How Spencer Russell built a $1M business teaching toddlers to read

PROFILE

How Spencer Russell built a $1M business teaching toddlers to read

Name

Spencer Russell

Website

Toddlers Can Read

What he does

Spencer is a former teacher who founded Toddlers Can Read, a literacy training business for parents wanting to teach their young children how to read. In just 2 years, he’s generated over $1 million in revenue and built an audience of more than 2.5 million across social media.

What’s his secret sauce?

Instead of chasing a broad audience, Spencer went all-in on a clear niche: teaching toddlers to read. His courses are simple, parent-friendly, and based on proven methods. By showing parents quick wins, he built massive trust and turned everyday teaching moments into a thriving business.

How does he get traffic?

Spencer’s growth comes from short, viral videos on TikTok and Instagram showing bite-sized reading lessons. Parents see them, share them, and follow him. Those videos funnel people into his free workshops, then his courses. He also keeps in touch through email, where he shares tips and success stories that nudge parents toward buying.

Q&A

“How much do I give away for free before selling something?”

A good target is 3 distinct free offers: maybe a guide, a quick workshop, and a short video series. Spencer used free content to show value and build trust - people who see what you do for free are much more likely to pay.

Don’t wait forever to monetize. Once you have those free offers working (people signing up), create a small paid product that solves a clear problem those free users care about.

TIP OF THE DAY

When you post online, always end with a question. For example: “Which of these would help you the most?” This turns a passive scroller into someone who comments, and those comments boost your reach. More reach = more eyeballs on what you’re building.

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