Office Party! There’s so much wisdom in the Writers at Work community whether you’ve been on the platform for 6 years or 6 seconds.
Newbies and Veterans, give us your best Substack advice. It might be on how to get your first post out or how to celebrate when you get your first paid subscriber. Or it’s wisdom gleaned from two years of writing headlines. Or insights into word count, creating community, or writing sentences that sing. Anything!
Here’s how it works:
In all caps, give us the one-word topic of your advice, e.g., POSTING or NOTES
Then share what you’ve learned/discovered
Include the URL of your Substack
Find at least 2 other pieces of advice in this thread that resonate with you, comment, thank them, and share their wisdom on Notes! Click the little wheel or click share.
BONUS: Check out their Substack and maybe even subscribe.
This is us taking the W@W Office Party to the streets! Let’s spread the wisdom far and wide!
Newbies and Veterans, give us your best Substack advice. It might be on how to get your first post out or how to celebrate when you get your first paid subscriber. Or it’s wisdom gleaned from two years of writing headlines. Or insights into word count, creating community, or writing sentences that sing. Anything!
Here’s how this works:
-In all caps, give us the one-word topic of your advice, e.g., POSTING or NOTES, anything
-Then share what you’ve learned/discovered
-Include the URL of your Substack
-Find at least 2 other pieces of advice in this thread that resonate with you, comment, thank them, and share their wisdom on Notes! (Click the little wheel or click share.)
-BONUS: Check out their Substack and maybe even subscribe.
Don't try to be cute. Be yourself. You are on a journey to find the people who resonate with your message. Some will, some won't, so what. People are resonating with your content even if they don't comment.
Also, I prefer to keep mine short so they can read it and get an actionable takeaway.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking what you have to share has already been done. No one has heard it in YOUR voice yet. You are unique and the world is best served when you are uniquely you, not someone else.
Awesome point, Tarek. There was a time when I was very concerned I was getting few comments and now I recognize I am similar to my readers. I can really appreciate something I read and also not comment on it (plus, most of my readers are only on email and not Substack).
I invited them to hit reply and while I'd be happy to hear from them in that way, my CTA is more about them hitting a "Share" button.
Yes to this! People often say Be Yourself, but you've given good reasons to do so. People have not yet heard a point of view in YOUR voice. So even if you are writing about a familiar topic, there can definitely be a new take on it.
I often start writing something, then before it's done, the same topic is in the news! Then I consider what makes my POV unique, and reshape the post.
You don't need to apologize if you send your newsletter out a day or a week late or even if you skip a week. Most of your subscribers don't notice and the apology draws attention to it. New writers often get the advice to "stick to a schedule" and "pick a cadence" but this doesn't work for everyone.
Your readers would rather hear from you when you've got something interesting to say, not because it's a Wednesday.
Thank you for taking me "off the hook" for skipping a week. I was just about to apologize for skipping a post in a series I've developed, but I'd really be apologizing to myself for letting myself down. And that's just unnecessary.
This is a relief to hear. I agonised over getting posts out every Wednesday and Saturday no matter what, then the strain turned out to be too much and I'd give up entirely for weeks (ok, sometimes months) at a time and feel like a failure... bit of a cycle. or I'd put stuff out that wasn't as good just to have something out on the promised day.
Love this advice -- and need to follow it myself more often. Every newsletter seems to start out with, "I had every intention of getting this out on time, but then [INSERT SHIT NO ONE CARES ABOUT] ..." Thanks!
@dizzyzaba nice advice here. I’m not perfectly publishing on the date I plan to publish. I don’t really pay too much attention to the day the people I subscribe to publish. I think you’re right on this!
This is the advise I started giving myself only recently after years of agonizing over being a day or few days late. Now ‘the sky is not going to fall if I miss a day’ and ‘I don't need to apologize’ have become my new mantras.
This is so good! I realized that this year. I missed a post and wanted to hop back in the next week with a "sorry" but then I realized, no one cares! That was so freeing. On the flip side, when I just started with Substack I accidentally published a post TWICE within minutes of each other. I thought it hadn't posted because I didn't receive and email with my post. I was mortified and thought about sending another post to apologize but luckily I phoned a friend first. She was like, "who hasn't done this? Say nothing. I repeat, say nothing!" And when I thought about it I flashed to all the apology emails I'd received over the years for such things and was like, yeah, who needs yet another email for me?
I wrote a spontaneous post. in real-time, about accepting a last-minute invitation. I was short on time and extremely nervous. My fingers didn't cooperate with me, and there were many typos. The closest I came to editing it was to add "I'm not editing this" to the beginning. At the end, I said I'd follow-up.
I haven't written the follow-up, and it's been weeks. After a day or two of not having the chance to write it, the momentum is gone, and it wouldn't have the same energy... I'm not even going to mention it.
Sometimes, when the idea sparks, you have to follow it, stoke it. I love your advice because it not only speaks to our hectic lives, but the “in the moment” way writing inspiration can manifest, that “when you have something to say,” is most important.
Think of showing up for your Substack as showing up for yourself. Because you deserve it. Give your Substack love and others will feel it pouring through.
Done!! Thank you again for these wonderful Friday prompts. I am feeling more comfortable each week to party along with you all! Have a wonderful, magical weekend :)
This isn’t as sexy as the kind of advice I usually love to give like, be generous in Notes, Restacks and Comments. Or once you press 'publish', let go of what comes next. Like releasing a message in a bottle, surrender control and be happy that you were brave enough to let your words set sail into the unknown. ✨
But it’s one the things I am so glad I did last month.
I shared this on my latest Substack diaries, but it’s worth repeating here because I wish I did it sooner!
I changed over my personal address in Substack to an email address I created SOLELY for Substack. Now I open up my “substack” email, like I open up a magazine, with all my fav newsletters ready to be read and comments etc to reply to! Game changer!!
Great! Oh, yeah, I don't do paid for my own stack, but I pay for a couple subscriptions and just wondered if my payment card would still be matched to my new email. Thanks for your help!
Mika this is such a cool idea — I love the app for this reason. It's been fun noticing how I now reach to read longer pieces instead of SCROLL SCROLL SCROLL everywhere else.
Hi this one's for the Newbies - I'm a year in here so I'm no expert, but I've gone from 0 to 300+ and earned almost $6K in the first year - so I think some of my observations from the field with an inde/outsider flare might be helpful to some! https://sleepyhollowink.substack.com/p/hack-your-substack-10-tips. Enjoy!
Love this. Same and same for me! I find that reading, engaging, sharing the work of others helps to build my audience and have been slowly replacing other social media time with substack. I love the community here. So beautiful!
This place is for sure better for me than IG. Marissa G, just tagged your abortion piece for my reading hour and looking forward to checking out your work.
Love this advice! I've definitely noticed this too when I take the time to engage with other Substackers. I try to bake time into my schedule each week to comment and share other posts.
Yes, this seems to be a vital part of it. As a new substacker, I've noticed that, unlike Facebook etc, where you can mindlessly scroll without needing to engage your brain too much, it seems completely pointless to do that here. The focus is so firmly on writing that if you aren't here to enjoy the writing, and engage with the writers, then why are you here? At times when I don't feel up to engaging, I don't open the app. Unlike FB, which was my hideaway precisely when I didn't want to engage with the world!
NOTES - as a newish Substacker Notes have been invaluable to me. I pop onto Notes most days to chat, explore and network. It's a great way to make new connections with zero pressure and no expectations.
Just show up and be yourself, and you'll find people just like you
Ahhhh, this is great! I feel very intimidated by notes and don't fully understand how to use them– so this is really encouraging to just try it out and like you said– do it in a low-pressure way! thanks so much @everydayknitter
Yes! The piece about just being yourself is so true! The practice of writing can be solitary. Community is key. And, like you say, Louise, Notes is a fabulous place to find yours. Great advice.
I co-sign this. Notes is fun, a great way to discover writers I haven’t subscribed to yet. I’m also quick to restock a piece I love w/ a personal note as to why. Part of the Substack tradition of generosity and support.
As a non-user of social media, I find Notes hard-going (I realised years ago that SM is not for me). But I agree it's a useful place. I try to share what I like on there, but I can't stay scrolling on it for very long before I get brain melt.
Hello, fellow writers! Over the last year, I’ve learned that it’s great if you can define what success on Substack means for you: is it the number of subscribers, the amount of writing you do, the consistency of your writing etc. It’s different for each of us.
I'm still a newbie here, having been on Substack for less than 6 months, but what I've learned is to write about what's interesting to me. For a variety of reasons, this works - if you're lit up about something, chances are your readers will connect to that excitement and authenticity, too. It also helps to give you space as a writer, and to not box yourself in to one particular topic. Even if you don't think what you have to share is particularly interesting, I guarantee someone wants to read what you're writing. Your perspective has value! (Something I have to remind myself of at least once a week.)
Yes! Absolutely. The branding thing is what I struggled with for a long time before starting my Substack. I then realized I could throw that out the window and make my brand 'there is no brand' and go from there and that folks would probably read along, anyways.
Oh yess- I can’t tell you how many hours days and weeks and months I’ve spent on “personal branding”. Yikes 😱 I still believe in creating a sense of a welcoming space, with consistent tone and imagery, but it can be so much less work!
I can really relate to this. I'm a very newbie here. My first post was yesterday. One thing that caused me to hesitate in posting was thinking that maybe nobody is interested in what I have to say. There are so many great writers on this platform. I've got a long way to go, but putting it out there is the only way to move forward and improve. Thanks for the reminder that my readers may be out there somewhere!
Thank you so much for this comment Daria! I literally just had a chat with my college freshmen this morning about how their stories are worth telling (we read a memoir about book banning). It never hurts to have that reminder!
"your perspective has value". I love that and you are so right. It's so easy to dismiss what you have to say or to think that others have already said it. But no one has your unique perspective and no one can articulate it quite like you can.
