Issue #75: Reflecting On One Year On Substack
Celebrating one year on Substack, what I've learned, and my vision for the future of this newsletter.
Listen to this episode instead!
It has been one year, as of April 19th, that I have been writing here on
. 🎉 Another year of writing my newsletter every single week (with the exception of my annual December break) and one year of making money from my writing. To this day, moving my newsletter over to Substack is still one of the best decisions I’ve made.When I decided to make the move, it was at a time when the only sure thing in my business was my writing. I had just been let go from my full-time job and had made the decision to fully dive into writing as a career. Or at least take it more seriously than I had been before. I’m not exactly sure how I discovered Substack but after comparing the platform to a few other options, going with the platform that seemed to really value writers over algorithms felt like the best option. So I made this announcement and haven’t looked back!
Over the past year, thanks to Substack’s incredible recommendation network and SEO, my work has crossed the screens of thousands of new people around the world which I’m not sure would have been made possible otherwise. Substack works like a blog, so in addition to seeing an increase in email subscribers, my platform also averages about 9,000 pageviews per month. 🤯
Not to mention this platform has also served as my portfolio. I entered into the wellness space with little to no professional experience under my belt. But writing here every single week about my journey dealing with PMDD, anxiety, depression, and how I make rest a priority has allowed me to carve out my own little space as an authority in this industry.
One of my goals has always been to monetize my newsletter but up until I discovered Substack, I assumed the only way that would work would be to offer paid ads. After a few failed attempts at securing partnerships, I decided to give monetizing through my community a try. While I’m not getting rich off of paid subscriptions, having the extra income while I’ve been figuring out entrepreneurship has been so helpful and has also been the reassurance that I’ve needed that it is possible to make money as a writer even if it isn’t much yet.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned over the past year? My work is worth investing in. For a long time I’ve ignored the call to write because I didn’t fully believe that it was possible to make a living from it without a huge book deal. But over the past year, I’ve discovered writers like
, , and who have all been able to make an incredible living through their Substack’s in addition to gaining incredible professional opportunities.I can be a writer who makes money from writing.
So what’s next for the Doing Life Well newsletter?
I’m ready to take this publication up a notch. I know with the effort it can reach a wider audience and thus, impact more people.
MORE PAID PERKS
Earlier this year I quietly rolled out a new list of perks for paid subscribers. If you upgrade your subscription you’ll now get access to:
The weekly Sunday Reset newsletter which includes a journal prompt, affirmation, and printable Sunday reset checklist.
Monthly behind-the-scenes articles about how I’m running and growing my business. There will be a launch debrief of Doing Everyday Well coming soon!
Access to our group chat here on Substack and Q&A sessions! I love answering questions about life and business and I lowkey miss coaching. I’m hoping these sessions can be a mix of the two! Along with some fun convo starters.
I’m really trying to find a balance between making the paid subscriptions worth it while also keeping the regular weekly newsletters free. I’m excited to see how these new perks work out.
THE “DOING LIFE…WELL?” PODCAST
Yes, a podcast! In about a week, I’ll be launching my new show, “Doing Life…Well?” I had absolutely no intention of launching a podcast but it was an idea that I just couldn’t shake. While this newsletter shares a lot about my personal journey, the podcast will dive into the real stories of women entrepreneurs navigating the ups and downs of life and business. Each week, join us for candid conversations with inspiring women who share how they manage different aspects of their lives while building successful businesses. The show will kick off with a series surrounding mental health and entrepreneurship!
Substack has also added a lot of new features to support those wanting to create more audio and video content.
NEW RESOURCES & MERCH
As you know, a month ago I launched Doing Everyday Well which is where I create practical resources that support you in prioritizing rest. I have so many ideas for journals, notebooks, and branded merch that I can’t wait to introduce. I love designing beautiful products but I also know that there is value in diversifying your income.
Lastly, I want to say thank YOU! I get excited every single week to write these newsletters because I love to write but I also appreciate the fact that you show up here every week to read what I’ve written. Whether you have stumbled across this newsletter through Substack or social media or you’ve been subscribed since I was a business coach, thank you so much for seeing me, for supporting me, and making this possible. Truly, there aren’t enough words to say how much I appreciate you. ❤️
Cheers to another year of writing!
With love, Alisha
ICYMI
Issue #74: A List of Mental Health Resources for Entrepreneurs
DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE
