Here are some things we talked about on our calls this past week:

• You’re probably not doing email wrong
• The growth vs. quality trade-off with recommendations or going viral (8,000 new subs but zero paid conversions)
• Domain validation and email deliverability (DMARC/SPF, testing tools)
• Platform sovereignty: owning your website vs. relying on platforms
• The dangers of platform dependency (Lucy Werner’s entire Substack getting wiped)
• Content restrictions and AI detection tools flagging original work as fake
• Using email marketing automations (or not)
• Physical networking still works (think business cards at conferences, zines)
• Multi-platform content strategy, the Austin Kleon model (blog + Substack)

Come join a call this week!

UPCOMING ESCAPE PODS:

◾ CO-WORK ESCAPE POD
Clean up your online store, refresh your bio, write a newsletter – come work with the Social Media Escape Club and get things done!
Tuesday, February 3
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
REGISTER: https://luma.com/nadilhbk

◾ MINI ESCAPE POD Q&A #29
Limited to just three guests so you we can focus on your challenges and answer questions together.
Wednesday, February 4
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM EST
REGISTER: Members only, start a 30 trial here!

◾ ESCAPE POD VIDEO CALL #105 W/ NOLAN GREEN
​Musician Nolan Green is the force behind The Grassy Knoll, an experimental, jazz-influenced electronic and alternative rock project with a cult following dating back to the 1990s. His cinematic, genre-blurring work has appeared across film, TV, and games, including the theme for Netflix’s Bobby Kennedy for President and placements in Legion and Roswell.
Thursday, February 5
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
REGISTER: https://luma.com/gn6hr7ig

Five actionable items from this week’s calls:

1. Test your emails before sending – Use mail-tester.com to check deliverability, send previews to multiple email providers, and check how your emails render in dark/light mode
2. Set up domain validation (DMARC/SPF/DKIM) – For email deliverability and helping prevent your newsletters from landing in spam
3. Buy your domain name now – Even if you’re not ready for a full website, secure your domain as a long-term investment towards owning your work.
4. Implement a 24-hour review period – Wait a day before sending emails and get a second pair of eyes to catch errors 
5. Start a tiny email circle – Replace sprawling Discord servers with a 4-person email thread for ongoing connection and direct collaboration (reply to this email to join one of ours)

◾ BREAK UP 💔 WITH SOCIAL MEDIA DAY
We’ll gather on Zoom to delete at least one social media app from our phone. ​This is a group break up, together, in good company.
Saturday, February 14
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST
REGISTER: https://luma.com/sime7eyi

◾ ESCAPE POD #108 W/ CARLY VALANCY
​I’ll kick things off with a 15-minute conversation with Carly Valancy about the art of reaching out and building real connections. There will definitely be a 5 minute exercise in reaching out on this call!
Thursday, March 5
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
REGISTER: https://luma.com/w0oh4x06