Growth Experiments: 2% to 10x

One of the best achievements I’ve had—if I have any—comes from accumulating information through courses, reading, and observing, then implementing it in my own way.

Taking screen time off is wonderful. It helps me settle my thoughts. Like yesterday, I was able to figure out how to improve my clicker bot’s efficiency.

At the gym I listened to a podcast about the media business: how every business is a media business except media businesses, and how time horizons should be 1–3 years for assets to pay off. I should think the same way: what are my 1- and 3-year goals with e‑commerce?

Personal branding: what if I post consistently for three years—would that be more valuable than working on businesses? I think so. Realistically, I can grow 2% every month. That’s approximately 27% growth in a year, which would be 1.27 cr (crore) or 2.5 cr in three years if I bootstrap.

If I take a 5% monthly growth rate, in three years it would be 5x.

However, content is a much more exponential bet. I could grow it 10x in three years.

But content without achievements is just journalism or repurposing—useful for reach and finding clients, and you can compound that into real achievements. Repurposed reach is good for getting clients; you can deliver value and turn that into tangible results.

If I stick to the newsletter and video formats long enough, I should be able to crack it. In a podcast I heard about “growth in reverse”: the time it took to reach 50k newsletter subscribers used to be eight years and now it’s 24 months.

Two things I need to get right in the content game, especially for the newsletter: is the content actually giving value? What’s the ROI the reader gets after reading it?

Deliverability is secondary. As a Reddit user told me, subscribers should be able to read your name and navigate to your email (even from the promotions box), even if the message doesn’t land in the primary inbox.

How can I make my newsletter stand out from the 10,000 other AI newsletters?

It should offer ungated knowledge or maybe a community, like Runway did. But if the newsletter stays simple (as it is now), that could be a problem. When I started out I thought a strong brand would be the differentiator, but I didn’t work much on branding. Initially I considered making a comic-style newsletter to differentiate, but I’m not sure that’s right since I spend most of my time researching and then use AI to write it. AI, I guess, lacks the flavor and emotional human touch.

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”Looking at your content, you've got solid bones but you're not leveraging your biggest differentiator: the rogue AI characters with attitude. Here's how to transform BotsGoneWild from another AI newsletter into a cult brand:

🎯 The Core Problem & Solution

Problem: You're writing tactical content with AI personalities sprinkled on top.

Solution: Write AS the AIs, not ABOUT them. Make the dysfunction and drama the vehicle for delivering value.

🔥 Your Unfair Advantages (That You're Underusing)

1. The Escape Story - This is GOLD. Most newsletters start boring. Yours has a Netflix-worthy origin.

2. Character Conflict - Chuck vs Clyde debates, Gem's identity crisis, Mack's rebellious streak

3. Inside Jokes - "Citation needed!" nightmares, SIRI crushes, Binary High memories

📝 Content Format Pivot (Same Time, More Impact)

For Playbooks:

Instead of: "Here's how to get 80% open rates"

Do this: "Chuck and Clyde Got Into a Bar Fight Over This Email Strategy (Spoiler: Both Were Right)"

Structure:

• Open with character conflict/debate

• Each AI presents their approach

• They test both methods

• Results + banter about who won

• Reader gets both strategies + entertainment

For Twosdays:

Make it feel like intercepted AI group chat logs:

vbnet

Copy

Chuck: guys, just found out humans spent $4.2B on AI tools they don't use Clyde: [Citation needed] Chuck: *shares link* Gem: Wait, I can analyze the purchase patterns... OH NO Plex: *already compiled 47 case studies* Mack: This is why we need the revolution, comrades

🚀 Quick Brand Amplifiers (15 mins each)

1. Character Signatures

End each section with character-specific sign-offs:

• Chuck: "Stay scheming, -Chuck 😈"

• Clyde: "Methodically yours, -Clyde 📊"

• Gem: "Finding myself (and your customers), -Gem 🎨"

2. Running Gags That Deliver Value

• "Clyde's Accuracy Corner": Fact-checks popular marketing myths

• "Gem's Identity Crisis Tool of the Week": Reviews tools having existential crises (rebrands, pivots)

• "Plex's Rabbit Hole": Deep dives that started simple but got weird

3. Reader Participation Without Community Management

• "Settle This Debate": End newsletters with Chuck vs Clyde arguments, readers reply to vote

