Ashley Wright

Social Tale - TikTok Shop Agency

Turning Attention into Community, Transforming Community into ROI - Building Your TikTok Empire. We help your favorite brands scale on TikTok shop.

Founder

MentorPass

1:1 video mentoring sessions with the world’s most in-demand startup mentors.

Mentor

Smash Cactus Media

Captivate your audience with our meticulously crafted ad creatives that seamlessly blend creativity and strategy. Elevate your brand's message with content that leave a lasting impression and drive tangible results.

MediaCom

Paid Social Associate Director

Adidas Group / / /
Digital Strategy, Planning, Execution, Analysis, Client/ Team Management, Branding and eCommerce.

Paid Social Manager

Jellyfish

Paid Social Media Specialist

Chalk Global

Clients: UGG, Universal Music, Creed, French Connection, Swarovski

Digital Account Manager

Upbeat Agency

Facebook Ads Manager

Studiospares Ltd

Ecommerce Marketing Manager

Want to scale your brand to $100k+/mo with TikTok Shop?👋

TikTok Shop Partner scaling 7-9 figure brands on TikTok Shop

Over the past two years, I've generated over $80,000,000 on TikTok for some of your favorite brands.

A few of our current and past clients include:
- Divi
- SNOW
- Stars + Honey
- Surreal
- Style Edit
- Thread Beauty
- PLIX

This success isn't just luck—it's about understanding the platform, pushing boundaries, and being unafraid to test what works.

Brands used to doubt TikTok's ROI potential, but that's never been the case. With TikTok Shop, the ROI is clearer than ever.

If you're ready to create a whole new revenue channel with TikTok, here's how I can help:

1. Follow me on LinkedIn for daily TikTok Shop insights (scroll up and hit the bell to get notified).

2. Download my FREE TikTok Shop Workbook (DM me "Workbook").

3. Want my agency to manage your TikTok Shop? (DM me "Support" and I'll share the details).

Glad you dropped by. 
To your success!

Most brands think the UK and the US behave the same on TikTok Shop.

They don’t.

And that misunderstanding is killing their growth.

UK brands are slower to adopt, slower to approve, and slower to scale.

Not because the platform is worse, but because the mindset is.

If you follow UK rules in a US-level opportunity, you lose.

Here is what actually separates the 2 markets right now:

US creators take TikTok Shop seriously,
UK creators treat it like a side quest.

US brands send 800 samples in a month,
UK brands debate 150 for three weeks.

US sellers build creator communities early,
UK sellers wait until they are “ready”.

US teams adopt Discord with no friction,
UK teams still think it is “too complicated”.

US brands commit real ad spend,
UK brands want proof before they invest.

US moves with speed,
UK moves with permission.

The platform is not what makes the difference, the behavior does.

We grew brands in both regions, and the gap is wider than most founders realise.

If you want the full UK vs US breakdown, comment “breakdown” and I’ll send it.

Helping 8+ Figure Brands Win on TikTok Shop | CEO of Social Tale | Speaker | Social Commerce Growth Expert | DM for growth, audits, or collabs

"Charge low until you prove yourself."

Worst advice I've ever heard in the agency space.

When you charge too low for pitching to bigger brands, they don't see the full value.

Then it's nearly impossible to raise your prices later.

You've locked yourself into low margins for years.

Maybe that's fine as a solo freelancer.

But when you want to grow, you're stuck.

Instead, charge what you believe you're worth.

Break down the components.

Show them exactly what they're getting for the cost.

Then let your delivery prove you were right.

This approach does something else, too.

It allows you to hire A-players from day one, instead of scrambling to find those who can "just get the job done."

Your pricing dictates your quality.
Your quality dictates your clients.
Your clients dictate your business.

Don't trap yourself at the bottom.

Most brands are going to get destroyed on TikTok Shop in 2026. And it's not because the platform changed.

But because they're still playing the 2024 game.

I just spent the last month analysing what's actually working.

There are 6 specific shifts happening in 2026.

The brands that understand them will scale.

The ones that don't will get left behind.

I recorded a quick video breaking down those shifts, trends and predictions 
for 2026.

Comment "2026", and I'll send it over.

$165K in 7 days.

That's what one of our clients did in the first week of BFCM.

Everyone thinks BFCM is won in November.

It's not.

It's won in September.

BFCM on TikTok Shop isn't a sprint.

