#Using Online Courses for Substack Growth

[mehmetyildizmelbourne-blog]

Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 14

How to Add Interactive Educational Programs Using One of the 6 Globally Recognized Tools to Inform, Educate, Inspire, and Retain Your Subscribers Dear Beta Readers, Thank you for your feedback so far. You honor my content on multiple platforms. I understand this chapter may seem quite technical to beginners, as I designed it to benefit advanced freelance writers and content entrepreneurs who…

[wherechaoswins]

50 Essential To-Do List Items for Writers to Earn Online in 2025

Discover the 50 actionable tasks every freelance writer should include in their to-do list to maximize online income. From setting up profiles to mastering SEO, get started today!

Whether you are a seasoned wordsmith or just starting out, earning online as a writer requires more than just a knack for language. You need a clear roadmap—a to-do list that guides you through building your brand, honing your skills, finding clients, and optimizing your online presence. In this article, we will break down 50 essential tasks that will help you launch and grow a sustainable online writing career in 2025.

1. Set Your Foundations

Define Your Niche

Establish Your Writing Goals

Outline Your Unique Value Proposition

Create a Professional Email Address

Purchase a Domain Name

2. Build Your Online Portfolio

Set Up a Personal Website or Blog

Showcase 3–5 High-Quality Writing Samples

Write an “About Me” Page with Keywords

Add a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Include Testimonials or Case Studies

3. Optimize for SEO

Research High-Value Keywords

Implement On-Page SEO Best Practices

Write SEO-Friendly Headlines (H1/H2/H3)

Use Internal and External Links Strategically

Ensure Fast Page Load Times

4. Establish Your Presence on Freelancer Platforms

Create Profiles on Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer

Write Compelling Profile Summaries with Keywords

Set Competitive—but Sustainable—Rates

Apply to 5 Relevant Gigs per Week

Solicit Initial Reviews from Small Jobs

5. Leverage Content Marketplaces & Agencies

Join Contena, Scripted, or Clear Voice

Submit Proposals to 3–5 Agencies

Complete Platform Skill Tests

Network with Other Writers in Private Groups

Track Applications in a Spreadsheet

6. Grow Your Network

Engage in Writing Communities on LinkedIn

Participate in Twitter Chats (e.g., #WritingCommunity)

Attend Virtual and Local Writing Workshops

Collaborate on Guest Posts

Ask for Referrals from Past Clients

7. Develop Your Skills

Enroll in an SEO Writing Course

Practice Copywriting Techniques Weekly

Learn Basic HTML/CSS for Formatting

Study Content Marketing Strategies

Read 1–2 Industry Blogs Every Day

8. Diversify Your Income Streams

Write and Self-publish an eBook

Create a Paid Newsletter (e.g., Substack)

Offer Editing and Proofreading Services

Run Paid Writing Workshops or Webinars

Develop a Patreon or Membership Tier

9. Market Yourself Effectively

Build an Email List & Send Weekly Updates

Optimize Social Media Profiles

Share 2–3 Samples of Your Work Per Month

Use Tailored Pitches for Prospective Clients

Invest in Targeted Ads (LinkedIn/Facebook)

10. Stay Organized & Maintain Growth

Use a Project Management Tool (Trello/Asana)

Set Weekly and Monthly Income Targets

Review Analytics (Website & Social)

Schedule Time for Rest and Skill Building

Periodically Update Your Portfolio & Rates

Building a successful online writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. By systematically working through these 50 to-do list items, you will create a robust foundation for attracting clients, boosting your visibility, and maximizing your earnings in 2025. Bookmark this article, check off tasks as you go, and revisit it regularly to stay on track—your freelance writing empire starts today!

Ready to act? Start with item #1: define your niche—and watch your online writing income grow!

[cindylouwho-2]

RECENT SEO & MARKETING NEWS FOR ECOMMERCE, AUGUST 2024

Hello, and welcome to my very last Marketing News update here on Tumblr.

After today, these reports will now be found at least twice a week on my Patreon, available to all paid members. See more about this change here on my website blog: https://www.cindylouwho2.com/blog/2024/8/12/a-new-way-to-get-ecommerce-news-and-help-welcome-to-my-patreon-page

Don't worry! I will still be posting some short pieces here on Tumblr (as well as some free pieces on my Patreon, plus longer posts on my website blog). However, the news updates and some other posts will be moving to Patreon permanently.

