Hi Reader,

Let's be honest. Growing an email list (the kind that actually buys) can feel like a grind.

But maybe it’s not a content problem—it’s a strategy problem.

This week, I’m sharing ways to grow your audience without creating more content—and how to test your next big offer before you spend weeks building it.

These low-effort, high-impact strategies have helped creators grow faster and sell smarter, with way less stress.

Here’s what’s inside this issue:​
🎧 A new podcast episode on using audience borrowing to build your list—without ads
📚 Bookmark-worthy advice on validating offers before you create them
💸 An invitation to earn passive income this summer by promoting high-converting memberships

Let’s jump in!

🎧 NEW EPISODE

Struggling to grow your email list—despite creating great content?

This week's Creator’s MBA podcast flips the usual advice on its head.

Instead of telling you to churn out more content, I’m sharing a smarter strategy: how to ethically borrow other people’s audiences to grow your list with subscribers who actually want what you offer.

These are the same four methods I’ve used to help creators grow thriving lists—without ads, burnout, or posting 24/7.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why audience borrowing beats constant content creation
• How to land newsletter swaps (even with a tiny list)
• The right way to join content bundles that bring real leads
• When podcast guesting pays off—and when to skip it
• How to land summit speaking spots that grow your list
• A step-by-step 5-month action plan to put it all into play

👉 And to make it super easy for you, I’ve created a free Collaboration App where you can instantly connect with aligned creators and find your perfect newsletter swap or freebie swap partner. Check it out here.​

Whether you’re just getting started or ready to scale, this episode gives you the roadmap—and the tools—to grow faster by collaborating smarter.

🎙️Listen in here: Website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.​

📚 BOOKMARK THIS

If you’re struggling to find audience fit for your signature offer, even after surveys, you’re not alone.

Several Digital Product Growth Lab members have been in this exact spot lately.

They’ve done the “right things” like polling their audience, but still feel unsure whether their offer will actually sell.

Here’s what I tell them:

🚧 Don’t fully build the offer until you’ve validated interest.

This is where so many business owners waste time (and energy). You don’t need to create a full-blown signature course or map out 12 months of membership content before you launch.

In fact, doing that too early can lead to a lot of frustration, especially if your audience doesn’t actually want that offer.

What you need first is proof of interest and intent. That could look like:

• People saying “yes” with their wallets, not just survey responses
• Low-lift test offers like mini-courses, bundles, or tripwire funnels
• Putting your offer as an upsell in a funnel (like I did with the Craft & Create Club) to gauge response
• Promoting a related affiliate product to see what your audience actually buys

Once you get that early traction, then you can confidently build out the full version, knowing you’re creating something people already want.

This saves you time, prevents burnout, and gives you momentum to keep going.

🎧 Need help working through this?

I bring a unique perspective from running successful businesses in both the B2C (HobbyScool) and B2B spaces. That means I don’t just teach theory, I test these strategies across different audiences and business models every week.

If you want to think through audience fit, test ideas, or refine your offer, I offer Voxer coaching every Wednesday. It’s a full day of voice and text support where we troubleshoot and strategize all day.

​Learn more here →​

☀️ WANT TO EARN SOME PASSIVE AFFILIATE INCOME THIS SUMMER?

As we head into the slower summer months, it’s the perfect time to add some steady, low-effort income to your business.

Whether you're on vacation or just stepping back from launches, affiliate income can keep your revenue steady in the background.

This year alone, I’ve paid out over $18k in affiliate commissions and that’s just from one of my ThriveCart accounts.

If you have an audience of creators, hobbyists, or online business owners, I’d love to partner with you as an affiliate for any of my memberships:

🎨 HobbyScool Craft & Create Club: Perfect for crafters and DIY enthusiasts. I can set up a high-converting campaign (just for you) that gives new members a $70 HobbyScool gift card with annual or lifetime plans, making it feel like they’re getting the membership free!

🧵 HobbyScool Part-Time Passion Club: Great for hobbyists ready to turn their passions into income with digital products or online teaching all with the help of AI.

📨 Newsletter Profit Club: Designed for business owners growing and monetizing their newsletters with affiliate offers, sponsorships, and product sales.

🚀 Digital Product Growth Lab: Ideal for business owners creating digital products and scaling digital product revenue with AI assistance.

Want help with conversions? I can set up a special marketing campaign just for you, run a JV webinar, or help you set up an evergreen webinar funnel tailored to your audience.

📩 Interested?

Just reply with the word AFFILIATE and I’ll help you get set up with a promo plan that works for your audience or set up some time to chat here.

You earn 30% MRR or 30% on lifetime sales. We’ll plan the right promo strategy together, whether you want a quick win or a long-term revenue stream.

Let’s make this your most profitable summer yet. 🌴

Before you go...

I’d love to know more about you—your business, your goals, and where you could use support.

What’s the ONE thing you’d love to solve in your business this summer?

Hit reply and let me know. I read every message and always do my best to point you in the right direction (whether it’s a resource, a strategy, or just a little encouragement).

Talk soon,
Destini

Coach, Newsletter Profit Club & Digital Product Growth Lab

Host, Creator's MBA Podcast

Dr. Destini Copp Certified Business Growth Coach for Digital Product Entrepreneurs