Best way to start anything? Steal from others!
We are 1000% in test and tune mode. I've been trying new things here, YouTube, Instagram, and soon LinkedIn, because I feel like there might be an opportunity worth investigating.
That leads me to a question I asked a few people last week. Do you share your creative work on LinkedIn? Reply to this note and let me know either way. Also, if you want to connect there, share your URL because I have some bold ideas on the topic.
This edition of The Hungry is in partnership with Beehiiv.
Don't Hate, Curate!
I recently got a question from a subscriber asking about newsletters, sharing that they didn't know how to start or what to write about. Writing and publishing content can be intimidating for some.
The best way to start newsletters with as little anxiety-inducing tension as possible is to start with a curated list of OPC (other people's content).
Curated newsletters are also popular because readers can quickly skim for helpful content that applies best to them. If you're willing to spend time researching and pulling together links and information to share with readers, you can grow a list fairly quickly. However, there are some critical considerations.
The New Instagram Strategy
...and you might not like it.
Last week, I talked about the problem most people face with Instagram is the lack of engagement; they blame the algorithm, but what many fail to recognize is the algorithm isn't the problem, but rather, how many are not catering to their content to the audience (followers and non-followers alike).
I'm not an Instagram guru. I have struggled with this problem, and it wasn't until last week (post-vacation clarity) that I realized I was the bottleneck in my strategy. Honestly, I wouldn't even call what I was doing on Instagram a strategy, but more like throwing crap at the wall to see what stuck.
That was then, and this is now. As promised, I solidified my thoughts, cobbling together ideas to devise a new plan for better engagement on the platform, and I can already tell that it's working.
These aren't big numbers at all, but they are HUGE compared to what I saw before. That last panel on the bottom right was what I was getting before the shift, and even my worst post now is double my best days before (The top left is only hours old at the time of this post). [READ MORE]
[Partner]
Beehiiv Might Be the Best Email Service Now
This week, Beehiiv made a major announcement. They already have the best freemium option out of all email service providers because of what they provide, but when you wanted extra functionality, it was a quick jump in pricing to their Grow tier of $49 a month. Then it was a major jump up from there to their Scale tier at $99 a month, which is a lot, but that tier guaranteed advertising revenue through their network.
This week, though, Beehiiv announced a major overhaul to its tiered structure, making it cheaper and more accessible to everyone who wants a pro-level email service experience. As a user of Beehiiv for my other newsletter, The Dave, this was a welcome change because I'm paying less now and getting WAY more than before.
Beehiiv merged many of the top-tier features, eliminating the Grow tier and lowering the introductory price. The new mid-range Scale tier is significantly cheaper and loaded with more functionality. There's a new pro-tier called Max that kept some of the higher-level functionality and then added even more benefits. Still, for most people looking to build a newsletter and grow it with significant revenue, the new Scale tier will beat out any of the competition right now. - LEARN MORE
Art Snack: Erica Whiting
Erica and I have only crossed paths on social media recently, and she's one of the most engaged creative spirits I've encountered lately. Predominantly a portrait photographer, if you go through her Instagram feed, she's been pushing her artistic flair recently, and it's paying off.
Erica is very open about her journey, where she stumbles, and where she shines. When we chat, she always seems eager to grow, even though she battles with staying comfortable, like the rest of us.
She is also about to launch her newsletter, sharing tips and insights as a seasoned professional. You can join her list at the bottom of her homepage.
Sides: Creative SaaS Reviewer
Skill Level: ⭐️⭐️ /5
Cost to start: ⭐️ /5
Potential: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5
Software as a service has become a fundamental part of everyday life for creatives. Adobe, Canva, Creative Market, Envato, and others are all part of our workflow, each costing us up to $59 a month. This presents an opportunity to earn back all that money and more by becoming a SaaS reviewer for creative software programs.
This will be a slow-burn project and will take you a reasonable amount of time to earn enough to repay for expenses, but if you play it right, you can start earning right away.
The Model
Share (video or written) content featuring features of different creative SaaS products, including reviews, how-tos, and experiments.
How I Would Do It
Find as many creative software and digital assets companies with affiliate programs as possible and apply to all of them. Some will require established content, so start with the easy ones first.
Set up an email list to direct people right away.
Make daily short-form videos discussing different aspects of a particular piece of software, one weekly long-form video, and a blog post or newsletter.
For digital assets, I would grab a single asset and make something with it. For software, I'd pick one tool or filter to experiment with and review the experience.
On my website, I would create a page of links that points to recent projects and all the affiliate links. I would share that page link in my social media bios and video descriptions on YouTube, along with direct affiliate links to all the software. Also, make sure you have a newsletter sign-up form on the page.
Share those videos on YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn (You can try TikTok if it doesn't get banned).
I will give my audience challenges to see if they can do the projects better and point them to your link page.
Tips
Lean into humorous and carefree content. People love funny, and it takes them off-guard with links.
Pay attention to local and federal disclosure requirements. All affiliate links should be notated wherever you post them.
Some companies that have affiliate programs:
Email Service: ConvertKit, Beehiiv, Mailchimp
Print-on-demand: Printify, Printful, RedBubble, TeePublic
Creative Software: Adobe, Procreate, Canva, Kittl
Digital Assets: Creative Market, Envato, DesignCuts
Others: Etsy, Shopify, Blick Art, Saatchi Art, Skillshare
Finally, I believe it's essential to only link to products you believe in and are relative to your audience. If you can't stand behind the product, don't share it.
Small Bites
📕 Selling ebooks on Amazon KDP has been a thing for a long time, but did you know you could also sell other digital goods like graphics (for Amazon Merch), music, films, and more? But should you?
📧 Email marketing, compared to newsletters, is like advertising vs. content, and while newsletters can be a bit more casual, email marketing requires nuance to bring in sales (and keep you out of the spam folder).
👩🏽🎨 Customers want to see your works in progress, your studio, and all the behind-the-scenes. This article by Marketing Ideas is more geared toward start-ups, but there are some solid idea generators for any industry.
🖼️ Peter DiStefano, guitarist for Porno for Pyros, visits various parts of the Los Angeles art scene, which shows just how influential and unique the city is when it comes to the industry. Now, can he just call Perry and put out another PFP album? (hat tip to Megan for always sharing good links).
🧠 A month ago, I introduced a side hustle idea on Threads for enterprising artists to become art curators for local corporate businesses. People scoffed at the idea (probably because it's too much work), but new information is emerging that art in the workplace brings better mental health and stability. In other words, I told you so, doubters!
🏀 Creative Boom thinks Instagram is dead, and while I agree with some of their suggestions for alternatives in this article, I'm not a fan of the "taking my ball and going home" mentality behind it.
👋 A lot of membership apps can be a bit like a needy girlfriend when you try to cancel your account, and it can often be annoying, but Canva has made it a bit of an art form, and if you ever run a membership program, you might want to take notes.
💬 Meta is now testing DMs in Threads, which means you can expect me to barrage you with funny GIFs soon.
🧑🏻💻 Abraham Lule never wanted to be a graphic designer, which is why he's such a damn good one.
💰 The Dieline is the most recent independent publication to go to a subscription model (which means this may be one of the last stories I share because I'm neck-deep in subscriptions already).
