Most people post on big subreddits like r/Entrepreneur or r/Marketing and wonder why nobody clicks. Those are graveyards. Everyone’s selling something.The magic happens in small, specific spaces where people actually talk.Think:
A Discord for indie hackers
A subreddit for writers who hate Substack
A niche group about productivity, art, tech, or your topic
You want to be where your readers already vent.Find 3–5 communities where your ideal readers already hang out and start there.
You can’t just post your lead magnet and vanish. Nobody trusts a drive-by marketer.Instead:
Join the conversation.
Drop insights from your newsletter like you’re already part of the room.
Mention your lead magnet only when it fits naturally.
Example:
Someone’s asking how to write better sales pages.
You comment: “I actually broke this down in my newsletter last week — want me to send you the framework?”Boom. You just turned a conversation into consent.
Instead of shouting, “SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER,” write posts that make people curious first.Here’s how:
Share a short, personal story about a win or lesson from your newsletter.
End with a small offer like: “If you want the full version, I turned it into a free guide here.”
Link your lead magnet.
It’s storytelling, curiosity, click.This works insanely well on Reddit, Discord announcements, Slack groups, indie forums, even LinkedIn.
Your bio is your stealth funnel.Anywhere you post — Reddit, Discord, X, wherever — your profile should say:
“I run a weekly newsletter about [topic]. I also share free tools and templates here → [link].”Now, every comment you leave becomes passive promotion.It’s not about being loud. It’s about being present.
When something hits, repurpose it.Got a Reddit post that blew up?
Turn it into:
a Twitter thread
a Discord summary
a short video
a Beehiiv post with a CTA
That’s how small bursts of traction become compounding growth.The best community builders recycle their own hits — nobody remembers where they saw it first.
Every time someone comments or DMs you, respond.Not with “thanks!” — with conversation.“Glad you liked it — what kind of stuff are you working on?”
“Appreciate that! I’m thinking of doing a deeper dive on [topic] next week.”You’re not just collecting subscribers. You’re collecting loyalists.
The ones who’ll open every email, reply to your writing, and tell their friends.That’s how you go from 500 subs to 5,000 without spending a dollar.
Make it part of your workflow:
2x a week: join or comment in your key communities
1x a week: post something valuable with a soft plug
1x a month: share your lead magnet like a drop (“Hey, I made this free thing, thought you’d like it.”)
Simple. Predictable. Human.
Find small, topic-specific communities
Give more than you promote
Tease your lead magnet with value
Make your bio do passive work
Repurpose your best posts
Build real relationships
Stick to a rhythm
You don’t need ads, algorithms, or influencers.
You just need the internet the way it used to be — people talking in rooms they care about.Your lead magnet isn’t the product. You are.
When people like you, they’ll click your stuff — every time.Now go post something real.
Good luck bro,
-Copy John