Get 30 proven strategies to grow and optimize your email list FREE >>
We're diving into one of the most underrated growth strategies out there: collaborations and cross-promotions.
Whether you're building a newsletter, launching a podcast, or growing a YouTube channel, collabs are one of the most high-leverage plays you can run — and we break down exactly how to do them right.
We get into real-life examples, from simple newsletter swaps to co-created content that drives thousands of subscribers (even when you're the smaller creator). We also talk through common mistakes we’ve made, what to watch out for, and how to build a repeatable system that makes these partnerships easy and effective. If you're feeling burned out by social algorithms or just want more control over your growth, this one’s for you.
→ Take your newsletter to the next level with GIR Pro >>
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Why social platforms aren't cutting it anymore—and why we're bullish on collaborations
- The basic newsletter swap (and why it's still effective)
- Creative cross-promo formats beyond the typical swap—articles, email courses, and more
- The Alex Garcia x Pat Walls YouTube/article collab that brought in thousands of subscribers
- Why adjacent audiences are the sweet spot
- The myth of audience size: why alignment > numbers
- Chenell's horror story: zero subscribers from a 4K list cross-promo
- Co-created content: The powerhouse play that helped Maja Voje go from 3K to 15K subs
- CJ Gustafson’s “quadruple stack” strategy that gets him paid + subscribers
- How to keep collab partners happy (especially if things don’t go as planned)
- The no-BS guide to tracking your collab results
- Tools, systems, and blurb templates that’ll save you time and headaches
DEEP DIVES & LINKS MENTIONED
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
OUR NEWSLETTERS
Subscribe & Leave a Review:
If you found this episode valuable, take a second to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! It helps more newsletter creators find the show. Plus, if you submit a review, you’ll get priority for your own newsletter roast!
Thanks to Tim Forkin for editing these episodes.