This is such a wise reminder. Reminding myself that I am not the singular authority on how (un)interesting my writing is... is a trip. 😂 But a valuable one!
"Even if you don't think what you have to share is particularly interesting, I guarantee someone wants to read what you're writing. Your perspective has value!" Yes yes yes.
I completely agree with this! When I write something I am passionate about, this passion clearly comes through the writing and the reader can see that. It's such an important reminder
Exactly. We are all experiencing our own version of life, and your take on something that seems ordinary to you might open up a whole new world to me! It's a great way to connect, to share the things that interest us. I might not share your interest, but I understand the feeling of finding something so fascinating that you have to share it!
Yes! Absolutely. And who knows? I may end up being really interested in your thing! I have no desire to re-create historical costumes, but boy do I love watching people do it!
POSTING My best piece of advice is to craft every post as if 10,000 people are going to read it. It keeps me focused on quality and helpfulness, and reminds me that my work matters (even if my audience is *a lot* smaller than that).
What I've learned: Consistency is key, and write stuff YOU want to read. If you aren't interested or it doesn't feel like you, it's not going to ring true to your audience or yourself. For me, I love reading and talking about books, and the feelings I have about reading different authors, how a book changed me, etc– but I have to inject that with my personality, which is sarcastic and humorous.
Would love if you'd check it out and let me know what you think! Eager for feedback and to collaborate with fellow writers/readers!
NOTES : I look for opportunities to add value to a topic or provide my answer to an intriguing or funny question. It's a win-win-win. You're practicing your own writing skills, albeit in very short form, the writer of the Note will appreciate your attention and thought, and you're getting your name out there.
NOTES/DEDICATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TIME. I didn't really understand notes or engage with them for a long time, but it's been an interesting place to find inspiration, things to read, and people to talk with. I can't say I've gotten a ton of subscribers or followers, but people do trickle in here and there, so it seems like a good community engagement strategy.
Related: I set time on my calendar each week for community engagement on notes or otherwise. it helps me focus and not get lost in the scroll!
I use Opal on my browser and Instagram is fully blocked so I have to go unblock it and set a timer. it really helps A LOT . I also have it on my phone and it works slightly different, but I also find it very useful in making me not get lost in the scroll
Thanks 🙏🏽 for this tip! I’ve never been addicted much to other social media, but Substack has grabbed my heart and I’m spending too much screen time. “connecting” here 😳
CONTENT: While I’ve only been on Substack for six months, I’ve been writing a newsletter for 15 years.
Advice? Break your own rules.
It’s so easy to get caught up in arbitrary and imaginary rules that we set for ourselves about what, when and how to show up here.
We think we can’t post two days in a row, or we can’t talk about X or we shouldn’t write a short piece when we normally write long form.
But who says so?
I’ve learned that while yes, there are best practices for every platform worth looking at, often we constrain ourselves (and our creative ideas) by rules of our OWN making.
So my guide for 2024 is to follow my enthusiasm and to be prepared to break my own rules. 😊
You can find me at Worth in Progress: a values driven newsletter exploring our complicated relationship w ambition, burnout, work, balance and self-worth.
Oh I love this advice. Applicable to life as well as writing I think. I definitely need to do this more, some of the rules I set myself really are unhelpful.
Perfect example. I’ve done that before too - put a rule that I’d have it all scheduled out for like 90 days and then within a week it felt hard and I felt disconnected to what I was ‘supposed’ to write about.
As someone who has changed my "About" and Bio in my newsletter so many times, this is a reassuring reminder! My newsletter is still evolving and I hope my readers are willing to follow me on the journey!
My experience is that most readers are more than willing to come along for the ride, and are ok with experimentation. I’ve been guilty though of just arbitrarily stopping at times while I tried to “figure it all out” - and I didn’t need to. Readers aren’t reading for perfection.
Thanks for the reminder. I keep thinking that folks always have agency to unsubscribe and hopefully those losses will be made up with new folks who resonate with where I'm going as the journey evolves!
100% true! And those unsubscribes aren't a reflection on your work or the value you provide, but rather where they're at in their life and its connection to your content. :)
Lovely reframe! Subscribing to your newsletter now just for the pep talks! I can tell you're a soulful coach and appreciate your gentle and kind words of affirmation. 🙌
Yes! Love that. The both/and is the most important part - we usually don’t have to choose between two extremes (even though we often *think* we do). lol.
I love this. I've always found comfort in structure—but I think that can lead to OVER-optimizing for structure in a way that actually boxes me in, if I'm not careful. Leaving the door open for changing/breaking our own rules is so wise!
I love structure too…until it gets so rigid that I lose the plot and the joy. Lol. I try to remember to hold it all loosely. It’s just a Substack and it’ll all be ok. 😅
I love this Stephanie. I’ve been thinking about doing a series of 5 posts (as love letters to each Human Design energy type) and I’m tempted to share them 5 days in a row, but then my head gets in the way and says, can I do that? Is that too much? What if I have nothing to say the following week?
Thanks Kelsey! I love the idea of a 5 post series. And I think you could totally do it 5 days in a row (or 5 weeks for that matter). Whatever you decide, I think the most important part is just managing expectations. If you decide to do it for 5 days in a row - awesome! And let your readers know that’s what’s happening so they know what to expect and stay engaged. You could even give yourself (and them) a week off the following week to integrate (just let them know). Or you could do a summary post with action steps (I’m making this up) the next week as a way to catch those who maybe didn’t keep up with all 5 posts. As long as you let them know your (rough) plan, you’re good to go. Trust yourself to do it the way YOU want to. Good luck! 😊
In a nutshell: be consistent, and embrace experimentation.
I've been on the platform for about 6 months now, and I've noticed a real difference in traction when I stick with a weekly cadence. And in order to do that, I've found it really helpful to embrace a "f*ck, it, let's try it!" mindset. It helps take the pressure off trying to make every single piece of writing a literary masterpiece, helps me stay creative, and gives me more data points to see what works (both in terms of what I enjoy writing about *and* what resonates with folks.)
I love this advice Michelle. I'm just a few months in as well and just changed to weekly posts in the new year. Always interested in ways to make consistency sustainable in the short and long term!
I love this advice. I agree that consistency is definitely key. I like the idea of embracing experimentation. You never know what might interest a reader until you try it!
This is what I’ve loved about my few months on Substack. It’s building my writing practice and honing my craft, regardless of the number of subscribers.
I love the f**k it, let's try it method 😁 You definitely get to see the hits and misses and if you pay attention it really helps you choose a direction.
To me, it really just means that the weekly cadence is the thing that stays rigid and (generally) non/negotiable—but then within that, I give myself a ton of permission to play and write about whatever feel interesting and fun to me at the time.
Honestly engagement is sort of staying quietly study for me so far (I still feel like I'm getting a feel for that piece)—but my hope is that a few months from now that answer will sound different, assuming I keep up my end of the deal and stay devoted to a regular posting cadence 🤞🏼
HEADERS and FOOTERS , I joined @sparkleonsubstack yesterday and did a Claire Venus workshop this morning on this subject. My advice is choose wisely where to invest and keep learning about the wonders of Substack. This was a complete eye opener , although not the sexiest subject I think it’s a fundamental game changer.
So far I have been impressed and thinks it’s worth my investment of time and £.
Having decided to be on Substack I want to get the most from it, as a writer and reader . Most importantly currently, is finding/creating community to share what matters in a world saturated in stuff . 🤩
Joining here snd sparkle we’re my best decisions and really helped me get started. I gained 125 subscribers last month which I prob wouldn’t have without their advice! Good luck with it 💛
NOTES + INSTAGRAM: I haven't been here that long, but I have noticed some successful Substack writers say Notes is a waste of time for gaining subscribers and I have not found that to be true. For my viral post on leaving the U.S which reached 50,000 views even though I only sent it to around 3k subscribers, 22% of people came through the app which to me means Notes. Correct me if this is wrong.
I've also seen people say you can't convert from IG but for that viral post 18% came through Instagram. This only happened b/c I included n the post "DM me too have post sent to you" and I sent it to hundreds of people (yes, this is time consuming). I got this tip from someone on Substack, but I can't remember who.
My IG following is not huge compared to the really successful writers here (it's around 37K) and I almost never go on there so the algorithim doesn't like me, so the conversion would be higher for people who stay active there.
I read your post Kirsten! @sarahfay used it in a workshop! This is such useful info re Instagram. I have gained subscribers since starting here last month, all from here. 🤷♀️Though I am not sure if they will convert to paid or just browsing! Interesting that Insta folk may also not convert but like the idea of the DM thing
WHOA this numbers!! I don’t think you can see exactly where they came from either. The dashboard only provides an aggregate view of who views your posts.
Kirsten, this IG advice--to DM for the post--is freaking brilliant. I am 100 percent going to follow it. My following on IG is minuscule but still. Thank you!!!
I just boosted your tip on notes and tagged a few people who I've engaged with recently on the topic of converting from IG. So, maybe the original tipper will see it and say hi. ;)
Ok wow, this is so interesting to hear about IG actually converting. I suspect that for most of us it doesn’t convert because we throw the post or story out there but don’t take the extra step of reaching out in DM like you did. That’s amazing and wonderful that you took the time to do that. I think people appreciate that personal touch! Thank you for sharing this experience with us.
I actually enjoyed it which i didn't think i would. i ended up having exchanges with people who follow me and hearing more of what they are dealing with in terms of life in the US
This is really interesting, I’ve had good success converting from instagram too, though I did/do have a very loyal following over there. Notes I haven’t managed to get my head around yet, but I’m following some of @sarahfay ‘s advice and making strides. Funnily enough i packed up my family in 2017 and left life in England for France, and I write about our life here in our slightly crumbly château. So wishing you all the luck in moving to Europe.
i just subscribed to your Substack--can't wait to read out your experience! I heard from a lot of UK people in response to my essay saying that they are experiencing a lot of what I described.
