Jeff Bullas

Great question — and yes, AI can absolutely help you write better, faster Instagram captions if you use the right tools and feed them the right prompts.

Here are the best tools I recommend for creators:

1. ChatGPT (with custom instructions)
Still the most flexible and powerful option — especially when you:
– Give it examples of your past captions
– Set a clear tone (e.g. “witty and personal,” “inspirational but no fluff”)
– Use specific prompts like:
“Write a 2-line Instagram caption for a photo of me working at a café. Make it friendly and curious, ending with a question.”

2. Copy.ai
Built for marketing content.
– Includes pre-made templates for Instagram captions
– Good for brainstorming angles or variations
– Can quickly generate multiple versions for A/B testing
It’s less personal than ChatGPT, but great for speed and ideas.

3. Jasper AI
Ideal if you want more structure.
– Great for brands and influencers who post frequently
– Can be trained with your brand voice (with some effort)
– Has a caption generator that includes CTAs and hashtags

4. Later’s Caption Writer
If you already use Later for scheduling, this built-in tool is convenient.
– It suggests captions based on your image or post type
– Better suited for beginners or short-form content
– Not as customizable as ChatGPT, but a solid time-saver

Tips to avoid generic AI content:
– Always tweak the output to add your personal story or voice
– Add details only you would say (your opinion, phrasing, vibe)
– Don’t let AI be the final draft — let it be the first one

Bottom Line:
Use AI to beat the blank page — not to replace your voice. The real magic happens when you combine your creativity with the AI’s speed.

Give it direction, and you’ll get captions that save time and sound like you.

Great question — and one I get asked a lot.

If you’re just starting out, the best email marketing platform is the one that helps you build momentum fast without making you feel like you need to hire a tech team. Here are my top picks based on working with thousands of creators and small businesses:

1. [ConvertKit] – This is my go-to recommendation for solo creators. It’s built specifically for bloggers, coaches, and digital entrepreneurs.
– The interface is clean and simple.
– You can tag and segment subscribers easily (great for when your list grows).
– Automations are powerful but intuitive — no coding or duct-taping required.
They also offer a generous free tier (up to 1,000 subscribers) and strong support.

2. [MailerLite] – If affordability is your top concern, MailerLite punches above its weight.
– Easy drag-and-drop editor for newsletters
– Decent automation
– Solid landing page builder
The UI isn’t quite as refined as ConvertKit, but it gets the job done — especially when you’re still finding your feet.

3. [Flodesk] – For the design-forward creators.
– Beautiful templates out of the box
– Super simple user experience
– Flat pricing (no surprise jumps as your list grows)
If visuals are a big part of your brand, this one’s worth a look — though it’s less powerful when it comes to segmenting and logic-based automations.

Avoid overly complex tools like ActiveCampaign or HubSpot unless you’re scaling fast and have support — they can be overkill in the early stages.

Bottom line? Pick the platform that removes friction and helps you start sending. You can always migrate later, but clarity and consistency matter more than tools in the beginning.

Hope that helps — and congrats on getting started! Email is still one of the most profitable channels out there when done right.

Good question, and the short answer is yes, you absolutely can make a website for free these days. Heaps of platforms offer a free starting point, but as you guessed, there are usually a few catches or limitations.

Here are some popular options for a free site in 2025:

WordPress.com: (Not to be confused with the self-hosted WordPress.org). Good for blogs and simpler sites. Their free plan is pretty decent to get started.

Google Sites: Dead simple to use, especially if you’re already using Google Drive. Good for basic informational sites, school projects, or a straightforward portfolio.

Canva: If you use Canva for design stuff, they now offer free one-page websites. Great for visual landing pages or online resumes.
Wix, Weebly, Squarespace (Free Tiers): These often have free plans that let you use their drag-and-drop builders. They’re quite user-friendly for design.

GitHub Pages: If you’re a bit more tech-savvy, you can host static websites for free here.

Now, for “the catch” – what you usually get with a free plan:

Subdomain: Your website address will likely be something like yourname.wordpress.com or yourname.wixsite.com/your site. A custom domain (e.g., yourname.com.au or yourname.com) will almost always cost you extra.

Platform Ads: The provider might display their own advertising on your free site. To remove these, you’ll need to upgrade.

Limited Storage & Bandwidth: You’ll get a certain amount of space for your files and limits on how much data can be transferred (traffic).

