Unlock 2 Growth Secrets for the 50+ Solopreneur

Discover the only two activities you need to build a lifestyle business post-50.

Hey, wise adventurer,

The digital economy never sits still—and if you’re over 50 and launching a one-person online business, it can feel like you’re chasing a speeding train.

New algorithms, platform shake-ups, shiny tactics—it’s enough to make anyone freeze.

But here’s the truth: no matter how the landscape shifts, every solo business boils down to just two high-leverage activities:

1. Capturing attention

2. Turning that attention into income

Ignore the rest.

Master these two, and you'll be able to establish a long-lasting lifestyle business without getting burned out on repeated tech adjustments or "growth hacks" that fail overnight.

Image by the author using Canva

Capturing Attention (Without the Overwhelm)

You don’t need to be everywhere.

You just need to be where your people already are—and deliver value specifically to your ideal client.

"When you speak to everyone, you speak to no one". Seth Godin

Choose one platform of your choice.

I have tried many, and my favorite is Substack. With over 5 million paid subscribers and 35 million active users, as well as massive organic growth, it’s currently at the top.

I know that from my experience because I gained over 5,000 subscribers in 9.5 months. I built three other newsletters before, but the email list building was never as rapid. You don’t need to go viral, but healthy growth is at least 5-10 subscribers per day.

Screenshot by the author

Here’s the math: social-media organic reach for small accounts hovers around 0.5%. Your 2-hour “perfect post” might reach ten people. But a well-placed newsletter or blog post on an established platform can keep attracting readers—and leads—for months or even years.

Substack Notes are the equivalent of a social media post. But unlike short-lived versions on other platforms, they are an excellent tool for getting attention, and their shelf life is much longer than on any other platform.

But without money-making activities, promoting content—even of the highest quality—will never be able to stabilize your finances.

Turn Attention to Income

Attention is fuel—but you need a clear engine to turn eyes into dollars.

That engine is your offer.

Every solid offer solves:

• A specific problem
• For a specific person
• In a specific way

Example offers:

• I help former educators package their lesson‐planning expertise into a profitable PDF course.

• I show retired managers how to launch a six-figure consulting practice in 90 days.

Your first draft of an offer doesn’t have to be perfect.

Test it with five to ten ideal prospects. Refine based on feedback. Then scale.

And remember: content is only at the top of your sales funnel.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Steve Jobs

If you never ask for the sale—or guide your reader to the next step—you’ll never generate reliable revenue.

Your Email List Is Your Asset—Not Vanity

If you think subscriber counts are just “vanity metrics,” think again.

Your email list is your owned digital estate—the one place algorithms can’t bury you.

Here’s what makes it unbeatable:

• Instant, direct access to your people—no ever-changing algorithms standing between you and your readers
• Engagement rates that crush social media benchmarks (think 20–40% open rates)
• Full ownership of your contact database—your list, your rules
• A rock-solid foundation for any online business model you choose
• A dedicated channel to share your expertise with an audience that truly wants what you offer

Let’s do the math.

Suppose you have 1,000 subscribers, and you launch a $27 PDF template guide:

– Open rate: 30% → 300 opens
– Click-through rate: 10% → 30 clicks
– Conversion rate: 20% → 6 sales
– Revenue: 6 × $27 = $162 per email

Send one promo email per month, and you’re looking at nearly $2,000 a year just from that simple PDF offer.

Now imagine a $2,000 high-ticket coaching program.

• Open rate: 25% → 250 opens
• Click-through rate: 8% of opens → 20 clicks
• Conversion rate: 10–20% of clicks → 2–4 sales

At $2,000 per coaching seat, that’s:
2 sales × $2,000 = $4,000 per newsletter
4 sales × $2,000 = $8,000 per newsletter

If you run that offer once a month, you’re looking at roughly $4K—$8K in new revenue each month. But sales are not going to happen overnight.

People buy because they know, like, and trust you. That must be earned by nurturing relationship with your audience by engaging newsletter. That is why having an email list and a newsletter is so important.

Those numbers scale as your list grows and compound when you combine offers.

That’s why your focus must shift from chasing likes to building an email list you truly own.

Unlock Your Potential in a Digital Economy

Your lived experience is your secret weapon.

You’ve gathered many skills—some obvious, others hidden—that younger entrepreneurs envy. You don’t need a Harvard degree to teach people how to:

• Navigate a challenging life transition
• Restore health after years of stress
• Cultivate a backyard garden that feeds your family
• Build a woodworking side gig from your garage

People crave guidance from someone who’s “been there.” They’ll pay for a clear roadmap from your real-world playbook.

That’s why I created The Simple Skills-to-Profit System: How to Start an Online Business Using Skills You Already Have.

But defining your offer is only half the battle.

You also need a growth engine—an audience primed and eager to buy. Building an email list and sending engaging newsletters is the best way to gain and nurture this audience.

I studied top Substack publications and created a simple system that I followed, which allowed me to grow my subscribers list to 5,000 in 9.5 months.

I compiled it into a mini-course: The Complete Substack Growth System: How to Reach 1K Subscribers in 5 Months Without Wasting Hours on Content Creation.

Together, these two resources give you the complete playbook: define your offer, build your audience, and start generating revenue—without tech overwhelm or endless content churn.

To celebrate Plus 50 Forward hitting 5,000 subscribers,

I’m offering both guides at 50% off—now through May 14.

Use code 5K at checkout.

Let’s make your next chapter the best one yet.

Putting It All Together

Everything you need to succeed in your solo business boils down to two pillars:

1. Attention-Attracting Activities
   – Consistent posting on your chosen platform
   – Authentic engagement with your audience

2. Money-Generating Activities
   – Crafting and testing an irresistible offer
   – Educating and converting via newsletter/messages

Stop chasing every new tactic.

Keep it simple.

Focus on capturing real attention and turning it into real income. That’s how you build a sustainable, fulfilling online business after 50.

To your next milestone and success.

P.S.

Your life experience is your secret weapon, and right now, Substack offers the perfect opportunity to build a sustainable, lifestyle-first business.

Don’t let this moment slip by.