I did say I wouldn’t start another social media platform… but here we are!
Substack just made sense. I’ve done a lot of research, and its algorithm (I know, I know we all hate algorithms), helps creators get their writing seen by new people.
It kinda merges a social media platform and a newsletter provider (perfect if you want to get discovered).
It’s in its early YouTube era, and I, for one, am here for it!
So, what can you expect for me?
If you’ve been here a while, nothing’s changing; this remains free.
I’m going to keep you in the know about the creator economy and the world of social media marketing.
Myself and my team are also developing a paid subscription for anyone who wants more premium, educational (and oftentimes, personal) content from us 👀.
Hardly anyone is talking about this. I’ve got 2 businesses, and when I heard this, I ran (not walked) to see if I had access yet (I just got it this week!)
They announced this month that you can now connect your Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X to Google Search Console.
Now I get it might just sound like another boring reporting feature.
But I’ve got 2 businesses, and I can assure you that this update is a BIG deal. It will allow you to get data on how your social media content is performing outside of the app that it’s on.
Previously we’ve never been able to access this data because we don’t own TikTok, YouTube, Instagram etc, but now Google has shaken things up.
Because you’re the creator behind the channel, Google is now allowing you to claim that as a platform property, which means you’ll be able to pull data on what people typed to find you online, how often you appeared, how many times people clicked on your social media channel, like all of it! 👀
Some quick steps on how to actually use Google Console as it rolls out
(not yet available for everyone, keep checking!)1. Head to Google Search Console and connect your Instagram, TikTok, X or YouTube as a Platform Property.
2. Give it a week or 2 to start collecting data, don't judge it on day one.
3. Check what people are actually typing into Google to find your content. That's your audience's real language, use it in captions, hooks and video titles.
4. Spot which older posts still pull search traffic. Those are evergreen, make more like them.
5. Going forward, ask yourself if a post actually answers a question someone might search, not just whether it's scroll-stopping.
Here’s Google’s official guide on how to use it (they’re really spoiling us at the moment!)
(Backstory alert!!)
Me & my husband used to run a food and travel Instagram account 👀 (nope, don’t go looking, it’s been deleted).
The reason i’m telling you this is because we used to get actual brand deals with a tiny following using our secret weapon… a Marketplace.
I know this concept can make people tune out, but hear me out! Because the biggest platform in the world (aka YouTube) has released their very own marketplace!
Meet Open Call:
It’s been in testing in the States, and some of us have it already in the UK and let me tell you this gives smaller creators a big advantage!
You'll need to already be in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to see any of this but here’s how it works:
1. A brand posts an Open Call with a brief.
2. If you meet the criteria, it shows up in your YouTube Studio under Partnerships > Earn.
3. You see the brief and the payment rate before you commit to anything.
4. You’ll also see the usage they want, either organic on your channel, a brand ad, or both.
5. Make the Short and submit it.
6. The brand can request one round of edits, but it’s up to you whether you do them.
7. If they approve your video, you get the rate you were shown.
Why do I think it's such a huge deal for creators?
Simple, when your nano-sized (1-10k subs) it’s very hard to get into the rooms you need to get your first deal with a major brand.
For me, way back when I started the Marketplace gave me access to Heineken and Mastercard, not bad for a beginner!
If you’re a YouTube newbie and not yet ready to tackle their new marketplace, I recommend you get cracking with my YouTube Growth Course instead. It’s completely free & available to watch via the link below👇🏾
0:00
-2:20
(Click the link above to listen to my voice note answering this question or read my reply below!)
Every week I ask you to reply with whatever’s burning a hole in your brain, no question’s too small.
This week’s came from a long-time reader when I announced the move to Substack.
This is such a great question, starting a Substack is a no brainer for you. You clearly love writing & showcasing your book here is the perfect way to build your brand as an author (congratulations on your book, btw!) Just make sure you go in with a strategy and try to publish on a regular schedule (I do it every Friday).
I also think for you a second platform would be ideal, especially if it was video based, only if you have the time to put in into it and you have your Substack workflow down.
Best of luck with it, this is exciting!
If you’re looking for some guidance on how to start and grow a Substack, check out my YouTube video all about it.
If your goal is to build a content business I’ll be sharing the one mindset shift that changed everything, not just in my business but in my personal life too.
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.