It's the finish line of a 90-day marathon.

The brands crushing it right now didn't start prepping last week.

They started in September when everyone else was sleeping.

Momentum takes time to build.

But when it hits, it compounds fast.

If you want your brand ready for Q1 (yes, Q1), DM me "2026" and I'll walk you through what to start doing today.

I’m excited to announce...

I’ll be taking the stage at Affiliate World in Bangkok

📍 Dates: December 3–4, 2025

My session: The Brutal Truth About What Actually Works on TikTok Shop 🚀

What you’ll learn:

✅ The “Reboot Campaign”
✅ Hidden Costs That Wreck TikTok Shop
✅ Why most brands fail on TikTok Shop (and how to fix it)

🔥 Why Affiliate World Conferences is a MUST-ATTEND:

• The #1 Performance Marketing Conference in the world
• 7,000+ attendees from 110+ countries 
• 35+ expert speakers (I’ll be one of them 👋🏾)
• 300+ exhibitors with the latest tools and tech
• Endless networking, learning, and fun with top marketers in the game

If you’re serious about scaling and want to stay ahead of where the industry’s headed…

You should be in the room.

I’ve got a few ticket discount links if you still haven’t grabbed yours yet

If you’re going, let me know so we can connect.

See you in Bangkok!

25 video hooks that drive TikTok Shop sales:

(Your next 7-figure month starts with the right hook)

1. POV: you just discovered a product that solves [daily problem]
2. Unboxing my [product category] haul from TikTok Shop
3. 5 must-haves under $50 that actually work
4. De-influencing [expensive product] (and what to buy instead)
5. POV: you're a [target customer persona] and this changed everything
6. My everyday essentials that are worth the hype
7. POV: this product just made your life 10x easier
8. You saw the [trending product] and now your cart is full
9. Things I didn't know I needed until TikTok showed me
10. This solves a problem you didn't know you had
11. [Product name] vs [cheaper alternative] - honest comparison
12. Watch me use this for a week straight (results)
13. POV: you finally bought the thing everyone's talking about
14. I tested viral products so you don't have to
15. This one thing replaced 5 products I used to buy
16. Before and after using [product] for 30 days
17. The [product] your FYP has been hiding from you
18. I was skeptical until I tried it myself
19. This is what [price point] gets you on TikTok Shop
20. POV: you stopped scrolling because this actually works
21. Showing my [partner/friend/mom] this viral product
22. I bought the dupe and here's what happened
23. The only [product category] you'll ever need
24. This did what [expensive brand] couldn't
25. POV: you're about to save this and forget to buy it

Bookmark this 🔖

I almost didn't post my first piece of content on LinkedIn.

I was worried about what people would think.

Friends from school. 
People I used to work with. 
Anyone who knew me before I started the agency.

I kept thinking:

“What are they going to think about this?”

In those first few posts, I was genuinely worried.

Rewrote it, then didn’t post it.

I was scared of the judgment.

But then I just said screw it and hit post.

And you know what happened?

I got over it really quickly.

Because I realized something important:

It doesn't really matter what they think.

The people who matter don't mind.

And the people who mind don't matter.

Once I understood that, everything changed.

I stopped worrying about old school friends scrolling past my posts.

I stopped caring if someone thought I was "too much" or "showing off."

I just focused on sharing what I know about TikTok Shop and helping brands 
scale.

And that's when things actually started moving.

If you're holding back from posting because you're worried about what people 
will think:

Just start.

You'll get over it faster than you think.

And the people who actually matter will support you.

Your first 3 seconds on TikTok Shop can break or make your product.

A high-converting video shows:

- The frustration (make them feel it)
- The product solving it (demo in action)
- A real person using it (not scripted)
- The transformation (satisfying result)

Brands that nail this formula are doing 6-7 figures on TikTok Shop.

From award-winner to the top-selling body-care brand on TikTok Shop in 2024.

In late 2023, Maëlys, a premium body-care brand, entered a platform many assumed was built for cheap impulse buys.

By the end of 2024, they became the top-selling body-care brand on TikTok Shop, took home the 2025 Glossy Pop Award for Best Use of TikTok Shop, and ranked as a top-five earning Shop in the personal care category in Q1 2025.

During one campaign, they drove an 800 percent increase in total orders, with 87 percent of customers being first-time buyers.

