Writing Off Social: The Podcast | Build Your Platform and Grow Your Email List Without Social Media

After nearly 100 podcast episodes, more than 50 guest interviews, and 3 years of coaching writers, we've learned a few things we definitely did NOT know at the beginning. Some of them surprised us. Some challenged our assumptions. And a few have completely changed the way we think about writing, marketing, and platform building. It's our Season 7 Finale and we're discussing the biggest lessons we've learned after 3 years of helping writers grow without social media. Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/97We're taking a summer podcast break and will be back in the fall with a whole new season. Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

What would it feel like to stop chasing an audience and start trusting that faithful work in small places is enough? Our guest today, Rachel Allord, has lived that question for over twenty years — through freelance writing, missionary life in London, and eventually a book deal. Her story is a permission slip for every writer who's tired of performing, and a beautiful reminder of the difference between ambition and calling. This week, we're discussing what it looks like to write with a missional mindset and let God grow the audience. Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/96Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

If you've ever color-coded a brand new planner only to abandon it eleven weeks later, set a boundary around your time and felt like you could finally breathe again, or found yourself trying to figure out how to fit writing time, summer with your kids, and cleaning your own house into the margins of your day — this episode is for you. This week we are pulling back the curtain on our current working rhythms: what's changed, what's working, and what we had to learn the hard way. Listen in. For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/95Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

If you've ever felt guilty for not posting enough, or wondered whether you're falling behind because you're not showing up consistently online — this episode is for you. We talk a lot on this show about the freedom that's possible when you step off the social media treadmill, but sometimes what we really need is to hear from someone who's actually done it and come out the other side with more clarity, more confidence, and more momentum than before.And our guest today is exactly that person — though she'll be the first to tell you she knows the pressure, the comparison, and the exhaustion of trying to keep up with a game that never quite felt like hers to play. Rather than push through, she paused, got honest about what wasn't working, and built a 90-day plan that finally gave her real momentum toward the women she's called to serve. Listen in as author, podcaster, and WOS The Course Alum Karla Monterrosa shares her story and the practical steps that brought her clarity and growth — without social media running the show. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/94. Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Lately, we have been having the same conversation over and over again with exhausted writers--women who love writing and feel a holy calling to their work… but who also love their families, their churches, their communities, and the real lives they’ve been called to steward. Women who are trying to create out of bodies, minds, and schedules that already feel stretched thin. Today we want to talk honestly about something many writers are quietly wrestling with: How do you know when to push through the resistance… and when it’s time to press pause? For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/93Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

If you've ever typed "Should writers be on YouTube?" into a search bar and walked away more confused than when you started — this episode is for you. We've never had much to say about YouTube, but today we're diving deep with someone who has done the work. Thomas Umstattd Jr. joins us for his third time on the show, and we're finally going to tackle the YouTube question — the time, the tech, the payoff, and whether it's actually right for you — or just one more shiny thing pulling you away from the page. Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/92Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today, we're thrilled to speak with Lauren Groves, an acquisitions editor and children's author with B&H Publishing, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources. Listen in as we discuss what it takes to communicate big ideas in clear, simple language—and what that skill can teach every writer, no matter their genre. Plus, Lauren pulls back the curtain on what makes an acquisitions editor stop scrolling a submission pile and say, I need to read more—and it has nothing to do with your follower count. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/91Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today we’re diving into your questions — specifically, how to make the most of the opportunities right in front of you, whether that’s growing your email list, connecting with readers in real life, or building meaningful relationships in the writing world. We're sharing real stories, and answering your biggest questions so you can stop spinning your wheels — and start making strategic, sustainable progress. Listen in! For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/90Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today, we welcome author and acquisitions editor with Elk Lake Publishing, Jane Daly, where we pull back the curtain on what really makes an editor lean in instead of move on—from the first three chapters to the subtle signals in your proposal that say, “I understand this industry.” We talk about why following submission guidelines matters more than you think, how to answer “Why this publisher?” without sounding generic, and what a compelling marketing plan looks like when you’re not using social media. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/89Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Leaving social media is a huge step that takes a lot of courage. And for many writers, that step can feel less like a strategy shift—and more like a threat to your calling, your identity, and your future as a writer.This week, we chat with author, podcast host and certified brain coach Ashriel Huber, where we unpack the very real anxiety behind that feeling, what’s happening in your brain when the panic sets in, and how to reset your thoughts and nervous system so you can move forward with clarity, peace, and confidence in the work God has called you to do. Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/88Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

