Growing a MAX channel — the first 30 days

In 30 days a channel should reach a stable publishing rhythm and a critical mass of subscribers. If after a month you are below 300-500 subscribers — something is off with the content or distribution.

Week 1 — start

• Publish 3-4 first posts. Subscribers will see them first and judge the channel by them
• Topics: "what this channel is about", "what we are working on right now", a specific case, a practical insight
• Pin an "about" post — short, with a content promise and posting cadence
• Connect everywhere your audience already exists: email signature, website footer, Telegram channel mention
• Week 1 goal — 50-100 subscribers from your inner circle

Week 2 — finding the format

• Cadence 2-3 posts per week. No more until the format is clear
• Test formats: long expert post, short observation, case with numbers, poll
• Watch reactions and views. Long posts with 5%+ reactions land. Anything below 1% does not
• Week 2 goal — pick 1-2 formats that work

Week 3 — seeding

• Launch MAX Ads — starting around 200 RUB/CPM in 2026, with geo and category targeting
• Arrange 3-5 cross-promo trades with adjacent channels (VP)
• Partner posts in related channels — paid or barter
• Week 3 goal — +200-500 targeted subscribers

Week 4 — optimization

• Review: which posts brought the most subscribers (via UTM on the site)
• Which reactions and comments drove engagement
• Which topics caused unsubscribes
• Lock in the working content and cadence in your editorial policy
• Goal — stable 5-10% engagement rate and 50-100 new subscribers per week

Metrics that matter

• Subscribers — counter and growth velocity
• Views per post — should be 60-80% of subscriber count. Below that the algorithm is suppressing you for low engagement
• Engagement rate = (reactions + comments) / views. Norm 3-7% for a business channel
• Site conversion — UTM clicks visible in analytics
• Leads — inbound requests from channel-sourced users

First-month antipatterns

• Posting daily — burns the author out and dilutes attention
• Chasing viral news cycles — channel identity is lost
• Overloading own-brand promotion. Aim for 80% useful / 20% sales
• Ignoring comments — every reply in the first weeks builds loyalty