✨ the SPARK 226 ~ The Most Underrated Free Traffic Source That Always Pays Off

The Growth Hack that Hardly Feels Like Marketing

Early in my “WordPress Chick” days, I was somewhat of a cautious blogger. I wasn’t a developer or coder so didn’t write about that side of WP, but I loved everything I was doing and learning.

In many ways, ignorance was bliss- until the trolls came at me. But I didn’t let them stop me (and seriously, find a therapist).

Anyway…

One way I grew my business was to highlight what other people were doing—whether it was a product, an article, or just someone great I had connected with.

In other words, I used my platform to share what other people were doing.

Most people were appreciative.

Those who weren’t were dead to me… haha… kidding of course, but I never mentioned them again. Ideally, they’d share where I had mentioned them - but I never did it with an expectation of anything in return.

This helped the person I mentioned, and it increased my audience's trust in me because it wasn’t always about me.

That said, it’s essential to talk about yourself, your stories, and your experiences… even when you get snarky comments like I received last week when I talked about traffic.

A guy literally emailed me to tell me that my first five paragraphs were useless and to unsubscribe him (I refrained from replying with a snarky comment to tell him how to unsubscribe himself).

Clearly, he’s not my ideal subscriber. 😉

After 17 years of doing this, I don’t let that stuff get to me. There’s an initial “jeeze, dude” - but then I move on (she says while writing about it a week later, lol).

This growth strategy is so underrated. You can do all the social media and paid traffic you want (like we talked about last week), but this strategy?

Pure gold.

The Ripple Effect of Genuine Recommendation

Supporting others isn't just about being nice. It creates a connection that transforms how we show up online. When we recommend, highlight, or amplify someone else's work, we:

• Create genuine connections beyond algorithmic interactions

• Position ourselves as trusted resources

• Introduce our audience to diverse perspectives

• Practice radical generosity (the world could use this right now)

• Build a community of mutual support

Practical Ways to Support Others

Here are some tangible ways to spread the love:

1. Newsletter Recommendations

   • Dedicate a section in your newsletter to highlighting creators you admire
     (I try to do this with the articles I recommend or directly recommend someone else’s newsletter)

   • Write a genuine, specific recommendation about why their work matters
     I’ve started doing this with my mini-case studies, like this one

   • Include a direct link for your readers to explore
     Or better yet, what about an entire article?

2. Social Media Amplification

   • Share someone's work without expecting anything in return

   • Add a personal note about why you find their content valuable
     This is also great practice for short-form content (note to self!)

   • Tag them so they know you're supporting them

3. Podcast/YouTube Shoutouts
   I frequently do this with my podcast and will soon do it on YouTube. (I’ve recorded a new channel trailer and will launch it in early April! WOOHOO!)

   • Mention creators who've inspired your recent work.
     This is another easy way to get something published if you’re feeling fresh out of ideas.

   • Share specific insights you've gained from their content.
     You can do this with books, articles, newsletters, podcasts, courses, etc.

   • Provide context for why your audience might find them interesting
     Tip: Don’t just focus on the tangible - talk about how this person/creator makes you feel.

4. Writing About Others

   • Create case studies or spotlight pieces featuring interesting creators
     Chenell Basilio grew a phenomenal newsletter doing this.

   • Interview someone doing innovative work in your field
     Many people write interviews on Substack instead of just doing podcasts or video interviews.

   • Write thoughtful reviews of books, courses, or products you genuinely appreciate.
     Share the impact it had on you.

5. Direct Recommendations

   • Send personal emails introducing creators to your network.
     There may not be a direct/specific reason other than the fact that they are both great people who have something in common.

   • Make specific, intentional connections between people who might collaborate.

   • Offer genuine testimonials or endorsements.
     I don’t do this enough, so I am publicly committing to doing it more often. Even one book or podcast review a week is manageable.

The Unexpected Magic of Generosity

Here's the counterintuitive part: when you consistently support others, you don't diminish your own light.

You amplify it.

People remember who helped them shine. They remember who showed up without an agenda. They remember genuine connection.

So much of the online world is filled with competition and noise. Being generous with your time and energy can be a breath of fresh air. And I get it—most people probably feel like they’re already squeezed for time.

But, like Joey told Phoebe, there are no selfless good deeds (just a little Friends humor for you).

Your Invitation This Week

I challenge you to recommend someone's work this week…simply because their work moved you. 😊

SPARK Spotlight 🔥

This is seriously one of my favorite AI tools… and it’s FREE! I know I’ve shared it before (I’m going to do a video on this)- but it just keeps getting better.

You can enter text, have AI generate it, or upload a file. Then you can select which text you want to create images from.

I uploaded the article above from today’s issue, and it generated the image below (you can create a custom style with your colors and fonts):

A Little Brain Power 🧠

ChatGPT has added image generation to 4o - beyond DALL-E. Introducing 4o Image Generation.

This is right in line with what I wrote last week. “If You Want to Be a Creator, Delete All (But Two) Social Media Platforms.”

More Substack goodness from

Casandra Campbell

. “How to Add a Table of Contents to Your Substack Articles (And Why You Should).”

Tool Time ⚒️

• Video: Easily create professional-grade videos with text. Try Typito’s drag-and-drop interface to create marketing videos for free here.

• Screen Recording: A new option for faster screen recording. Capture your screen, share it instantly, and communicate like a pro. Try Supercut free here.

• AI Notepad: Take your raw meeting notes and make them awesome. Try Granola for Mac to create better AI notes here.

• Link in Bio: PocketLink turns your profile link into an engaging, automated business tool. You can claim your PocketLink & use it for free here.

Loved these Life Tips 🫶🏻

Here’s to a lovely last few days of March.

Have a fabulous day!

With coffee & kindness,
Kim