What if one of the most effective ways to grow your audience as a writer is something you’ve probably overlooked—or maybe even dismissed as outdated?Before social media took over everything, writers built their platforms by showing up on other people’s platforms, guest posting and contributing. And guess what. That strategy? It still works!Grace Thomas is a writer and podcaster who has written for dozens of major publications and Substacks—and this has helped grow her robust email list and her reach–outside of social media. Today, we’re talking about how guest posting actually works in 2026, how to pitch your writing, where to find opportunities, and how to turn someone else’s platform into real, lasting growth for your own. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/87Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today, we are thrilled to speak with best-selling, award-winning author, poet, educator, and founder of The KidLit Lab, Laura Wifler, where we dive into all things children’s books. Listen in as we discuss what it looks like to write for one audience while marketing to another, and whether or not it’s possible to market a children’s book without social media. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/86Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

What if ditching social media didn't mean starting from scratch — it just meant finding the right pathways for you? Today we're pulling back the curtain on the ten strategies we teach inside our course — what they are, how they work, and the kinds of writers they're the best fit for. And we even brought a quiz to help you find yours. For show notes including the link to that quiz, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/85Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

It's our SEASON FINALE! What do you do when the rhythm that used to work… suddenly doesn’t anymore? When life shifts so drastically that your old schedule just won’t hold? Today, we’re pulling back the curtain and sharing how we’ve rebuilt our work rhythms from the ground up in two totally different seasons of life.Today we’re unpacking the real processes we use to shape our schedules, find our focus, and build rhythms that honor our calling. Listen in!For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/84Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Ever look at your kid’s school books and think, “Who writes all this stuff—and are they getting paid?” Today we’re talking to Megan Conner, an editor, author, writing consultant, and graduate of Writing Off Social: The Course who has built a thriving writing career in places most writers never think to look—educational publishing, work-for-hire projects, devotionals, technical writing, and those “I Can Read”–style books that quietly teach kids everything from phonics to frog ecosystems. She’s contributed to dozens of educational works, earned a steady income from her writing, and done it all without relying on social media. If you’ve ever thought, “I just want to write the words and get paid for the words,” this episode is your sign. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/83Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

If you’ve ever thought, “There’s no way I can land a book deal without a massive platform,” this episode is going to mess with that narrative in the very best way.Our guest, best-selling novelist Sarah Damoff, sold her debut novel, The Bright Years, to Simon & Schuster with no writing background, no industry connections, an Instagram following of about 300 friends and family, and a tiny email list. So if you’ve been quietly disqualifying yourself because of your numbers, today’s guest is living proof that your craft can carry you farther than your follower count. Listen in.  For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/82Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

What if your email list wasn’t just a marketing tool—but a ministry? In this conversation with business coach Cienna Kopischke, we explore how Christian writers can move away from hustle-driven tactics and instead steward their readers with care through email. Cienna shares how she shifted her business from Instagram-dependence to a Kingdom-centered model rooted in funnels that disciple, not manipulate. You’ll learn the core principles of Kingdom Funnels, why consistency matters more than list size, and simple, practical steps to engage your subscribers in ways that build trust, deepen connection, and ultimately grow book sales.If you’ve ever worried about being “salesy” with your readers, this episode will show you a better way—one that aligns with your faith and your calling. For show notes to go to https://writingoffsocial.com/81Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Imagine building a successful, profitable business without posting a single reel, chasing trends, or spending hours trying to trick the algorithm. If this sounds impossible, think again. As an anger management coach and podcaster, Elizabeth Andreyevskiy walked away from social media entirely, and in doing so, built a flourishing coaching practice that not only serves Christian moms all over the world, but also contributes greatly to her household income. Her story is proof that with perseverance, clarity, and obedience, there’s a better, freer way to grow.For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/80Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s truly possible to land a traditional publishing deal without a massive following--or without much of a social media presence at all—today’s episode is for you.This week, we're celebrating our friend, WOS student, retreat leader, spiritual director, and debut author Lori Melton on the launch of her first book, Journey with a Giant. She shares how she secured a book deal with Ink & Willow, the imprint from WaterBrook & Multnomah (a division of Penguin Random House). And she accomplished all of this without relying on social media.We also discuss the importance of choosing a spiritual mentor, navigating the publishing world without a social media presence, and pursuing your writing dreams with confidence in God. It's such a great conversation. Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/79Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

