Thread
Yesterday my newsletter hit 5,000 subscribers.
I went from hopelessly screaming into the abyss to riding rocket ship.
This graphic sums up the journey.
Some humble tips for those who want to build an audience:
I went from hopelessly screaming into the abyss to riding rocket ship.
This graphic sums up the journey.
Some humble tips for those who want to build an audience:
1/ Mostly metrics was originally called Steal My Idea.
Similar to @packyM , I changed the name and content after beating my head against a wall for a year.
The premise of Steal My Idea was witty business cases on made up ideas in infographics form.
Similar to @packyM , I changed the name and content after beating my head against a wall for a year.
The premise of Steal My Idea was witty business cases on made up ideas in infographics form.
@packyM In reality, I was just doing my best impersonation of @ShaanVP and @thesamparr from @myfirstmilpod but in a newsletter.
Here's an idea I spent six hours on back in December 2020
"Start Your Own Subscription Box for Concert Merch"
It got under 100 views over 12 months.
Here's an idea I spent six hours on back in December 2020
"Start Your Own Subscription Box for Concert Merch"
It got under 100 views over 12 months.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod 2/ I kept pumping out business ideas. And I used metrics and monetization frameworks to explain them.
By January of 2022 I had written +15 business cases on ideas I thought had real legs.
And no one really showed up or cared.
By January of 2022 I had written +15 business cases on ideas I thought had real legs.
And no one really showed up or cared.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod 3/ What people did ask about were the Market Maps, TAM Calcs, and monetization diagrams I was making.
People didn't really care for my business ideas, but they wanted to get smarter and learn about metrics.
However, I didn't listen.
People didn't really care for my business ideas, but they wanted to get smarter and learn about metrics.
However, I didn't listen.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod 4/ A few months later, after minimal traction, I reached out to @lennysan on a whim.
And to my surprise, he actually answered (remember, I'm a guy with 300 subscribers at this time).
What a legend!
And to my surprise, he actually answered (remember, I'm a guy with 300 subscribers at this time).
What a legend!
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan He asked me 3 questions that changed the course of my newsletter:
1. Who exactly is your audience?
2. What problem is this solving for them?
3. Who will find this extremely interesting or useful?
1. Who exactly is your audience?
2. What problem is this solving for them?
3. Who will find this extremely interesting or useful?
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan I realized it was hard for me to imagine that person.
And unless I was fairly clear on that, it'll be hard to make sure my content is giving them what they want.
In reality, I was writing for myself.
And unless I was fairly clear on that, it'll be hard to make sure my content is giving them what they want.
In reality, I was writing for myself.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan 5/ I could still write things I liked, but it had to be for a different me - the financial analyst me from 5 years ago.
My audience was the curious professional who had a ton of questions...
The hungry analyst who wanted complicated stuff explained to him in plain English.
My audience was the curious professional who had a ton of questions...
The hungry analyst who wanted complicated stuff explained to him in plain English.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan 6/ In March I started writing about biz metrics and models.
I started by exploring Net Retention, Dilution, and CAC Payback Period.
I began writing a playbook for people working in finance, strategy, and operations at startups.
I started by exploring Net Retention, Dilution, and CAC Payback Period.
I began writing a playbook for people working in finance, strategy, and operations at startups.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan 7/ I also joined this thing called Twitter.
I had no idea what I was doing.
Luckily @thealexbanks and @InvestiAnalyst were gracious enough to show me the ropes.
I had no idea what I was doing.
Luckily @thealexbanks and @InvestiAnalyst were gracious enough to show me the ropes.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst 8/ In an Uber drive home from the airport later that year I was having a conversation with my driver.
He told me he was manifesting the biz he wanted to start after saving up money from driving.
I was pumped for him and we got to talking about business concepts.
He told me he was manifesting the biz he wanted to start after saving up money from driving.