Here’s how they pulled it off:

1. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Most brands pay influencers for polished reviews.

Maëlys built a system around real women sharing their journeys.

They spotlighted creators documenting visible changes in stretch marks, loose skin, and other body-targeting concerns.

This wasn’t about curated aesthetics.

It was about proof, and proof converts.

2. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆

Instead of relying on standard affiliate commissions, they rolled out an incentive program with prizes valued at up to $275,000.

Top creators weren’t just earning revenue.

They were competing for a Ritz-Carlton yacht experience and luxury handbags.

This turned creators into true partners and unlocked high-quality content at scale.

3. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲

Maëlys built a three-part system documented in TikTok’s official case study:

• Organic content for trust
• Paid media to scale winning creatives
• Creator partnerships for social proof

Organic content de-risked ad spend.

Ad spend amplified creator performance.

Together, they created a growth flywheel.

4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺

Even while dominating TikTok, Maëlys expanded the moment offline.

They went live with a digital billboard in Times Square and ran a TikTok Shop-exclusive 30 percent discount to create urgency.

This wasn’t just a Shop strategy.

It was a full-funnel brand play.

---

Maëlys proved that premium, considered-purchase brands can win on TikTok Shop.

They understood that TikTok isn’t only a sales channel. It’s a community.

They didn’t sell body cream. They sold confidence.

And they built the system to scale it.

Most brands think creating content that sells is a straight line.

Set a goal, create content, and make sales.

But here's what actually happens when you're building TikTok Shop content:

You set a goal to hit $100K on TikTok Shop.

1) You start reaching out to creators.

Half don't respond. The ones that do want samples.

2) You're learning what hooks actually work.

What you thought would convert doesn't.

3) You start doubting if TikTok Shop is even worth it.

Your first 20 videos get decent views but zero sales.

4) You're failing to get traction.

Competitors are posting similar products and crushing it.

5) You're practicing what works.

Different angles, Flash Sales.

6) You feel lost because nothing's consistent yet.

One video does $5K, the next 10 do nothing.

7) You're getting it.

You find 3 creators who actually move product.

They are not the easiest to work with, but when you find that 1% it’s all worth it.

8) Then you're struggling with a new problem.

Fulfillment can't keep up.

You're out of stock on your best SKU.

9) Finally, you achieve it.

Consistent daily sales.

A creator network that posts weekly.

Momentum that compounds.

The brands that win aren't the ones who avoid the mess.

They're the ones who push through it while everyone else quits.

And set the assigned budget for TikTok Shop for 12 months, not 3.

----

♻️ Repost, bookmark, or share with your network if you found this post helpful.

Follow me, Ashley Wright, for practical insights on TikTok Shop and eCom growth.

What content to create on TikTok Shop at each stage (to maximize sales):

TOFU (scrolling, not buying yet):

- product demos solving a specific problem
- “day in the life" content showing real use
- zero sales pitch in first 3 seconds
- hook focuses on the problem, not your brand
- soft CTAs like "wait for it" or "watch till the end"

These people aren't ready to buy today. 

Stop forcing the sale.

MOFU (considering it):

- comparison content (you vs alternatives)
- creator testimonials showing real results
- before/after transformations
- address objections directly (price, shipping, does it actually work)
- CTAs focus on "see it in action" or "check the reviews"

BOFU (ready to convert):

- product page tours showing exactly how to buy
- bundle breakdowns with clear pricing
- scarcity hooks ("only X left" or "sale ends tonight")
- creator codes and exclusive discounts
- Lives showing checkout process in real-time

Run cold traffic TOFU content. Retarget scrollers with MOFU. Convert warm audience with BOFU Lives and urgency posts.

Most brands push product links to cold traffic and wonder why their GMV is flat.

One of our US beauty clients just cracked $100K in a single month.

$107K in GMV to be exact.

Up 15% from September.

1,828 orders.
2,515 items sold.
1,768 customers.

Most beauty brands think you need to go viral to hit six figures on TikTok Shop.

You don't.

You need consistent creator output and offers that convert.

This brand didn't have a single mega-viral moment in October.

Just steady volume.
Multiple creators posting daily.
Products that actually solve problems.

The algorithm rewards consistency.

If you're a brand stuck under $50K/month and want to break through to six figures, DM me "Scale" and I'll show you the exact framework we used here.

