Substack publication 'The Free Press,' a blog started in 2022, has grown to around 15M a year in revenue, and is now in talks to be acquired by Paramount for $200M (and founder Bari Weiss given an exec role at CBS News). I've predicted blogging is back for several years - thanks mostly to email and the fact that Substack and Beehiiv got distribution right. It turns out independent media can thrive in an environment even when social platforms like this one, Meta and Twitter/X throttle our hyperlinks. I honestly think it's a loss for these products to not show them as often as they do. As many users here are simply less informed, less educated and stuck in algo-generated filter bubbles. Of course, this isn't everyone. The smartest internet users are looking to things like email where there's less algo interference. You hope the big tech platforms catch on and remember hyperlinks are important again, at some point this will be a liability for them jamming the plumbing of the web. Anyway - if you want to start a blog, it's never been a better time. We have so much validation all around us. You can even be well-compensated for your work this time. The internet is great if you play the right games.
Substack's 'The Free Press' to be acquired by Paramount for $200M
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Most creators fight the algorithm Smart creators leverage it instead. LinkedIn's algorithm isn't secret, but they drop hints everywhere. Here's how it works 👇 Initial Filter ↳ Every post gets labeled: Spam, Low Quality, or High Quality ↳ Early engagement determines everything The Golden Hour ↳ Your closest connections see it first ↳ Weak performance = limited reach ↳ Comments & shares > likes Quality Signals ↳ Longer dwell time = wider distribution ↳ Solving real problems beats personal stories ↳ Fresh posts beat older ones (24-48 hour peak) Distribution Factors ↳ Smart tagging boosts visibility ↳ External links tank your reach ↳ Comments can revive dying posts The algorithm learns your patterns. It personalizes feeds based on behavior. It's not your enemy—it's a megaphone for great content. Use it wisely. P.S. Which algorithm insight surprised you most? ♻️ Repost to help your network 📥 Save this for your content playbook
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I study the top creators to talk about backlinks And here’s the one thing they’re not telling you Guest posting is better than link insertions.Why? Because when you actually create something valuable an article that’s humanized, well-researched, and contextually natural ,Google doesn’t just see a backlink it sees a piece of content that deserves to rank. 👉 Guest posts let you shape the narrative. 👉 You get to choose the anchor, the context, the authority. 👉 And most importantly, you build trust with both readers and algorithms. A dropped-in link might tick a box today. But a guest post that adds genuine value? That keeps paying you tomorrow. So if you’re still debating insertion vs. creation… Remember this: in 2025, humanized content wins. What’s your take? Do you still prefer the quick insertion route, or do you believe in playing the long game with guest posting?
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💡 Never run out of content ideas by doing this: 1️⃣ Search questions people ask in your niche to get answers 2️⃣ See what others post, use those results to ask more specific questions 3️⃣ Improve posts you, adding your unique twist. The breakdown: https://twp.ai/9PTyeH
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Me thinking to “crack” the LinkedIn algorithm? Every week, I see creators, freelancers, and professionals chasing the next “hack” for more reach. Best posting time Right hashtags Comment pods Post length Yes, these things can help. But let’s be honest: the algorithm is not your client, your boss, or your audience. The real question isn’t “How do I beat the algorithm?” It’s “How do I create content that people actually care about?” If your posts solve problems, share insights, or tell stories that others relate to, the algorithm will work with you, not against you. Focus on value, not vanity. Build relationships, not just impressions. Share consistency, not shortcuts. So next time you think of “cracking the algorithm,” ask yourself: What do you think, is it the algorithm holding people back, or the way they create content?
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Post Everywhere, Automatically! This template shows how you can schedule and publish content across TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube, and Pinterest, all from one workflow. Just set up your Google Sheet with posts marked as “Ready to Post,” and the system will handle everything from fetching media files to publishing them on multiple platforms. What it does: Checks every 3 hours for new content marked “Ready to Post” Pulls media from Google Drive Uploads to your Blotato account Publishes automatically across all connected platforms Updates post status once complete Platform-specific notes ensure your posts meet best practices for each channel, so your content looks great everywhere, whether it’s videos on TikTok, carousels on Instagram, or pins on Pinterest. No more logging into each account, just set it once and let automation do the heavy lifting.
