Send & Grow by SparkLoop

What does it take to revive a decades-old publication, grow its newsletter by 45%, and turn a niche audience into a sustainable media business?In this episode of the Send & Grow Podcast, Hunter Kallay sits down with Garrett Oden, owner and publisher of Fresh Cup (https://freshcup.com/join-the-newsletter/), a media brand serving the coffee industry. Garrett shares how he brought Fresh Cup back to life in 2022 and transformed it into a growing business with newsletters, resources, courses, and services for coffee professionals.They dive into the challenges of monetizing a niche publication, why going deep and staying human matters more than ever in the age of AI, and how Fresh Cup is building revenue streams beyond sponsorships—including Roaster Link, a matchmaking service connecting coffee roasters with potential wholesale customers.Garrett also breaks down the strategies behind Fresh Cup’s newsletter growth, from engaging social media carousels to targeted Meta ads, and shares his hot take on why coffee businesses shouldn’t feel guilty about doing what it takes to make money.00:10-01:19 – Introduction: Garrett Oden of Fresh Cup01:19-02:58 – Garrett’s go-to coffee order02:58-05:31 – Ranking the biggest coffee chains05:31-07:59 – Garrett’s favorite coffee shops around the world07:59-09:43 – How Garrett became a coffee marketing consultant09:43-11:32 – Why Garrett brought Fresh Cup back to life11:32-13:02 – The challenges of relaunching a legacy publication13:02-14:31 – Why monetizing a niche media brand is difficult14:31-15:40 – Fresh Cup’s sponsorships and welcome box15:40-17:21 – How to build a successful niche publication17:21-19:22 – Operator Notes: Turning industry expertise into useful content19:22-21:00 – Why personal opinions and experience matter in the age of AI21:00-23:06 – Hot take: Why coffee businesses shouldn’t feel guilty about making money23:06-26:35 – Roaster Link: Connecting coffee roasters with new customers26:35-27:57 – How Fresh Cup grew its newsletter by 45%27:57-29:11 – The role of social media and multiple growth channels29:11-30:39 – Using Meta ads to acquire newsletter subscribers30:39-31:44 – Newsletter creators Garrett recommends following31:44-32:31 – Final thoughts: Be friendly to somebody

What actually determines whether your newsletter reaches the inbox or quietly disappears into spam?In this episode of Send & Grow 2.0, Hunter Kallay sits down with LB Blair, an email business and technology expert who has worked with some of the world's biggest email senders.LB breaks down the often-misunderstood world of email deliverability, from sender reputation and list hygiene to infrastructure, authentication, traffic patterns, and the spam filters deciding whether your email gets through.They also talk about some of the worst deliverability advice floating around online, why open rates don't tell the whole story, how AI is changing the spam ecosystem, and what newsletter operators can actually do to protect their lists.If you send email, deliverability isn't something you can afford to ignore.Subscribe to Send & Grow 2.0 for more conversations with the people building, growing, and powering the newsletter industry.

Enjoying the podcast? Then you'll LOVE the Send & Grow newsletter where we share deep dives, tips, and news for smart newsletter operators like you. Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Chenell Basilio. Chenell writes the popular Growth In Reverse newsletter. Since publishing her first edition to 4 people, she has since grown her newsletter to over 30k subscribers organically in the past year. In this episode, Dylan & Chenell discuss…The Genesis of Growth In Reverse: How Chenell's curiosity about newsletter monetization led to the birth of an invaluable resource.Research-Driven Content Creation: The meticulous process behind each deep dive and how Chenell uncovers the secrets of newsletter growth.The Power of Community and Networking: Chenell's strategy in leveraging social media and genuine engagement to boost her subscriber count.Monetization Without A Paywall: How Chenell utilizes sponsorships and coaching to sustain her newsletter, maintaining free access for her audience.The Future of "Growth In Reverse": Chenell’s vision for expanding her content through coaching, speaking engagements, and potentially, audio formats....and much more!OTHER LINKS MENTIONEDGrowth In Reverse newsletterChenell on LinkedinChenell on Twitter/XDylan on Twitter/XSparkLoop.appSparkLoop's Paid RecommendationsSparkLoop Partner ProgramsSparkLoop Affiliate Contest

