Dr. Corey Wilks is a licensed clinical psychologist, an invited contributor for Psychology Today, and is known as the “Creator Coach.”
Over the last few years his coaching business has helped some of the biggest names in the creator space, like Ali Abdaal, deal with the ups and downs of the creator journey and break through to new levels.
One of those obstacles he and the creators he helps are often trying to move through is how to continually grow their email lists and find the time to keep consistently growing an audience.
When you have a smaller audience across social media platforms it can be really difficult to get more eyeballs on what you’re doing. To get 585 subscribers it took me 9 months on my own.
The challenge: Get more eyeballs on his newsletter
In February 2021, Corey started a newsletter called Creator Alchemy and switched to Kit.
I wanted better control over getting my content to my audience. Kit is built for creators, by creators, so it was a no-brainer.
In his newsletter, Corey uses his experience as a psychologist, coach, and solopreneur to help creators reach their potential, something he saw too many people close to him not reaching.
I had multiple friends put off pursuing fulfillment until it was too late. One spent decades as an attorney before retiring early to write a book. Halfway through writing it, he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Two weeks later, he died with his manuscript forever incomplete.
Corey’s hope is to write for and coach as many people as possible with whatever time he has left, because that is what fulfills him most. Growing his newsletter isn’t about being able to say he has a big email list, but ultimately it’s about reaching the people whom his content might help.
But like every creator, he struggled with the question of how to find those people.
The worst experience I had was I paid $350 to sponsor a newsletter and got like 20 subscribers. I don’t think any of those 20 subscribers even bought any of the courses. So I didn’t recoup that money whatsoever.
Early on, I had a few “big” creators mentor me and give me a boost to their audience, and it was huge to rack up a couple early wins like that. But those experiences are sadly rare for many creators.
Sometimes mutual partnerships with other creators were effective, but with everything else he had to do to run his business, he struggled to find the time.
Trying to collaborate with other creators has historically been a very manual process. You have to hit up people to try to network and recommend each other’s stuff.
The solution: Joining the Creator Network
But then, Corey joined the Creator Network.
When I joined the Creator Network it took me one month to get the exact same amount of subscribers it took me nine months to get on my own.
And the Creator Network has been amazing for collaborating with others and tracking referrals—both the subscribers you send others and the subscribers they send you.
It’s so easy to track; it’s so easy to collaborate now.
I’ve gained a total of 728 new subscribers so far, and my total subscriber count has increased ~80% since joining the Creator Network.
The strategy: Collaborating with creators who teach the same type of content
Much of Corey’s growth has come from being recommended by Kieran Drew, another creator who has a newsletter meant to help other creators succeed, and Corey is grateful.
Judging by my high open rates since he started recommending me, there’s great overlap between our audiences, which means there’s tons of potential for future collaborations so we can give even more value to each other’s audiences.
Here’s Corey’s best tips for finding creators to collaborate with in the Creator Network:
- Think of people you already subscribe to, or people you follow on social media who have a newsletter you love.
- Reach out to each of them with a personalized message about why you love their newsletter and why you’re going to start recommending them to your audience.
- Don’t expect them to reciprocate–let them know you’re doing it regardless, but they can feel free to recommend you back if it feels authentic to them. If they voice interest and aren’t already familiar with your work, send them 1-2 of your best issues. If they love it, they’ll recommend you.
- Always give without expectation. You’re recommending other creators because you genuinely love their work, not because of some quid pro quo. Do this long enough and freely give value whenever you get the chance, and you’ll attract legitimately life-changing opportunities and build a reputation as a creator others want to know and vouch for.
The result: Knowing he has more pathways to make an impact
Now Corey feels like he has an easier route to making the difference he hopes to make, as well as being even more able to find other creators to collaborate with without it all taking up so much time.
When you’re a creator with a smaller audience, it can be frustrating knowing you’re putting out great content (based on audience feedback), but haven’t found a way to share that value with more people.
Relationships are everything when it comes to succeeding as a creator, and the Creator Network is the most effective way for us to build relationships and grow with each other.
Because the more we can grow our audience, the more we can grow our impact, help more people, and make the world a better place.
What impact are you hoping to make by growing your list with the Creator Network?
Join creators like Corey in the Creator Network as they grow their lists together faster without working harder.
