You're invited...
*envelope swooshes into your letterbox*
Does it ever feel like you missed the boat a bit when it comes to social media?
Perhaps you joined Instagram a little too late, or put your time into Twitter only to watch it get… well. Elon-ified.
Maybe you’ve always felt a few steps behind as you watched those magic waves of momentum sweep other people up, and found yourself left on the shore, feeling alone, and perhaps a little helpless.
Worried you might have left it all too late.
Well then - we have good news for you, my friend.
This time, you’re early for the party.
This time, the boat is still sitting in the dock.
And that party boat is right here, on Substack. We’re already on deck, hoping you’ll jump aboard before we lift the anchor, light the lamps and drop the disco ball. (More on all of that in a moment…✨)
Substack is a place for creativity, where you can share anything you choose. No rules or churning algorithms and zero preconceived notions of how anything is supposed to look. Just a sandbox, a playground, a party for friends.
So our question for you is: what kind of party do you want to throw? And would you like a little help in pulling it all together?
What’s that? You thought we’d never ask? Well, without further ado…
Together with our love of storytelling, obsession with the internet, general love of (most) humans and unapologetic nerd-dom for strategy, we cordially invite you to our next Soirée, beginning on Monday, the 22nd of April, 2024.
The Substack Soirée is a supportive group programme for anyone looking to start, grow or expand their Substack presence.
This class combines our decades of wisdom and insight into audience growth, online marketing, writing and storytelling with the factors we believe matter the most: community, compassion and creativity.
You get to be your whole human self here.
Our mission is to guide you to find your voice, the stories you’re here to tell, the work the world needs from you and the best way to get it all seen. We believe good writing deserves to be read and our focus is always on both: the very best content reaching the perfect people online.
Whether you’re here to build a small, quiet following or to shake up the entire world, we’ll help sail you to your dream destination, guided by same core elements that have worked for us on every single platform we’ve used: Solid, heart-led strategy, really brilliant content and a big-hearted love for the whole joyful shebang.
Nail these three - really and truly - and watch how everything expands for you online.
No cheap tricks, no sell-out sneakiness. No compromising your voice just to appease the baying crowd. The growth, reach, impact and - yes, even income - you seek is possible without any of that.
During the course of the program, we’ll cover everything from Substack optimisation and subscriber growth, to sales, self-promo and community, but also, what to write about, how to get out of your own way, and how to love what you share. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all guidebook, or a stack of rules, but a ‘choose your own adventure’ novel.
We’re all living different stories, and that’s where the magic lies.
The Substack Soirée is a 5 week live programme that we work through together in a group, right here on Substack our VIP guest area. Through a combination of written and audio lessons, video tutorials, live coaching sessions and nurturing co-working calls, we’ll guide you through everything from effective Substack set-up to evergreen audience growth to creating a publication and a voice that is uniquely your own.
By the end of class you’ll have a Substack presence that feels like home and an intimate connection to exactly what you want to show up and share. No more wondering what on earth to write next, or floundering over whether things are good enough - instead, you’ll have a committed creative practice and an audience that loves you and cheers you along. And—if you want it—you’ll have all the tools and strategies set for your own paid Substack launch, so you can make back the cost of this class together, and so much more.
Know this is for you? Ready to join us? Click below to join!
Post all the time, even when I have nothing to say? A: Never. The opposite, in fact!
Stick to a rigid writing schedule that feels like a chore? A: Yuck! Hard pass on that.
Focus on growth for the sake of growth? A: Have we met? Absolutely not.
Make a slick, professional publication when all I really want to do is write? A: Nope! We’re here for the same: content first, always. But if you choose to spruce things up a bit, we can help with that too.
The Substack Soirée is all about quality over quantity, with space for playfulness, curiosity and fun. It’s about getting really mindful on how we want to share our magic with the world, so we can foster connection and community, build a committed audience and get paid for doing the work we love, at a pace we can handle. We believe in seasons in business and life and know that reality, relationships and health are woven into every successful and sustainable venture. We practice what we preach on this, and we want it for you, too.
But we also don’t believe it has to be one or the other. It’s not:
Relationships OR creative work
Creativity VS Profit
Integrity VS Growth
None of these are opposing forces. You get to blend them all however you choose.
We can’t fit all this goodness into your inbox, so it’ll be cut off. Click here to access the full post in all its Substack beauty.
