Point Of The Story

Not to be dramatic, but this might be the only cold pitch I’ve ever liked. And trust me — I’ve seen a lot of cold pitches. Most of them = instant delete, do not pass go, do not collect $200.But today, I’m joined by Eva Couto of Flying Colors Creative — one of the very few people in the world who has ever successfully cold-pitched me. (A rare honor. A high calling. A feat so impressive I had to have her on the pod.)Eva is a brand designer and ringleader. She’s all about helping people create unconventional, standout brands that feel like them.We get into why most cold pitches suck (and how to actually do it right), why freaks always find each other, and how your branding might be quietly holding you back in ways you don’t even realize.TOPICS & TANGENTS— Why most cold pitches make me want to call the cops— The real reason branding is a business essential, not a luxury— Why Eva stalks people on LinkedIn of all places??? (Still not over it.)— The branding mistake that makes people forget you exist— Why bad branding gives “took his hat off and ruined it” energy— My high school crush and the deeply unserious reason I logged into my personal Instagram for the first time in yearsPOINT OF THE STORYA forgettable brand is an expensive problem. If people don’t remember you, they’re not going to hire you. Your brand should be more than just a pretty Pinterest mood board — it should actually help you make money and attract the right people.GIVEAWAYWant a free order of bean water on me? Tag me @btlcopy and Eva @flyingcolourscreative on your Instagram story while you’re listening, and one lucky winner will get TWO caffeine fixes on me!AND — count how many times we drop the F-bomb in this episode. DM me the number, and you could win a prize!Love you, mean it. 🖤EVA LINKS— Follow Eva on Instagram— Check out the Flying Colours Creative website— Listen to The Freak Show on Apple or Spotify— The Extravaganza - your complete brand & website transformation— Eva’s walkout songBTL LINKS— Download my FREE Cold Pitching Guide— Watch my cold pitching Tiktok videos in this playlist— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint.— Join the Point of the Story community on Slack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack.— Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.— Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— My accountant - Peach Perfect Financials— Contract templates - The Boutique LawyerThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro00:24 Meet Eva Couto, Brand Designer and Cold Pitching Expert04:14 Rapid-Fire Squirrel Brain Questions16:17 A Forgettable Brand is an Expensive Problem21:37 When Should You Actually Invest in Branding?23:54 Ideal Clients and Red Flags30:43 The Best Brand is One You’ll Actually Use42:58 Why Bad Branding Gives “Took His Hat Off and Ruined It” Energy49:15 Eva’s Everything Branding & Website Package (It Really is an Extravaganza)51:26 Closing Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

Welcome to season two of Point of the Story! We’re coming in HOT with an all-guest lineup — starting with none other than my brilliant, hilarious, famous, cottage-cheese-obsessed bestie, Xanthe Appleyard.If you don’t already follow Xanthe, you’re missing out on the kind of social media strategy that actually makes sense, one that is based on real connections that turn into real sales. She’s the type of person who could launch anything, and people would buy it just because she made it. And in this episode, she’s spilling all the tea on how to make that kind of magic happen in your own business.We recorded this episode curled up on her couch in LA, where I was deeply considering squatting indefinitely. Meanwhile, I’m now back in Massachusetts, staring out at the ice and snow, wondering why I ever left.TOPICS & TANGENTS— Why social media is a relationship and not just a numbers game— How to create content that actually connects (instead of just screaming into the void)— The myth of “niching down” and what to do instead— What it actually means to be a thought leader — even if you don’t think you are one— The art of never shutting the hell up about your offer— The very serious topic of Xanthe’s deep love for cottage cheesePOINT OF THE STORYSocial media works best when it’s human. Lead by showing up, starting real conversations, and making your audience feel seen.GIVEAWAYWant a free order of bean water on me? Tag me @btlcopy and @xanthe.appleyard on your Instagram story while you’re listening, and one lucky winner will get TWO caffeine fixes on me!AND — count how many times we drop the F-bomb in this episode. DM me the number, and you could win a free Millionaire Moment subscription.Love you, mean it. 🖤XANTHE LINKS— Follow Xanthe on Instagram— Check out Oh Sierra’s website— Listen to Love You to the Core on Apple or Spotify— Listen to the episode “Love Folliculating All Over Town (Guest Episode with Sara Noel)” on Apple or Spotify— Listen to the Millionaire Moment private podcast episode with Xanthe on Substack— Life of the Party - Xanthe’s content strategy program— Xanthe’s favorite yogurt and cottage cheese— Xanthe’s walkout songBTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint.— Join the Point of the Story community on Slack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack.— Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.— Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— Caitie Cupples Creative - my amazing student!— Green Chair Stories- copywriting for photographersThis episode was edited by ⁠Adrienne Cruz⁠.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome to Season 2!00:42 Meet the Famous Xanthe Appleyard05:10 Rapid-Fire Squirrel Brain Questions15:44 Social Media is a Relationship19:52 How to Actually Understand Your Audience23:14 How to Create Content that Leads to Sales29:48 “I’m Not a Leader” & Other Lies We Tell Ourselves38:49 Simple Tweaks That Will Transform Your Content41:48 Do You Really Need to Niche Down?47:51 A Life-Changing Tip About Cottage Cheese49:27 Time is Relevancy51:00 The Power of Never Shutting the Fuck Up52:55 Our Content Themes56:45 Closing Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

