I Tried Growth The Sleazy Way. Then Veronica Llorca-Smith Blew My Mind With One Line.

The hidden growth hack no one talks about

Most writers guess their way through Substack growth. I didn’t and it’s why I grew to 4200 subs in 12 months. The Substack Growth Map breaks down the exact system I used. It you want a clear roadmap. Sign up here.

I hated Twitter.

The fake growth hacks. The unsolicited DMs. The endless echo chamber of self-promotion. Every time I logged off, I felt like I needed a shower. But I was new to writing online, and everyone said, “This is how you grow.” So I joined in.

And I hated myself for it.

Then came Veronica.

I was launching my first product. The Ultimate Headline Toolkit. And looking for affiliates. People to promote it in exchange for a percentage of the sales.

Veronica Llorca-Smith

said she’d love to share it. I thanked her and asked where to send her affiliate link.

“Oh no,” she said. “I don’t need one.”

I thought I’d misheard. “Wait. You're promoting it... for free?”

“Yeah,” she said. “I like your writing. I believe in your ideas. I think your product help my audience.”

That moment stopped me cold.

Because in a space where everything felt cold and transactional, here was someone playing a different game.

That was 18 months ago. Today, Veronica is a published author and international speaker. She’s built a powerful business. Without the grime. Just generosity and integrity.

She taught me something no growth thread ever could:

There’s another way to win. That moment changed everything. Over the last 18 months I’ve tried doing things the Veronica way. It’s led to 6 successful product launches and 9,000 newsletter subscribers.

Here’s how I’ve tried to be a decent human being.

1. Show up, no agenda

When I saw brilliant writing, I shared it.

When someone launched something cool, I cheered them on. Not because I wanted attention. Not because I was “networking.” Just because it felt good to support good work.

I left real comments. The kind that add to the conversation. I restacked posts that moved me, not ones that fit a “growth playbook.”

What happened: people remembered. They saw me as someone who showed up. No angle. No agenda. That energy came back around in ways I never expected.

2. Give first, always

Everyone time someone signs up for my newsletter. I ask for their biggest writing challenge. Then I send them some personal advice.

When someone asks a question? I answered properly with care, even if it took time.

What happened: people started to trust me. Not as a “brand.” As a person. So when I did sell something? They were already leaning in.

3. Pass the spotlight

Some of my best posts weren’t about me.

They spotlighted other writers. Their wins, their methods, their breakthroughs. I’d take an idea that changed me and say, “This helped. Maybe it’ll help you too.” In my recent live workshop I profiled my good friend

Michael Lim

What happened: those people shared my posts. And their readers came in warm, because trust transfers.

4. Share what works

When a course, newsletter, or tool made a difference, I told people.

No affiliate link. No “big announcement.” Just: this worked for me. Sometimes in a post. Sometimes in a quiet DM.

What happened: it built bridges. Small but sturdy ones. And when I launched my own product? Those bridges carried people back to me.

5. Make it human

The biggest shift: I stopped trying to “network” and started trying to relate.

I replied to newsletters. Remembered names. Asked about life outside writing. No expectation. No strategy. Just… being human.

What happened: friendships. And suddenly, everything else. Sharing, collaborating, promoting flowed naturally.

The ROI of decency

Here’s what stacked up when I built this way:

→ My audience grew faster — because people shared my work unasked.
→ My engagement was higher — because the right people showed up.
→ My products sold better — because people trusted I’d deliver value, not fluff.
→ My business felt lighter — because it ran on relationships, not hustle.

Instead of pushing every week, I was pulled forward. by the people I’d helped.

Anyone can do this

You don’t need 10,000 followers to do this. You don’t need a lead magnet or a funnel.

You just need to be generous.

• Share someone’s post because it moved you.

• Leave a comment that adds to the conversation.

• Pass on something useful you’ve learned.

• Connect two people who should know each other.

• Celebrate someone else’s win like it’s your own.

If you want a radical strategy, try being kind.

It’s rare enough to stand out.

Want to get noticed online? Start here. Honest tips that actually work.

Derek

P.S. You don’t need a million followers. Just a smart strategy. That’s the Growth Map. Doors open next week. Join the list here.