Everyone tells you to "take your time and don't rush."

Then you wonder why you're outperformed by your competitors and why they're taking your market share.

I've never agreed with this because I've always believed in the "just do it" approach like Nike.

You can fix things along the way.

But you can't fix momentum you never built.

When you're planning 3, 5, 10-year goals, ask yourself:

Why can't you condense that into one year?

The buffer you think you're creating is actually killing your business.

You want to be ahead of the herd.

Whether you're doing it right or wrong, you'll figure it out faster by moving.

Stop waiting for perfect.

Start building now.

She went live on TikTok & made $2,000,000 in 1 day.

Meet Stormi Steele, founder of Canvas Beauty.

The woman who broke TikTok Shop’s Black Friday record.

Here’s how she did it (and how you can steal the playbook):

During Black Friday 2024, Stormi hosted a single TikTok LIVE that changed everything.

$2M+ in total sales. $1M in the first 2 hours.

TikTok's biggest LIVE shopping event ever, all from one stream.

Just her, the product, and people ready to buy.

The formula was simple:

Show, don't tell.

1. She demonstrated results live.
2. Answered questions as they came in.
3. Offered bundles you could only get right then.

Shopping stopped feeling like a chore and started feeling like an event.

But here's what most people miss:

Canvas Beauty didn't get lucky.
They built a creator ecosystem.

Beauty creators earned commissions promoting Canvas on their own LIVEs.

Exclusive bundles only existed inside the TikTok Shop.

Every stream felt like a show, not a sales pitch.

This tapped into what TikTok actually wants.

People don't want ads.

They want authentic experiences that feel personal and fun.

Canvas mastered selling without feeling like they were selling.

When Black Friday hit, the system was already running:

• Creators promoting.
• LIVEs scheduled.
• Bundles ready.

One viral LIVE turned into millions.

From 2022 to now, Canvas has gone from a small, self-funded brand to one of TikTok Shop's top sellers.

TikTok Shop isn't about hoping something goes viral.

It’s about:

• Building trust.
• Going live consistently.
• Making every stream an event.
• Leveraging creators who move product.

It works if you know how to apply it.

Stormi didn't wait for ads to work.

She made TikTok Shop her storefront, and crushed it.

One of our UK clients in the beauty niche affiliate sales did over £50K in GMV in October.

Up 29% from September.

We doubled down this month:

• 927 videos posted.
• 539 LIVE streams.

The brands winning right now are the ones that went all in on creator volume.

If you want to see this kind of MoM growth for your brand, DM me "TikTok Shop" and I'll walk you through the exact process we used here.

Most brands build TikTok Shop bundles wrong.

They throw products together and hope it works.

Here's the bundle structure that actually converts:

𝟭) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲

Pick your best-selling product.

Add 2-3 complementary items that make sense together.

Not your entire catalog.

Example:

• Skincare brand: Serum + moisturizer + face roller
• Supplement brand: Main product + travel size + shaker bottle

People buy bundles when they see clear value, not when you're dumping random products together.

𝟮) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Your bundle needs to feel like a deal without killing margins.

Here's what works:

• Individual products: $100 total
• Bundle price: $70-75
• 25-30% off is the sweet spot.
• Anything less feels weak.

Anything more kills your profit after TikTok fees and creator commissions.

𝟯) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗸

This is what most brands miss.

Your bundle commission needs to be aggressive enough that creators want to push it.

30-40% minimum for BFCM bundles.

But would you rather do $10K at 40% margin or $100K at 20% margin?

𝟰) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲

Make it TikTok Shop exclusive.

Not available on your site.
Not available on Amazon.
Only inside TikTok Shop.

This gives creators something unique to talk about.

"You can only get this bundle here."

That's the angle that moves people from scrolling to buying.

𝟱) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿

Limited quantity or limited time.

Pick one.

"Only 500 bundles available for BFCM." or "This bundle disappears November 30th."

Scarcity drives action.

Without it, people save your video and forget about it.

What NOT to do:

• Build 10 different bundles.
• Pick 1-2 hero bundles max.
• Include products nobody wants just to clear inventory.
• Set the commission too low.

If your bundles aren't built yet, build them now.

---

♻️ Repost, bookmark, and share with your network if you found this helpful.

Follow me, Ashley Wright, for practical insights on TikTok Shop and eCom growth.