Named as one of the UK’s most influential entrepreneurs, Sara Tasker is a leading UK Instagram and social media expert and a certified mindset coach. She’s written a bestselling Instagram book and her podcast dedicated to using the internet to make your dreams a reality has repeatedly hit #1 in the iTunes business chart. Her own paid launch here on Substack was the UK’s fastest ever super-launch. And not to brag or anything, but Luke Actual Skywalker once sent her a Twitter DM at 3am.
The Substack Soirée is for Substack what The Insta Retreat has been and continues to be for thousands of people using Instagram to express their creative self, grow their community and expand their business. The Substack Soirée was created as a collaborative response to the countless requests Sara receives for support with a Substack-specific focus. We believe this platform is the future, and we want you to be a part of it too.
Keeley Rees has a bag packed full of creative tricks thanks to over 10 years in the film & television industry, a Bachelor of Writing & Media Communications, and working as a copywriter, creative director & content producer. Her time in the media world gave her opportunities to create her own short films, as well as write, direct and produce a couple of TV commercials. For the past few years she’s specialised in email marketing and creative direction for heartfelt brands. Before collaborating with Sara, Keeley was the Digital Content Producer for Hello Funnels and a Copy Coach for creative entrepreneurs and coaches. Keeley believes stories are the most powerful thing in the world. She also hates talking about herself in third person, but will absolutely do so if it means she might get the chance to connect with you in the soirée. Fun fact: she also acts and does voice-over work on occasion and loves writing to a background of rain sounds.
What is it that you most want for your Substack?
A playful creative outlet?
A loyal readership of like minded friends?
A decent monthly payout in exchange for your work?
Or maybe just a place to be seen and heard?
It is all available to you here.
We know how hard it can be to do it all alone. As much some of us might crave the solitude of introversion, as humans we are wired to connect.
Our low-key soirée is the perfect place to find your way through this next step in your creative journey, with support, accountability and a gathering of like-minded people who are in the trenches with you. It’s hard to over-state the importance of surrounding yourself with the people who get it and see all the same possibilities as you.
Say you’ll join us?
We have some questions of the frequently asked variety right here.
Want to hear what our guests are saying? Read some of their glowing words here.
❤️ Need a custom payment schedule? Get in touch.
“The Substack Soirée is magic.”
I knew this was the medium for me, but I wasn't aware quite how much until I completed this course. It has all the elements I love about Substack: community & kindness, experimentation & play and the emphasis on writing above all else. I’ll be returning to the materials again and again as I work on my publication. Huge thanks to Keeley and Sara for creating such a welcoming and supportive space.
Claire Fitzsimmons ~ More Good Days
“It’s honestly the best course I’ve ever done!”
The Soirée has given me some wonderful ideas on how I can begin to move forward with my publication. Everything was so beautifully designed and laid out in a way that was easy to understand and work through in your own time. I couldn’t be more grateful and I loved the calls too! A huge thank you to both for putting on this wonderful course and allowing us all the room to grow on this platform.
Jenna ~ Magic & Musings
“Such a brilliant experience.”
Sara and Keeley are so encouraging and inspiring and it's been a pleasure to be part of their community. The resources in the Substack Soiree are beautifully presented and practical - there are short tasks and steps you can put into practice straight away to start and grow your Substack community. Their advice in the coaching calls was so useful whether it was in answer to a question I asked or one that someone else brought along. I've watched the replays of the classes again and taken notes and I enjoyed the co-working calls for some extra accountability too. I really can't recommend it enough, especially if you're new to Substack and are feeling overwhelmed or not good enough to write here - this class will help you get organised, gain confidence and create a plan for your newsletter that's right for you and what you'd like to offer.
Charlene Storey ~ Haver & Sparrow
“I now have a publication I am proud of and feel brave enough to keep developing. You gave me a really clear pathway to create my own unique voice. Everything about it was beautiful, from the visual imagery to the words and support in the live calls. You are both magic.”
Honestly, I had no idea what to expect as I was so new to Substack. But I had known Sara for a while and had also checked out Keeley’s beautiful words, so I knew it would be a fabulous way to meet like-minded souls. What I experienced were the most magical connections and methods to give my Substack that all important personal touch. I found the words to put into my about, free subs and paid subs. I received encouragement to write from my heart through prompts and co working classes, and gained practical step by step guides that have given me clarity and enabled me to create my ‘series’ right here on Substack. They gave me the gentle nudges when my self doubt kicked in. I feel at home on Substack and a sense of belonging on Substack now, before their class I felt a little lost. The connections of the other soirée members has also been really special.
Lisa Post writes ~ Home