Please follow me there! https://www.patreon.com/CindyLouWho2

TOP NEWS & ARTICLES��

A US court ruled that Google is a monopoly, and has broken antitrust laws. This decision will be appealed, but in the meantime, could affect similar cases against large tech giants. 

Did you violate a Facebook policy? Meta is now offering a “training course” in lieu of having the page’s reach limited for Professional Mode users. 

Google Ads shown in Canada will have a 2.5% surcharge applied as of October 1, due to new Canadian tax laws.

SEO: GOOGLE & OTHER SEARCH ENGINES 

Search Engine Roundtable’s Google report for July is out; we’re still waiting for the next core update. 

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta)

Meta’s latest legal development: a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over facial recognition and privacy.  

Instagram

Instagram is highlighting “Views” in its metrics in an attempt to get creators to focus on reach instead of follower numbers. 

Pinterest

Pinterest is testing outside ads on the site. The ad auction system would include revenue sharing. 

Reddit

Reddit confirmed that anyone who wants to use Reddit posts for AI training and other data collection will need to pay for them, just as Google and OpenAI did. 

Second quarter 2024 was great for Reddit, with revenue growth of 54%. Like almost every other platform, they are planning on using AI in their search results, perhaps to summarize content. 

Threads

Threads now claims over 200 million active users.

TikTok

TikTok is now adding group chats, which can include up to 32 people.

TikTok is being sued by the US Federal Trade Commission, for allowing children under 13 to sign up and have their data harvested. 

Twitter

Twitter seems to be working on the payments option Musk promised last year. Tweets by users in the EU will at least temporarily be pulled from the AI-training for “Grok”, in line with EU law.

CONTENT MARKETING (includes blogging, emails, and strategies) 

Email software Mad Mimi is shutting down as of August 30. Owner GoDaddy is hoping to move users to its GoDaddy Digital Marketing setup. 

Content ideas for September include National Dog Week. 

You can now post on Substack without having an actual newsletter, as the platform tries to become more like a social media site. 

As of November, Patreon memberships started in the iOS app will be subject to a 30% surcharge from Apple. Patreon is giving creators the ability to add that charge to the member's bill, or pay it themselves.

ONLINE ADVERTISING (EXCEPT INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL MEDIA AND ECOMMERCE SITES) 

Google worked with Meta to break the search engine’s rules on advertising to children through a loophole that showed ads for Instagram to YouTube viewers in the 13-17 year old demographic. Google says they have stopped the campaign, and that “We prohibit ads being personalized to people under-18, period”.

Google’s Performance Max ads now have new tools, including some with AI. 

Microsoft’s search and news advertising revenue was up 19% in the second quarter, a very good result for them. 

One of the interesting tidbits from the recent Google antitrust decision is that Amazon sells more advertising than either Google or Meta’s slice of retail ads. 

BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE 

More than half of Gen Z claim to have bought items while spending time on social media in the past half year, higher than other generations. 

Shopify’s president claimed that Christmas shopping started in July on their millions of sites, with holiday decor and ornament sales doubling, and advent calendar sales going up a whopping 4,463%.

[rjzimmerman]

What You Want is an S Curve

Excerpt from Bill McKibben's Substack, "The Crucial Years."

Regular readers of this column know that I think we’re engaged in the most desperate race in human history—a race between a rapidly unraveling climate, and a rapid buildout of renewable energy. The outcome of that race will determine just how many people die, how many cities drown, how many species survive. Pretty much everything else—efforts to restore corals, say, or worries about how exactly we’ll power long-haul aircraft—is noise at the margins; the decisive question is how those two curves, of destruction and construction, will cross. Oh, and the relevant time frame is the next half-decade, the last five or six “crucial years.”

So even amidst all the desperate news from climate science, I have some legitimately good numbers to update you on this morning. They come from the veteran energy analyst Kingsmill Bond and colleagues at the Rocky Mountain Institute, and they demonstrate that the world has moved on to the steep part of the S curve, which will sweep us from minimal reliance on renewable energy to���we must hope and pray— minimal dependence on fossil fuel. The angle of that curve may prove to be the most significant geometry of our time on earth, competing only with the slope of the Keeling Curve which documents the growing accumulation of co2 in the atmosphere above Mauna Loa.

It seems pretty clear, according to Bond’s team, that last year or this we will hit peak fossil fuel demand on this planet—the advent of cheap solar and wind and batteries, combined with rapidly developing technologies like heat pumps and EVs, has finally caught up with the surging human demand for energy even as more Asian economies enter periods of rapid growth: the question is whether we’ll plateau out at current levels of fossil fuel use for a decade or more, or whether we can make fossil fuel use decline enough to begin to matter to the atmosphere. 