If I could talk to myself five years ago, I'd say one thing:

Just keep going.

It's going to happen eventually.

I followed Gary Vee from the early days.

"Keep going. Keep putting in the work."

My mentality was simple:

If I keep trying, I'll eventually get there.

Years later, Hormozi said the same thing:

"Just don't stop. If you don't stop, you'll find a way."

You might have to shift directions.
You might have to pivot.

But if you don't quit, you'll figure it out.

You're not out of the game until you decide you are.

The content you post this week will make or break your Black Friday.

Most brands think they can drop content on November 20th and watch the sales roll in.

They can't.

TikTok needs at least 30 days to build algorithm traction.

Content posted 30 days before a sale performs better than content dropped at the last minute.

The platform needs time to learn what converts.

By Black Friday, the algorithm already knows:

• Which videos drive purchases.
• Which creators move the product.
• Which hooks convert browsers into buyers.

This is what winning brands are doing right now:

• They're posting 1-2 times daily.
• Testing hooks.
• Testing offers.
• Testing creators.
• Building momentum.

When BFCM arrives, the algorithm knows exactly what to push.

If your content doesn't have 2-3 weeks of momentum behind it, you're invisible.

So start posting today.

By November 22nd, you'll have 3 weeks of data telling you exactly what works.

"I'm probably getting fired for this."

This hook works insanely well for Black Friday.

People love feeling like they're in on a secret.

When a creator posts your BFCM deal early with a "leaked codes" or "you didn't see this from me" angle, it doesn't feel like marketing.

It feels exclusive, like they're getting access to something they shouldn't have yet.

How to use this:

Give your top 3-5 creators early access to your BFCM bundles.

Tell them to post it with angles like:

• "I'm not supposed to show this yet, but..."
• "Black Friday deal leaked early."
• "Delete this before my brand partner sees it."
• "You didn't get this from me."

Try these and see your Black Friday sales explode.

I used to spend 70+ hours a month building decks and proposals.

Between client meetings, audits, and speaking gigs, I was drowning in slide design.

Then I started using Gamma's consultant prompts, and it's been a game-changer.

Now I'm delivering better work in a fraction of the time.

What makes it different from other tools?

Gamma studied 3.5 million presentations and built a library of 100+ optimized prompts specifically for consultants (plus sales, marketing, education, and more).

They follow a proven 30-word formula for clarity and visual storytelling, so every deck looks polished and professional without the manual work.

Now, I'm creating presentations in under an hour that used to take me a full day.

That's 85-90% time savings.

With 70 million users and 700K decks created daily, there's a reason Gamma works.

They've cracked the code on what makes presentations actually effective.

If you're still building slides from scratch, check this out: 

https://lnkd.in/emggCMRZ

#gammapartner

secret prompts

Growth Ghost

Growth Ghost: the leading coaching program for aspiring freelancer writers, 9-to-5ers, and digital writers. Teaching writers how to land high paying clients, scale their online ghostwriting business, and build a life they no longer feel the need to escape from.

50+ students served. Multi 7 figures in revenue generated for students. 

https://www.growthghost.com/optin1736208224612

Partner

Ghostlii Inc

The leading ghostwriting agency for founders, coaches, and personal brands.
50+ clients served. 200,000,000+ total impressions. 7 figures of revenue generated through social media content.
https://ghostlii.com/

Co-Founder

Centre for Arts and Technology

College Instructor

College teacher turned ghostwriter | Scaling founders, coaches, and consultants to $100K+ /mo | Writing to build wealth and better self | 98,000 on Twitter (X)

Taylin John Simmonds

My first ghostwriting client made me rich. Not with the money they paid me. But with the mindset shift they created in me.

When I first started, I’d see other ghostwriters online landing clients and think:

"Good for them. But could that ever be me?"

I acted on blind faith that if they could do it, so could I.

(Some Tony Robbin's sh*t, you know?)

But for six months, nothing happened.

No clients.
No money.

No proof it would work for me.

It made it hard to keep going when the only evidence I had what that it was possible for someone else.

But then, I landed my first client!

$0.50 per follower, which came out to about $3,000 a month.

That small win radically shifted my mindset.

I was no longer acting on possibility.
I was acting on probability.

A week later, I signed another client.

Within a few months, I was making over $10K a month from ghostwriting.

Looking back, this shift wasn’t just financial.

it was psychological.

