Welcome to Unplugged by Yana G.Y.
The “Unplugged” newsletter is about building and growing your paid newsletter. From a Substack Bestseller (got my first badge in just 5 months!)
Because Substack can be confusing, I’d like to put everything in order first.
The Unplugged Newsletter Structure
If you’re just starting your Substack and aim to grow and monetize it, start here:
Write2Sell Column will help you understand better how Substack works and what it takes to be successful.
When you’re ready with your set-up, join the:
The Substack Notes30 Monthly Challenge - which helps you grow free subscribers
The Monthly Writing Challenge where you apply everything you learn from the Write2Sell column and start monetizing
You can also find a lot of tips on:
And if you’re into strategy listen to my podcast:
The Strategy Podcast
I highly recommend you join the growing and supportive community in the chat:
start a Chat
And if you missed anything, find it all in the:
Subscriber Benefits (TL;DR version)
TL;DR version:
Free subscribers:
Access to the full archive.
Ask Me Anything podcast.
Limited access to the Writing Challenge
Free products from the CREATIVETECH HUB
Redeem here.
Paid members - all from above, plus:
30min 1:1 Strategy Call and 24/7 1:1 chat with me.
Start new chats & get help from an engaged and supportive community.
Gain monetizable subscribers with the Monthly Notes30 Challenge & Engagement Strategy. Full access to the Writing Challenge. Convert more subscribers with my Sell without Selling system.
Write faster with my custom-trained GPTs: Notes Writer, TITLE Generator, & more products from the CREATIVETECH HUB.
Redeem here.
V.I.P. members - all from above, plus:
I'll create a custom GPT that writes like YOU and teach you how to do it yourself.
I’ll build your personalized Substack growth strategy and record it on a Loom video.
Additional 60min 1:1 Strategy Call and 50% off exclusive discount on all future calls with me.
Redeem here.
And here is the full description of your up-to-date Subscription benefits and how to redeem.
What is Unplugged all about?
Short answer: I help you grow your paid newsletter.
Every writer needs to have one.
And Substack is the best place to be.
Why choose me to help you: I’m not the “classical” writer.
I’ve been building and selling subscription-based services in a multibillion tech company for 14+ years in my 9-5. I still do.
Most writers don’t get it.
You can't go random.
You need a solid strategy.
Running a paid newsletter is a business and like any other, it needs:
the right mindset
a solid strategy
sound execution
But writers don't get it.
They try the wrong things:
Writing books and building courses like crazy. Then a monthly paid member comes for $5, downloads everything and unsubscribes.
Burning out before they can even come up with an idea of what to paywall. The internet is free. And "who would pay me to read my stuff?"
No one.
This is not a one-time sale. You need a long-term content strategy. Both on acquisition and retention.
If you don't have that, you'll get peanuts.
Like most writers.
So they're holding back.
Skeptic.
And for a good reason.
It's not an easy thing to do if you never done it.
For me?
It's everyday business.
I only applied what I know from my decades of experience building and selling services on subscription in my 9-5.
And it works.
I now have an above average conversion rate of 6.7% from all Substack channels!
Now you think I’m just another writer sharing tips for growth, right?
You’re right! But not entirely…
How am I different?
I walk the talk.
It’s something I mastered in leadership: you can’t be confident influencing others to do something you never did.
So I test what I share and speak from experience.
I don’t just learn and share what I’ve learned. I’m not gonna tell you how you can do stuff. I’m gonna tell you how I did what I did to achieve the results I have.
And I’ll give you the proof.
No fluff.
No sugarcoating.
Just unplugged, practical, actionable tips you can go, apply, and see results.
That’s all!
You will find all my Medium posts here for free as well as lots of exclusive posts behind the paywall.
Now, those are the real deal!
What are they?
They’re raw!
You’ll get the whole truth…
The bare-naked truth…
My unplugged version of it.
My brutally honest view on topics about the creator economy, the platforms, writing, and AI, which people barely talk about in public.
But there’s a catch: you’ll have to unplug yourself from the “matrix”. I’ll challenge you to:
unlearn what you’ve learned,
to think differently, and
to look at things from another angle.
It’s not gonna be easy, but it’s doable and it’s lot of fun!
Ready?
Look, we live in a new era - the era of TRANSFORMATION.
I’ll say that again: TRANSFORMATION.
It's not Evolution, not even REvolution, it's TRANSFORMATION!
And it's here because of AI.
Today anyone can monetize their content without any skill or experience. You don't have to be a writer or a designer to create highly valuable content.
Today content strategies that worked for years are now fading, while new AI-based models are gaining momentum.
Today children become millionaires.
If you think you’ve already figured that out, and you don't need anything think again!
You'd probably be right 12 months ago, but not now, not if you didn't change anything, not anymore...
It already happened in the past. Think about it. So many giants failed to keep up with new technology and went out of business. Remember Kodak and Xerox?
What about the recent example: Nokia? On the announcement of Microsoft's acquisition, Nokia's CEO said:
"We didn’t do anything wrong, but somehow, we lost".
Exactly!
