Six-Month Project Plan: AI for Squishy Humans

Overview

This plan outlines a strategic approach to grow "AI for Squishy Humans" from 94 to 500 subscribers over six months while working within a 3-4 hour weekly time constraint. The plan balances content creation with targeted marketing activities.

Current Statistics

• Subscribers: 94
• Popular Content: Image Generators, NotebookLM, Goblin Tools
• Publishing Schedule: Blog posts every second Monday, newsletters every second Wednesday
• Time Available: 3-4 hours per week

Monthly Focus Areas

Month 1: Foundation Strengthening

Content Strategy

• Blog Posts:
  1. AI for Creative Writing: How to use AI to overcome writer's block while preserving your unique voice (based on popular Goblin Tools article)
  2. Udio/Suno Deep Dive: Audio generation tools for podcasters, musicians, and content creators

Marketing Activities

• Newsletter Optimisation: Create a compelling lead magnet (e.g., "5-Minute AI Workflows for Creatives" cheat sheet)
• WordPress SEO: Install and configure an SEO plugin (like Yoast) and optimise existing posts (30 minutes)
• Social Repurposing: Start resharing blog content as LinkedIn carousel posts (30 minutes per post)

Action Steps

• Week 1: Create lead magnet and configure SEO plugin
• Week 2: Write and publish AI for Creative Writing post, share on LinkedIn
• Week 3: Create newsletter, repurpose blog post for LinkedIn carousel
• Week 4: Research and draft Udio/Suno post

Month 2: Audience Expansion

Content Strategy

• Blog Posts:
  1. HeyGen Tool Analysis: Creating professional videos without filming (perfect for camera-shy creators)
  2. AI Personal Assistant Setup: A step-by-step guide to automating admin tasks (email, scheduling, customer service)

Marketing Activities

• Cross-Platform Sharing: Begin posting content snippets on Instagram and Facebook with links (20 minutes)
• Newsletter Swap: Identify 2-3 complementary newsletters for potential swaps (30 minutes)
• Comment Networking: Engage with similar blogs/newsletters and leave thoughtful comments with signature linking to your blog (15 minutes, 3x weekly)

Action Steps

• Week 1: Write and publish HeyGen post, create social snippets
• Week 2: Create newsletter, research newsletter swap partners
• Week 3: Begin comment networking, reach out to potential swap partners
• Week 4: Write and publish AI Personal Assistant post

Month 3: Content Optimisation

Content Strategy

• Blog Posts:
  1. Case Study: Graphic Designer's AI Toolkit - Real-world example of how designers can use AI tools
  2. Google Data Studio Tutorial - Creating beautiful reports and visualisations for creative businesses

Marketing Activities

• Pinterest Strategy: Create Pinterest account with 5-10 pins linking to blog posts (60 minutes setup, 15 minutes weekly maintenance)
• Execute Newsletter Swap: Run first newsletter cross-promotion with partner
• Quora/Reddit Participation: Answer relevant questions on AI for creatives, linking to blog posts when appropriate (30 minutes weekly)

Action Steps

• Week 1: Write and publish Designer's AI Toolkit post, set up Pinterest
• Week 2: Create newsletter, finalise first newsletter swap
• Week 3: Begin Quora/Reddit participation
• Week 4: Write and publish Google Data Studio post

Month 4: Community Building

Content Strategy

• Blog Posts:
  1. AI Ethics for Creatives: Addressing ownership concerns and ethical considerations
  2. Otter.ai Deep Dive: Transcription and meeting tools for coaches and consultants

Marketing Activities

• Reader Survey: Create a short survey to understand subscriber needs better (30 minutes to create, 30 minutes to analyse)
• Referral Programme: Implement a simple "refer-a-friend" system in your newsletter (60 minutes)
• Guest Post: Write one guest post for a complementary blog (90 minutes)

Action Steps

• Week 1: Write and publish AI Ethics post, create reader survey
• Week 2: Create newsletter with survey link, design referral programme
• Week 3: Prepare and pitch guest post, analyse survey results
• Week 4: Write and publish Otter.ai post, implement referral programme