I was pumped for him and we got to talking about business concepts.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst He asked me what I did for a living. In the spirit of manifestation, I said, "I write a newsletter"
He asked "What's it about"
I said, "Mostly metrics."
Boom. A new name is born.
He asked "What's it about"
I said, "Mostly metrics."
Boom. A new name is born.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst 8/ By summer I networked my way into conversations with some of the smart writers I really respected in the software world like @shomikghosh21 and @poyark
They not only made me smarter on business (my day job) but also gave me a vote of approval on Substack.
They not only made me smarter on business (my day job) but also gave me a vote of approval on Substack.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark This went a LONG way. It was the first time I had felt "network effects" in real life.
And when @aakashg0 recommended Mostly metrics, it felt like I got signed to the Roc
And when @aakashg0 recommended Mostly metrics, it felt like I got signed to the Roc
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 9/ Then I started sharing my content on Linkedin.
At first I felt some imposter syndrome. "
"What if one of the smart 50 year olds I know reads this?"
They'll say "Who's this young guy trying to teach me business"?
At first I felt some imposter syndrome. "
"What if one of the smart 50 year olds I know reads this?"
They'll say "Who's this young guy trying to teach me business"?
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 To my surprise, a bunch of accomplished people subscribed.
That was an out of body feeling seeing their emails roll in.
And some of them even forwarded it to their friends.
That was an out of body feeling seeing their emails roll in.
And some of them even forwarded it to their friends.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 10/ I also found a few niche groups on Reddit - specifically an FP&A subreddit where I connected with a bunch of analyst folks like me
And I started posting on @JoinCommonstock thanks to my man @InvestmentTalkk
And I started posting on @JoinCommonstock thanks to my man @InvestmentTalkk
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 @JoinCommonstock @InvestmentTalkk 11/ I forced myself to come up with a social media schedule so I know where to post during the week.
And I made a commitment to talk to 1 new person a month - someone I could ask about building an audience.
I taped the schedule and list above my desk to keep me honest.
And I made a commitment to talk to 1 new person a month - someone I could ask about building an audience.
I taped the schedule and list above my desk to keep me honest.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 @JoinCommonstock @InvestmentTalkk 12/ Writing has helped me crystallize my thoughts on business. And I've used it as an excuse to talk to a lot of smart people.
If you're thinking of starting yourself, remember:
If you're thinking of starting yourself, remember:
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 @JoinCommonstock @InvestmentTalkk 1. You have to use your own voice.
It's too tiring to try to be someone else. You won't last.
Plus, it's a competitive moat. No one can "be you"
It's too tiring to try to be someone else. You won't last.
Plus, it's a competitive moat. No one can "be you"
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 @JoinCommonstock @InvestmentTalkk 2. Write about something you would write about for free. Otherwise you'll burn out.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 @JoinCommonstock @InvestmentTalkk 3. If you don't think you can do it, make a list of 52 topics you'd write about. That's an entire year. If you can do that (or even half) you'll have no problem.
I thought I'd only get to 10. I got to 60.
I thought I'd only get to 10. I got to 60.
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 @JoinCommonstock @InvestmentTalkk 4. Consistency is key. Showing up every week is half the battle.
5. Ask people who have built an audience what they did. Be curious and be eager to learn.
6. Root for others, it's not a zero sum game.
7. Write.
cc: @jackbutcher
5. Ask people who have built an audience what they did. Be curious and be eager to learn.
6. Root for others, it's not a zero sum game.
7. Write.
cc: @jackbutcher
@packyM @ShaanVP @thesamparr @myfirstmilpod @lennysan @thealexbanks @InvestiAnalyst @shomikghosh21 @poyark @aakashg0 @JoinCommonstock @InvestmentTalkk @jackbutcher The journey continues
Subscribe to mostlymetrics.com if you want to come along for the ride.
Join now to be apart of the first 10K.
Subscribe to mostlymetrics.com if you want to come along for the ride.
Join now to be apart of the first 10K.