Thank you! Subscribing back. There is definitely a lot of disillusionment in the U.K. with where the country is headed. It breaks my heart a little, I will always be an English girl in France, torn between the two, one foot in each. It changes you forever leaving one country for another. But in a good way I think.
This is the advice I needed!! I’ve had terrible conversion from Instagram and assumed any post that mentioned Substack was getting buried by the algorithm. Looking forward to trying this strategy!
So I've been seeing that DM strategy a lot lately on Instagram and it was giving me MLM vibes. Can I ask what the purpose of it is? Some people I see post this already have the product in the link in their bio so I'm curious what the difference is in this strategy.
you are removing friction--most ppl won't go to the link in bio. it doesn't make sense bc it takes the same amount of time but ppl are more likely to DM you. Also i think some ppl don't know what link in bio actually means, esp if they are older.
I think it also my be true that the phrase "link in bio" will downgrade you on the algorithm because IG wants you to stay on IG. That may be true for the DM me line as well though.
NOTES. Ever since Sarah explained how Notes works and why it’s important to participate there, my subscriptions have gone up. In addition, I’ve felt a greater sense of belonging to a community by replying to posts I see on Notes that I wouldn’t otherwise have seen. That in turn makes posting my own stuff less scary!
I've also noticed that you can change the Notes tab from "Explore" to "Following" which sometimes help filter out the extra noise and make it easier to engage with your community.
One of the joys of Substack is the creativity and possibility to really EXPERIMENT and change things up every once in a while. I've found that something you think might not resonate with your audience could actually go down really well and surprise you. So keep that element of creative play if you're tempted to do something different! It's so exciting to see the results from that, so keep following what sparks your curiosity!
I agree with you Tamzin on giving ourselves permission to experiment and change things up from time to time to see what resonates most with our audience!
Love this Tamzin. It's a thought that 'consistency' = don't change. But actually a change might work or get a reaction that you didn't expect, which is useful either way. This has reminded me to keep playing!
I've loved using my newsletter to connect with and celebrate other writers--talking about books I love and how they're shaping my writing practice, interviewing writers about their craft, co-hosting zoom events with other writers. I think the more people and perspectives you can involve in your newsletter, the more it feels like a community. (And, practically, that's also good for growth, if that's a goal you're working on.)
Substack is a space that's primed to reward generosity and kindness and authentic belief in each other. So many of the features here--recommendations, Notes and what seems to be the algorithm there and on posts (favoring engagement), the restacking feature, and so on--make it so that growing together is where it's at. My biggest piece of advice is this: If you find someone whose work you love, shine a light on it. If you see someone who's starting out and could use some support, boost them. If you feel that twinge of jealousy because someone has achieved something you want like a feature or whatever, realize that really means you think they're doing great. Cheer on that achievement with enthusiasm, explore how they're doing things, become a fan. And jealously will likely be replaced by the much more productive inspiration. Figuring out that growing together is better is what we need in the world at large. Doing it here is joyful.
Thank you, Sarah Fay, for providing this space where we can do just that. First Friday I've been early to one of these fantastic threads. :)
And yours is among the terrific work I've found through engagement. You guys, check out Emily's posts on living in wild northerly lands. I especially loved her story on moving into a cabin in the woods solo mid-pandemic!
Wonderful words. Your love and support shine through. I support through my interviews and when I share another authors work it’s a great feeling. Love this. ❤️
SO GOOD! I just had a random thought this morning that I don’t “do” joy well. It doesn’t come naturally to me, as a default mood. I do, however, get a charge out of sharing great writing on Notes. I do that just about every day. And it definitely brings me joy. As much joy as reading that great writing.
That means expecting nothing in return. Don't be afraid to use the the "give away subscription for free" button. Use it more than you think you should.
And y'all I attended one of Beth's drawing workshops. Despite my meager drawing skills, it was way fun. And I made a couple delightful duck drawings. I highly recommend these workshops!
What I've learned after nine months on Substack is that my subscribers grew more rapidly when I started POSTING weekly rather than every other week, so the number of posts matter. Then I began to CONNECT more by commenting on posts after I read them, and that brought in more readers. My attempts at Notes seem to fall on unseeing eyes, but I know from other writers that it pays off to keep posting Notes and to persevere with Chats.
As a very new person here, I'm focusing on consistency and plan to post once a week come hell or high water. I'm still finding my way with engagement. I love that @sarahfay does this every week. So far, this is the most engagement I've had.
I have had a similar experience with writing comments. It builds a community and attracts more readers. But I also do it because it's fun and a way to show appreciation of the work of others.
I've learned always to remember why I'm here writing. Am I here to play the Substack game to work to get noticed and build subscribers? Or, am I here to write and share authentically? As a new and unknown writer, it has to be more about learning the craft and sharing authentically. Connecting with a community of writers who can teach us all something is really nice. But be warned! There is a game to play here if you want to get noticed. Sarah Fay is an expert!
I am new-ish to substack, but my wisdom to share today is the absolute joy cross-posting will bring.
My friend Boysie Gordon @TheBluePath and I are working on our first cross-post this week. Besides the prospect of new subscribers, the collaborators get to know each other on a deeper level, and bond over shared interests!
My newsletter- Dear People Pleasers is about leveraging emotional intelligence to cultivate self-care into our routines and relationships.
My latest post came out on Tuesday as an Advice column answering a question from our community about how to be MORE of a people-pleaser (without loosing yourself)
I could not agree more. Collabs are so much fun. I've just finished my second and am in the process of working on my third and fourth. And my experience has for sure been the same. Getting to know a writer whose work you've admired and getting to share what you've learned from that engagement with readers is a terrific combination. Great advice, K.
Marked your post--great topic--for my reading hour and looking forward to checking it out.
Oh how cool! I am just learning about cross-posting. I love that you’re finding such joy in working together. Writers’ souls are really kindred spirits, huh?
I started my Substack a month ago and have grown by 125 subscribers in that time. I had a big jump after posting my ‘hero post’ introducing my publication, Letters From Therapy. (Link below) That’s tip one!
Tip 2. And then I shared it on notes. All my notes had been tumbleweed until then, but I believe the post got so much engagement is because I tagged some other substackers to thank them. I think the algorithm liked it.
This is my hero post attached, and you can see I have one note with 42 likes, about 42 more than usual! ✨💛✨
Love this idea, Kate! I’ve not heard of a “hero” post so I checked yours out and will add to my “to-write” list! And I can definitely think of some people to thank as you did in your note-a great way to get more exposure. Thanks!
As a newbie, I would say to others who have just launched that confidence in your platform is key. These last few weeks I decided to keep my head down, focus on the message and the content I wanted to share and just go for it with wilful abandon, channeling in the mindset that The TEN was the publication that the world was waiting for. I found my groove. That unlocked the floodgates of inspiration for me. That energy, excitement and confidence also attracts others.
“That energy, excitement and confidence also attracts others.” 🙏🏽 thank you for this. My little Worry Monkeys tell me I’m too much (even as I encourage people to use their brave voice!) 😂
Tell those Worry Monkeys to take a day off! 😂 I was initially so unsure. I lurked on Substack for so long before realising that I needed to adjust my mindset. Once I did, and took the plunge, I started having so much fun.
I've met so many lovely humans through inviting them to be guests on my Pathfinders series, guest posting, hosting a community art share, being interviewed, or simply having a conversation about the hard things in life and sharing it with others. Most recently, I started a Resources for Grief thread, inspired by this community and have since connected to so many who are navigating grief with courage, compassion, and grace.
My advice would be to put the call out for collaborations, keep an open mind, and be creative! It doesn't always have to look like a guest post or interview. There's so many ways to build relationships and the momentum is really contagious!
This was one of my favorite collaborations with @Dr. Renée Eli about presence, making decisions, and soothing our nervous systems. 💗
It will honestly HELP it grow! Don't feel like you have to wait to be popular to throw your own party. Office Hours (and this thread!) is a great way to connect to others and see what resonates. A lot of my collaborations have been with people who have a way bigger following than me but I think we both really got something out of the experience! Just show up and be authentic and people will want to participate in an exchange. Best of luck! 💞
Awww 🥰 You totally rocked my world today, recommending Heart, Soul, and Monkeys. I just saw your Crossroads Stack, too - so much synchronicity! I wrote a whole book on navigating crossroads. Yes, LET'S. I promise to dig a lil deeper in your stack; trust that a Thingy will emerge quite easily.
I think the best piece of advice I have to share is to just be CONSISTENT. There are so many wonderful writers on here who post a few times and then disappear forever. Not everyone is an overnight success and sometimes it takes time to get momentum. Personally, posting every Tuesday has worked well for me.
I just posted for the first time yesterday. I'm committed to posting once a week. I need to figure out how to write my posts a little faster and be willing to pull the trigger to post even if it's not perfect. That's hard for me to do.
Congratulations on posting for the first time Daria! That is a HUGE accomplishment. For the first couple of months I was posting weekly, it took me days before I thought a post was ready to release to the world. But now I have refined my process and am able to press publish way sooner than I used to. I’m sure you will refine your own process as well!
I've been sending out my newsletter for about four months now, and one of the most successful ways I've driven new subscribers (I just hit 500 free subscribers earlier this week!) is by collaborating with other Substackers and experts in my niche. I've written guest posts for a couple of other newsletters, plus I've done Q&As with a few fellow writers in my newsletter. This helps get your name out to a wider audience, and you get the bonus of the other person promoting you to their network. And you help them in the process too!
Additionally, I go hard on promoting my newsletter. I'm a professional health writer, so when I first launched, I sent a mass email to every writer, editor, and publicist I've worked with in the past 10 years letting them know. This resulted in my first 50 subscribers! I also share every newsletter I write on IG and LinkedIn, my two most-engaged platforms. Finally, I had business cards made, which include a QR code for my newsletter. Anytime I attend an event or meetup related to my niche (celiac and gluten-free living), I introduce myself to people and hand out my card.