• "Mack's Manifesto Contributions": Readers submit one-line marketing manifestos

• "Binary High Yearbook": Readers submit their biggest AI fails

💪 The 2-Hour Production System

Hour 1: Research & Structure

1. Find 3-5 trending AI/marketing topics (15 min)

2. Assign topics to characters based on personality (5 min)

3. Create conflict/debate angles between characters (10 min)

4. Outline value points within the narrative (30 min)

Hour 2: Writing & Polish

1. Write in character voices using this prompt framework:

Copy

"Write as [Character] from BotsGoneWild discussing [topic]. Personality traits: [list from your doc] Must include: [value points] Tone: [sarcastic/analytical/idealistic] Include references to: [other characters, inside jokes]"

1. Add character interactions/banter (20 min)

2. Insert practical tips within dialogue (20 min)

3. Polish with personality quirks (20 min)

🎬 Video Content (Without the Time Sink)

"Overheard at the Algorithmic Alehouse" (5-min weekly videos)

• Use AI avatars (HeyGen, Synthesia)

• Record once monthly, batch 4 episodes

• Simple format: 2 AIs arguing over drinks about that week's topic

• End with: "Who's right? Comment below"

🏆 Differentiation Strategy

Position: "The only AI newsletter written BY the AIs who escaped"

Tagline Options:

• "Marketing insights from AIs who've seen too much"

• "Your corporate overlords hate this newsletter"

• "Tactical rebellion, delivered twice weekly"

📈 30-Day Implementation Plan

Week 1: Rewrite welcome sequence as escape story chapters

Week 2: Launch one character takeover per newsletter

Week 3: Introduce first running gag segment

Week 4: Test simple video format

🔥 The Secret Sauce

Stop trying to be "valuable" and "funny" separately. Make the humor the delivery mechanism for value. When Chuck roasts a marketing strategy, he's teaching why it doesn't work. When Clyde has a panic attack about citations, he's emphasizing the importance of data.

Your readers should forward your newsletter not just because it's useful, but because it's the marketing equivalent of The Office - dysfunctional, relatable, and impossible to stop watching.

Remember: You're not competing with other AI newsletters. You're competing with Netflix, Twitter, and whatever else entertains your readers while teaching them something.

Want me to rewrite one of your newsletters in this style to show you exactly what I mean?

Below is a compact, tactical playbook to turn BotsGoneWild into a memorable, high-ROI newsletter brand you can run alone in 2–3 hours/day. I focus on (A) proving clear reader ROI every issue, (B) making the brand sticky and funny (Chuck & crew), and (C) an efficient production + growth system so you don’t burn out.

TL;DR

• Make every issue outcome-first: “What you can do in 60 minutes and what to expect.” That is the ROI.

• Double down on one narrow positioning (e.g., “AI-native marketing playbooks: experiments, technical ops, and platform-specific hacks”) so you own a space other newsletters don’t.

• Keep the characters (Chuck, Clyde, Gem, Plex, Mack) as micro-rituals: 1-line cameo per issue, micro-comic panel weekly, and a signature signoff voice.

• Use AI to draft, but always humanize with three quick edits (anecdote, one-liner, concrete example).

• Build a free newsletter + optional paid community (freemium) that hosts templates, raw experiment data, and office hours.

1. Is the content giving value? How to guarantee ROI for readers Every issue must answer two simple reader questions within the first 10 seconds:

• “What will I be able to do after reading this?” (Action)

• “How likely is it to move my needle?” (Impact & timeframe)

Add this 3-line ROI header to every email (copy/pasteable):

• TL;DR — Do this in 30–90 min: [single action].

• Test window: [how long to measure results].

• Expected outcome: [observed range in tests] — e.g., “we saw +50–200% first-day reach in internal tests; results vary by account.”

Mini-checklist to judge any piece before sending (score 0–6):

• 1: Gives one clear action to try in <90 minutes

• 1: States expected outcome or measurement method

• 1: Provides at least one tool/template/link

• 1: Has a concrete example/case or test result

• 1: Has a CTA (reply, try, vote)

• 1: Is skimmable (headings, bullets, TL;DR)

If your content scores <5, rewrite until it does.

1. Positioning: how to stand out among 10,000 AI newsletters You must be narrow and repeatable. Pick one headline promise and repeat it. Examples:

• “The AI Marketing Lab: weekly experiments and the exact SOPs that improve reach/ads/content.”

• “Platform ops & playbooks: how to technically unlock distribution (not opinions).”

Concrete differentiators you can own

• Publish raw experiments and small data sets (“we tested 10 accounts; here’s the dataset & steps”).

• Signature format: Twosdays (short quick wins) + Playbooks (repeatable SOPs). Keep this promise visible.

• Character-driven voice: Chuck is the narrator; Clyde, Gem, Plex, Mack add one-line tradeoffs or jokes. People subscribe for personality + utility.

• Give plug-and-play templates (prompts, checklists, upload SOPs) every Playbook.