Welcome back, squirrels! Season 2 of Point of the Story is here, and this time, we’re switching things up. Instead of solo episodes, this season is all about guest interviews — 20 of them, to be exact. I’m talking to experts, entrepreneurs, and industry insiders to uncover what they wish everyone knew about their field (plus plenty of tangents, obviously).If you’re nosy and love learning how things actually work, you’re in for a treat.WHAT TO EXPECT IN SEASON 2— Guest interviews only (but don’t worry, a surprise solo episode may be coming)— Six rapid-fire squirrel brain questions to start every episode— Deep dives into what people get wrong about different industries— A Spotify playlist featuring every guest’s walkout song (because of course)THE RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONSI want you to answer these, too! Head to my Instagram and drop your answers in the comments of my latest post, where I will be answering them myself!1. What’s your nut? (What do you hoard like squirrels hoard nuts?)2. If your brain had a pop-up ad, what would it be selling you right now?3. If your life had a warning label, what would it say?4. What’s something you’d win an Olympic gold medal in?5.5. What’s something you thought you’d have figured out by now, but absolutely don’t?6. What’s your walkout song?Love you, mean it. 🖤

So listen, I’m your mommy now. Yeah, you heard me. Today, I am mothering YOU because no one else is mothering you, and you are out here doing all the mothering yourself.Yes, you might have cringed at the title “productivity hacks.” I know you don’t need Karen from Pilates telling you to “wake up earlier” when you don’t even have a backup parent to help. So this is real-life, actually-doable advice from someone who’s living what you are living.So if your mental load is heavier than a Costco-sized box of literally anything, grab your AirPods and hit play.TOPICS & TANGENTS— My real-life hacks for making life easier as a single mom (that actually work, because I live this every day)— The one thing that finally made me stop being angry about doing it all alone— Why your kid should absolutely be bored sometimes (and why I’m “purposely frustrating” mine)— How I went from working 60 hours a week to 24 and still made more money than ever— The morning bin strategy that stops me from losing my mind before 8 AM— The magic of Siri reminders and why I set them for literally everything— Why you need to unfollow certain moms on Instagram immediately— How to stop feeling guilty about screen time (and exactly how much my kid actually gets)— What the “reward jar” method is and why my kid just earned himself a Build-A-BearPOINT OF THE STORYA child is only as happy as their mom — so take care of you, too. Drop the guilt, stop comparing yourself to people who don’t live your life, and do what actually works for you and your kid.GIVEAWAYSSingle moms, this one’s for you: DM me a pic of you and your little one, and your next bean water is on me.And remember, if you're the first to DM me how many times I said the F-word in this episode, you win a special prize.Love you, mean it. 🖤BTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint.— Join the Point of the Story community on Slack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack.— Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.— Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— Follow Dr. Becky!— This is THE ikea cabinet— Reward jar options— Brain Quest— LingokidsThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro14:25 The Morning Bin17:21 Screen Time is OK20:39 Make Everything a Thing23:27 Always Outline the Plan24:20 Stick to a Routine25:21 Siri Reminders26:17 Have a Place for Everything28:36 Don't Put it Down, Put it Away29:09 Ten-Minute Tidy30:32 Don't Follow Moms with Partners37:31 Get Creative With Work Times and Places38:45 Purposefully Frustrate Your Child40:43 Reward Jar42:35 Point of the Story Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