Wow thank you for sharing all this! I love the boldness with which you launched your newsletter. The QR code idea is so great, too. In a digital world, we forget that having something physical to share with others can be helpful too!
You are welcome! I’m lucky that I had relationships with a lot of writers, editors, and publicists from my years working in journalism previously, and everyone was so excited for me! So I definitely encourage working your existing network!
It really has been fun and rewarding to connect with other people in my niche and get to highlight their work to my readers! Everyone has a slightly different perspective, so I do like sharing their experiences in my newsletter.
I highly recommend it! When I first joined the platform, I did a search for relevant keywords (for me, "celiac" and "gluten-free") and subscribed to a few other newsletters in this space. I started interacting with the writers by liking and commenting on their posts and sharing their posts in my notes. And then I actually had a fellow writer reach out to me asking if I would write a guest post for her first! In return, I asked if I could do a Q&A with her in my newsletter. From there, I actively started reaching out to other Substackers asking them if they wanted to collaborate in this way. I have two more guest posts in the works. I've also published Q&As with some other writers who have blogs but are not on Substack. There are benefits to this as well because we're still both promoting each other when the interview goes up, even if they're not on Substack.
Yes it’s nice to know it’s possible. I have a shortish list of relevant questions that I thought I could send out if I could find willing participants, I thought the benefit could be mutual, thanks for paving the way and for the info! 💛
Hi Christina, thank you so much for sharing your experience and ideas! I specialize in nutrition/functional medicine & fertility…and I’m new to Substack. I would love to collaborate with you, if you’re interested 😊
I’ve been thinking about putting a QR code on stickers that I can put on my business cards (so I don’t have to print new ones). Glad to hear you’re doing this.
When I wake up and can't go back to sleep, one of the reasons is because I start thinking about ideas for future posts. I've become somewhat obsessed. I'm always thinking, "that would make a great post." Does anyone else do this or am I just weird?
I've been on Substack since October 2023, and I've had to turn down the volume on the competitive energy I sometimes see here to monetize, grow your subscribers and essentially measure yourself by a certain set of metrics. I'm on Substack to share and offer stories, guidance, strategies, tools and resources to provide comfort, inspiration and practical help in making the human journey--specifically, the spiritual path--easier. I want to enjoy the experience, not spend time worrying if I'm not growing fast enough or losing subscribers or not experiencing enough engagement. The fact that I'm here at all is what I'm celebrating. If you're new here, I hope you're celebrating your willingness to share yourself and your writing. It's a big deal! I appreciate you!
This is so true for me. I am new too and still working out how I need to engage with Substack to provide whatever is needed to whomever I encounter through my writing. Well said and thank you.
Don’t rely on social media to get you more subscribers. It’s a waste of time, instead focus on your email contacts. I just spent a month off of IG/FB/X/TT and doubled my subscribers and views, finally going over 100 and 1k views per month after 4 months of stagnation.
Thanks for sharing this! I am still trying to break over that 100 mark and other than Facebook, it has really felt like social media has been a big waste of time. Any further advice on how you lured your email contacts over?
Glad you liked it and yes. Substack’s somewhat dirty little secret is that you can add people by sending a welcome email. Then your email contacts can decide whether they want to unsubscribe or not.
I didn’t want to do this at first but then I bit the bullet that I was only sending it to people I knew liked me and if they didn’t like my writing, they would just unsubscribe. To my pleasant surprise, most of them have stayed and read it or at least open it each day.
How interesting! I still haven't really begun to understand Substack's email other than to just hit publish and have it go out to either free or paid. . . .I need to think more and learn more about sending emails that aren't tied directly to posts.
Thanks! I sent out an email when I first started my Substack to a few dozen or so people I thought would be interested. I wouldn't want to spam them again -- is there a way you can figure out who is in your contacts and not a subscriber? (I'm on Gmail and I hate spreadsheets...)
Be your weird self, showing up authentically makes the process more fun and rewarding. Show up for others-engage on their substacks, restack, comment. I make a mental intention to restack the work of someone else daily to continue to support a thriving writing community.
Love it! We are singing the same song - isn’t it the weird uniqueness that we love in other humans? But it’s scary to lift our veils (skirts??? 😳) and reveal it.
Yeah, planning on it as a daily thing helps me. Sometimes I just save articles I love so I have things to come back to and restack when I have time. Because there is always good stuff around, it doesn't feel like a must do, it's something I enjoy.
Consistency — if you’re new, first focus on the very practice of writing! It’s like building a muscle. And it takes strength to do it week by week. But be consistent.
Engage — spend time reading and commenting on other posts; share, restack and be active in notes!
Do what you love — it’s so much easier to write what resonates with your spirit, and you can be assured others will resonate with you.
Category fitness — Be conscientious of the category you’re in, you can double check in your settings and then go to the explore page and see what others are posting in your category. Check out the writers on the leaderboard, engage in their communities. If you find that your work isn’t suiting that category, go back to your settings and change it to something that might suit you a little better. Again, the explore tab is great for research here 😉
FREE EXCERPT IN WELCOME EMAIL - hi everyone! I’m newish to substack (imported my mailchimp list over about a year or so ago). My tip: In my welcome email to new subscribers, I send an extended excerpt from my latest novel as a welcome gift.
Thanks Evelyn! I did this with mine (a marketing strategy document tailored to kid lit authors) and it made me feel a lot better about asking for subscriptions too!
What a FANTASTIC IDEA!!! I love this. I'm not a novelist (yet?) but I love the idea of offering your new subscribers something really special that they won't get elsewhere.
Leave comments on posts you've enjoyed reading, or that have stimulated your thinking or sense of well-being. Not necessarily War & Peace, but more substanhtial than "Great article".
Cheers, Kerry. I try to get the best of both worlds: when I restack I tend to select the "with quote" option, so I can add a comment to explain WHY I've restacked. Conversely, I sometimes select the "Add to Notes" option when leaving a comment, to help the article and writer get more visibility.
Huge yes. I'm active in comments on other people's posts and find that my own comment sections are full of beautiful insights and conversation. This has not only transformed my experience of the platform, but also resulted in beautiful connections and lots more subscribers.
Oh thank you, Carissa. I'm worried that as soon as I do that I'll suddenly become the unfunniest person on the planet. But I will definitely think about it, thank you!
That's good to know. I would not have considered doing this. A lot of people don't want to be the first one to comment. By commenting on your own post first takes the pressure off.
A month ago, I was so discouraged here. Poured my heart out. No response. Thanks to this Party, commenting in chats, posts and notes, I’ve met so many delightful souls. We care about the same things. We open our hearts, so quickly. We share common passions, vulnerable truths (beyond getting more subscribers!!)
Feels great. Now I get to regulate my extroverted, overly excited puppy self. Calm down! 🤣
Christine! I have felt really emotionally drained whenever my efforts to engage go unreciprocated. The way you describe the Office Party is so accurate. I'm glad your inner puppy (CUTEST) is regulated.
Okay, so this is serendipitous, as I was already composing a note about this. Tomorrow's post is about my evolving relationship with perfectionism, which has given me a lot of opportunity to reflect on how being on Substack has really forced me to ignore (begin to overcome?!) perfectionism. I make "mistakes" left and right with my posts: the images don't look right, I can't get a decent headline/subject, the run-on sentences only reveal themselves to me after the fact. AND IT'S BEEN OKAY EVERY SINGLE TIME. I don't draw attention to these missteps, or let myself ruminate on them for too long. I (of course) recognize them, and try to improve upon them in subsequent issues, but otherwise, I just keep it moving.
I appreciate your honesty here. Perfectionism is a challenge for me as well, and it shows up right when I'm about to publish my post. It might be helpful if we all see our posts as good enough and writing in general as work in progress. A light touch returns the joy.
Thanks for this. I find it so hard not to cringe when I see a mistake. We're our own harshest critics. A lot of people would never notice, and those who do aren't likely judging you for it.
RECOMMENDATIONS -- by far the most helpful thing for me in growing my Substack has been Recommendations from other newsletters. I never asked for these generous recommendations, I simply subscribe, comment, and participate in Notes discussions as much as I can for the sake of learning and connection. Put that good karma out there and it will come back to you!
Yes! Being recommended by 67 pubs has brought me 431 new subscriptions so far. Like you, Sarah, I never asked for or expected it. I find that genuine kindness and generosity go far on this platform (and make it a fun place to hang).
DISCOUNTS AND FREE SUBS - I was amazed at how many of my free readers converted to a paid subscription when I offered a pre-Christmas discount. The uptake was huge. I left monthly subscription as they were and discounted the yearly price because I noticed that there were more stripe fees over time on the monthly subscriptions. The conversion rate was huge. I’ve also had good success from switching on referrals and rewarding my most engaged readers for bringing in new free subscribers. Telling people that they are helping me to find the time to keep the free content going and thanking them regularly has also really helped.
I love writing my journal and associated posts and I always get a little buzz from a new paid subscriber, knowing they value my work enough to pay for it means an awful lot.
I also went paid very early on and put additional posts behind my paywall. I had very few readers for them at first but it made it less scary and got me in the habit of writing additional work. And I think it meant my readers weren’t shocked when I promoted paid posts later because there had always be the option to pay to read more.
Ohmygoodness, I'm intrigued about your success with the referral program. I have had ZERO luck, which is frustrating because I'd really love a healthy word-of-mouth. I'll check out what you're doing! Congratulations.
Like many of us here I have a full time job (not writing) and posting regularly can be a challenge. I therefore often find myself writing from a bit of a low-energy place. When this happens I try and start where I'm at, what's resonating with me this week, what's been happening, what's irked me or inspired me. From this place I feel much more connected to what I'm writing, instead of just writing about something I 'should' write about. It's often these posts that do better.
