The 6-Step Launch That Gets You to $1K/Month in 90 Days

Step 1: Niche Like a Sniper

Generic = dead. Solve a specific problem: "AI ethics for journalists" > "writing tips." Finance, STEM, and culture niches monetize fastest—Michael Burry launched at $379/year and sold out in hours.

Step 2: Free Growth Machine (First 30 Days)

• Post 1-2x/week: Valuable, story-driven, concise.
• Cross-promote on X, LinkedIn, Reddit.
• Substack hack: Notes (their Twitter clone) + guest posts = 500 free subs fast.
• Goal: 500-1,000 free readers before paid launch.

Step 3: Paid Launch (Day 31)

• Tease: "Paid subscribers get my private growth playbook + monthly AMAs."
• Price: $5-10/month or $50-100/year.
• Conversion booster: Survey free readers—"What would you pay for?"

Step 4: Engagement Flywheel

• Aim for 40%+ open rates (tweak subjects).
• Referral program: Free months for shares.
• Community gold: Polls, chats—engaged readers convert 2x better.

Step 5: Scale to $10K

• 1,500 paid subs at $7/month = done.
• Add sponsors/affiliates.
• 2026 multiplier: Podcasts + video = 30% higher retention.

Step 6: Optimize Like a CEO

• Churn <5%/month? Healthy. Higher? Add more exclusives.
• Reinvest 20% in ads/tools.
• Track everything in Substack analytics.