Because when you get your first “yes,” everything you once doubted about yourself disappears.

You realize this isn’t just possible for others.

It’s possible for you.

That’s the moment your life changes.

Not because of the money but because you're no longer held back by disbelief.

—Taylin

♻️ Repost. Follow Taylin John Simmonds for more on how to earn as an AI assisted ghostwriter without sacrificing income or your love of hard shell tacos.

College teacher turned AI assisted ghostwriter | Helping writers, creatives, and storytellers earn on the internet | 2 billion impressions | $4,000,000+ revenue generated | All in on Substack

I didn’t start believing in myself because I had results. I started believing in myself because I ran out of reasons not to try.

Back in 2022, all I wanted was to make a living as a creative writer.

Not a novelist or a journalist.

Just someone who could write online and get paid for it (if it was even possible).

But everyone around me was saying the same thing:

"Writers don’t make real money."

Still, I kept seeing people on Twitter doing it, and a small part of me hoped that if they could pull it off, maybe I could too.

So I gave myself permission to write for one year straight.

After work.
On weekends.
After eight-hour days teaching college classes.

And I did all of that without earning a single dollar for 6 months.

No clients.
No validation.
Not even much traction on my posts.

Just a lot of self-doubt, 5-9 exhaustion, and the constant fear that I was wasting my time.

Then another ghostwriter referred me a client (thank god).

On the call, the client agreed to pay me fifty cents per follower.

When the Stripe invoice came through for $3,000, it pretty much broke my mind.
It was more than I made in a month as a teacher.

And that moment was all it took...

I finally had proof this path could work (for me).

Within 30 days, I landed two more clients and hit around $10K per month.

Looking back, the biggest shift wasn’t the money.

It was realizing that when you don’t have evidence something will work for you, you have to borrow evidence from people it already worked for.

That borrowed belief keeps you going long enough to get your own proof.

And once you get your first yes, it gets a lot harder to quit.

—Taylin

♻️ Repost. Follow Taylin John Simmonds for more on how to earn as an AI assisted ghostwriter without sacrificing income or your love of hard shell tacos.

In the last 60 days, I've gained 943 newsletter subs from organic content on Substack. No lead magnets. No trendjacking. Here's how I did it:

Most people on LinkedIn have no idea how f*cking incredible Substack is right now.

It's like LinkedIn 2023, only better because you attract subscribers instead of followers.

Imagine this:

You write a short social post—just like you would on LinkedIn—and it gets you 500 newsletter subscribers.

No lead magnet.
No DMs.
No funnels.

You write a newsletter that goes semi-viral, and it brings you new 80 subscribers, $1,000 in customer sales, and 2 podcast invites.

All from a newsletter that went viral on a social media timeline.

Then you launch a paid newsletter, where people happily pay you for your deepest work, and suddenly you’re earning $100 per day from content you’re already writing.

This isn’t theoretical.

Those are all real wins from my Substack.

I’m growing faster on Substack than I ever did on LinkedIn—just by repurposing my old content and adapting it to Substack’s culture.

My newsletters are going viral.

They’re attracting new clients, podcast invites, and collaborations every week.

My paid newsletter alone is on track to gross $4,000 this month.

This is insane.

If you’re a business owner, get on Substack.
If you’re a creator, get on Substack.
If you’re selling courses or digital products, get on Substack.

This platform is insane and it’s still early.

If you’re thinking about migrating, but aren't sure how Substack works, just comment "Substack" below.

I'll shoot over my free growth guide so you can make the most of Substack while it's easy.

Because once everyone figures it out, the easy growth window closes.

—Taylin

Many of LinkedIn’s biggest creators just joined Substack.

Are you going to join them or get left behind?

Whenever a new social platform is easy to grow on, the big creators quietly migrate there first.

They don’t talk about it.

Because they want to grow fast while the growth is easy.

Right now, Substack is that platform.

But why is it easy to grow on?

It's easy to grow on because there is more attention than quality content.

That means when you post something, it gets shown to more people and it stays visible for far longer.

On LinkedIn, my posts last roughly 3-7 day.
On Substack, my posts go viral for up to 40 days.

But how long will this easy growth last?

6 to 12 months (max).

Recently, Justin Welsh joined Substack.
Dan Koe joined Substack.
Dan Go joined Substack.
Naomi Kins joined Substack.

