Most entrepreneurs focus on sales. I’m focused on value. The $1M HobbyScool Experiment is my plan to grow a creative brand into a sellable business by 2027.

I set a goal to grow HobbyScool into a $1M, sellable brand. Instead of keeping my notes in private spreadsheets, I’m documenting the process on Substack. Here’s why this platform is perfect for building in public — and what creators can learn about using Substack the right way.

Last night, I got one of those emails every business owner dreads: an angry unsubscribe. Here’s how I turned that sting into a powerful reminder that unsubscribes aren’t failure—they’re proof your marketing is working.

AI has changed the game. Website traffic is down, SEO isn’t enough, and old funnels keep breaking. But this shift also creates massive opportunities. By combining HubSpot’s Loop Marketing playbook with the Growth Flywheel framework, digital product creators can build resilient systems that compound momentum and generate consistent revenue, even in an AI-first world.

Tired of readers skipping your sponsored newsletter ads? Learn how to make sponsorships feel like a natural part of your content—not an interruption. This post highlights Ann Handley’s brilliant “pop quiz” strategy and shows how you can use it to keep readers engaged and sponsors happy.

Think you’re not using AI? You probably are. From smart email tools to design hacks, here’s how creators and digital product owners are using AI to save time, serve better, and scale without burning out.

When a simple printable planner became one of our most-loved member bonuses, I saw an opportunity to do more. In this post, I share how I turned the HobbyScool Craft Projects Planner into a no-code app using Lovable—completely solo and with zero tech budget. Discover how the Crafter’s Hub transformed our membership experience, plus how you can do the same in your own business with the help of Sage, your free AI upgrade guide.

There’s a trap many creators fall into when launching a paid newsletter.

It sounds logical enough: “My audience loves my free newsletter, so they’ll definitely pay for more of the same—right?”

Unfortunately, that logic rarely holds up in the real world. And if you’ve ever tried to monetize your newsletter and struggled to get traction, this might be why.

Here’s the truth:
💡 People don’t want more content. They want a transformation.

You’ve done the hard work: created a lead magnet, built a landing page, and finally got someone to join your email list.

But there’s one step that can make or break your relationship with that new subscriber—and it often gets overlooked.

That step is your welcome email.

This is the most important email you’ll ever send. It sets expectations, builds trust, and plays a critical role in email deliverability—a key factor in whether your emails end up in the Primary inbox or lost in the Promotions tab.

Let’s break down why it matters, and how to make sure yours gets opened, clicked, and replied to.