If you’re stepping away from the noise of social platforms, knowing exactly who you’re writing for and what she needs becomes even more essential. Today, writer, podcaster, and writing coach Amy Simon shares how to identify your ideal reader, uncover the problems she’s trying to solve, and use that clarity to shape your message with purpose and confidence.Whether you’re writing a blog, a book, or a lead magnet, this conversation will help you connect more deeply with the people your words are meant to serve — on or off social media.  For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/78Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today’s episode is a little different… because our very own Mary K. Tiller is stepping out from behind the hosting mic and into the guest chair!  That’s right — the woman you know as co-host and co-founder of Writing Off Social is here to spill the beans on her brand-new venture: Tiller Editing.We’re talking about how she’s building an editing business from the ground up (without social media), what she’s learned along the way, and how you can take your next steps, whether that’s hiring her as your editor or launching a business of your own.  For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/77Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to build a paid community around my writing… but where would I even start?” you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re sitting down with Angie Baughman, who has walked that road step by messy step. She’s pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to launch and run a membership that actually serves people — from pricing and platforms to beta groups and burnout. And she’s brutally honest about the challenges, surprises, and joys along the way. Whether you’re craving more income, deeper impact, or just a faithful next step, Angie’s story will show you it’s possible. For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/76Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Is your writing a ministry, a business—or both? Today we sit down with Kent Sanders, ghostwriter, coach, and host of The Profitable Writer Podcast, to explore what it really looks like to merge calling with career. Kent shares how he built a profitable ghostwriting business without relying on social media, why generosity flows best from abundance, and the simple, old-school strategies that still work to grow your audience today. Whether you’ve struggled to charge for your work or wondered how to balance ministry and money, this conversation will challenge your perspective and encourage your next steps as a writer. For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/75Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

God calls us to peace, but most of the writers we know struggle to find time to write, balance writing with other responsibilities, and manage writing and marketing time. If that sounds familiar, take a breath. What if productivity isn’t about doing more but finally knowing what to say yes to? What if the clarity you’ve been craving has been within reach all along? And what if the very thing holding you back is simpler than you think? In this episode, we're uncovering the #1 struggle our listeners face — and the one shift that can change everything. Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/74Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

If you’re a writer, chances are you’ve felt the tension between timeless craft and ever-changing technology. On one hand, your voice and perspective are irreplaceable. On the other hand, new technology is reshaping the way books are written, marketed, and read.Is AI a threat to creativity or a partner that can free you to do your best work? What role can social media play in this new landscape? And how can you, as an author, stay grounded in your calling while adapting to change?In today’s conversation with Thomas Umstattd Jr., we’re pulling back the curtain on what the future holds for writers and why your voice still matters more than ever. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/73Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Are you a writer thinking about leaving social media, but not sure how to do it? Today, we’ll show you the exact steps we took to quit for good while keeping our readers with us. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/72Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

We're back from our break with a brand-new podcast season. Today, we’re sharing the key decisions we’ve made based on the wonderful feedback you provided through our 2025 Listener Survey last spring. We’ll tell you what we’re letting go of, what you asked for that we can’t provide, and what’s coming next for Writing Off Social. Listen in! For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/71Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

It's our SEASON 5 FINALE! And we are thrilled to speak with Susan Neal about her latest book, "How to Sell 1,000 Books a Month: Strategies to Improve Sales." Listen as Susan offers insights on building a strong foundation for book marketing, creating effective lead magnets, the importance of email automation, and the benefits of attending writers' conferences. Our discussion also covers the value of endorsements, securing editorial reviews, and using media interviews to increase book visibility. This episode is packed with practical and effective strategies never discussed before on Writing Off Social! For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/70Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

This week, we are speaking with author and cofounder of The Author Conservatory, Kara Swanson. Listen as Kara shares her insights on building and managing a Street Team as an effective book-selling strategy, emphasizing the importance of training, clear communication, and establishing relationships with team members. Kara also discusses strategies for engaging readers, setting expectations, and nurturing a supportive community. It's an inspiring conversation that will have you rethinking launch teams altogether! Listen in. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/69Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