Fewer Features: Advanced design customisation, e-commerce capabilities (like selling online), a wider range of plugins or apps, and detailed analytics are often reserved for paid plans.

Branding: You’ll likely have the platform’s branding visible on your site.

What are free sites good for?

They’re grouse for personal blogs, online portfolios to showcase your work, simple sites for a hobby or community group, or just to test out an idea without spending any dosh.

When would you need to pay?
If you need a professional look with your own custom domain, want to sell products online, need more grunt (storage/bandwidth), want to get rid of their ads, or need more advanced features, you’ll likely need to look at a paid plan.

So, starting free is a top way to get your foot in the door. Just be aware of what comes with it, and you can always upgrade later if your site takes off or your needs change.

Cheers,

Jeff

Good question, mate. Lots of podcasters are wondering how to turn their passion into a bit of income. There are a fair few ways to go about it, and it’s not just about ads. Here’s a squiz at the main methods podcasters are using in 2025:

Advertising & Sponsorships:
This is the classic one. Brands pay to have ads (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll) in your episodes. These can be host-read, which often feel more natural, or dynamically inserted. Deals are often based on CPM (cost per thousand listens) or sometimes a flat rate. You can find sponsors directly or use podcast ad networks.

Affiliate Marketing:
Pretty straightforward – you promote a product or service you like, and if your listeners buy it using your special link or code, you get a cut of the sale. Works well if the product genuinely fits your audience.

Premium Content & Subscriptions:
Offering bonus stuff for paying subscribers. Think ad-free episodes, exclusive content, early access, or deeper dives into topics. Platforms like Patreon, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, and Spotify are common for this, or you can organise it through your own website.

Selling Your Own Products or Services:
If you’ve got expertise, you can sell related things like courses, coaching, books, or even consulting services. Branded merchandise (merch like t-shirts, mugs, etc.) can also be a goer for shows with a keen following.

Listener Support & Donations:
Your audience can chip in directly. Platforms like Patreon, Ko-fi, or “Buy Me A Coffee” make it easy for listeners to support your work with one-off or recurring donations because they value what you do.

Live Shows & Events:
Once you’ve got a decent audience, live recordings of your podcast, workshops, or meet-ups can bring in revenue through ticket sales.

A key thing to remember is that building a solid, engaged audience usually comes first. The bigger and more dedicated your listener base, the more options you’ll have for monetisation. Diversifying your income streams is also a smart move – don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

It takes a bit of effort, but there are definitely ways to make money from podcasting if you’re producing good content that people want to hear.

Cheers,

Jeff

Getting to 1000 real Instagram followers in 2025 means being strategic. Value and community are still your best bets. Here’s the plan:

Profile Setup:

Use a clear, searchable username and a quality profile picture.
Write a compelling bio: who you are, what you do, for whom (use keywords).
Add a useful link in your bio.
Switch to a Creator or Business account for analytics.
Content Strategy:

Know your niche and audience.
Prioritize Reels for reach. Use Carousels for info, quality photos, and daily Stories for connection.
Ensure good visuals and audio. Write engaging captions with clear calls to action.
Hashtags:

Use a mix of relevant niche, broad, and community hashtags (10-20 is a good range). Research what works.
Consistency:

Post regularly. Check Insights to see when your audience is most active and post then.
Engagement:

Respond to comments and DMs.
Engage with other accounts in your niche.
Use interactive Story features (polls, Q&As).
Collaborate:

Use the “Collabs” feature to co-author posts.
Do joint Live sessions or shoutouts with complementary accounts.
Cross-Promote:

Share your Instagram link on your website, in your email signature, and on other social platforms.
Use Analytics:

Check Instagram Insights often. Track reach, engagement, and follower growth. Adjust your strategy based on what performs best.

Avoid: Buying followers, follow/unfollow games, bots, ignoring your audience, and posting poor or irrelevant content.

Organic growth takes time. Focus on value and genuine connection.