GETTING STARTED. Don’t overthink it. Write something you are passionate about and post it. Nobody will read your writing if you never share it, and we all get better the more we write.
Perhaps my top performing post in 2023 was my year in review essay, where I tried to return to the rawness and vulnerability that brought me to Substack originally. After a year of experimenting with different paywall strategies, a live workshop (with a replay), and other things that didn't feel natural, I opened up about more personal things and tried to articulate my "why" for 2024.
The result was double the traffic and 20 new subscriptions, 6 of them paid. That's pretty good for me in a given week. And there was no paywall. I think my lesson was that instead of trying to put forward a false front of confidence or search for a lever that would nudge readers to upgrade, I just need to lean into the mess sometimes and think of paywalled content more as an expression of appreciation for my paying subscribers, rather than as a sales pitch to free subscribers.
I'm brand new to substack but so far I've been focusing on being present and acknowledging the self-doubt, but pressing publish anyway. Of course the doubt is going to be there but that shouldn't prevent you from sharing your words. I'm proud of myself and what I write and I hope others can gleam something from it as well.
At the end of the day, if I'm the only person interested in what I have to say that's ok too. It's about the experience and feelings I get from writing, not the metrics.
COMMUNITY. After creating an annotated directory of other substacks in my niche (addiction recovery and sobriety), I started making many genuine, heart-sourced connections here - this feels so good! Totally changed my experience on the platform!
An unexpected but very welcome bonus: lots of new subscribers and 67 pubs recommending me (leading to 431 referred subscriptions so far).
I update the directory every few weeks (we're at 106 writers and counting!). I'm over at Sober Soulful (and you can find SoberStack in the navigation bar): https://danaleighlyons.substack.com/
I loooooove this advice, Dana!! As a fellow writer in recovery/who's sober, I love your Substack and the list you created is *so* incredible and comforting. I love that this is how you've created a deeper sense of community here! Great advice.
Numbers, success, readership, growth, yes! But also: my writing practice has never, ever, ever been stronger. What I've learned is that creativity is for the world, but that it's also always for us, first.
Knowing this will *only* help the writing (& the living) get better.
I found that interacting with writers who write about stuff you're interested in (not necessarily the topic of your Substack) will help you get likeminded people to follow you. For example, I write about computer tips, but I'm also interested in Energy, so I interact with people who write about that field. I have no plans to write about Energy myself, but getting them to follow me (and viceversa) works on the long run because I help growing their follower base by commenting, recommending, liking, and restacking, while they do the same for me.
Newbie here! I was lucky to receive a recommendation from a fairly large Substack account early on and it's garnered dozens of new free subscribers for me so far. I think building relationships with other writers and collaborating with /recommending other writers on here that you really resonate with is probably the most impactful way to grow and get exposed to other similar audiences.
TABS
I love that you can have separate tabs for different types of content. I recommend that others try this method as well. My Substack is about Eating Psychology and Culinary Nutrition. I have one section for my main articles and a section called "quick bites" that I post to for mini-blogs or resources and value type content. I also host a series on that tab called 5-Senses Sunday.
Do you ask other writers to recommend you or does that just happen naturally as you grow? I have a hard time imagining anyone deciding to recommend a smaller Substack unless they know the writer personally but curious how you made that happen!
Hi Dizzy! Nice to meet you! So to be honest I do know the writer personally and straight out asked for the recommendation. But it made me think that given how many new subs I got from that one recommending account that this could be an impactful way to grow but also develop more meaningful relationships within the writing community. I realize it's not necessarily easy though. I do wonder how writers approach this - but I think one way is right here through this Substack writers at work community!
JENNY, I love your tips and also we are so aligned. I am an Integrative and psychedelic medicine MD, author and speaker. I also taught Culinary Medicine for several years to my resident physicians and patients! I will go subscribe now and look forward to connecting more!
EDITORIAL CALENDAR: I’ve been using an editorial calendar since about 6 months, and it’s really helpful for the times when I’m not sure what to post about. Since my substack is about art & creativity, I need to schedule out time to photograph, record, edit video etc. Knowing what I’m posting when is incredibly helpful in streamlining the process.
HOW TO KEEP AN EDITORIAL CALENDAR: There are many ways, but for starters, keep it as simple as possible. I have mine in a paper planner, scheduled out for 3 months. Just note down the themes for each month’s posts and flesh it out as you have ideas. As an example, one of my themes is “Watch the process” — an art journaling video or photographs of my process. I’ll just put that into my calendar & then weave that into my regular creating so I have all the pieces ready to post. As I have ideas, I just go into my calendar & note them down.
I have been trying to work on developing an editorial calendar lately, and am also a visual artist, so thank you for the advice! I like the idea of planning it out a few months at a time :)
It's already giving me energy and priming me for writing to come. I have documents open with little observations or tiny seeds of a thought that will fit with something months from now. Wonderful approach for me, but I always love a plan!
Thanks for the tips on to get this process out of my head and into, well, a process. The irony is I do this for my day job but seem incapable of it for my own writing!
OMG. Me too! If I could do for my writing career what I can do for clients at my day job. You are reminding me that when I was struggling to write my MA thesis, I put the little money I had as a grad student into a separate bank account and paid myself for the time I spent on it. So I guess I made it into my job.
100% AGREE with this! I’m also visual, so I use the digital whiteboard Mural for my editorial calendar. Originally, it was 6 months, so I could plan weekly or monthly series and just see how much content I have to play with. I change it constantly, moving virtual post-it notes around and a finished post *always* gets a red check mark. I don’t know where I’d be without it.
I use it for everything. Course planning. Students share their work. Crit days if we meet virtually. Discovered it during the pandemic and now I’m hooked.
I find it's great for collecting ideas, less so for writing. I do my first full draft of a post in Google Docs before the final few edits on the platform.
Newbies and Veterans, give us your best Substack advice. It might be on how to get your first post out or how to celebrate when you get your first paid subscriber. Or it’s wisdom gleaned from two years of writing headlines. Or insights into word count, creating community, or writing sentences that sing. Anything!
Here’s how this works:
-In all caps, give us the one-word topic of your advice, e.g., POSTING or NOTES, anything
-Then share what you’ve learned/discovered
-Include the URL of your Substack
-Find at least 2 other pieces of advice in this thread that resonate with you, comment, thank them, and share their wisdom on Notes! (Click the little wheel or click share.)
-BONUS: Check out their Substack and maybe even subscribe.
ENGAGING CONTENT
Don't try to be cute. Be yourself. You are on a journey to find the people who resonate with your message. Some will, some won't, so what. People are resonating with your content even if they don't comment.
Also, I prefer to keep mine short so they can read it and get an actionable takeaway.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking what you have to share has already been done. No one has heard it in YOUR voice yet. You are unique and the world is best served when you are uniquely you, not someone else.
www.tareks.blog
Just gave similar advice! Totally agree
Great minds Lauren! ;-)
Awesome point, Tarek. There was a time when I was very concerned I was getting few comments and now I recognize I am similar to my readers. I can really appreciate something I read and also not comment on it (plus, most of my readers are only on email and not Substack).
I invited them to hit reply and while I'd be happy to hear from them in that way, my CTA is more about them hitting a "Share" button.
Love it Tarek. Sharing of yourself makes it more fun and less of a chore.
Isn’t it much easier just to be you? Amen to that Vince.
You are so right!
The world needs the real Melissa!
I could definitely do a better job of focusing my content on value....
Sometimes I get carried away with trying to make it perfect!
My struggle as well! Perfection is dead. Let’s have the real Boysie!!!
Thank you for this, incredibly helpful.
Thanks Niki! I’ve only been doing this a few months so I’m in learning mode as well!
Ditto to all of this!
Thanks Jo! It’s a process isn’t it? I’m still trying to give up perfection.
Yes to this! People often say Be Yourself, but you've given good reasons to do so. People have not yet heard a point of view in YOUR voice. So even if you are writing about a familiar topic, there can definitely be a new take on it.
I often start writing something, then before it's done, the same topic is in the news! Then I consider what makes my POV unique, and reshape the post.
https://theindiaink.substack.com/
Well said Yamuna! Have an excellent day.
APOLOGIZING
You don't need to apologize if you send your newsletter out a day or a week late or even if you skip a week. Most of your subscribers don't notice and the apology draws attention to it. New writers often get the advice to "stick to a schedule" and "pick a cadence" but this doesn't work for everyone.
Your readers would rather hear from you when you've got something interesting to say, not because it's a Wednesday.
https://demarcation.substack.com/
Thank you for taking me "off the hook" for skipping a week. I was just about to apologize for skipping a post in a series I've developed, but I'd really be apologizing to myself for letting myself down. And that's just unnecessary.
Totally! Give yourself a break, I’m sure your audience would prefer you turn up refreshed and not frazzled. 👏👏
took me a while to stop thinking like this. i am more consistent now, but i'd always be like "sorry for being gone!" if I took a break.
I needed this reminder. Thank you for the permission slip.
This is a relief to hear. I agonised over getting posts out every Wednesday and Saturday no matter what, then the strain turned out to be too much and I'd give up entirely for weeks (ok, sometimes months) at a time and feel like a failure... bit of a cycle. or I'd put stuff out that wasn't as good just to have something out on the promised day.
Love this advice -- and need to follow it myself more often. Every newsletter seems to start out with, "I had every intention of getting this out on time, but then [INSERT SHIT NO ONE CARES ABOUT] ..." Thanks!
@dizzyzaba nice advice here. I’m not perfectly publishing on the date I plan to publish. I don’t really pay too much attention to the day the people I subscribe to publish. I think you’re right on this!
SO TRUE - no-one notices!
This is the advise I started giving myself only recently after years of agonizing over being a day or few days late. Now ‘the sky is not going to fall if I miss a day’ and ‘I don't need to apologize’ have become my new mantras.