As Christian creatives, navigating the space between ministry and business can be confusing. We want to honor God with our work—but is it okay to charge for it, too? In today’s episode, we’re exploring the intersection of calling, creativity, and income—and how we can faithfully pursue the work we feel led to do, without guilt or hesitation. This week, we've invited our friends and fellow writers, Angie Baughman, Teresa Whiting, and Jenny Zentz, for a candid conversation on how we navigate the often murky waters of ministry and business. Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/68Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Do you want an effective marketing strategy that not only targets readers actively looking for books but also provides you with immediate visibility and results? This week, we are speaking with Alana Terry, an award-winning Christian suspense novelist and USA Today bestseller. She is also the co-founder of the Successful Writer Marketplace and a well-known ads coach for authors. Listen as Alana shares her experience with paid advertising, reveals best practices for running Amazon ads, and encourages authors to view advertising as a time investment that can yield long-term benefits. For show notes, go to https:writingoffsocial.com/67Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Debbie Gonzales, an award-winning children's author, career educator, and the founder of Pin Lit Marketing, where she specializes in boosting book visibility and engagement through Pinterest. Debbie's slow and steady system highlights the significance of evergreen content, strategic keyword usage, and a structured approach to building an audience and selling books. This interview has us rethinking our whole aversion to Pinterest as a marketing option and just may have us updating our Pinterest boards! Listen in! For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/66Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Your website is like your digital home base—especially once you’ve left social media. However, your author website can be much more than just an online business card! If done well, your website can foster that all-important “like-know-trust” factor with your readers and become your book-selling headquarters. Today we tell you how! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/65Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today, we chat with award-winning author and podcast host CJ Milacci about all things Kickstarter. She explains how Kickstarter builds community and connects authors with readers, and she also shares how it can not only fund your launch but also help pay for things like special editions and purchasing books for in-person events. CJ's insights and experience are incredibly valuable, especially for authors seeking alternative ways to connect with their readers outside of social media. Listen in! For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/64Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today, we are talking with SEO expert Jana Carlson to explore the importance of search engine optimization for Christian writers. Jana explains how SEO can be a powerful tool for audience growth without the self-promotional aspects often accompanying traditional marketing strategies. Jana makes SEO sound accessible and, dare we say, FUN? Jana also answers the looming question we've been asking in the age of AI: Is SEO dead?  Listen in! For show notes go to https:writingoffsocial.com/63.Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Do you ever wonder how other creators manage it all? How they balance work, family, and everything in between? Today, we're giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our own systems and strategies. Listen in as we dive deep into our personal productivity philosophies and share the exact tools that have helped us reclaim our time and create a more balanced and sustainable work life.  For show notes, including how to share your favorite productivity hack or tool with us, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/62Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today we are thrilled to speak with USA Today best-selling author Camy Tang, about her journey as a writer and her innovative marketing strategies. Listen as Camy shares her experiences with blogging, Patreon, and Kickstarter, emphasizing the importance of understanding your audience and leveraging your strengths to connect with your readers. Grab your pen and paper and take notes on this one, you guys, because she is a treasure trove of creativity! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/61Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today, we welcome Erin Loechner, an author and former social media influencer who left behind over a million followers to embrace a low-tech lifestyle. We discuss the challenges and benefits of stepping away from social media, especially for writers and parents. Erin shares her journey, insights on publishing without social media, and strategies for building connections and marketing books in a digital world. Listen as Erin emphasizes the importance of genuine relationships, the value of long-form writing, and the potential for a fulfilling writing career outside the constraints of social media. For show notes, including all the ways to connect with Erin, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/60Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Welcome to Season 5! After two years of working with writers, the number one question we get at Writing Off Social is, "What even is social media?" So, today, we will define social media and then offer you two questions to ask yourself when assessing whether or not a platform is social media and two questions to ask yourself to determine if you should be using it at all. We will also be revealing our theme for Season 5 of the podcast! Lisen in. For show notes go to https:writingofsocial.com/59Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

This season, we’ve lavished you with options for growing and nurturing your email list. But if you’re anything like us, you want to try them ALL. If you’re having shiny object syndrome, today’s episode will help you gain some clarity.  Listen in as we review the email growth strategies we discussed this season and offer nine clarifying questions to ask yourself to determine which strategies will work best for you. And just for fun, we will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we are growing our email list here at Writing Off Social.  This is the final episode of Season 4. See you back here in the Spring! For show notes go to https:writingoffsocial.com/58Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

