more value if I upgrade?”

“Is this worth my money and time?”

To help your readers feel confident about your paid tier, you want to offer different formats that help them achieve a tangible transformation.

When your reader has a clear (and exciting) expectation of what they’ll get when they upgrade to your paid tier, the decision will be much easier.

And one of the most effective ways to do this is through mini-courses.

Mini-courses help your audience achieve a specific outcome in a relatively short period.

They’re tangible and easy to complete, which means they quickly create a win for your subscribers.

Here’s what a mini-course could look like in different niches and industries:

Gardening & Homegrown Food

• Mini-course idea: “The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Fresh Herbs Indoors (No Backyard Needed)”

• Tangible outcome: Growing a thriving mini herb garden on your windowsill with basil, mint, and rosemary—even if you have zero gardening experience.

Hair Growth & Scalp Health

• Mini-course idea: “The Hair Growth Blueprint: Proven Techniques to Strengthen & Regrow Your Hair Naturally”

• Tangible outcome: Implement a simple hair growth routine that will lead to stronger, healthier hair with noticeable new growth.

Public Speaking & Confidence

• Mini-course idea: “Speak Up with Confidence: How to Sound Clear & Self-Assured in Any Meeting in Just 60 Minutes”

• Tangible outcome: Using a 3-step framework to eliminate filler words, structure clear thoughts on the spot, and confidently speak up in meetings or give a short 2-minute presentation—without overthinking.

Cooking & Meal Prep

• Mini-course idea: “The 90-Minute Meal Prep System: Save Time, Eat Healthier & Reduce Kitchen Stress”

• Tangible outcome: Prepping an entire week’s worth of healthy, delicious dinners in just 90 minutes using a proven batch-cooking method.

Dating & Relationships

• Mini-course idea: “How to Get More Matches & Meaningful Conversations on Dating Apps (Without Cringe Pickup Lines)”

• Tangible outcome: Knowing exactly what to say to get a reply using a messaging formula that increases response rates by 80% on dating apps.

Productivity & Focus

• Mini-course idea: “The Procrastination Antidote: How to Take Action Immediately & Get More Done Without Willpower”

• Tangible outcome: Say goodbye to your inner procrastinator and become known as the 'action taker' among your friends, family, and co-workers.

(This is a mini-course by

Jari Roomer

that actually exists - The Procrastination Antidote.)

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I know that some of these ideas might seem out-of-the-box and unusual, but hear me out: I’ve worked with thousands of creators over the past few years.

And the most common excuse people use for not doing what they should do is thinking that their idea or niche is “different.”

They think they can’t follow best practices because it won’t work for them, so they try to reinvent the wheel until they burn out and realize that sticking to proven paths would’ve been the smarter (and easier) choice.

So yes, if you’re an educator, coach, expert, or non-fiction writer/creator, you can grow on Substack by adding a mini-course to your paid tier - no excuses!

But here’s the next step many creators get wrong: Just creating a mini-course isn’t enough.

If you want people to actually upgrade to your paid tier, you need to position and promote the value of your publication, so it becomes attractive to the right readers.

In this guide, I’ll show you:

• Why just having articles in your paid tier isn’t enough.

• What makes mini-courses the perfect addition to your Substack.

• How to turn your existing content into a structured learning experience.

• The exact steps to create and launch your first mini-course.

• How to strategically promote your paid tier and increase conversions.

If you’re serious about growing your paid subscribers—and keeping them long-term—this strategy can be a game-changer.