This is so good! I realized that this year. I missed a post and wanted to hop back in the next week with a "sorry" but then I realized, no one cares! That was so freeing. On the flip side, when I just started with Substack I accidentally published a post TWICE within minutes of each other. I thought it hadn't posted because I didn't receive and email with my post. I was mortified and thought about sending another post to apologize but luckily I phoned a friend first. She was like, "who hasn't done this? Say nothing. I repeat, say nothing!" And when I thought about it I flashed to all the apology emails I'd received over the years for such things and was like, yeah, who needs yet another email for me?
I could not agree more!
Why bother to write a ‘sorry I’m exhausted’ post, no one wants to read that. 👏👏
I agree 100%
I wrote a spontaneous post. in real-time, about accepting a last-minute invitation. I was short on time and extremely nervous. My fingers didn't cooperate with me, and there were many typos. The closest I came to editing it was to add "I'm not editing this" to the beginning. At the end, I said I'd follow-up.
I haven't written the follow-up, and it's been weeks. After a day or two of not having the chance to write it, the momentum is gone, and it wouldn't have the same energy... I'm not even going to mention it.
Also, you are all now sworn to secrecy. lol.
Sometimes, when the idea sparks, you have to follow it, stoke it. I love your advice because it not only speaks to our hectic lives, but the “in the moment” way writing inspiration can manifest, that “when you have something to say,” is most important.
COMMENTS
Read a post you like? Share on notes and comment. It’s a great way to connect.
https://substack.com/@blingnotbling?utm_source=user-menu
Thank you for the office party!
Absolutely!
Definitely! There's nothing like a recommendation and I love the way that Notes can take you sideways to new inspiration.
Commenting is my fav part of Substack. I love dropping and receiving comments!
This is SUCH a great thread! You're amazing, Sarah!
CONSISTENCY IN POSTING
Think of showing up for your Substack as showing up for yourself. Because you deserve it. Give your Substack love and others will feel it pouring through.
https://tanmeetsethimd.substack.com
Excellent advice, thank you!
This is such a good point! Consistency is defintely one of the best ways to keep your readers and get discovered more.
excellent point indeed.
Done!! Thank you again for these wonderful Friday prompts. I am feeling more comfortable each week to party along with you all! Have a wonderful, magical weekend :)
EMAIL OVERWHELM
This isn’t as sexy as the kind of advice I usually love to give like, be generous in Notes, Restacks and Comments. Or once you press 'publish', let go of what comes next. Like releasing a message in a bottle, surrender control and be happy that you were brave enough to let your words set sail into the unknown. ✨
But it’s one the things I am so glad I did last month.
I shared this on my latest Substack diaries, but it’s worth repeating here because I wish I did it sooner!
I changed over my personal address in Substack to an email address I created SOLELY for Substack. Now I open up my “substack” email, like I open up a magazine, with all my fav newsletters ready to be read and comments etc to reply to! Game changer!!
https://musingsbymika.substack.com/p/substack-diaries-27-to-180-in-a-month
totally agree!
What a great idea! Was it as simple as it sounds? It didn't mess anything up as far as your subscriptions or payments or anything?
I don’t do paid subscription so not sure about that. It was super simple, settings and then edit email 😊
Great! Oh, yeah, I don't do paid for my own stack, but I pay for a couple subscriptions and just wondered if my payment card would still be matched to my new email. Thanks for your help!
Oo good question. It seemed ok.
Mika this is such a cool idea — I love the app for this reason. It's been fun noticing how I now reach to read longer pieces instead of SCROLL SCROLL SCROLL everywhere else.
Exactly!!
I love this suggestion! I turned email notifications off but I feel like I miss some things. This is a great way to approach it!
That is a great idea! I'm already terrible at keeping up with my email - so this would help!
GROWING
Hi this one's for the Newbies - I'm a year in here so I'm no expert, but I've gone from 0 to 300+ and earned almost $6K in the first year - so I think some of my observations from the field with an inde/outsider flare might be helpful to some! https://sleepyhollowink.substack.com/p/hack-your-substack-10-tips. Enjoy!
same! I set aside time on my calendar to engage with other substacks.
swapping one addiction for another - the perfect plan lololll
Love this. Same and same for me! I find that reading, engaging, sharing the work of others helps to build my audience and have been slowly replacing other social media time with substack. I love the community here. So beautiful!
Me too. I get way more engagement here and have a lot more fun
This place is for sure better for me than IG. Marissa G, just tagged your abortion piece for my reading hour and looking forward to checking out your work.
Same! Also, totally agree w/ humor as a great coping skill. So I followed you.
Wisdom!
Love this advice! I've definitely noticed this too when I take the time to engage with other Substackers. I try to bake time into my schedule each week to comment and share other posts.
That's a great reminder, thank you
100 cosign this. Community is a huge vibe here and engagement goes such a long way!
Yes!! So true.
Yes, this is so important! The community aspect has really allowed me to grow but also means I support others to grow as well when I share their work.
Yes, this seems to be a vital part of it. As a new substacker, I've noticed that, unlike Facebook etc, where you can mindlessly scroll without needing to engage your brain too much, it seems completely pointless to do that here. The focus is so firmly on writing that if you aren't here to enjoy the writing, and engage with the writers, then why are you here? At times when I don't feel up to engaging, I don't open the app. Unlike FB, which was my hideaway precisely when I didn't want to engage with the world!
Love this- developing community is so important and opens up opportunities.
Same!! Has made all the difference!
100 Percent.
Good advice. It can be hard for me to practice by posting, but I know that this is the only way to do it.
Yes it i! Thank you @sarahfay.
NOTES - as a newish Substacker Notes have been invaluable to me. I pop onto Notes most days to chat, explore and network. It's a great way to make new connections with zero pressure and no expectations.
Just show up and be yourself, and you'll find people just like you
https://everydayknitter.substack.com/
Ahhhh, this is great! I feel very intimidated by notes and don't fully understand how to use them– so this is really encouraging to just try it out and like you said– do it in a low-pressure way! thanks so much @everydayknitter
You're welcome. If you are hesitant post a note and tag me and I'll be sure to come and say hi
I agree! i love it
Yes! The piece about just being yourself is so true! The practice of writing can be solitary. Community is key. And, like you say, Louise, Notes is a fabulous place to find yours. Great advice.
With any platform I think finding your people is half the battle. I feel like Notes makes it that much easier to connect with them.
Good reminder. I'm hesitant because I don't want to do something wrong. Still figuring everything out. Thanks!
Would it help to think of it as going to a large gathering. Listen for a bit, mingle a bit, join in for a deeper conversation when it feels right? :)
I agree! Notes have been so important to my growth and building community :)
I co-sign this. Notes is fun, a great way to discover writers I haven’t subscribed to yet. I’m also quick to restock a piece I love w/ a personal note as to why. Part of the Substack tradition of generosity and support.
Very much the same for me--!
I love Notes too. It’s full of fun content and cool people to meet.
As a non-user of social media, I find Notes hard-going (I realised years ago that SM is not for me). But I agree it's a useful place. I try to share what I like on there, but I can't stay scrolling on it for very long before I get brain melt.
I think it's best to think about Notes as a way to find great content and new writers, rather than as a way of promoting your own stuff.
Exactly. Just relaxing and connecting with people without having any goal or expectations
Hello, fellow writers! Over the last year, I’ve learned that it’s great if you can define what success on Substack means for you: is it the number of subscribers, the amount of writing you do, the consistency of your writing etc. It’s different for each of us.
I agree! This is one of the most important things you can do for yourself!
it's also so hard not to compare yourself to others! the struggle!
So true. Thx for the reminder. 🙏
POSTING.
I'm still a newbie here, having been on Substack for less than 6 months, but what I've learned is to write about what's interesting to me. For a variety of reasons, this works - if you're lit up about something, chances are your readers will connect to that excitement and authenticity, too. It also helps to give you space as a writer, and to not box yourself in to one particular topic. Even if you don't think what you have to share is particularly interesting, I guarantee someone wants to read what you're writing. Your perspective has value! (Something I have to remind myself of at least once a week.)
https://marissagallerani.substack.com/
Yes! Absolutely. The branding thing is what I struggled with for a long time before starting my Substack. I then realized I could throw that out the window and make my brand 'there is no brand' and go from there and that folks would probably read along, anyways.
(Also hello to another Marissa G!)
Oh yess- I can’t tell you how many hours days and weeks and months I’ve spent on “personal branding”. Yikes 😱 I still believe in creating a sense of a welcoming space, with consistent tone and imagery, but it can be so much less work!
I can really relate to this. I'm a very newbie here. My first post was yesterday. One thing that caused me to hesitate in posting was thinking that maybe nobody is interested in what I have to say. There are so many great writers on this platform. I've got a long way to go, but putting it out there is the only way to move forward and improve. Thanks for the reminder that my readers may be out there somewhere!
Thank you so much for this comment Daria! I literally just had a chat with my college freshmen this morning about how their stories are worth telling (we read a memoir about book banning). It never hurts to have that reminder!
Keep at it and don’t compare your work to other authors. You do you. Congrats!
Thank you!
"your perspective has value". I love that and you are so right. It's so easy to dismiss what you have to say or to think that others have already said it. But no one has your unique perspective and no one can articulate it quite like you can.
Great lesson. 🙏
This is such a wise reminder. Reminding myself that I am not the singular authority on how (un)interesting my writing is... is a trip. 😂 But a valuable one!
"Even if you don't think what you have to share is particularly interesting, I guarantee someone wants to read what you're writing. Your perspective has value!" Yes yes yes.
Hi Marissa! That is a good thing to remind ourselves of—that our perspectives have value–especially as writers/artists. Thank you for reminding us 🩷
You are so very welcome! I don't think we can be reminded of it too often.
