Happy Subscribers

Episode Summary:

Segmentation might sound really "techy," and while it is and there are technical elements, ultimately it's an opportunity for you to organize your subscribers based on HOW they want to hear from you and WHAT they want to hear from you.

By segmenting your email list, you're creating a happier environment for your subscribers to thrive in — giving them the content they want and excluding the content that they don't want.

Not only does this make you look like a really compassionate creator, it will also benefit you with higher engagement (open and click rates), because people getting your emails are the people who want to get those emails. A win-win!

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How to think about segmentation like you think of your own friendships (this makes it way easier to understand!)

• A few strategies on how you can segment your list

• A real-life example of how Pinch of Yum has segmented their list specifically for beginner home cooks

Want to learn HOW to segment your list? Get my on-demand workshop replay — whether you use Kit, Flodesk or MailerLite — to help you set up your own segmentation system in only 50 minutes: duett.co/trainings

Check out this episode's blog post Episode Resources: On-Demand Segmentation Workshop ReplayFree Duett Resources Other Resources:Join the Duett newsletter Check out Duett Services Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

What do you do when the world around your work feels out of your control? When the blogging landscape shifts… Algorithms change… Goals you used to chase don't feel as motivating anymore… You're also… tired? In this episode of Happy Subscribers, I'm joined by Danielle McGeough, Ph.D. — mom, professor, and women-centered coach who helps women in high-pressure jobs pursue bold goals without losing themselves. I asked her about burnout, what causes it, and some solid ways to prevent (and intervene, if you're already in it) so we can keep building our businesses and feel connected to our work in a meaningful way. If you're an ambitious creator, influencer, or business owner, come learn about:

• Why more habits isn't always the answer to doing work or life well
• The lost art of commuting to destress (and what works instead)
• Purposefully transitioning from role to role (like that 9am shift from stay-at-home cat mom to business owner… who me?)
• What can be automated, and what shouldn't be
• How to build a ritual of "presence" to keep you connected to your work

Tune in as Danielle shares with us small edits that will help your work feel steady, intentional, and sustainable — even if the digital (or physical) landscape has you feeling shaky.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Danielle:Instagram Stuck Assessment Episode Resources: Free Duett Resources Book a FREE Discovery Call Other Resources:Join the Duett newsletter Check out Duett Services Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Curious how to grow your list, boost conversions with simple shifts, and use AI without losing your connection with your audience?

Today's episode is a little different — I'm sharing a guest interview where I joined Tracy Beaver on her podcast, Create Online Business Success.

Tracy was a guest on Happy Subscribers in 2025, and this time we flipped the roles.

We talk honestly about what's shifting in the online space, how AI can support (not replace) your voice, and the simple adjustments that can make a big difference in your list growth and conversions.

If you're thinking about how to stay human while navigating AI — this one's for you.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The most effective ways to grow your list in the age of AI
• How to make more money by improving subscriber experience
• Simple ways to turn subscribers into loyal fans and buyers

Episode Resources: Free Duett Resources Other Resources:

Join the Duett newsletter Check out Duett Services Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Most people don't come to me simply asking for "more emails." Clients often come to me because they don't know what's actually happening inside their email marketing — and that's kind of stressful. Like walking around in the dark without a flashlight. You want to know it's working — and you want a better plan going forward. Like, a real plan, a what-I-need-for-my-business email strategy. In this solo episode of Happy Subscribers, I'm sharing all of the details of what it's like to work with me and my team. Specifically, the "Duett Process" that started this business (literally). If you've ever wondered how an agency could nail your voice, know what to send your audience, or really incorporate your business goals — for sales, traffic and audience connection — into your ongoing email strategy… I'm about to tell you how. We do follow this process all the time. This is the Duett Process — the system I've refined since 2019 — and the reason our welcome sequences average 9%+ click rates. My goal has always been to make it easy on my clients, give them the emails they want (that sound like them!), and a tech system setup they didn't have to figure out and set up themselves. If you've ever been curious what it actually looks like to hire help for your email strategy, copywriting, and email setup, this episode is your behind-the-scenes look at how we "Duett." (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

Check out this episode's blog post Episode Resources: Free Duett Resources Join the Duett newsletter Check out Duett Services Book a FREE Discovery Call Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

It's not every day that I get to rave about getting to listen to a lawyer talk about affiliate disclosures, accessibility compliance, and privacy policies.

