Joe Schrieffer runs things at Agora Financial Publishing. They’re one of the most successful paid newsletter companies on the planet. And he said something that stopped me cold.
Because I’ve been there. Done that. Got the bestselling author badge on Substack. Hundreds of paid subscribers in three months.
You know what I see constantly? Self-proclaimed Substack experts. Everywhere you look.
And here’s the thing. I always check their credentials. Always. Because anyone can talk a good game.
What did I find?
Most of these “trainers” have never actually done it. They’re recycling Substack’s help files. Dressing up theory as expertise. Creating courses about something they’ve never successfully built themselves.
The kicker? Some of them had fewer subscribers than I do.
Let that sink in.
They’re teaching you how to succeed at something they haven’t managed themselves. It’s like taking swimming lessons from someone who’s never been in the water.
This is why you need to do your research. Dig deeper. Look past the slick marketing and the confident Instagram posts.
Joe Schrieffer nailed it:
“Most teachers of marketing are nothing but wannabes. They fake their guru status because they’ve never actually made anything work.”
Brutal? Absolutely.
True? You bet.
This applies to self-publishing. It applies to paid newsletters. It applies to pretty much every corner of the online business world.
So before you hand over your money or follow someone’s advice, ask yourself one question:
Have they actually done what they’re teaching you to do?
Consistently. Year after year. Not just a one-hit product launch fluke.
Buyer beware.