And the numbers in the new report give at least some reason for hope: sun and wind are now growing faster than any other energy sources in history, and they are coming online faster that anyone had predicted, even in the last few years. In the last decade, “solar generation has grown 12 times, battery storage by 180 times, and EV sales by 100 times.” This charge has been led by China, where “solar generation up 37 times and EV sales up 700 time.” and which as a result is “poised to be the first major electrostate.” Europe, and indeed the whole OECD group, are now seeing rapid growth too, and the best news is that there are increasing signs that countries like India and Vietnam, where growth in demand will be fastest over the rest of the decade, are figuring out how to electrify their economies. Fossil fuel for generating electricity has peaked in Thailand, South Africa, and in all of Latin America.

Solar power in particular is about to become the most common way to produce electricity on this planet, and batteries will this year pass pumped-hydro as the biggest source of energy storage; the supply chain seems to be in place to continue this kind of hectic growth, as there are enough factories under construction to produce the stuff we need, and investment capital is increasingly underwriting cleantech (though a treacherously large supply of money continues to flow to fossil fuels). Pick your metric—the number of cleantech patents, the energy density of batteries, the size of wind turbine rotors—and we’re seeing rapid and continuing progress; the price of solar power is expected to drop by half again in the course of the decade, reinforcing all these trends. The adoption curves for cleantech look like the adoption curves for color tv, or cellphones—that is to say, from nothing to ubiquitous in a matter of years. 

A big reason for the ongoing change—and for ongoing optimism—is the simple efficiency of the technologies now ascendant.

A second report from Bond’s Rocky Mountain Institute, this one published last week, focused on these numbers, and they’re equally astounding. By their calculations, we waste more than half of the energy we use:

Out of the 606 EJ (an exajoule is roughly the annual energy consumption of New York City) of primary energy that entered the global energy system in 2019, some 33% (196 EJ) was lost on the supply side due to energy production and transportation losses before it ever reached a consumer. Another 30% (183 EJ) was lost on the demand side turning final energy into useful energy. That means that of the 606 EJ we put into our energy system per annum, only 227 EJ ended up providing useful energy, like heating a home or moving a truck. That is only 37% efficient overall.

We’ve invested mostly in increasing the volume of energy we use, not its efficiency—because that was what made big money for Big Oil. But cleantech is inherently more efficient: when you burn fossil fuel to make power, you lose two-thirds of the power to heat, which simply doesn’t happen with wind and sun. An EV translates 80-90% of the power it uses into propulsion, compared with well less than half for a car that runs on gas. A gas boiler is 85 percent efficient, which isn’t bad—but a heat pump is 300% efficient, because its main “fuel source” is the ambient heat of the atmosphere, which it translates into heating and cooling for your home. That means that the higher upfront costs of these technologies quickly translate into serious savings. And these kind of numbers bend curves fast

[how-to-make-money-in-2025]

How to Make Money in 2025: Smart Strategies for Financial Growth

Making money in 2025 is all about adapting to the latest trends, leveraging technology, and building multiple streams of income. Whether you're looking for a side hustle, a full-time business, or passive income, there are endless opportunities to capitalize on. Here are some of the smartest ways to make money in 2025.

1. Build a Personal Brand and Monetize It

In today’s digital world, personal branding is a powerful tool for making money. Whether you’re an expert in a field, a content creator, or a niche influencer, you can turn your reputation into income.

Ways to Monetize a Personal Brand:

Sell digital products like courses, e-books, or templates.

Offer coaching or consulting services.

Launch a membership community or subscription service.

Partner with brands for sponsorships and collaborations.

2. Master AI-Powered Side Hustles

AI is changing the way we work, and those who use it wisely can create new revenue streams. Many businesses are searching for AI-powered solutions to streamline their processes, and you can provide them.

Profitable AI Side Hustles:

AI-powered content creation (writing, graphics, and video editing).

AI automation services for businesses.

Selling AI-generated assets (logos, stock images, voiceovers).

Creating and selling chatbots for customer service.

3. High-Ticket Service-Based Business

Instead of chasing small sales, focus on offering high-value services that generate large payouts. In 2025, many professionals are turning to service-based businesses that cater to high-paying clients.

Examples of High-Ticket Services:

Business consulting and coaching.

Premium web design and branding services.

AI integration consulting.

Luxury travel planning or concierge services.

If you have expertise in a field, positioning yourself as a premium service provider can lead to big earnings.

