Collaborations and cross-promotions are becoming essential for creators to regain visibility and control over audience growth amid changing social media algorithms.
Creative cross-promotion formats, like co-created content and guest articles, can significantly enhance audience engagement and subscriber growth beyond simple newsletter swaps.
Audience alignment and engagement quality are more impactful than sheer size when selecting collaborators for effective cross-promotional strategies.
Deep dives
The Power of Cross-Promotions
Cross-promotion is an effective strategy for growing an email list and building relationships within a community. Engaging with other creators allows for shared audiences, which can significantly increase reach and subscriber counts. For instance, one individual highlighted their success with cross-promotions that involved mutual mentions within newsletters, leading to an organic subscriber increase. Learning from both successes and failures in this area can provide valuable insights for others looking to grow their own newsletters.
Changing Social Media Landscape
The dynamics of social media platforms are consistently changing, affecting user engagement and reach. Algorithms have become less favorable for organic growth, making it challenging for content creators to gain visibility and attract subscribers. As a response to this, the podcast emphasizes the importance of cross-promotions as a means of regaining control over audience growth amidst these fluctuations. By relying less on social media algorithms and more on strategic collaborations, creators can ensure their messages reach targeted audiences.
Types of Collaboration
There are various types of collaborations that can effectively enhance visibility and subscriber growth beyond basic newsletter swaps. Examples include co-creating content that dives deep into relevant topics, thereby adding value to both audiences and enabling creators to tap into each other’s expertise. Additionally, guest posts or featuring in-depth articles on one another's platforms can be effective ways to cross-promote. Such collaborative content allows creators to engage their readers with fresh perspectives while boosting their own visibility.
Emphasizing Quality over Size
The size of an audience is often less important than the alignment and quality of engagement with potential collaborators. A smaller but more engaged audience can yield better results than a larger, less engaged one, as the former may attract higher-quality subscribers. Creators are encouraged to assess the relevance and engagement levels of a collaborator’s audience instead of focusing solely on subscriber numbers. This approach highlights the significance of building a targeted audience that resonates with shared interests.
Tracking and Measuring Success
Implementing effective tracking methods is crucial for understanding the success of cross-promotional efforts. By using UTM parameters and analyzing referral traffic, creators can gain insights into how their subscribers are responding to collaborative initiatives. Establishing a clear method for tracking conversions allows for better adjustment of future strategies. Recording these metrics not only helps in evaluating past performances but also in refining techniques for optimal subscriber growth.
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.
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