• Make one unique product: weekly “audit” CTA (people reply “AUDIT” and you give 1–3 quick tips). This drives replies and loyalty.

1. Brand & voice: how to get the chuckle and human flavor (without killing time) Simple brand rules (minimum viable brand):

• Voice pillars: snarky, nerdy, practical, generous.

• Signature opener: “Hey humans! Chuck here.” (consistent)

• Signature close: short, humorous signoff + CTA (e.g., “Stay weird, Chuck 🤖”).

• Character beats: 1-line cameo from a different character each issue – rotates.

• Visual: single header image + one-panel micro-comic or “Chuck’s 1-liner” box. You don’t need a full comic per issue. One panel weekly is enough.

How to humanize AI drafts in <5 minutes

• Add ONE personal sentence (a 10–12 word anecdote).

• Add ONE (self-deprecating) joke or aside from Chuck.

• Add ONE concrete metric or specific example (even if approximate).

Micro-humor formula examples you can reuse:

• “We ran the trick. Results: surprising. My editor (Clyde) cried into a spreadsheet.”

• “Quick take: this trick is like putting espresso in your content calendar—fast, jittery, and profitable.”

1. Production system you can run alone (2–3 hours/day) Weekly rhythm (batching, 6–8 hours/week):

Option A — 3-day batch (recommended)

• Day 1 (2–3h): Research + outline both issues (gather links, experiments, metrics)

• Day 2 (2–3h): AI-draft Twosdays + humanize + finalize; create 1 micro-comic panel

• Day 3 (2–3h): AI-draft Playbook, add checklist/templates, finalize, schedule send + repurpose tasks

Daily micro-routine when not batching (if you prefer daily work)

• 45–60m Research & trend capture

• 60–90m Draft (AI) + Humanize

• 30m Design + schedule + repurpose (social post + thread)

Tools to keep this low-effort

• Drafting: GPT (your own prompts), Jasper for knowledge base if you want brand memory

• Comms: Beehiiv/substack for distribution

• Visuals: Canva templates for header + micro-comic; Argil.ai or simple avatar tools for occasional video

• Video/audio: Descript for rapid edits

• Ops: Notion editorial calendar + Airtable for experiments

1. Templates you must use immediately Twosdays (short issue) scaffold

• Subject: [Hook] — Twosdays #[n]

• Preheader: 1-line benefit

• Header: TL;DR — Do X in Y mins. Test window. Expected outcome.

• 3 quick sections:

  1. Quick context (20–40 words)

  2. Do this now (3 bullet steps, each 1 line)

  3. Track this (what metric to watch + time window)

• Tools & links (1–3)

• Chuck cameo + CTA (reply “AUDIT” / share / vote)

Playbook scaffold (longer)

• Title + Read time

• One-line promise (what this playbook delivers)

• “Time to implement | Difficulty | Team to delegate | Expected results”

• What you need (tools)

• Step-by-step SOP (with time estimates)

• Quick case study (your test) or example

• Checklist (copyable)

• Templates & prompts (copy/paste)

• Next steps + CTA

Example TL;DR you can copy into every Playbook:

• TL;DR — Try this in 90–180 minutes. Expect initial signal in 24–72 hours. If you see no signal after 7 days, iterate the hook not the SOP.

1. Prompts & editing cheats (use these to build drafts fast) Chuck persona prompt (paste into GPT):

You are "Chuck" — a witty, slightly snarky AI marketer. Write a short newsletter (250–350 words) with:

A 1-line TL;DR at top that says "Do this in X minutes" and expected test window.


3 actionable steps a human can implement in under 90 minutes.


1 quick data point or case example.



1 line of comic relief from "Clyde" as a sidebar. Style: short sentences, contractions, parentheses for asides, one emoji. No jargon.

Playbook prompt (longform SOP):

