19. Connecting online with other people

Hi friend,

So, as part of my efforts to source subject matter experts to infuse into my client work, I use this lovely service called Help A B2B Writer. It’s a great tool that connects writers and content marketers like me with people who know their stuff and will talk about it.

I admit it’s easy to turn this into a one-way, transactional service. Get the quote, use it in your article, and disappear. After all, it’s just a name on your email.

Until I thanked people who sent me a thoughtful reply on a recent piece.

That’s when a lightbulb went off. 💡 

Saying thank you to someone usually pays off.

When you thank people, the nature of the exchange shifts from transactional to collaborative.

As a solopreneur, I’m used to working alone. I set my schedule, and I spend most of the day debating ideas in my head. But that also means you spend hours online and staring at screens.

If I’m not careful, it’s so easy to forget the person you’re responding to through email or message is a living, breathing person.

Hence, if we’re going to co-exist with AI and machines, maybe we should remember to ‘act’ more human.

Say thank you when someone gives you an amazing insight.

Tell someone you appreciate their work.

Share their work and say what you like about it.

These all seem like little things, but it’s helpful to remember when we’re staring at screens all day.

Things that inspired me this month

Flashback to flying solo: Doing more with less? Sounds familiar. This content marketing report by Campfire Labs featuring one-person content teams gave me major flashbacks to running marketing myself in previous roles. You learn so much about how marketing relates to the other parts of the business, which has set me up well for solopreneurship. However, having someone to bounce ideas off and discuss challenges would have helped, too.

If you’re a one-person content team, stop by this report for validation and practical tips on how to make the solo journey less frustrating.

The best $7 I spent this month: I finished the book Principles of Newsletters by CJ Chilvers. His writing is a breath of fresh air from all the “Grow your newsletter to X subscribers in 3 months” slop. CJ writes for newsletter providers and creators who want to build relationships with their readers. His writing is simple and grounded, and its stuff creators (and businesses) will do well to remember.

If you run a newsletter or create online content, it’s worth picking up! Taken by itself, each principle isn’t particularly novel. But reading the book helps me shift to a curious state of “okay, let’s focus on my existing subscribers” instead of worrying over how many subscribers I have or my engagement rate. Every subscriber or follower is a real-life human being who’s opted in to receive your content. That’s pretty cool!

My new cozy vlog obsession: I’ve been watching a lot of videos from this YouTube channel that show people's daily lives working at Japanese bakeries. The silent videos feature delicious bread and show how bakeries operate. Fascinating stuff! This daily life might seem mundane to some, but it's fascinating to me, as I love bread and want to know these things.

I have a client opening in September!

Here’s how we can work together. 

⭐ B2B SaaS product-led content: People look for solutions and information online. Why not position your product to illustrate a point and show why your product is the best at solving a problem? It attracts visitors and educates your customers while motivating and guiding them to use your product. Talk about a win-win!

⭐ Customer case studies: Highlight how you’ve worked with a customer and celebrate their success! Case studies build trust with potential customers and show how your work has solved their issues. Attract customers like your ideal clients who want to solve a similar issue.

 ⭐ Whitepapers, research reports and e-books: When paired with original data, sharp design and excellent storytelling, these assets help start sales conversations and build industry authority (i.e, backlinks!). Let me help you with these mammoth projects! Besides interviewing experts and conducting research, I'll help with the outline, drafting, and publication.

 ⭐  Content repurposing: Don’t let the content you worked so hard to put together collect digital dust after publishing. Repurpose your existing content to reach a new audience. For example, I’ve worked with clients to repurpose speaker recordings into blog posts and turned internal sales slides into e-books.

DM me, and let’s schedule a call to discuss your content! Let’s determine what types of content best suit your customers and craft a path forward together.

Thanks for reading and being here.