How Tim Leffel Gained 20,000 Subscribers on Substack

In this week’s episode of the Niche Pursuits podcast, Tim Leffel and I dive into his impressive journey as a travel content creator, exploring how he’s successfully navigated the evolving landscape of the internet and maintained a sustainable lifestyle while traveling.

Tim has been in the industry for over two decades, and his experience navigating changes in SEO, social media, AI, and more offers a wealth of knowledge. Rather than focusing on his history, we spent most of the interview discussing his current projects, including his popular Substack newsletter, books, and websites.

Watch the Full Episode

Tim’s latest venture is his Substack newsletter, Nomadico, launched in 2022. Focused on remote workers and digital nomads, it’s quickly grown to over 20,000 subscribers, a testament to the power of Substack as a platform. Tim shared key reasons for his newsletter’s success, including:

Substack’s Network Effect: The built-in audience and recommendation engine on Substack have played a significant role in growth. Tim mentions how subscribers discover Nomadico through Substack’s automatic suggestions.
Consistency Over Perfection: Tim sends out a simple, concise newsletter every week, focused on quick, digestible content. With high open rates averaging 56%, the format has clearly resonated with readers.
Effective Monetization: Through a combination of direct ads, affiliate links, and paid subscribers, Tim makes his newsletter a profitable endeavor. He keeps it simple with ads priced to encourage experimentation, ensuring that advertisers see returns on their investment.

Writing Books: A Steady Stream of Passive Income

Another area where Tim has found success is through publishing books. He’s written several on topics like cheap travel destinations and living abroad, with both traditional publishing and self-publishing routes explored. Tim offered valuable insights into the self-publishing process, recommending:

IngramSpark for Book Distribution: Authors can use IngramSpark to get their books into traditional bookstores, bridging the gap between self-publishing and traditional publishing.
Professional Help for Formatting and Design: Tim strongly advises hiring professionals to handle the cover design and formatting, which can be done affordably through platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.
Amazon’s Discoverability: The beauty of self-publishing on Amazon is the platform’s ability to recommend books to readers, which can drive sales even without a massive marketing budget.

For Tim, books are not only a source of passive income but also a powerful tool to establish authority. As an author, he’s been approached by media outlets for expert quotes, leading to more freelance writing opportunities.

The Challenges and Rewards of Running Multiple Websites

Tim also runs multiple travel websites, each serving different niches. Despite the challenges posed by recent updates like the Helpful Content Update (HCU), he has successfully maintained and even grown some of his sites. His approach to content creation includes:

Avoiding AI-Generated Content: Tim stays away from writing content that AI can easily replicate, instead focusing on personal, niche topics where his expertise shines.
Quality Over Quantity: With his site Perceptive Travel, Tim has doubled down on quirky, niche travel content. His articles often cover less-traveled destinations and experiences that can’t easily be found elsewhere, which has helped the site gain traction even in the face of algorithm changes.

Balancing Work and the Nomadic Lifestyle

One of the most intriguing aspects of Tim’s career is his ability to balance a demanding work life with the freedom to travel. He described his approach to maintaining a flexible schedule:

Small, Manageable Tasks: Tim doesn’t overload himself with a crazy publishing schedule. He aims for a consistent flow of content but avoids the pressure to constantly push out new articles.
Building a Team: While Tim keeps a light workload, he has a small team of part-time helpers for tasks like social media and content management. This allows him to focus on the creative and high-level aspects of his business while still traveling.
Prioritizing Time Over Money: For Tim, a “rich” life is about control over his time. He emphasized that being able to take spontaneous trips and manage his schedule is a significant part of his success.

Embracing AI and the Future of Content Creation

AI is reshaping the world of content creation, and Tim shared his thoughts on how he uses AI tools without letting them take over his creative process. He uses AI for tasks like generating outlines and ensuring that his content covers all the essential points, but he still relies on his expertise to craft original articles.

Tim also cautioned against depending too heavily on AI, particularly in industries like travel, where personal experience and authenticity are paramount.

Final Thoughts

Tim’s journey offers invaluable lessons for anyone navigating the world of digital content creation. His success in building a diverse portfolio, ranging from newsletters to books and websites, highlights the importance of adaptability and consistency in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Whether you’re looking to start your own travel blog, publish a book, or create a successful newsletter, Tim’s approach to balancing passion and business is a blueprint for building a sustainable career in the digital age.