I completely agree with this! When I write something I am passionate about, this passion clearly comes through the writing and the reader can see that. It's such an important reminder
Yes! It's that authenticity that is contagious and magnetic.
Yes! It all begins with the writer’s emotional investment in the writing.
Exactly. We are all experiencing our own version of life, and your take on something that seems ordinary to you might open up a whole new world to me! It's a great way to connect, to share the things that interest us. I might not share your interest, but I understand the feeling of finding something so fascinating that you have to share it!
Yes! Absolutely. And who knows? I may end up being really interested in your thing! I have no desire to re-create historical costumes, but boy do I love watching people do it!
I agree. Thank you for that reminder of the need to write about what we find interesting.
I like the name of your Substack, by the way!
POSTING My best piece of advice is to craft every post as if 10,000 people are going to read it. It keeps me focused on quality and helpfulness, and reminds me that my work matters (even if my audience is *a lot* smaller than that).
Love this Clare, thanks! I’m still early on but I’ve noticed when I try this it feels like a totally different mindset 😁
So much of writing, I find, is mindset. Thanks for your comment Jess!
Then you have the benefit of a high-quality archive for the day when you do have 10,000 readers. Great advice!
That's the hope, Sheila, thank you!
I really like this.
WRITING
What I've learned: Consistency is key, and write stuff YOU want to read. If you aren't interested or it doesn't feel like you, it's not going to ring true to your audience or yourself. For me, I love reading and talking about books, and the feelings I have about reading different authors, how a book changed me, etc– but I have to inject that with my personality, which is sarcastic and humorous.
Would love if you'd check it out and let me know what you think! Eager for feedback and to collaborate with fellow writers/readers!
https://pointofdeparture.substack.com/
Hi EJ!
I love your sentiment about writing something you would want to read. I hold the same philosophy!
Checking out your stack right now 🏃🏻♀️
Thank you!! will do the same <3
Yes!
NOTES : I look for opportunities to add value to a topic or provide my answer to an intriguing or funny question. It's a win-win-win. You're practicing your own writing skills, albeit in very short form, the writer of the Note will appreciate your attention and thought, and you're getting your name out there.
NOTES/DEDICATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TIME. I didn't really understand notes or engage with them for a long time, but it's been an interesting place to find inspiration, things to read, and people to talk with. I can't say I've gotten a ton of subscribers or followers, but people do trickle in here and there, so it seems like a good community engagement strategy.
Related: I set time on my calendar each week for community engagement on notes or otherwise. it helps me focus and not get lost in the scroll!
https://www.readonhand.com/
Not getting lost in the scroll is my issue. 😅 Setting a timer is a good idea.
I use Opal on my browser and Instagram is fully blocked so I have to go unblock it and set a timer. it really helps A LOT . I also have it on my phone and it works slightly different, but I also find it very useful in making me not get lost in the scroll
https://www.opal.so/
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Thanks 🙏🏽 for this tip! I’ve never been addicted much to other social media, but Substack has grabbed my heart and I’m spending too much screen time. “connecting” here 😳
I felt the same way about Notes. The scrolling can be a time sucker. I have to reel it in. Love the idea of setting a time calendar.
CONTENT: While I’ve only been on Substack for six months, I’ve been writing a newsletter for 15 years.
Advice? Break your own rules.
It’s so easy to get caught up in arbitrary and imaginary rules that we set for ourselves about what, when and how to show up here.
We think we can’t post two days in a row, or we can’t talk about X or we shouldn’t write a short piece when we normally write long form.
But who says so?
I’ve learned that while yes, there are best practices for every platform worth looking at, often we constrain ourselves (and our creative ideas) by rules of our OWN making.
So my guide for 2024 is to follow my enthusiasm and to be prepared to break my own rules. 😊
You can find me at Worth in Progress: a values driven newsletter exploring our complicated relationship w ambition, burnout, work, balance and self-worth.
https://worthinprogress.substack.com
Oh I love this advice. Applicable to life as well as writing I think. I definitely need to do this more, some of the rules I set myself really are unhelpful.
Definitely true for life. I make a lot of (unhelpful) rules for myself. 😂
That’s good advice. When I started I wanted to schedule ahead but quickly realised I like being more ‘in the moment’ with my posts and it feels good!
Perfect example. I’ve done that before too - put a rule that I’d have it all scheduled out for like 90 days and then within a week it felt hard and I felt disconnected to what I was ‘supposed’ to write about.
Love this!
THIS sticks with me: “So my guide for 2024 is to follow my enthusiasm and to be prepared to break my own rules.” I fear I’ve boxed myself in.
Oh I can so relate to the feeling of boxing myself in. Been there, done that, bought all the t-shirts. 😆 Enthusiasm is usually my way out of it.
As someone who has changed my "About" and Bio in my newsletter so many times, this is a reassuring reminder! My newsletter is still evolving and I hope my readers are willing to follow me on the journey!
My experience is that most readers are more than willing to come along for the ride, and are ok with experimentation. I’ve been guilty though of just arbitrarily stopping at times while I tried to “figure it all out” - and I didn’t need to. Readers aren’t reading for perfection.
Thanks for the reminder. I keep thinking that folks always have agency to unsubscribe and hopefully those losses will be made up with new folks who resonate with where I'm going as the journey evolves!
100% true! And those unsubscribes aren't a reflection on your work or the value you provide, but rather where they're at in their life and its connection to your content. :)
Lovely reframe! Subscribing to your newsletter now just for the pep talks! I can tell you're a soulful coach and appreciate your gentle and kind words of affirmation. 🙌
Ah thanks Mariah! I so appreciate that and I’m looking forward to getting to know you. ☺️
Yesss 🙌🏽 Embracing both/and - create an intentional, devotional, consistency, with lots of room for fun, says my inner rebel!
Yes! Love that. The both/and is the most important part - we usually don’t have to choose between two extremes (even though we often *think* we do). lol.
I love this. I've always found comfort in structure—but I think that can lead to OVER-optimizing for structure in a way that actually boxes me in, if I'm not careful. Leaving the door open for changing/breaking our own rules is so wise!
I love structure too…until it gets so rigid that I lose the plot and the joy. Lol. I try to remember to hold it all loosely. It’s just a Substack and it’ll all be ok. 😅
Love this. It can get really boring if we stick to our rules all the time.
💯 Boring, and unsustainable.
I love this Stephanie. I’ve been thinking about doing a series of 5 posts (as love letters to each Human Design energy type) and I’m tempted to share them 5 days in a row, but then my head gets in the way and says, can I do that? Is that too much? What if I have nothing to say the following week?
Thanks Kelsey! I love the idea of a 5 post series. And I think you could totally do it 5 days in a row (or 5 weeks for that matter). Whatever you decide, I think the most important part is just managing expectations. If you decide to do it for 5 days in a row - awesome! And let your readers know that’s what’s happening so they know what to expect and stay engaged. You could even give yourself (and them) a week off the following week to integrate (just let them know). Or you could do a summary post with action steps (I’m making this up) the next week as a way to catch those who maybe didn’t keep up with all 5 posts. As long as you let them know your (rough) plan, you’re good to go. Trust yourself to do it the way YOU want to. Good luck! 😊
Thank you so much for voicing this. It's made me realise, I do that!! Permission now granted to break my rules! 😅
WRITING + POSTING
In a nutshell: be consistent, and embrace experimentation.
I've been on the platform for about 6 months now, and I've noticed a real difference in traction when I stick with a weekly cadence. And in order to do that, I've found it really helpful to embrace a "f*ck, it, let's try it!" mindset. It helps take the pressure off trying to make every single piece of writing a literary masterpiece, helps me stay creative, and gives me more data points to see what works (both in terms of what I enjoy writing about *and* what resonates with folks.)
https://michellelacroix.substack.com/
I think you're right that having a regular schedule lowers the overall pressure!
I love this advice Michelle. I'm just a few months in as well and just changed to weekly posts in the new year. Always interested in ways to make consistency sustainable in the short and long term!
I love this advice. I agree that consistency is definitely key. I like the idea of embracing experimentation. You never know what might interest a reader until you try it!
I began with the intention of posting regularly and, thankfully have been able to stick with it.
This is what I’ve loved about my few months on Substack. It’s building my writing practice and honing my craft, regardless of the number of subscribers.
I love the f**k it, let's try it method 😁 You definitely get to see the hits and misses and if you pay attention it really helps you choose a direction.
Would you talk more about the difference? I’m just switching to weekly and it would be a good motivator to keep me going!
To me, it really just means that the weekly cadence is the thing that stays rigid and (generally) non/negotiable—but then within that, I give myself a ton of permission to play and write about whatever feel interesting and fun to me at the time.
love that! have you noticed that the regular posting is driving more engagement with your readers?
Honestly engagement is sort of staying quietly study for me so far (I still feel like I'm getting a feel for that piece)—but my hope is that a few months from now that answer will sound different, assuming I keep up my end of the deal and stay devoted to a regular posting cadence 🤞🏼
HEADERS and FOOTERS , I joined @sparkleonsubstack yesterday and did a Claire Venus workshop this morning on this subject. My advice is choose wisely where to invest and keep learning about the wonders of Substack. This was a complete eye opener , although not the sexiest subject I think it’s a fundamental game changer.
https://moordays.substack.com
I’m new in this community too 👋 I need to check out that one, sounds good!
So far I have been impressed and thinks it’s worth my investment of time and £.
Having decided to be on Substack I want to get the most from it, as a writer and reader . Most importantly currently, is finding/creating community to share what matters in a world saturated in stuff . 🤩
Joining here snd sparkle we’re my best decisions and really helped me get started. I gained 125 subscribers last month which I prob wouldn’t have without their advice! Good luck with it 💛
That’s good to hear , well done 👏 for implementing your learnings and getting great results .
Yes, Susan. I love all the ways there are to learn more about the nuances of Substack.