4. Monetize Your Knowledge with Online Courses

E-learning is bigger than ever, and people are willing to pay for high-quality educational content. If you have expertise in any subject, you can create and sell an online course.

How to Get Started:

Identify a topic people want to learn about.

Create a course using platforms like Teachable, Udemy, or Kajabi.

Use social media marketing to attract students.

Offer upsells like coaching or exclusive group memberships.

5. Become a Paid Community Builder

More people are moving away from traditional social media and looking for niche communities. If you can create a valuable online space, people will pay to be part of it.

How to Monetize a Community:

Start a paid Discord or Telegram group.

Launch a Patreon or Substack with premium content.

Build a private membership site with exclusive benefits.

Organize mastermind groups or virtual events.

6. Invest in Digital Real Estate

While traditional real estate remains lucrative, digital real estate is becoming a major player in wealth-building. This includes domains, websites, and virtual assets.

Best Digital Real Estate Investments:

Buy and flip domain names.

Invest in revenue-generating websites.

Purchase virtual real estate in the metaverse.

Build and sell authority blogs or niche websites.

7. Create a Subscription-Based Business

Subscription models create predictable income by charging customers on a recurring basis. This can be applied to both digital and physical products.

Subscription Business Ideas:

Exclusive content memberships (newsletters, premium blogs).

Subscription boxes (beauty, fitness, lifestyle).

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

Private community memberships.

8. Leverage the Power of Micro-SaaS

Micro-SaaS is a small, highly specialized software solution that caters to niche audiences. Unlike massive software companies, Micro-SaaS businesses can be launched by a single person or a small team.

How to Start a Micro-SaaS Business:

Identify a niche problem that software can solve.

Use AI tools or hire developers to create a simple software solution.

Offer a monthly subscription for access.

Scale by adding features based on customer feedback.

9. Invest in Alternative Assets

Wealth-building in 2025 isn’t just about stocks and crypto. Alternative assets offer new ways to diversify and grow your money.

Top Alternative Investments:

Fractional real estate investing.

High-value collectibles (watches, rare sneakers, digital art).

Peer-to-peer lending.

Farmland investing.

[lifebegin60]

Infopreneurs make money online by creating and selling information-based products or services. Here are some common ways they generate income:

1. Selling Digital Products

eBooks: Write and sell eBooks on niche topics (e.g., self-help, fitness, or business).

Online Courses: Create courses on platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Kajabi.

Templates: Offer templates for resumes, business plans, or social media content.

Membership Sites: Provide access to exclusive content through subscriptions.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Recommend products or services related to your niche and earn a commission for each sale made through your referral links.

Join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, ClickBank, or ShareASale.

3. Consulting and Coaching

Offer one-on-one or group coaching sessions.

Provide expertise in areas like business strategy, career growth, or personal development.

4. Webinars and Workshops

Host paid live sessions to teach or discuss specific topics.

Use tools like Zoom, Demio, or WebinarJam for live events.

5. Subscription Newsletters

Publish a premium newsletter using platforms like Substack or Ghost and charge a subscription fee.

6. Ad Revenue

Monetize a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast through ads.

Use Google AdSense or collaborate with brands for sponsorships.

7. Freelance Services

Offer writing, graphic design, or content creation services to others in your niche.

8. Selling Licenses

License your information products (e.g., training material or templates) to businesses or other creators.

Tips for Success

Focus on a specific niche.

Build a strong online presence (e.g., website, social media).

Engage with your audience to understand their needs.

Continuously update and improve your products and services.

Would you like help exploring a specific avenue?

[bradyoil]

On Set Electrician Jeanne Mailloux Talks "Birdman", Buddhism and Mental Health.

Jeanne Mailloux works on commercial sets as a union Electrician. (And spells out to me the difference between the Grips and Electricains.) She shares fascinating insights about her start in filmmaking meeting Nick Cage, working on "Birdman" and being a female Electrician in that male-dominated department. We delve into reflections on human suffering, ego, humility, and how Buddhism has shaped Jeanne's understanding of life and art. Her passion for mental health advocacy is clear. 

I never know where these conversations will go, but sure apprecate Jeanne's openess and sharing her journey. Check out her substack here. 

FLOW STATE Click MAGIC MIND and use this nifty discount code JB20 and gobble it up daily with your coffee. If you follow me on Instagram you've seen my geniune endorsment of this mighty mind power juice.

EVENTS My next in-person Commercial Directing Bootcamp is Saturday, January 20th, 2024. Sign up soon or miss out. Limit 12 filmmakers.