And yet… here we are. Excited!

In this episode of Happy Subscribers, I'm joined by creator lawyer Brittany Ratelle (aka the Fine Printcess) to talk about something most of us would rather ignore: the legal blind spots in our online businesses.

What started as me wanting to get clear on affiliate disclosures in emails… became a LOT more.

Because the truth is:

We don't know what we don't know.

And unfortunately, "blissful ignorance" is not a great legal strategy.

Brittany walks us through the foundational pieces every online business owner needs — from LLC setup to contracts, privacy policies, website accessibility, and the very real lawsuits happening right now around tracking pixels and SMS marketing.

She shares what she's actually seeing in the wild (yes, horror stories included), how small businesses are being targeted, and what you can do now to protect your business, your income, and your peace.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Why setting up an LLC isn't enough if you're not actually using it correctly.
• What needs to be in your email footer.
• The rules on affiliate disclosures in 2026.
• What website accessibility really means (and why "having a plugin" isn't a guarantee).
• The difference between being legally "fine"… and being legally legit.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Brittany:Instagram Website Episode Resources: Mike Zielonka's Happy Subscribers Episode Duett Free Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Freebies are supposed to help grow your business but too often, they just collect downloads… and dust.

In this episode, I'm joined by brand strategist, former Disney storyteller, and author Annie Franceschi to unpack why so many lead magnets fail and what actually makes a freebie work.

Annie shares her Smart Freebie Formula: a simple, thoughtful framework for creating lead magnets that don't just grow your list, but attract the right people — the ones who are most likely to become paying clients.

This conversation is especially for creators and service providers who:

• Feel like they've "given everything away" for free
• Have lead magnets that grow subscriberS but not sales
• Want to feel proud of what they're offering and confident sharing it

We talk honestly about over teaching, being "helpful vs. hireable," and how to design freebies that respect your audience and your expertise.

If you've ever wondered whether your freebie is doing too much… or not enough — this episode will change how you think about lead magnets and help you build ones that actually support your business goals, not just your list size.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Annie:The Referral Message Creator Freebie Establish Yourself Podcast Instagram Episode Resources: Duett Free Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

"If you can't explain why someone should choose you, your marketing has to work twice as hard." - Rich Brooks

Most creators don't need MORE marketing ideas.

They need a clearer answer to one question: "Why should someone choose me?"

In this episode, I'm joined by Rich Brooks (founder of Flight New Media and host of The Agents of Change podcast) to talk about how to differentiate your business online especially now, when AI makes it easier than ever to sound like everyone else.

Rich shares his Remarkability Formula: four practical "lenses" you can use to uncover what already makes you stand out (or what you can build) so your marketing gets simpler, your message gets sharper, and your audience knows exactly why YOU matter to THEM.

And yes — we bring it back to email, because once you know what makes you remarkable, writing emails (and creating content) gets a whole lot easier.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Why your marketing feels harder than it needs to be.
• How your most powerful differentiator is probably something you're already doing — you just haven't named it yet.
• Why narrowing your focus doesn't limit your business — it makes you easier to remember (and easier to choose).
• That you don't need a new offer to stand out (sometimes you need a better way to frame what you already do.)
• How when your positioning is clear, writing emails stops feeling like a guessing game.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Rich: The Remarkability Formula Workbook Agents of Change LinkedIn Episode Resources: Duett Free Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

When I launched my podcast, I used Instagram, LinkedIn, and relationships with my peers in the online space to get the word out. You know what I never considered using?