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Tom Alder of Strategy Breakdowns — a weekly newsletter diving into .Tom recently quit his job at Atlassian to go *all in* on Strategy Breakdowns—a big gamble for many, but with a LinkedIn audience of over 75k followers, Tom has increased his odds for success with taking Strategy Breakdowns to new heights.In this episode, Dylan & Tom discuss…Exceptional Growth: Discover how Tom leveraged his LinkedIn to amass a following of 75k.Conversion strategies: Tom reveals his most successful tips for converting LinkedIn followers to newsletter subscribers.Content Mastery: How Tom crafts engaging content that not only educates but also entertains, increasing the potential for virality.Monetization Pathways: How Tom is crafting multiple revenue streams, optimizing for long-term sustainability—and why.Strategic Insights for Newsletter Creators: Tom shares the why and how of his strategic decisions, offering actionable advice for newsletter operators seeking growth and engagement....and much more!OTHER LINKS MENTIONEDStrategy Breakdowns newsletterTom Alder on LinkedinTom Alder on Twitter/XStrategy Breakdowns - 6 Months Into Strategy Breakdowns ("build-in-public" post)Dylan on Twitter/XSparkLoop.appSparkLoop's Paid RecommendationsSparkLoop Partner ProgramsSparkLoop Affiliate Contest

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Tyler Parker & Colton Sakamoto, the co-founders of Office Party, a free 2x-weekly newsletter that's a curated guide for career advancement, tackling everything from job market trends to the impact of AI on employment.Colton and Tyler's partnership approach in managing and growing Office Party is a path far less traveled in the newsletter space—which is what makes this conversation unique and fascinating. In this episode, Dylan, Colton, and Tyler discuss:How they decided to split up their roles and why.Their collaborative approach to growing the subscriber base—with a surprising & successful Facebook strategy.Their insights on the benefits, challenges, and dynamics of running a newsletter as a duo.Whether or not you should consider a partner for your newsletter...and much more!Other links mentionedOffice Party newsletterColton on Twitter/XColton on LinkedInTyler on LinkedInDylan on Twitter/XSparkLoop.appSparkLoop Upscribe Paid Recommendations

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with LeQwane Lynch, founder of Alerts Daily, a daily newsletter he started, scaled, and sold in under a year.In this episode, Dylan & LeQwane discuss…The Rapid Growth of Alerts Daily: LeQwane shares how he leveraged a private community & social media into a newsletter reaching tens of thousands.Effective Growth Strategies: How LeQwane nailed organic growth, reaching a massive audience—without paid advertising.Monetization Techniques: How LeQwane transitioned from a community-based model to integrating sponsors effectively.The Art of Selling a Newsletter: How LeQwane built Alerts Daily with a sale in mind from the beginning so he could attract the right buyers.Future Endeavors: How LeQwane's new venture is helping newsletters grow organically....and much moreOther links mentionedReachSubs.coAlerts Daily IGLeQwane on Twitter/XLeQwane on LinkedInDylan on Twitter/XSparkLoop.app

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, SparkLoop's Dylan Redekop chats with Dan Barry of the Revenews newsletter.Dan has managed brand partnerships for major media businesses like Finimize and The Daily Upside where he was responsible for bringing in over $3M in ad sales revenue in just over 3 years.In this episode, Dylan & Dan discuss…How to prospect for ideal brand partners—and how to know if they're ready to advertise.Dan's 5-step approach to newsletter ad sales, from Prospecting all the way to Post-sale management.How to manage expectations during the sales process—and what to do if an ad flops.The number one thing to do before you share ad pricing. What Dan is doing now with his latest Revenews newsletter venture—and why you should pay attention....and much moreOther links mentionedRevenews newsletterDan on Twitter/XDan on LinkedInDylan on Twitter/X

Welcome back to another episode of the Send & Grow podcast. This week, podcast host Dylan Redekop sits down with Tiffany Uman, a career coach and workplace expert, and the creator of the Peak Performers newsletter.With her Peak Performers newsletter, Tiffany channels her wealth of experience from her time at L'Oreal into empowering others in their careers. She's a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a LinkedIn learning instructor, an author, and speaker.In this episode, Dylan and Tiffany discuss…The Genesis of 'Peak Performers': What drove Tiffany to create an intimate, community-focused newsletter.Evolving Newsletter Strategies: Learn how Tiffany shifted her newsletter approach in 2023, and how the change has impacted her business.Significant Growth and Engagement: Insights into how Tiffany's strategic changes resulted in a 70% growth in her email list and a nearly 50% open rate.Community Leveraging and Monetization: Strategies Tiffany employs to grow her newsletter audience, including her collaboration with SparkLoop and approaches to monetization.Looking Ahead to 2024: Tiffany's massive newsletter aspirations for subscriber growth—and how she plans to achieve them. Creating with Passion: The importance of a clear mission and genuine enthusiasm in newsletter creation, and direct impacts on subscriber engagement and content quality....and much more!Other Links MentionedPeak Performers newsletterTiffanyUman.comTiffany on LinkedInDylan on Twitter