Check out my Masterclass or Commercial Directing Shadow online courses. (Note this link to the Shadow course is the one I mention in the show.) All my courses come with a free 1:1 mentorship call with yours truly. Taking the Shadow course is the only way to win a chance to shadow me on a real shoot! DM for details.

How To Pitch Ad Agencies and Director’s Treatments Unmasked are now bundled together with a free filmmaker consultation call, just like my other courses. Serious about making spots? The Commercial Director Mega Bundle for serious one-on-one mentoring and career growth.

  Jeannette Godoy’s hilarious romcom “Diamond In The Rough” streams on the YouTube, Tubi and more. Please support my wife filmmaker Jeannette Godoy’s romcom debut. It’s “Mean Girls” meets “Happy Gilmore” and crowds love it.

  Thanks,

  Jordan

  This episode is 70 minutes.

My cult classic mockumentary, “Dill Scallion” is online so I’m giving 100% of the money to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I’ve decided to donate the LIFETIME earnings every December, so the donation will grow and grow. Thank you.

Respect The Process podcast is brought to you by True Gentleman Industries, Inc. in partnership with Brady Oil Entertainment, Inc.

Check out this episode!

[dailybusinessfacts]

7 Coolest Startups In Asia

Startups are a popular company concept that promotes global innovation and economic growth. Each year, startups introduce new sorts of products and services. They are the product of innovative and creative entrepreneurs with great ideas.

Here is a list of 7 coolest startups in Asia;

1. E-Commerce

A word of caution: E-commerce relies significantly on the seamless operation of global supply chains, and the last two years have been a logistical nightmare. If you go this route, familiarize yourself with the manufacturing and shipping requirements that your company will face. With any physical product, it takes time to iron out the wrinkles, but once you’ve dialed in your marketing and shipping efforts, income and profit will start to flow in. And, when you think about it, all of the preceding cases are similar. This year, put yourself out there and try something new; you might end yourself in the CEO seat sooner than you expect.

2. Creation Of An Online Course

“The best way to succeed as a Skillshare instructor is creating engaging content that is digestible, project-based, and personal,” she says. “Most of our classes include an hour or so of pre-recorded video content broken down into a series of short 2-5 minute videos. Rather than teaching a broad, sweeping skill set, the most successful classes hone in on one specific concept or skill.”

“Once you make and upload your content, you can continue to make passive income with no additional work,” says Guzmán. “We find that most teachers love the community on our platform and engage with students long after the class has been posted. As a teacher, you get paid from a royalty pool based on the number of minutes members watch your class – and as the number of classes a teacher posts increases, so does the opportunity for members to watch your content, incentivizing teachers to keep building their presence on Skillshare and become a successful online creator.”

Guzmán points out that even one class or workshop can generate a significant amount of residual income. “On the platform, our top teachers earn an average of $2,000 a month, with some of our teachers able to cover their rent with just one lesson.”

3. Launching A Paid Newsletter Or Subscription

Some professionals are taking the creator way and launching their own paid membership services. An internet connection is all you need to start your own specialty media company if you can develop valuable or engaging material rapidly.

Similar concepts are used by platforms like Patreon and Substack, which allow content creators to sell directly to their followers while getting a percentage of the sales. Silicon Valley is buzzing about the business model; The Information published its Creator Economy database last year, stating that U.S.-based creator firms raised several billion dollars in funding in 2021. These is popular startups in Asia.

4. Fitness

With a market worth more than $1.5 trillion and expanding, the wellness industry is well-established. However, the epidemic had a significant impact on how people approached their fitness routines.

People discovered the benefits of doing out at home as a result of reduced access to gyms. The home fitness market is expected to reach $14.8 billion by 2027, according to Acumen Research. BodyGym-like products that improve the effectiveness of home workouts could be a viable prospect. Fitness is most popular and trending startups in Asia.

According to the World Economic Forum, health and wellness applications are a major startups in Asia, with downloads surging by 46% globally at the start of 2020. People have also been enjoying physical activities that are less workout-focused, like climbing or martial arts. Facilities like High Point Climbing and CKO Kickboxing have seen lots of success and PushPress provides software to help run independent gyms and smaller facilities.

5. Freelancing

Are you a writer? Do you have experience with social media, video, or coding? You might be amazed at the results if you offer your abilities online where individuals are looking to recruit. Virtual assistant employment is in high demand, and your clients will tell you exactly what they want you to accomplish if you have an eye for detail and no particular area of specialty. Freelancing means you have multiple sources of income hence it is trending startups in Asia.

