kimani digital

Most people skip this advice, but here's the truth: don't start a Substack in 2026-2027 There are two ways to make money there: 👉🏼 Teaching everyone else how to be successful in XYZ 👉🏼 Already being famous and giving people closer access to your thoughts Here's the thing though ((and pay attention to this one)) People have built profitable long-form for DECADES and Substack just repackaged it with a shinier bow. Not saying newsletters are dead or useless, but the Substack hype train is mostly benefiting the people selling you the dream. There are better, more strategic ways to build your audience and monetise your writing that actually fit YOUR business model this applies to every platform TikTok Threads YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Whatever launches next month The platform is not the business model It is one part of the distribution system The actual roadmap is: 1. Start with what you sell What problem does your paid offer solve and what does someone need to understand before they are ready to buy it 2. Find the talk of the town What is your audience already saving, sharing, questioning or arguing about 3. Add your take What are people getting wrong about that topic and what does your expertise help them see or do differently 4. Build one useful resource One problem One process One promise Not a 47-page ebook nobody finishes A checklist, template, Google Doc, Loom or mini training that helps them get one result 5. Pull three posts from it Post one makes them recognize the problem Post two shows them your process Post three makes them want the result 6. Capture the attention Instagram or TikTok → comment keyword or bio link YouTube → description link LinkedIn → featured resource Substack → email subscription Different platform, same job Move people from borrowed attention to somewhere you can continue the relationship #substackalternatives #newsletterstrategy #contentmonetization #audiencebuilding #creatoreconomy