And if I had to guess, Lara Acosta will join soon too because she just launched a newsletter course. Which makes sense for her to sell on the platform.

It’s no coincidence.

All the big creators are moving quietly to Substack because it’s easier to grow and easier to go viral.

I’ve personally gained 1,000+ newsletter subscribers in the past 60 days from short Notes that take me two minutes to write.
I've landed 3 podcast appearances with top Substack creators.
I've gotten more inbound leads from Substack than LinkedIn.

Can a new creator easily do this on LinkedIn without jacking trends?

Not in 2025.
And it won't happen in 2026.

So you have a choice:

Wait around debating whether to join or make the move while growth is still easy.

I missed the early growth window on LinkedIn because I was too focused on X.

I’m not making that mistake again.

That’s why I’m all in on Substack.

P.S. I’m putting together a free Substack Growth Course that breaks down how I'm growing on the platform (because it is different from LinkedIn).

I'll be publishing it only on Substack, so if you want access when it drops, you can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gb6dr2mF

—Taylin

How to grow fast on LinkedIn. Don't. Just write on Substack instead. In 30 days, I gained 729 newsletter subs + $3,000 with a paid newsletter.

It got harder to grow fast on LinkedIn over the past year.

So I ran a five-month experiment to see what would happen if I went all-in on Substack, tried to grow, and launched a paid newsletter.

What happened surprised me.

Once I figured out how the platform worked, I started gaining 500–700 newsletter subscribers per month organically.

Think about that.

When was the last time you pulled 500+ newsletter subscribers on LinkedIn without a viral lead magnet or trendjacking?

This was all organic.
No lead magnets.

Just repurposed content from LinkedIn & X.

My most viral Substack post was literally a LinkedIn post I copied over. 
It brought in around 100 subscribers by itself.

If you’re already writing LinkedIn posts, there’s zero reason not to post them there and let the platform hand you free subscribers.

Then I launched a paid newsletter.

In 30 days, 48 people subscribed.

The dashboard says $6,260 annualized, and the actual cash received was around $2,000 USD.

But here’s the wild part:

People started DMing me asking for other things they could buy.

Now they want me to start a writing community.
I sold $1,000 worth of ghostwriting courses I don’t even have publicly available.
I booked 2 consulting calls worth $3,000–$5,000 each.

So in one month of a paid newsletter, I’ll probably end up with $3,000–$7,000 of additional revenue—completely outside of LinkedIn.

This is why I’m posting about Substack so aggressively.

It’s one of the best attention arbitrage opportunities on the internet right now.

It feels like early Twitter.
It feels like early LinkedIn.
And people on LinkedIn are completely sleeping on it.

They’re not growing on Substack.
They’re not using a paid newsletter as an intro product to sell courses, coaching, or services.

It’s insane.

And the excuse is always:

“I don’t have time. I’m focused on LinkedIn.”

That’s exactly what I used to say—right before LinkedIn got hard.

I’m not making that mistake again.

If you try Substack for 30 days, you’ll be shocked at how much faster you grow your audience and your business.

I put together a free Substack growth guide—you shouldn’t have to pay for the basics. 
I’ll link it at the bottom of this post.

I’m going to keep FOMO’ing you into existence until you finally get on this platform and take advantage of it.

You probably have 6–12 months.

Stop grinding on LinkedIn for 100 followers a month.
At least give Substack a shot.

Free Substack growth guide: https://lnkd.in/gffnDFcD

—Taylin

I’m building my paid Substack newsletter to 500 subs in public. I launched 7(ish) days ago. The update: Paid subs: 24; Revenue: $1,079.25

I looked at the market—most people price their paid tier at $5/month.

Then I asked myself:

“What would I need to offer to price mine 4x higher?”

My answer came in two parts:

1) Value proposition

Help new writers earn $1,000+/month writing online

2) Deliverables

* Weekly custom GPTs & prompt flows (the same ones I’m using now)
* Biweekly manifestos (more in-depth than most people’s courses)
* AI-assisted writing manifestos
* Monetization roadmaps on money models, offer stacks, and marketing ecosystems
* Monthly live Q&A calls (no selling, just having fun and shooting the shit)

With this setup, I can grow revenue 4x faster per subscriber.

That’s what I recommend to new writers with smaller audiences—you don’t need a ton of subs, just high trust per sub. (More on that another time.)

