Did you know that your community is a business you can sell and exit? It is -- and I've done it. Find out how it works with this free case study: https://pages.communitygrowth.school/cga-case-optin-page Got questions about building a community that could attract a buyer? Just ask! PS - Loving the mayhem!

I grew a community for broke freelance writers to $40K MRR. Now that I've sold that business for life-changing money (back in '21), I've had time to reflect. And the big question is: How was this possible? All the marketing goo-roos tell you, "Don't sell to broke people." Yet, that's exactly what I did. Because I WAS a freelance writer, and they were my people. And I knew they needed help earning a real living. There were other communities for writers back when Freelance Writers Den launched in '11, sure. But there wasn't any other one like mine. The others were all kum-ba-ya and pat you on the head for making $10 an article on a content mill. Or helping you write your novel. Mine was the only one that took freelance writing seriously as a career that could pay well. And taught you the business discipline to run this like a BIZNESS. That SAW your pain at being a starving writer and said, "You can earn a good living at this." Also, I did a pre-launch survey, so I knew the price point that would work for them: $25 a month. I never raised it (though there were upsells). I began with my case study on how I ramped my writing income to $100K during the '08-'09 downturn. That was my proof case that I knew things, and that this COULD be a good living. And it rolled from there. Another plus for me: I'd spent 12 years as a staff business reporter, talking to business owners, watching them succeed and fail. So I had some biz savvy from that. I could see most writers didn't even THINK of themselves as a running a business! So bringing that business discipline and attitude was game-changing for many. I love the 'teach people how to make more money' space because the ROI is so obvious. (The other reliable wins are making people feel better about themselves or helping them SAVE money. And if you can hit all three, you go HUGE.) My members stayed for years and years, because investing $300 or so a year that made you thousands more? Obviously worth it. By the final years, we had 1500 paid members. In all, about 14,000 writers used the platform to learn about growing their income.

So most people suggest that the way to get more members in your community is to post around skool more. It makes sense, so I've been doing it, but how do you not get overwhelmed by the amount of information on Skool? There are so many classes and courses. How do you manage it all?

Hey, feeling grateful to you all. I just want to let you know that you are all awesome. My question is this... How can I help you today? Is there a post I can reshare? Is there a YouTube video I can like? A community you want me to join? Post in the comments below, and if you feel so inclined, pay it forward and like somebody else's stuff. A rising tide lifts all boats...

It's so easy to be head-down in your business for years... decades, even. When's the last time you stopped and asked yourself: Where is this all going? Some day, you'll want out of that business -- you burn out, or you get bored of that topic, or get an idea for a new business you want to start and focus on instead. Or *gasp* you'd like to hang it up and retire. Could your business attract a buyer and give you a payday that funds that next phase of life? Or will you end up shutting the doors and walking away with nothing. I know I never thought about selling my first community... until people started asking me if they could buy it. Then I learned how buyers think about digital MRR businesses, cleaned mine up with an eye to attracting a buyer, and sold it for life-changing money in '21. Curious about what it takes to sell a business? Have questions about the sale prep process? I learned a lot about it... the hard way. Just ask -- I'm here!