So you’re stuck in a slowwwww AF season? You check your inbox — crickets. You refresh your DMs — nothing. You start wondering if it’s time to start selling essential oils. And unless you’re passionate about lavender, my response is ABSOLUTELY NOT.Slow seasons happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to just sit around waiting for clients to magically appear. In this episode, I’m walking you through six things you can do when business feels slow — things that actually work, things that I’ve done myself, things I tell my clients to do all the time, and things that make you feel like you're taking control instead of waiting for the universe to drop money in your lap.So if you're side-eyeing your Stripe dashboard like it owes you an explanation, grab your notebook and hit play.TOPICS & TANGENTS— The six strategies I swear by for getting more business, even in a slow season— What to do when your dream clients are too busy lounging on the beach, eating watermelon salsa, and devouring smutty romance novels to think about hiring you— Why people are still spending money (even when the world is crashing down, and it feels like they aren’t)— The sneaky Facebook group strategy that’s landed me so many clients— What the “lipstick effect” has to do with your offers— The number one reason your marketing might not be working (and how to fix it)POINT OF THE STORYStop waiting, start selling. You can either sit around and stress about a slow season, or you can take action and bring in business!GIVEAWAYSTag @btlcopy in your stories for a chance to win your next bean water on me!If you leave a review on Apple Podcasts, take a screenshot, and sent it to me via DMs for a present.And remember, if you're the first to DM me how many times I said the F-word in this episode, you win a special prize.Love you, mean it. 🖤BTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint.— My 28 Days Sales Challenge and its related Instagram post— Pinterest blogging masterclass with Sarah Burk— Book a website copy audit with me— Sales Series - my mini sales page course— Blog post: “How To Write A Minimal Services Page”— Join the Point of the Story community on Slack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack.— Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.— Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— Join Vix Meldrew’s new membership VOLUME— Sarah Kleist- Showit website designer— Lindsay Clarke - Mariko Studio— Tori Sprankel - Eldest Daughter Studio— Katie Campbell - Social media strategist— The Curious Collective - Therapists with ADHD— Rachael Shepard-Ohta - Hey Sleepy Baby— Facebook groups: Create and Cultivate + Women in MarketingThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro04:07 Rekindle an Old Collaboration Flame07:10 Recreate Your Last ‘Ideal Client’ Project12:31 Put Your Name Out There!18:08 Blog More, Pinterest More20:11 Tell Your Biz Friends You’re Open for Work21:10 Make Sure Your Services Page is Ready for New Leads25:23 Point of the Story Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

What would I do if I woke up tomorrow with zero clients, zero leads, and had to start my business from scratch? (Other than cry, obviously.) That’s what we’re covering in this episode — exactly how I’d market my brand if I had to do it all over again. So grab a notebook, because I’m laying out the full game plan!Spoiler: I wouldn’t start with social media. (I know, don’t come for me!) Instead, I’d focus on building a foundation first, so that all my future marketing efforts actually have something solid to stand on. If you’re curious what that looks like, you have to start listening!TOPICS & TANGENTS— The exact eight steps I’d follow to grow my business from scratch— Why your website should come before **social media— The power of SEO, blogging, and Pinterest for long-term growth— How my mom risked blindness to read my Apple podcast reviews— That time I impulsively built my first website on GoDaddy (and immediately regretted it)— The one quote from this episode that should be tattooed on your foreheadPOINT OF THE STORYFocus on growing your foundation before growing your following.GIVEAWAYTag @btlcopy in your stories for a chance to win your next bean water on me! Bonus entries if you rate the podcast on Spotify or rate and leave me a review in Apple podcasts. And remember, if you're the first to DM me how many times I said the F-word in this episode, you win a special prize!Love you, mean it. 🖤BTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course,Site Series Sprint.— Join thePoint of the Story community onSlack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in ourSuggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow onInstagram andSubstack.— Follow me onInstagram,Threads, andSubstack.— Subscribe to my newslettersTuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week andMillionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my websitebetweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— TheCape Cod Beach Chair I was talking about— Blog post:“How I’d Market My Business From Scratch If I Had To Start All Over”— Target Audience and Offer Development Workbooks— Newsletter about my target audience development workbook:“TOC #215: Only dumbasses assume”— Blog post:“Showit vs Squarespace: Which Should You Choose in 2024?”— Sarah Kleist- the BEST website designer—Showit—Ubersuggest—Semrush—Sarah Burk- Pinterest marketing QUEEN—Flodesk (code: “BTLCOPY” for 50% off your first year)—Waitlist for email marketing workshop—BTL's 28-Day February Sales Challenge— Private podcast episode:“People will do ANYTHING to sell their offer except TALK about their offer…”This episode was edited byAdrienne Cruz.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro + Time Travel07:42 Understand My Target Audience12:51 Buy My Website Domain and Choose My Website Builder15:08 Start With a Website, Not Social Media17:53 Do Keyword Research and Write Website Copy20:03 Choose My Website Design Option22:06 Blog Up a Storm25:17 Take Advantage of Pinterest Marketing26:35 Set Up My Email Marketing29:51 Point of the Story33:04 Bloopers Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