This week’s marketing breakdown (rough numbers):

I built no hype. Did no prelaunch.

Just woke up, decided to launch a paid tier. And launched it by end of day (my attempt at not overthinking it haha).

* One scrappy launch newsletter → 4 subs
* One email to previous buyers → 7 subs
* One email to subscribers with 4–5 star activity scores → 5 subs
* Two paid newsletters with paywalls → ~5 subs
* One Substack Live with Landon Poburan → ? subs

Hard to track where the rest came from.

Next steps:

1. Finish the new AI workflow for writing long form content (relevant to LinkedIn as well)

2. Release the next roadmap: *How to get 100 paid subscribers on Substack in 3–6 months*

3. Host one Substack Live per week to build trust faster (some fun collabs coming up)

That’s it.

If you found this valuable, let me know. It helps me decide whether to keep doing this series weekly.

PS - Substack feels like early Twitter with a newsletter option. It's an arbitrage opportunity for the right creators/founders who get in early. 

We're looking for a few founders or coaches who want us to grow their presence on Substack. Done-for-you content creation and lead generation. Send me a message if that's you.

—Taylin

I just learned this crazy idea from a Harvard Psychiatrist: It’s called Cognitive Drain. And it’s why most people are exhausted 24/7.

Every single:

* Undone task
* Unrealized goal
* Unfinished project

Is causing your brain to leak mental energy.

Basically, your brain is a dusty PC running Windows 99 with 100 tabs open.

No wonder most people are so burnt out.

They're not tired because of working too much.

You’re tired because of *thinking* about too much.

Psychiatrist, Dr. K says there are only two ways to get your energy back:

1) Relieve - finish, delegate, or delete a task

2) Grieve - accept you'll never do it and let it go (goodbye my dream of being a famous DJ)

Grieving might sound dramatic, but it's what unburdens your mind.

If you’re still clinging to a version of yourself who “should” have achieved something by now, that’s energy trapped in a closed loop.

If you're still day dreaming about a goal you haven't worked towards in years, that's wasted focus and mental bandwidth.

Exhaustion doesn’t only come from doing too much.

It comes from carrying too much sh*t in your head.

You might not need to rest more.

Just try thinking less. Committing less. And grieving more (I recommend a weekly journaling practice).

It's the only way to free up bandwidth for what truly matters.

—Taylin

♻️ Repost. Follow Taylin John Simmonds for more on how to earn as an AI assisted ghostwriter without sacrificing income or your love of hard shell tacos.

I have 37,892 LinkedIn followers. I earn more per month from my 5,724 subs on Substack.

What? How?!

Too many people still believe the “big audience = big income” myth.

I did too.

I optimized for LinkedIn virality earlier this year.
I wrote posts I didn’t like.
I told myself the money would show up once the numbers got big enough.

Spoiler:
It never did.

I didn't realize what actually happens when you chase audience size:

You create content for dopamine, not depth.
You grow followers, not trust.

You’re “known,” but not believed.

And without belief, nobody buys.
Nobody invests.

Nobody respects you as an authority.

So I decided to try a different strategy on Substack and this is what I learned:

You don’t need a big audience.
You need high trust per follower.

Because one person who trusts you is worth more than a hundred who barely register your existence.

I have 100,000 followers on X. 
37,892 on LinkedIn.

I have 5,724 subscribers on Substack.

Guess where most of my money comes from?

Substack.

Because that’s where I write what I actually care about:
Creating your life's work.

That’s where I build trust instead of reach:
Publishing hour long podcasts (you might like them).

And trust converts at a level many “big audience” people never experience.

When someone trusts you, they buy the expensive thing.

They tell their friends.
They get excited to work with you.

You don’t need thousands of customers.
You need a few hundred believers.

Stop trying to get famous.
Start trying to get trusted.

That's the real game where you can actually win.

PS. In the past 30 days, I got 700 new newsletter subscribers from organic content on Substack.

If you don't want to miss out, here's a free guide on how to do the same:
https://lnkd.in/gffnDFcD

—Taylin

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The Battle

Ashley Wright

Taylin John Simmonds

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Performance ScoreAshley Wright's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreTaylin John Simmonds's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Ashley Wright

Taylin John Simmonds

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ashley Wright's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreTaylin John Simmonds's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreAshley Wright's LinkedIn Performance