Pinterest. Thanks to Andi Smiley, the podcast coach behind Friendly Podcast Guide, I got to learn about how to do this correctly, in a really sustainable way. Andi proves that Pinterest is a great way to get more listeners (and therefore more clients) when you have a podcast — but in very little time each month. Yay! Andi relies on Pinterest and email marketing to grow her listenership — and in this interview with her, we dive into how she's been using email (almost exclusively) to sell her latest offer. BONUS: I coached Andi on how to use email marketing and copywriting strategies to fill her last two spots for her new done-for-you offer. She didn't see that coming, nor did I, but it was fun for both of us!

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How Pinterest can quietly boost your podcast downloads over time
• Why Andi relies on email marketing more than social media to sell her offers
• The email strategy shifts that Allea suggested to help Andi fill her last two DFY client spots 🎁

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Andi:"Is Pinterest Right for Me?" Checklist Threads Pinterest Podcast Episode Resources: Free Duett Resources

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Most creators are sitting on years of valuable content — blog posts, emails, social captions, podcast episodes — but rarely stop to ask: "What content of mine deserves more attention?" "How could I package my ideas into a new revenue stream?" That's exactly why I invited workshop strategist Jake Wysocki from Intention Craft onto the podcast. This episode isn't just about "how to run a workshop." It's about something bigger: how to identify the content your audience is already engaged with, validate what they actually want (and could pay for), and use live connection to deepen trust. Jake brings a thoughtful, human-centered approach — along with the data of your email stats and engagement — to help identify what your audience will remember (and respond to) in a live workshop event. Tune in to this episode — even if workshops aren't even on your radar — because you'll learn how to:

• Mine your existing content (blog posts, emails, podcast episodes) for topics your audience would actually pay attention to.
• Validate ideas with your list before you invest time creating anything (whether free or paid)
• Use live connection (even in simple, low-ticket formats) to build deeper relationships with readers
• Choose ideas that support your bigger business goals — not distract from them
• Create a small, paid or free workshop that builds relationships with readers in a way a blog post or Reel just can't.

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Jake:Book a FREE 1:1 45 minute session with Jake Episode Resources: John Meese's Interview with Allea The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert

Episode Summary:

Amy Reid has cracked the reader-relationship code with her subscribers — and you better bet that I dug in when I got her on the Happy Subscribers podcast this week!

As a baking recipe blogger, Amy has locked in on what her readers want, engaged with them 1:1 through email replies, and prioritizes email marketing as her favorite way to connect with her audience. (Dawwww! ❤️)

In Fall of 2025, Amy didn't just launch a cookbook — she found out how truly engaged (and willing to spend their hard-earned money) her email community is. Her first pre-order email generated 300+ sales in 24 hours… all because she's been nurturing her list long before she asked for the sale (what she calls "the plea" 😂)

Amy proves that strong relationships + thoughtful email strategy = real results.

Not overnight. Not from a viral reel.

But from genuine connection, built over time.

Tune in to hear how she does it — and what you can borrow for your own email strategy.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How her readers helped her find the vision (and topic) for writing her first cookbook
• What's in her welcome sequence that connects with new subscribers so deeply, so fast
• How she organized, assigned recipes, and got feedback from the 300 recipe testers on her email list
• The heartbreak of doing a cold subscriber clean-up (and whether it's worth it)
• How Amy's using AI to support her writing — while also keeping email personal by sharing anecdotes with her recipes

Check out this episode's blog post Connect with Amy:Instagram Scottish Bakes Cookbook Join Amy's Newsletter Episode Resources: Duett Free Resources Join the Duett Newsletter

Duett Services:

Email Strategy Playbook - A fresh set of eyes and insight into your current email marketing

The Duett Debut - Done for you email copywrting & automation setup

Ready, Set, EMAIL - Quick & custom email setup to grow and send your newsletter fast

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Instagram @alleagrummert