Build a 2-Hour Workday Writing Business
Hey, friend!
Welcome to The 2-Hour Blogger!
This publication is for writers who want to grow on Substack, turn their content into a real writing business, and build something meaningful.
I share practical strategies for growing a newsletter, getting discovered, monetizing your content, building relationships with readers, and landing brand partnerships.
I also give you a behind-the-scenes look at my own Substack journey, what I’m testing, what’s working, what isn’t, and how I’m approaching growth and monetization on the platform.
The 2-Hour Blogger started as a place where I shared what I’d learned from building an online business through blogging, especially when it comes to paid brand deals.
See, I’ve been blogging since 2013, and sponsorships were my main income stream in the last years.
But as I fall in love with Substack, it quickly became my main content hub, and people started asking me questions about my growth, content strategy, and anything Substack-related.
So I gave them exactly that, in the only way I know how - by sharing exactly what I do, revealing all my numbers, interviewing fellow Substack creators, showing up daily and experimenting.
Today, my focus is Substack growth and monetization, through the 10+ years of blogging experience I have, and through the action I’m taking on the platform on a daily basis.
My goal here is to help you not just collect subscribers, but grow a tribe of people who love your work, create content they want to read, and actually earn from it.
Free subscribers of The 2-Hour Blogger get:
Substack growth strategies;
Challenges (such as the Substack SEO challenge);
Interviews and insights from small and big creators on the platform;
Reflections on what’s changing in the creator and newsletter space;
My monthly Substack growth reports (BTS of my business).
We also have a pretty active Subscriber Chat where you can connect with creators building alongside you and celebrate your wins.
What paid subscribers get:
The monetization section of my Substack growth reports (with all the numbers 👀);
Exclusive brand deal strategies;
Behind-the-scenes breakdowns of paid brand deals;
Deeper business, monetization, and growth insights;
Access to the growing archive of premium posts
💬 Weekly Q&As (where you can ask me anything)
The Writer Behind The Publication
Hey, I’m Lidiya.
I’m the founder of Let’s Reach Success, and have been blogging and creating content since 2013.
I’m originally from Bulgaria, but relocated to the Netherlands thanks to my online business. Freedom and independence have always been my core values, and the main drivers behind the goals I set.
I started in the personal growth space, but eventually moved into teaching blogging as a business. Prior to joining Substack, my focus was blog sponsorships - helping bloggers land brand partnerships and turn them into recurring revenue.
I teach it because that’s how I earn 90% of my revenue.
Plus, there’s a gap in the blogging space when it comes to how bloggers can earn from sponsorships, and I am here to fill it. I disclose it all, have developed my own strategies for client pitching, being discovered, maximizing the benefits of sponsored networks, negotiating your rates, using your content to attract more sponsors, and so much more. I cover it all in my course The Blog Sponsorship Boss.
Now, I’m building something new on Substack, and I document the process as I go.
I definitely don’t have it all figured out, but I’m here to learn, connect, build, and share.
Why The 2-Hour Blogger?
Because one of the biggest shifts in my business was realizing I didn’t want to build a business that consumed my life.
I wanted freedom, flexibility, and work that supported my life instead of controlling it.
And over time, that became my reality.
Prior to joining Substack, I often worked just 1-3 hours a day, because I built long-term sponsor relationships, and a business model that actually fit the lifestyle I wanted.
But then, something magical happened (right after I became a mom!)
I found Substack and went all in, simply because I was super passionate about the platform, the connections I form here, the potential for growth, and using my voice to guide others.
So I put in the hours! Yes, even postpartum, while taking care of baby girl. I believe we get to build our dreams with our kids next to us, and let them watch us.
I definitely work more than 2 hours a day now (if I have the chance), but that’s the philosophy behind The 2-Hour Blogger, and that applies to being a Substack writer too.
You can come here and build from scratch (without a massive following elsewhere), create direct relationships with your readers, publish your best work and get found quickly, and monetize your knowledge and expertise.
Once the foundation is built and you’ve got the hang of it, you can slow down, keep posting good content and engaging with others, but also step away from the laptop for most days.
You can run a full-time writing business on 2 hours a day. Many have done it, and so can you!
You just need to understand growth, positioning, content, discoverability, and monetization.
And that’s what I’m here to help with.
Here are some posts to get started with:
![How I Landed a $450 Brand Deal on Substack as a Small Creator [The Complete Breakdown]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EhDf!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2d33dec0-4468-402b-a98d-07342222ad4c_1200x630.png)
![July Substack Growth Update [10 Paid Subs, New Revenue Stream, 3x Traffic Growth]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H8Hy!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9255782-4adb-4732-8be3-784b7ca10e59_1200x630.png)
![Substack SEO: Connect Your Publication to Google Analytics & Search Console [Step-by-Step Tutorial]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!glr_!,w_140,h_140,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c849198-bc39-42d0-bc8c-28064ca66272_1200x630.png)
Substack SEO: Connect Your Publication to Google Analytics & Search Console [Step-by-Step Tutorial]
Ready for the next level?
That’s what the Founding Member tier is for and it includes The Substack Growth Audit.
I’ll take a look at your publication and give you personalized recommendations to help you grow, improve your positioning, and monetize your content.
Here’s some feedback from creators who’ve taken it:
If you have any questions and want to connect, feel free to send me a message.
Thanks for being part of this journey 🤍
—Lidiya