So often, the strategies we share through Writing Off Social are pathways that foster slow growth. Cultivating an email list in a life-giving, effective way often takes a lot of time, and that’s okay! But some strategies can play to your strengths and provide exponential growth in just a few days. Today we’re speaking to author, podcaster, speaker, and one of our dearest friends, Teresa Whiting about how she more than tripled her email list in one week.  For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/57Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Building your audience can feel like an exercise in futility. Churning out post after post, hoping that one new person will subscribe. But Bryan Harris invites you to step off the "content hamster wheel of death" and try a different approach–the most overlooked and underrated marketing strategy he inadvertently discovered 10 years ago. As the Founder and CEO of Growth Tools, Bryan Harris has used his growth framework to help clients such as Amy Porterfield, Michael Hyatt, and Jerry B. Jenkins.  For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/56Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

This season we are focusing exclusively on strategies to grow your email list. But how do you decide what email growth strategies to pursue? And how do you know if the growth you’re seeking is healthy growth or simply another version of the numbers game that you thought you escaped when you left social media?Today we have a candid conversation about all things growth. We tell you why we chose this theme (or rather how this theme chose us), how we’re trusting God for healthy growth, and 5 questions we ask ourselves as opportunities for growth present themselves to us. Listen in. For show notes visit https://writingoffsocial.com/55Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

We often joke that social media is where all the people are– and it is. But do you know where else all the people are?? The YouVersion Bible App. With 750 Million subscribers world-wide, the Youversion Bible App is one of the largest sharing platforms available to Christian creatives. So how do you get YOUR content on YouVersion and use it to grow your email list? Cara Ray, writer, entrepreneur, and Founder of The Writer's Bloc will tell you how! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/54Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Do you want to create a lead magnet with a 40% conversion rate? No matter what you write, a quiz is one of the best, most effective, and most FUN ways to engage your ideal reader and grow your email list. Today we welcome Jackie Aguglia, the Growth Manager at the popular quiz-making software, Interact, to discuss all things quiz-building! This is a power-packed episode full of tactical information that will make you excited to try this email growth strategy. Listen in. For show notes, go to https://writingoffsocial.com/53. Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

You spend hours crafting an email– pouring out your heart and soul– you finally hit send aaannnd crickets. It’s hard, but don’t lose hope! Today, we welcome back to the show Will Parker Anderson. He's the founder of The Writer's Circle, a writing coach, and a Senior Editor at WaterBrook and Multnomah. Listen in as Will shares several proven strategies to build the kind of engagement that goes well beyond the metrics and instead, invites your reader into an ongoing conversation. For show notes visit https://writingoffsocial.com/52Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

It’s no secret that podcasts are an amazing way to connect with your audience. But have you ever considered starting a secret podcast?  Today we’re learning all about private podcasts with business strategy coach, podcaster, and founder of the Crush the Rush brand, Holly Marie Haynes. Listen in as she shares the benefits, the tech, and some tips for using this out-of-the-box strategy to grow your email list. For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/51Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

This season we are focusing entirely on methods to grow your email list. Today’s method is not only a powerful email growth strategy but also a viable audience metric in its own right, proving to have conversion rates that meet or exceed those of your email list. Our guest is Stefanie Gass, a Christian business and podcast coach, boundary boss, and seven-figure CEO. She believes it's possible to partner with God to create income and impact without sacrificing your family, faith, or buying into the social media hustle Listen in! For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/50Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Today, we’re diving deep with Sandy, as she celebrates her one-year anniversary on Substack. We’ll discuss her motivations for moving from traditional email platforms to Substack, how she grew her subscriber base by over 500, and the unique features that set Substack apart from the algorithm-driven chaos of social media. For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/49Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.

Substack is a writing platform, built by writers, for writers with 40 million readers. But how does Substack work and how do you know if it will work for you? Whether you're just beginning to consider Substack, or if you’ve decided to go all in, today’s conversation is for you. This week we’re discussing all things Substack with author, professor, and Substack Growth Strategist and founder of Substack Writers at Work, Sarah Fay.  For show notes go to https://writingoffsocial.com/48Find our Recommended Vendor List at writingoffsocial.com/vendors-- a curated collection of businesses, creatives, and service providers trusted by our community. Every vendor featured here has been personally recommended by members who have actually worked with them and had a great experience.