If you want to supplement your income but aren’t ready or interested in leaving your 9-to-5 job, freelance employment is a perfect compromise. Many successful entrepreneurs, contrary to conventional opinion, first tested their idea as a side business and validated their value proposition before making the leap.

6. Blogging

Blogging is one of those entrepreneur ideas that allows you to follow your passion if you’re passionate about a pastime or activity. Blogging as a side hustle or part-time job is a fantastic idea and best startups in Asia. You will not make much money with a blog right away. Blogging, on the other hand, has the potential to become more profitable over time. Here’s everything you need to know about blogging:

Select the appropriate blogging platform. Examine the advantages and disadvantages of various blogging platforms, such as WordPress or Ghost. Transferring your blog content between platforms isn’t hard, but it’s a hassle that may be avoided by performing some preliminary study and hence it is most popular startups in Asia.

7. App Development

You may wish to pursue a career in app development if you are well-versed in technology and have past experience. Many Asians now own smartphones, which has increased the need for mobile apps and technological startups in Asia. Similarly, with the rise in popularity of virtual reality software in recent years, there is a demand for VR app development.

[un-enfant-immature]

Creators need better community tools. Circle wants to fill the gap

Entrepreneurial creators have to do a lot with limited time. They need to, well, create, but then they also need to build their marketing funnels, convert users to their paid products, and manage business operations. Yet, perhaps the most important task they face is keeping their existing fans engaged, since ultimately, that engagement ties directly to the health of their brand long-term.

Social tools are abysmal on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, particularly when it comes to creators owning their own communities and building deeper relationships with them. Other products like Discord have been used to some success, although Discord was built with a different focus in mind and is being hammered in to fix the problem.

Circle believes there is a better way. The New York City-based startup officially launched today for creators following eight months of product beta testing. The platform is designed from the bottoms-up to offer better community building and engagement tools for creators, while also integrating with other software typical in the creator toolkit.

Circle co-founders Sid Yadav, Rudy Santino, and Andrew Guttormsen. Photo via Circle.

The key DNA for the company is another NYC-based startup called Teachable. Two of Circle’s three founders, Sid Yadav and Andrew Guttormsen, hail from the edtech platform, which helps entrepreneurial teachers setup online storefronts for their classes. Teachable was sold to Hotmart earlier this year for what was reported to be a quarter of a billion dollars. Yadav was VP of Product there, and Guttormsen was VP of Growth and Marketing. Their third co-founder, Rudy Santino, knew Yadav from previous work.

Edtech notches a win as Teachable is acquired by Hotmart

Yadav spun out of Teachable and actually got his start as a contractor for Sahil Lavingia, the founder of Gumroad who we were just talking about last week since he launched a brand new seed fund. He worked part-time as a product and design consultant, allowing him the flexibility to begin spending time thinking about new product ideas.

Gumroad founder Sahil Lavingia launches new seed fund in collaboration with AngelList

“I always knew that my next startup was going to be in [the creator] space,” Yadav said. “I just loved what they’re all about, which is about making an income from what they love doing.”

Teachable’s rapid growth in a small slice of the creator space taught Yadav some of the key challenges that creators face, and what a new product needed to solve in order to help them. With his co-founders, he enlisted a group of creators including Pay Flynn at Smart Passive Income and Anne-Laure Le Cunff who operates a newsletter called Ness Labs to actively build communities on Circle to prove out their various design and product decisions.

The growth of the platform and the engagement of potential customers attracted the attention of Notation Capital, a NYC-based pre-seed fund that just announced its third fund late last month. Notation led a $1.5 million seed round into Circle, which also included Lavingia, Ankur Nagpal, the founder and CEO of Teachable, Dave Ambrose, Peter Treadway, among others.

NYC pre-seed powerhouse Notation has a new fund and a new community for founders

There is a growing movement of software designed to help creators start their businesses. Substack of course has gotten the most attention in Silicon Valley, with a platform designed mostly around email newsletter subscriptions. Pico, meanwhile, has focused on building out more of the infrastructure of the creator business through a CRM that integrates with most other platform. Patreon handles more of the payments and revenue engagement of fans.

Circle may end up touching on those areas, but today, wants to be the destination where you send all of your creators in between newsletters or blog posts or Instragrams. It’s a smart part of the creator stack to play in, and with strong early customer enthusiasm and a chunk of funding, seems ready to make a mark in this burgeoning market.