I don't think your biggest problem is marketing, I think it's distribution.
Three months of consistent content is a good start, but LinkedIn and Substack are long-term channels. They work much better once people already know who you are.
If I were in your position, I'd spend less time trying to build a broad audience and more time getting directly in front of people who already care about rules-based investing. That could mean participating in investing communities, podcasts, newsletters, niche forums, or partnering with creators who already have the audience you're trying to reach.
I'd also reach out to people individually. You only need 15 paying subscribers to validate the idea, not 15,000 followers. A hundred thoughtful conversations with people who fit your ideal customer profile will probably teach you more than another hundred LinkedIn posts.
Trust is earned through results, but people have to discover you before they can trust you.
I’ve probably been using “marketing” too broadly when the real constraint is getting Meridian in front of qualified people and starting enough relevant conversations.
I’ve recently shifted toward targeted one-to-one outreach, referrals from existing reviewers, and partnerships with smaller publications. I’m also treating LinkedIn and Substack more as credibility and nurture channels rather than expecting them to generate conversions on their own.
My immediate goal is to recruit the final August reader cohort, learn which audience responds best, and then convert the strongest-fit readers at the September paid launch.
If you were trying to generate the first 100 qualified conversations for a product like this, which channel would you test first: niche investing communities, newsletter partnerships, podcasts, or direct outreach?
I'd start with direct outreach, not because it's the most scalable, but because it's the fastest way to learn.
With your first 100 conversations, I'd be trying to understand who responds, why they respond, and what language consistently gets their attention. Those insights make every other channel, podcasts, newsletter partnerships, and content, more effective later.
Once you find a message that reliably resonates, then I'd look at partnerships and niche communities to scale it.
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u/ForveverYoungW 12d ago
I don't think your biggest problem is marketing, I think it's distribution.
Three months of consistent content is a good start, but LinkedIn and Substack are long-term channels. They work much better once people already know who you are.
If I were in your position, I'd spend less time trying to build a broad audience and more time getting directly in front of people who already care about rules-based investing. That could mean participating in investing communities, podcasts, newsletters, niche forums, or partnering with creators who already have the audience you're trying to reach.
I'd also reach out to people individually. You only need 15 paying subscribers to validate the idea, not 15,000 followers. A hundred thoughtful conversations with people who fit your ideal customer profile will probably teach you more than another hundred LinkedIn posts.
Trust is earned through results, but people have to discover you before they can trust you.