They lost because they didn't do anything at all! They failed to adapt.
The rise of AI puts the education, entertainment, media, and marketing industries at high stakes.
Like it or not, we’re now in the Age of the AI Creator Economy!
So yes, anyone less experienced but well-equipped will outpace you. And by the end of the decade those who fail to adapt will be out of business! Like Nokia.
Why Subscribe?
I'm cracking the algorithms by testing tactics and sharing practical actionable tips that you can directly apply.
I’m living by the algorithms. They change, I adapt and share, so you can too.
So I’ll give you all of it, take these few as an example:
Secrets I discovered about the business models of big platforms like Substack, Medium, Google, and Amazon
What are the real growth drivers and why do platforms start banning them
How you can actually use AI to write on Medium without getting suspended
And more…
If you subscribe, you’ll get access to my monthly Substack Notes Challenge, my Write2Sell column about how to grow paid subscribers on Substack, and many other exclusive features.
I build those my way. It’s NOT like anything you’ve seen. I research, test, apply, observe, and adapt. I don’t just share my experience. I give you what works. It might sound controversial or counterintuitive sometimes, but it works.
👉 You’ll receive all that and much more for just $5/month (paid yearly)!
Upgrade your subscription now and you’ll never get a price increase in the future! You can unsubscribe at any time.
Find all subscriber benefits here.
About me
This is me on a boat in the Aegean Sea:
And this is me as a 6-year-old, being shy but curious to explore the world:
See the determination in my eyes?
That’s exactly who I am!
I live in Europe and travel a lot.
I read non-fiction books on self-improvement.
I learn a lot. I believe you should never stop learning.
I have a crazy Jack Russel that makes my day every time I come home tired from a heavy day at work. Reminds me what are the important things in life. That’s how she helps me write:
See? Crazy!
I have a 9-to-5 where I lead teams building subscription-based products and services for multinational multibillion businesses. I’m a woman in a senior leadership role in the big tech. I was awarded the Emerging Leader award in 2022 for building a 40-person high-performing digital marketing team, from scratch, in about 3 months (I should probably write a book about it, let me know if you’re interested).
I’m a Mentor at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). I am also coaching people on leadership.
My Superpower: help people grow. I have helped people get promoted in their 9–5, and achieve other professional and personal goals. And I’m also good at making complex things sound simple, presented on slides 😉 That’s how my courses will look like (coming soon).
I have a BSc in Marketing and an MSc in Finance, Fintech, and Digital Innovation.
I am a CIM Member, a Chartered Marketer, and a certified NLP Master Practitioner (neuro-linguistic programming).
I’m also into Python Programming and AI.
I’m writing online along with my 9-5. I believe people should write every day to deal with the huge loads of stress we face these days. But because I’m too ambitious, I’m taking it seriously to bring it to a business level.
I’m making consistent money by writing online with AI. I'm cracking the algorithms by testing tactics and sharing practical actionable tips on how to implement them.
I grew to $769.81 monthly earnings in just 3 months of consistent writing on Medium.
In this newsletter, I’ll share it all: the lessons, the pains, the gains - the brutally honest unplugged version about them. Things other platforms make me refrain from sharing with you.
I write on Medium.
I was there for a year trying to figure out what works. Finally, I cracked it! In two months of consistent writing I reached $500 in monthly revenues and growing:
I know big names with huge followings, who once made 5 figures monthly, now struggle to get where I am. Some even leave Medium and delete their content.
Why?
Because they don’t adapt! I achieve the above results with less than 2k followers!
How?
I’ll deliver everything to your inbox!
What my readers say about me:
I’m also on Amazon, YouTube, X, Quora, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest.
I’m now on Substack.
I replicated my approach from Medium:
did my research
crafted my strategy
built my paid members offer
kicked it off and stayed consistent
And it worked!
Again!
It took me only 3 months to start growing my new subscribers with 20+ per day (that’s now increasing) and a total of 5 months to get my first Substack Bestseller badge:
That’s why I created the Challenges and the Write2Sell Column - not only to give you the raw version of how I did it but also to welcome you to join me and do this together.
To say it clearly…
I’ll personally help you build and grow your Substack newsletter if you join the anual paid membership.
Here’s what some of my paid subscribers say about me:
And some of their experiences with my paid membership:
Now, enough about me!
I’d like to know more about you!
What’s been your biggest challenge writing online?
What brought you here? What are you struggling with?
Hit reply to this email and tell me your story.
Seriously, I read and answer all my emails. I’m thrilled that you subscribed and I want to exceed your expectations when it comes to helping you earn online.
So I can’t wait to chat with you.
See you inside!
Yana
👉 If you enjoyed reading this, share it with friends!
P.S. This is my real voice, cloned with ElevenLabs and tweaked to sound a bit better on the microphone (I hate how I can't make it sound like a pro, even though I have years of experience in public speaking).
I use ElevenLabs to make my voiceovers so that I don't have to do the tedious work of reading and recording.
I'm a writer you know!
empire,someone plays too much AOE2?
I just found this, Yana! So nice to read more about you. You’re the best! 💕💕💕