Last week, I launched a paid Skool group. I only promoted it through my email list – and got 38 people to join out of a list of 130-something people. Now, the group only costs $10/month, but still ... I consider that a great result.

Good morning, fellow daily emailers! One thing I always try to do when someone follows me on socials is to message them this simple message: "Hey, [name], To what do I owe the pleasure of your follow/connection/friend request?" That's it. Around 40% of the time, I get a reply. And if they say they follow me because I share cool copy/marketing tips (which they usually do), I ask them the next question: "Awesome, good to know, thanks! Since you're interested in copywriting, perhaps you'll want to join my email list, where I share helpful tips daily?" And if they say "yes" (which they usually do), I send them my sign-up link. Sure, this takes a minute or so, but it also helps you build a connection with the person by having a few microcommitments. Have you tried such an approach?

We have over 500 members here. What niche do you write in? Me? I cover all things copywriting and email marketing. And on Saturdays, I talk about random things on my mind. You?

UPDATE: This riddle has been solved. You can find the answer in the comments below. But for your own benefit, I advise you to read the riddle and mull it over yourself. It will be worthwhile, because the real answer will stick in your mind better, and might actually be at your fingertips when you need it. ORIGINAL POST: Let's play a riddle. This riddle is based on a true case study, but the names, nationalities, and animal species have been changed to protect the interestingness of the riddle. Here goes: Wang Wei is Chinese. China is the world's largest producer of pork. In the interests of capitalizing on some of their massive pork production, the Chinese Communist Party has tasked Wang Wei with increasing the export of Chinese pork. Wang Wei goes and researches the topic. He decides to zoom in his efforts on France. He finds three interesting things: FIRST, the French already consume large quantities of pork, particularly in the forms of various hams and charcuterie. SECOND, the French consume something known as "steak tartare," which is basically raw cow meat minced up and seasoned. THIRD, the price the French are willing to pay for cow meat they will consume raw in the form of "steak tartare" is FIVE TIMES as high as the price they will pay for cow meat that is to be cooked or roasted. Wang Wei sees an opportunity: ====>>> "Pork tartare" <<<==== ... basically, raw pork, minced up and seasoned, and served up to the French at a price five times higher than that of equivalent hams, pork chops, or salami. PROBLEM: The French, though they are fine with eating raw cow meat, and though they will eat their fill of pork cooked, smoked, or otherwise thermally processed, think that eating raw pork is 1) disgusting and 2) unsanitary because it can cause salmonella. Wang Wei happens to have proof that the Chinese pork, unlike pork from other countries, is perfectly safe to eat raw and will never cause salmonella. He also has tried "pork tartare" himself, as prepared by some of China's top pork chefs, and he has found it to be delicious.

If you have an email list about copywriting or marketing, then your emails will be much more interesting and your offers much more convincing if you have real-world data to share from real businesses that you're working with right now. That's the reason I myself got back into client work earlier this year. I'm still doing client work. It's turned out to be easy money, laid-back clients, and actually interesting projects. Yes, those jobs are out there. Plus, it's given me stuff to write emails about, and it's boosted my standing and status with people on my list. If you want to get back into client work, or if you want more, cooler, or higher-paying clients than you've got now, then our own @Nick Bandy might be your way up and out. Nick is currently starting up a cohort offer with the goal of getting you your next $10k worth of client work. Here are the details of Nick's offer, in his own words: === I’m pitching businesses again. I’m looking for low-stress, high dollar-per-hour arrangements with the potential for repeat work. I’m inviting others to join me and work alongside me. I’ll help you find, pitch, close, upsell, and retain clients. The goal is to get you your next $10,000 in client work, AND leave you with a repeatable playbook to keep getting low-stress, high dollar-per-hour clients like these, for as long as you desire. I will continue to support you for as long as it takes to hit $10,000 in client work. So, how much to invest? $5k. That’s to land clients paying you more than you’re currently charging, with less work than you’re currently performing. The last job I landed at the very beginning of 2025 was a few emails and some opt-in form copy for $4,000 dollars. It took me maybe 5 hours to write. That turned into a $12,000 per month retainer. (Despite the fact that the client never suggested, hinted, or implied that there would be repeat work.) Even if you only land $4k worth of work per month for the next year, that’s $48,000…almost a 10x return.