Surprise! It’s the first-ever Point of the Story minisode! That means a quick episode packed with value — and zero fluff. (Except for the part where I lovingly call you out, of course. And an occasional tangent because if not, would it even be my podcast?)In this gem of a tiny episode, we're talking about four common phrases that are quietly sabotaging your confidence. These sneaky little fillers make you sound less credible, less powerful, and frankly, less like the badass business owner you are. So, I’m here to help you ditch them. (And yes, “if that makes sense” is on the list — sorry, but not sorry.)POINT OF THE STORYThe words you use influence how others perceive you. When you cut out these weak phrases, you instantly sound more confident, capable, and self-assured. And isn’t that exactly what we want?I hope you loved this minisode! I’ll be dropping more short and snappy episodes like this at random, so stay tuned. And in the meantime — don’t you dare apologize for a damn thing you didn’t do.Love you, if that makes sense. Bye! 🖤BTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course,Site Series Sprint.— Join the Point of the Story community onSlack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in ourSuggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow onInstagram andSubstack.— Follow me onInstagram,Threads, andSubstack.— Subscribe to my newslettersTuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week andMillionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my websitebetweenthelinescopy.com.This episode was edited byAdrienne Cruz.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro + a Rant on Filler Words01:11 "This Might Be a Dumb Question, But..."03:47 "Just"04:36 "If That Makes Sense"06:37 "Sorry"08:01 Point of the Story

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked for my origin story, I could retire. Okay, maybe not retire, but at least empty the shelves of an entire chocolate shop (my dream). So here it is — the full story of how I went from having a degree in everything but business to running Between the Lines Copy. And, because I can’t tell this story without mentioning it, how my divorce and my business are forever intertwined. (Spoiler alert: one survived, the other did not. And honestly, zero regrets.) If you’ve ever wondered how I became Website Girl, Newsletter Girl, Business Mentor Girl, and Squirrel Girl, press play! TOPICS & TANGENTS — The pancake theory of first marriages — The absolute randomness of how I landed on copywritin — Cold-pitching my way into my first paying clients — Why my first website was a disaster (RIP GoDaddy era) — My philosophy degree, which is essentially a degree in reading between the lines — That one website project that traumatized me for life — The full-circle moment of working with Showit, Tonic, and Squarespace after resisting them for so long — How I went from just writing websites to teaching literally everything — And, of course, what I’d do differently if I were starting over today POINT OF THE STORY Your origin story may or may not matter, and that’s up to you. Don’t feel pressured to share yours if it’s not relevant, or not something you want to revisit. But I DO want you to know that, no matter what your story holds, I DO think you should embrace it — even if you had a proverbial pancake flop. GIVEAWAY Remember to follow the pod on Instagram @pointofthestorypod and Sara @btlcopy and tag me in your stories for a chance to win your next bean water on me! Bonus entries if you rate the podcast or leave me a review. And remember, if you're the first to DM me how many times I said the F-word in this episode, you win a special prize! Love you, mean it. 🖤 BTL LINKS — Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint. — Join the Point of the Story community on Slack. — Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box. — To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack. — Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack. — Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday. — Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com. OTHER LINKS — The only podcast I’ve been a guest on that didn’t ask about my origin story: “You’re Watering Down Your Message & it’s Hurting Your Business, with Sara Noel, Website Copywriter” from the Curiously Guided podcast by Mariah Magazine — Read the OG origin story newsletter: “TOC #185: The first pancake's always a flop” — Tonic Site Shop (code: "BTLCOPY" for 15% off everything always) — Showit — The blog post that pays my Showit bill: “Showit vs Squarespace: Which Should You Choose in 2024?” — The Millionaire Moment newsletter where I talk about my money privilege: “Whatever the opposite of gatekeeping is, THIS is that” — The blog post where I talk about not buying the Tonic template: “Are Tonic Site Shop’s Showit Website Templates Really Worth It In 2024?” — Check out my copywriting collection on Tiktok This episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro + The Pancake Theory 03:07 The Origin Story 08:36 Why I Didn't Spend $1,000 on a Tonic Template 14:15 Where I Got The Idea for Between the Lines Copy 17:48 The First Website I Ever Wrote 21:26 Point of the Story Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