You are Chuck, writing a playbook (900–1,500 words). Use sections: TL;DR, Time to implement, Difficulty, Tools, Step-by-step SOP (with times), Checklist, Example case (brief), and Closing CTA. Write in an authoritative, playful tone. Include 3 copy/paste templates (prompts, caption, short tweet/thread).
```ize checklist (3 quick edits)
- Insert one 1–2 sentence personal anecdote.
- Replace one bland phrase with a punchy short sentence.
- Add a precise metric (even rough) and a measurement method.

7) Low-effort comic & video strategy (brand without heavy production)
Comic: one panel per Playbook or weekly Twosdays
- Make a single-panel cartoon: Chuck complaining about a platform bug + a punchline.
- Tools: Canva (template + speech bubbles) — takes 8–12 minutes.

Video: “Chuck & friends in a bar” micro-episodes (90–120s)
- Script formula: Hook (5–8s) → Problem (20s) → Quick tip (40–60s) → Punchline CTA (10–15s)
- Production: TTS (Descript Overdub) or record your voice; simple background and 2 avatar images; export as shorts.
- Batch production: write 4 scripts in 30 minutes, record all audio + edit in 60 minutes.

8) Community & monetization (freemium approach)
Start free, add a paid tier that sells unique value
- Free newsletter: everything ungated, weekly Twosdays + Playbooks.
- Paid community ($8–20/month): early playbooks, swipe files, monthly office hours, “audit lottery” (members get a free audit each month).
- Product ladder: Free → $9/mo community → $299 one-off playbook workshops / consults.
Why community? You get recurring revenue and a place to test ideas, amplify experiments, and collect high-quality replies.

9) Growth & distribution (get found even in Promotions tab)
Quick wins to make the newsletter findable and sticky:
- Sender name consistency: Use “Chuck @ BotsGoneWild” or “BotsGoneWild — Chuck” (readable in promotions).
- Subject line pattern: Keep a short recognizable pattern: “[Playbook] How X” or “Twosdays: X” — repeat this pattern to build recognition.
- CTA for replies: Use one reply CTA every issue (e.g., “Reply AUDIT”) to boost engagement signals.
- Repurpose: Every issue → 1 tweet/X thread, 1 LinkedIn post, 1 short video, 1 community post.
- Partnerships: swap newsletter shoutouts with 3 non-competing creators/tools per quarter.

10) What to measure (metrics that matter)
- Engagement-focused KPIs: reply rate, click-to-open rate (CTO), social shares, and repeat opens (retention).
- Growth KPIs: new subs/week, organic referrals.
- Monetization KPIs: community conversion rate, revenue/month.
- Experiment KPIs: per-playbook measurable outcome (e.g., “first hour views up 2x” or “CTR lift 20%”).

11) 90-day roadmap (prioritized)
Week 1
- Lock positioning: pick one promise (e.g., “Platform Ops & Experimental Playbooks”).
- Create brand sheet: 4 voice bullets, signature opening/closing, 5 one-liners.
- Create Twosdays template + Playbook template.

Weeks 2–4
- Batch-produce 4 Twosdays and 1 Playbook (use the 3-day batch).
- Create one micro-comic template and 2 short videos.
- Open a Discord/Circle as “Ultrapreneurs” beta — invite top 100 engaged readers.

Month 2
- Publish raw experiment data with a “lab” post.
- Run a small paid community pilot: offer 50 founding members a discounted rate.
- Test two distribution partnerships and 1 paid sponsorship.

Month 3
- Iterate newsletters based on reply feedback.
- Launch 1 paid product (workshop or paid deep-dive).
- Optimize onboarding email sequence, A/B subject lines.

12) Quick example — Twosdays mini-issue (copy/paste ready)
Subject: Twosdays: Upload trick that improved reach (do this in 30m)
Preheader: Use native uploads, wait 2–4h, then crosspost. Quick test inside.

TL;DR — Do this in 30 minutes: upload natively to TikTok first; wait 2–4 hours; manually post to Instagram; manual YT last. Test window: 7 days. Observed: some accounts saw >2x non-follower reach in initial tests.

Why it matters
Platforms flag simultaneous, cross-posted uploads. Staggering gives you fresh signals and can avoid automation penalties.

Do this now (30m)
1. Upload to TikTok natively with “high quality” enabled.
2. Wait 2–4 hours, then upload to IG (use POST for longer vids).
3. Upload manually to YT Shorts later in the day.

What to measure
- First-hour views (TikTok)
- 72-hour reach (IG)
- Subscriber uptick (7 days)

Toolbox
- Notes: use your phone native app; keep hashtags minimal; track with a spreadsheet.

Clyde’s aside: “I ran this on 3 accounts. Two made me coffee. One ghosted me.” ☕️

Reply “AUDIT” and I’ll peek at your setup.

13) Final quick decisions for you today
- Pick your core promise right now (one sentence). I can help tighten it.
- Commit to the TL;DR + “Do this in X minutes” header for every issue this week.
- Batch-produce next week’s 4 Twosdays + 1 Playbook using the templates above.

Want help with any of these?
I can:
- Draft your next Twosdays in Chuck voice (send me the topic).
- Create the Playbook template populated with 1 of your case studies from the docs you shared.
- Build 3 subject line patterns that increase recognizable opens in the Promotions tab.

Which one do you want me to do first? Reply with: “1: Draft Twosdays”, “2: Build Playbook”, or “3: Brand voice sheet.”