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🌍 Post Everywhere, Automatically! This template shows how you can schedule and publish content across TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube, and Pinterest, all from one workflow. Just set up your Google Sheet with posts marked as “Ready to Post,” and the system will handle everything from fetching media files to publishing them on multiple platforms. What it does: Checks every 3 hours for new content marked “Ready to Post” Pulls media from Google Drive Uploads to your Blotato account Publishes automatically across all connected platforms Updates post status once complete Platform-specific notes ensure your posts meet best practices for each channel, so your content looks great everywhere, whether it’s videos on TikTok, carousels on Instagram, or pins on Pinterest. No more logging into each account, just set it once and let automation do the heavy lifting.
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I had one of those conversations recently that made me rethink a known channel in a completely new way: Reddit. Many founders I meet think about marketing on LinkedIn, X, or maybe Instagram. Reddit rarely makes the cut. But Reddit is becoming a powerhouse for SEO and LLM optimization (how large language models “learn” which sources to trust). My new friend Paul Xue has built an entire business around this idea. In just 7 months, he's helping more than 30 clients and has already grown to a team of 4. His clients are investing in Reddit because they see the value in building durable brand presence where buyers (and algorithms) are paying attention. Why this stuck with me: ➡️ Most startups underinvest in future visibility. They’re focused on channels with immediate ROI, but miss where their buyers (and AI) are quietly forming impressions. ➡️ SEO is changing - keywords and backlinks alone won't cut it. You need to show up in the places that LLMs and decision-makers both trust. On its own, Reddit/SEO/LLM optimization is a powerful channel. But layered into a strategy with the right messaging, positioning, and growth levers, it can be a game-changer. Tactics deliver exponential value when they sit inside a clear strategic framework. Curious — has anyone here actually tested Reddit as part of their growth playbook?
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How The Linkedin Algorithm Works Credits to MJ Jaindl follow for more impactful content. -------------- Here's the original post Most creators fight the algorithm Smart creators leverage it instead. LinkedIn's algorithm isn't secret, but they drop hints everywhere. Here's how it works 👇 Initial Filter ↳ Every post gets labeled: Spam, Low Quality, or High Quality ↳ Early engagement determines everything The Golden Hour ↳ Your closest connections see it first ↳ Weak performance = limited reach ↳ Comments & shares > likes Quality Signals ↳ Longer dwell time = wider distribution ↳ Solving real problems beats personal stories ↳ Fresh posts beat older ones (24-48 hour peak) Distribution Factors ↳ Smart tagging boosts visibility ↳ External links tank your reach ↳ Comments can revive dying posts The algorithm learns your patterns. It personalizes feeds based on behavior. It's not your enemy—it's a megaphone for great content. Use it wisely. P.S. Which algorithm insight surprised you most? ------------------ Repost to share with your network ♻️. And follow Friday Founders for more like this. .
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Everyone thinks the YouTube algorithm is a mystical beast that either blesses you with views or buries your content forever. For years, I believed that too. I'd chase the latest trends, use every viral sound, and try to hack the system. I was creating content for a machine, not a human. And then I read "The YouTube Formula" by Derral Eves. It completely flipped my thinking. The core idea is simple, but it's a game-changer: Stop trying to please the algorithm. Obsessively serve one person. This isn't about ignoring the data. It's about using the data to serve your audience better. The algorithm isn't your enemy; it's a tool designed to connect viewers with content they'll love. When you create content for one specific human, a "perfect viewer" in your mind, something powerful happens: Your message becomes laser-focused. Instead of trying to be "broadly appealing," you get hyper-specific. You address that person's exact problem, speak their language, and answer their deep questions. You build an unbreakable bond. When someone feels like you're speaking directly to them, they don't just watch your videos—they become a fan. They trust you. They tell their friends. They become your evangelists. The algorithm rewards you naturally. When you create content that deeply resonates with one person, that person's behavior—their watch time, likes, comments, and shares—sends a clear signal to the algorithm: "This video is amazing. Show it to more people like me." This is the real "formula." It’s not about some secret hack or keyword trick. It's about moving from a mindset of "getting views" to a mindset of "providing value." Your perfect viewer is out there. Find them, create for them, and the algorithm will take care of the rest.
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Most people don’t have a content problem. They have a listening problem. Buyers are screaming their pain every day on YouTube, Reddit, Amazon, Twitter, and LinkedIn. But creators keep staring at blank pages waiting for “inspiration.” That’s not how content works. You don’t invent ideas. You mine them. This cheat sheet breaks down 13 sources where your audience is already talking. You just need to tune in and repurpose what they’re saying. No fancy frameworks. No “content strategy.” Just real language from real people. → Save this and pick one source per day. → That’s your next 90 LinkedIn posts sorted.
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