Month 5: Monetisation Groundwork

Content Strategy

• Blog Posts:
  1. Case Study: Solopreneur's Daily AI Routine - How a busy entrepreneur uses AI tools throughout their day
  2. InVideo Tutorial: Creating professional video content with AI assistance

Marketing Activities

• Mini-Course Planning: Begin outlining a paid mini-course based on your most popular content (60 minutes)
• Twitter/X Thread Strategy: Create 1-2 informative threads summarising blog posts (45 minutes)
• Podcast Appearances: Pitch yourself as a guest on 2-3 creative entrepreneurship podcasts (30 minutes)

Action Steps

• Week 1: Write and publish Solopreneur's Daily AI Routine post, begin mini-course outline
• Week 2: Create newsletter, write first Twitter/X thread
• Week 3: Research and pitch podcasts
• Week 4: Write and publish InVideo tutorial, continue mini-course planning

Month 6: Growth Acceleration

Content Strategy

• Blog Posts:
  1. AI for Client Management: Using AI to improve client communication and project management
  2. Six Months of AI Evolution: Reflecting on changes in the AI landscape and updated recommendations

Marketing Activities

• Webinar Planning: Organise a free webinar on your most popular topic (90 minutes planning)
• Testimonial Collection: Request feedback from engaged subscribers (30 minutes)
• Growth Assessment: Analyse subscriber growth and content performance to plan next six months (60 minutes)

Action Steps

• Week 1: Write and publish AI for Client Management post, begin webinar planning
• Week 2: Create newsletter, collect testimonials
• Week 3: Finalise webinar details, promote to subscribers
• Week 4: Write and publish Six Months of AI Evolution post, conduct growth assessment

Content Calendar Ideas

AI Tool Deep Dives

1. Udio/Suno (audio generation)
2. HeyGen (video creation)
3. Otter.ai (transcription and meeting tools)
4. Google Data Studio (visualisation and reporting)
5. InVideo (video editing with AI)
6. Anthropic's Claude (specifically for creative prompting)
7. Notion AI (document and workflow management)
8. Midjourney v6 updates (for visual artists)
9. D-ID (talking avatars for coaches/consultants)
10. Synthesia (video creation without cameras)
11. Descript (podcast and video editing)
12. RunwayML (video editing and generation)

Use Case Articles

1. AI for Creative Writing (overcoming blocks while maintaining voice)
2. Setting Up Your AI Personal Assistant
3. The Graphic Designer's AI Toolkit
4. AI Ethics for Creatives
5. Solopreneur's Daily AI Routine
6. AI for Client Management
7. AI for Social Media Content Batching
8. Using AI for Product Description Writing
9. AI-Assisted Course Creation for Coaches
10. Streamlining Blog Research with AI
11. AI Tools for Email Marketing Optimisation
12. Using AI for Creative Feedback and Editing

Marketing Timeline Integration

Weekly Recurring Tasks (30-45 minutes total)

• Monday (Week of Publication): Publish blog post, share on LinkedIn
• Tuesday: Create social snippets for Instagram/Facebook
• Wednesday: Send newsletter, engage with comments
• Thursday: Create/schedule Pinterest pin for latest post
• Friday: 15 minutes of community engagement (Quora/Reddit/Comments)

Monthly Activities

• First Week: Analyse previous month's performance metrics
• Second Week: Implement one new marketing tactic
• Last Week: Plan content and marketing for upcoming month

Growth Tracking

Set up a simple spreadsheet to track:

• Weekly subscriber count
• Post views and engagement
• Referral sources
• Email open/click rates

Review these metrics monthly to identify successful strategies and areas for improvement.

Time Management Breakdown

• Content Creation: 2-2.5 hours per week
• Newsletter Production: 1 hour per week (weeks with newsletters)
• Marketing Activities: 30-45 minutes per week
• Analysis & Planning: 30 minutes per month

Next Steps

1. Create your lead magnet (Month 1, Week 1)
2. Set up SEO plugin and optimise existing posts
3. Begin planning your first new article under this strategy
4. Set up simple growth tracking spreadsheet