Listen, if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that managing ADHD while running a business is not for the faint of heart. (Think: trying to focus while a squirrel does cartwheels in your brain.) Today we’re tackling the beautiful chaos of ADHD and how to work with it instead of fighting against it. This episode has it all — real-life tips you can put into practice today, personal stories (obviously), so many tangents I lost count, and even a blooper reel at the end. And since this one is for my fellow squirrels, I swore I’d keep it short — spoiler: I absolutely did not. TOPICS & TANGENTS — Why my brain feels like a squirrel on an espresso bender — Tiny Tasks 'Til 10: The method that keeps me sane — Why my phone’s always “in a ditch” (and yours should be too) — Sticky notes, color-coded calendars, and other ADHD-friendly hacks — What not to do when managing ADHD — A Canadian iPhone saga — yes, it’s relevant (kinda) — The one productivity trick you’ve probably never tried: working with your shoes on — Plus, a whole lot more squirrel-friendly advice POINT OF THE STORY ADHD can make life and business chaotic, but with the right strategies (and a little grace), you can make it your secret weapon. GIVEAWAYS Tag me in your IG stories while listening for a chance to win your nasty bean water on me! Bonus entries if you rate the podcast or leave me a review. And remember, if you're the first to DM me how many times I said the f-word in this episode, you win a special prize! Love you, mean it. 🖤 BTL LINKS — Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint. — Join the Point of the Story community on Slack. — Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box. — To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack. — Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack. — Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday. — Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com. OTHER LINKS — Follow Aspyn Ovard on Youtube — The IG post that inspired this episode — Squirrel glass from Anthropologie — Vintage Retriever (store where I get my notepads) — Fran’s Thread on ADHD tips — Toggl — Boutique Lawyer’s Legalzine — Toby (tab management tool for your browser) — Google Calendar — Blog post: Every Tool I Use To Run My Freelance Copywriting Business — Blog post: How I Manage ADHD As A Business Owner This episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 01:41 My Experience with ADHD 06:36 BTL-isms for ADHD 15:03 The Time I Lost My iPhone in Canada 18:52 Daily Life Tips 28:44 Business Tips 43:59 Tech Tools 53:47 ADHD Hacks (What Keeps Me Sane) 58:25 "Rapid-Fire" Reminders 01:05:47 Point of the Story 01:07:32 Unhinged Blooper Reel Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

This episode is THE reason this podcast exists. After getting hit with the same Substack questions on repeat, I realized: why not make one epic, tell-all episode to answer them all? So get ready because we’re doing an absolute deep dive into all things Substack — what it is, what it’s not, and why everyone and their favorite influencer seems obsessed with it. We’ll cut through the hype and get real about how to use it without turning your marketing strategy into a hot mess. TOPICS & TANGENTS — Why Substack is not the magical marketing unicorn you’ve been dreaming of — A wild bachelorette party recap (and the reason I sound like a frog in this episode) — The ultimate breakdown: Substack vs. blogging vs. email newsletters (spoiler: know your lanes) — My controversial opinion that Substack is not social media, but also...kind of is? — Paid Substacks: Are they worth it and who should start one? — Growing on Substack when all you’re getting is radio silence — Plus, SO much more juicy insights you didn’t know you needed POINT OF THE STORY Substack is not an email marketing service provider and it is not a substitute for your blog. GIVEAWAY Guess how many times I said the F-word in this episode and DM me the number on Instagram for a chance to win a free subscription to Millionaire Moment on Substack! Love you, mean it. 🖤 BTL LINKS — Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint. — Join the Point of the Story community on Slack. — Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box. — To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack. — Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack. — Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday. — Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com. OTHER LINKS — Flodesk (code: “BTLCOPY” for 50% off your first year) — Follow Xanthe on Instagram and Substack and check out Life of the Party — Follow Kelsey on Instagram and check out Launch Your Own Way — Some Substacks I follow: Lo Bosworth, Dianna Cohen, Sophia Amoruso This episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 05:00 Understanding Substack: What It Is and Isn't 10:05 The Misconceptions Around Substack 13:48 Who Should Use Substack? 16:03 Email Marketing vs. Substack 37:08 Blogging vs. Substack 51:11 Monetizing Substack 57:06 Is Substack a Social Media Platform? 59:01 How to Grow on Substack 01:03:22 Q&A Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription