I have a day job.

Because I live in the United States of Dysphoria, where we think we’re doing everything right but are decidedly not, I need someone other than me to pay for my health insurance.

So three days a week I drive to my local IKEA store and sell beds and mattresses and design and sell closet systems.

It’s pretty good work.

I love my team, and retail is a good fit for my ✨sparkling✨ personality and tendency to chatter with anyone about tattoos, movie preferences, the derivation of various out of date slang expressions - stuff like that.

My job title is Sales Coworker II. I am in sales. I sell things.

And when I’m at IKEA helping people choose a bedframe I’m perfectly comfortable with that. I want each customer to buy the one that suits their taste and budget. 🛏️

Honestly? It’s easy. So why does it feel so much more natural to sell furniture, which I don't care all that much about, than my own services, about which I care very much?

Maybe it’s my socialization - female, pleaser, don’t take up too much space. Maybe it’s coming from a long line of educators and artists. Maybe it doesn’t matter why I am the way I am.

I just know I’m not alone in this. 🤷🏻‍♀️

But, news flash, I’m not writing this weekly newsletter as a public service. It’s my business! And I will be selling things right here in this ‘space’. Because that’s the whole point of a business.

Presumably you, too, have a business. Even if you’re just here to learn to send a better personal Substack to your friends, you may one day decide you want to use it to promote yourself in some manner.

🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀

If the idea of selling stuff makes you feel like you just ate too many gummy worms, I’m here to tell you that you can sell to your heart’s content without being smarmy, annoying, or boring.

Don't worry, I'm going to walk you through it. One way I'll do that? Well, watch me do it in real time.

You’ll be hearing about my latest offer very soon!

It’s a low-cost service that will help you write better emails. It will be personalized; something just for you that will help you boost your engagement and your confidence.

Interested? Come back for it next week. 😁

Until then, I’ve got some tips for you.

xo, Julia

The Overthinking Corner

So, you’re sending your email every week, right? Or, no, maybe that’s every two weeks.

Yeah, that sounds better. Didn’t you read somewhere that that’s the cadence readers like the most? Or was that three times per month?

And of course you’re sending it on Tuesday, (or was it Thursday?) by 8am. That’s 8am for the people in your time zone. Or should you send it earlier (or later) so the people on the other coast will get it in time to read it before lunch?

Or?

😫😫😫😫😫

First, take a breath. In, hold, hold, hold. And out. It’s going to be okay. 😌

Here’s how often you should send your newsletter: as often as you can comfortably manage it. Probably not to exceed once per week, unless you’ve got a solid strategy and an audience who can handle it.

Here’s when to send it: On a day and at a time that makes sense, given your other commitments.

Are there ‘better’ days and times to send? Sure. If you’re writing primarily to businesses, Sunday afternoon probably isn’t a great time. Unless your audience is priests and pastors, I guess? 🙏🏻🙏🏻

You can Google “when should I send my newsletter” and find actual studies commissioned by actual email marketing platforms. And mostly they’ll tell you that midweek is a good time to send.

Some in the know now recommend sending midafternoon rather than early morning.

But.

The main thing is that you get this thing written and sent. Ideally you’d do it on the same day every week, though honestly that’s more for you than for your audience.

Because unless you are spouting the most glorious truth with the most fabulous panache and serving it up dusted with gold, your readers are unlikely to remember what day you publish. 👑🔱⚱️

And if you can see your way to getting a good email sent every other week, but think you’d struggle sending one Every. Single. Week? Then publish every other week.

It’s easy to get bogged down by what passes for common wisdom. Set yourself a schedule and see if you can stick to it. If you can’t, figure out what’s stopping you. Then send me an email and ask for help! 📧

Writing the email is important. Sending the email is important. Everything else can fall into place once you’ve got those two things down.

The Growth Report

Here’s what I did this week to build my mailing list:

• Sent personal invitations
• Posted on my personal Facebook page
• Posted to LinkedIn
• Posted to Instagram

​Queen is full of enthusiasm, and so is this email! Forward it to someone who's ready to get started.

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