Cheers,

Jeff

Email marketing is powerful. Here’s the lean, essential framework:

Goal: Own your audience for direct, reliable communication – independent of algorithms.
Build Your List:

Offer Value: Provide a compelling “lead magnet” (free resource) in exchange for an email.
Clear Opt-Ins: Use straightforward sign-up forms on your website/platforms.
Consent is Key: Always get explicit permission (e.g., via double opt-in).
Essential Tool: Use an Email Service Provider (ESP) like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or Substack. They handle list management, sending, automation, and tracking.
Effective Emails:

Subject: Clear, benefit-driven, or curiosity-piquing.
Content: Prioritize value (insights, tips, updates) over constant selling (the 80/20 rule is a good guide).
Call to Action (CTA): Make it obvious what you want readers to do.
Design: Ensure it’s mobile-friendly and easy to read. Be authentic.
Key Email Types:

Welcome sequence: Automate to greet and deliver value to new subscribers.
Regular newsletters: Consistent, valuable content.
Targeted promotions: For relevant offers, used strategically.
Smart Strategies:

Segment: Group subscribers by interest for more relevant emails.
Automate: Use for welcome messages, content delivery, etc., to save time.
Consistency: Stick to a regular sending schedule that your audience expects.
Measure & Improve: Track open rates, click-through rates (CTR), and unsubscribe rates. Learn what resonates and adjust.
Critical Don’ts:

Emailing without permission.
Sending only sales pitches.
Making unsubscribe difficult.
Ignoring mobile users.

Start simple, provide genuine value, and iterate based on your results.

Cheers,

Jeff

Losing followers is more common than most creators realize—and it doesn’t always mean you’re doing something wrong. But it is a signal worth paying attention to.

Let’s start with the basics. Some unfollows are just part of the natural churn. People change interests, clean up their feed, or drop off social media altogether. Facebook also regularly removes fake or inactive accounts, which can show up as a dip in your follower count.

But if the drop is consistent or accelerating, it’s time to take a closer look.

Start with your content. Are you posting the same types of content over and over? Is it too promotional? Too off-topic? Even a subtle shift in tone or topic can push people away if it no longer feels relevant to them. Use your insights tab to see which posts had high engagement and which ones may have triggered exits.

Next, consider frequency. If you’re posting too often—or not enough—you can lose touch with your audience. Facebook doesn’t always show your content to everyone, so you want each post to count. Prioritize value, variety, and relevance.

It’s also worth auditing how you’re attracting new followers. Sometimes, we run ads or cross-promote on platforms that bring in low-quality leads. They follow in the moment but don’t stick around long term. Better to grow slowly with aligned people than fast with the wrong ones.

Here’s the fix: refocus on your core audience and message. Post content that speaks directly to their needs. Re-engage your current followers with personal stories, behind-the-scenes posts, or direct questions. If you’re not sure what’s working, use polls or Messenger to ask. People love to be part of the process.

Lastly, don’t let the follower count be your only metric. Engagement, reach, and conversions matter more. A smaller, loyal audience will outperform a bigger, disengaged one every time.

– Jeff

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by YouTube’s analytics dashboard—but growth comes down to just a few core metrics that directly influence how often YouTube recommends your content.

Let’s simplify it.

1. Click-Through Rate (CTR)
What it tells you: Are people clicking when they see your video?

If your thumbnail and title aren’t compelling, no amount of content quality matters—because people won’t even get to it. A healthy CTR is often in the 3%–10% range, but this varies by niche.

Tip: A/B test thumbnails or ask AI to generate headline options for curiosity-driven titles.

2. Average View Duration (AVD)
What it tells you: How long are people sticking around?

YouTube wants viewers to stay on the platform. If your video keeps people watching, that sends a strong signal to the algorithm.

Goal: Try to hit 40–60% of your video length watched. If it drops off early, revisit your intro and pacing.

3. Audience Retention Graph
What it tells you: Exactly where people are dropping off.

Look for dips at the start—this usually means your hook isn’t strong enough. Or mid-video drops could point to tangents or low-energy moments. Use this to surgically improve your structure.

4. Top Traffic Sources
What it tells you: Where your views are really coming from.

Are you getting views from search, browse features, suggested videos? This shows whether your content is being pushed by the algorithm—or if you’re doing all the heavy lifting yourself.

Pro tip: If you’re getting lots of search traffic, dial in your YouTube SEO. If browse/suggested, focus more on retention and session duration.

5. Subscribers Gained Per Video
This stat often gets overlooked, but it tells you which videos actually convert passive viewers into active fans.

Look at your top subscriber-generating videos—then reverse-engineer what worked:

Topic?
Format?
CTA?
Energy?

Final Thought:
You don’t need to obsess over every stat. Focus on these 4–5 core metrics, track them week over week, and use the insights to improve just one thing at a time.

That’s how you build momentum—and that’s how you grow.

– Jeff