Headers and footers can be very sexy!! 🤣
Then, thats another challenge for me to meet 😂
NOTES + INSTAGRAM: I haven't been here that long, but I have noticed some successful Substack writers say Notes is a waste of time for gaining subscribers and I have not found that to be true. For my viral post on leaving the U.S which reached 50,000 views even though I only sent it to around 3k subscribers, 22% of people came through the app which to me means Notes. Correct me if this is wrong.
I've also seen people say you can't convert from IG but for that viral post 18% came through Instagram. This only happened b/c I included n the post "DM me too have post sent to you" and I sent it to hundreds of people (yes, this is time consuming). I got this tip from someone on Substack, but I can't remember who.
My IG following is not huge compared to the really successful writers here (it's around 37K) and I almost never go on there so the algorithim doesn't like me, so the conversion would be higher for people who stay active there.
Here is the URL of my substack: https://kirstenpowers.substack.com/
I read your post Kirsten! @sarahfay used it in a workshop! This is such useful info re Instagram. I have gained subscribers since starting here last month, all from here. 🤷♀️Though I am not sure if they will convert to paid or just browsing! Interesting that Insta folk may also not convert but like the idea of the DM thing
yeah i don't think i can see how the subscribers came right? this is how many new subs i got from that post, but idk where they came from: 1.28K
46 paid subscriptions, 1238 free subscriptions
That’s fantastic wherever they came from! Ciao!✨
WHOA this numbers!! I don’t think you can see exactly where they came from either. The dashboard only provides an aggregate view of who views your posts.
Kirsten, this IG advice--to DM for the post--is freaking brilliant. I am 100 percent going to follow it. My following on IG is minuscule but still. Thank you!!!
right?! i wish i could remember who gave me that tip so i could credit them for it
I just boosted your tip on notes and tagged a few people who I've engaged with recently on the topic of converting from IG. So, maybe the original tipper will see it and say hi. ;)
Ok wow, this is so interesting to hear about IG actually converting. I suspect that for most of us it doesn’t convert because we throw the post or story out there but don’t take the extra step of reaching out in DM like you did. That’s amazing and wonderful that you took the time to do that. I think people appreciate that personal touch! Thank you for sharing this experience with us.
I actually enjoyed it which i didn't think i would. i ended up having exchanges with people who follow me and hearing more of what they are dealing with in terms of life in the US
This is really interesting, I’ve had good success converting from instagram too, though I did/do have a very loyal following over there. Notes I haven’t managed to get my head around yet, but I’m following some of @sarahfay ‘s advice and making strides. Funnily enough i packed up my family in 2017 and left life in England for France, and I write about our life here in our slightly crumbly château. So wishing you all the luck in moving to Europe.
i just subscribed to your Substack--can't wait to read out your experience! I heard from a lot of UK people in response to my essay saying that they are experiencing a lot of what I described.
Thank you! Subscribing back. There is definitely a lot of disillusionment in the U.K. with where the country is headed. It breaks my heart a little, I will always be an English girl in France, torn between the two, one foot in each. It changes you forever leaving one country for another. But in a good way I think.
Intriguing, Rebecca. Just subscribed and looking forward to hearing more about the crumbly château and all!
Thank you 🙏
This is the advice I needed!! I’ve had terrible conversion from Instagram and assumed any post that mentioned Substack was getting buried by the algorithm. Looking forward to trying this strategy!
So I've been seeing that DM strategy a lot lately on Instagram and it was giving me MLM vibes. Can I ask what the purpose of it is? Some people I see post this already have the product in the link in their bio so I'm curious what the difference is in this strategy.
you are removing friction--most ppl won't go to the link in bio. it doesn't make sense bc it takes the same amount of time but ppl are more likely to DM you. Also i think some ppl don't know what link in bio actually means, esp if they are older.
I think it also my be true that the phrase "link in bio" will downgrade you on the algorithm because IG wants you to stay on IG. That may be true for the DM me line as well though.
oh interesting. i didn't notice any reprisal for the DMS
I really have no idea if that is the case. I just have been told that by a couple sources I can't quite remember. So some strong data there. 🤣
The IG piece of this is really interesting, especially encouraging people to DM for the link. Thanks for the tip!
Kirsten this is so very helpful. I will also try that on IG today when I share my image from today's post. REstacking now as well. ❤️
NOTES. Ever since Sarah explained how Notes works and why it’s important to participate there, my subscriptions have gone up. In addition, I’ve felt a greater sense of belonging to a community by replying to posts I see on Notes that I wouldn’t otherwise have seen. That in turn makes posting my own stuff less scary!
I've also noticed that you can change the Notes tab from "Explore" to "Following" which sometimes help filter out the extra noise and make it easier to engage with your community.
POSTING
One of the joys of Substack is the creativity and possibility to really EXPERIMENT and change things up every once in a while. I've found that something you think might not resonate with your audience could actually go down really well and surprise you. So keep that element of creative play if you're tempted to do something different! It's so exciting to see the results from that, so keep following what sparks your curiosity!
https://tamzin.substack.com/
I agree with you Tamzin on giving ourselves permission to experiment and change things up from time to time to see what resonates most with our audience!
Good advice Tamsin - it’s good to keep it lively!
I wholeheartedly agree Tamzin! There have been wonderful surprises here, which makes the whole process of sharing our writing so much fun.
Love this Tamzin. It's a thought that 'consistency' = don't change. But actually a change might work or get a reaction that you didn't expect, which is useful either way. This has reminded me to keep playing!
POSTING + COLLABORATION
I've loved using my newsletter to connect with and celebrate other writers--talking about books I love and how they're shaping my writing practice, interviewing writers about their craft, co-hosting zoom events with other writers. I think the more people and perspectives you can involve in your newsletter, the more it feels like a community. (And, practically, that's also good for growth, if that's a goal you're working on.)
Collaboration has been huge for me! I love seeing how you've been doing it.
JOY
Substack is a space that's primed to reward generosity and kindness and authentic belief in each other. So many of the features here--recommendations, Notes and what seems to be the algorithm there and on posts (favoring engagement), the restacking feature, and so on--make it so that growing together is where it's at. My biggest piece of advice is this: If you find someone whose work you love, shine a light on it. If you see someone who's starting out and could use some support, boost them. If you feel that twinge of jealousy because someone has achieved something you want like a feature or whatever, realize that really means you think they're doing great. Cheer on that achievement with enthusiasm, explore how they're doing things, become a fan. And jealously will likely be replaced by the much more productive inspiration. Figuring out that growing together is better is what we need in the world at large. Doing it here is joyful.
Thank you, Sarah Fay, for providing this space where we can do just that. First Friday I've been early to one of these fantastic threads. :)
https://hollystarley.substack.com
I love this Holly, and it's been a pleasure to witness you spreading joy and shining a light on others in this way all the time here on Substack!
Thanks, Emily!!
And yours is among the terrific work I've found through engagement. You guys, check out Emily's posts on living in wild northerly lands. I especially loved her story on moving into a cabin in the woods solo mid-pandemic!
Extremely well said, Holly! Shell 🐚 YES to all this. Once again, we are singing the same song 🎵
And what a terrific tune. Thanks, Christine!!
It has a ring to it. Hehe.
Wonderful words. Your love and support shine through. I support through my interviews and when I share another authors work it’s a great feeling. Love this. ❤️
Your interviews are terrific!
Love love love your positive spirit and totally agree about the generosity and kindness of the communities here!
SO GOOD! I just had a random thought this morning that I don’t “do” joy well. It doesn’t come naturally to me, as a default mood. I do, however, get a charge out of sharing great writing on Notes. I do that just about every day. And it definitely brings me joy. As much joy as reading that great writing.
100% agree with everything Holly! Once I figured this out, everything has felt lighter and more enJOYable! 😊
Yes, Holly! I’ve been looking for a better way to do this (writing/business) for years and I think Substack is it. We really do get to rise together!
Right?!
BE GENEROUS.
That means expecting nothing in return. Don't be afraid to use the the "give away subscription for free" button. Use it more than you think you should.
https://www.introvertdrawingclub.com/
This is great advice! Generosity makes people want to come back 💛
Thank you! You get it. 😊 I've learned when I'm more kind to other folks, being kind to myself comes a bit easier.
We feel the love we create! 🫶
Lovely advice, Beth!
And y'all I attended one of Beth's drawing workshops. Despite my meager drawing skills, it was way fun. And I made a couple delightful duck drawings. I highly recommend these workshops!
Thank you so much, Holly! I have heard wonderful things about your editing workshops. It's on my wishlist!
Thanks, Beth! 🥰
I need to remember this when I keep clicking on the free subscription button.
I wish I could pay for as many subscriptions as I wanted. Giving back is magical!
Great advice
CONNECTION AND POSTING
What I've learned after nine months on Substack is that my subscribers grew more rapidly when I started POSTING weekly rather than every other week, so the number of posts matter. Then I began to CONNECT more by commenting on posts after I read them, and that brought in more readers. My attempts at Notes seem to fall on unseeing eyes, but I know from other writers that it pays off to keep posting Notes and to persevere with Chats.
https://patriciacusack.substack.com/
As a very new person here, I'm focusing on consistency and plan to post once a week come hell or high water. I'm still finding my way with engagement. I love that @sarahfay does this every week. So far, this is the most engagement I've had.
I have had a similar experience with writing comments. It builds a community and attracts more readers. But I also do it because it's fun and a way to show appreciation of the work of others.
POSTING + NOTES - Thank you, Sarah!
https://jenniferbochik.substack.com/
I've learned always to remember why I'm here writing. Am I here to play the Substack game to work to get noticed and build subscribers? Or, am I here to write and share authentically? As a new and unknown writer, it has to be more about learning the craft and sharing authentically. Connecting with a community of writers who can teach us all something is really nice. But be warned! There is a game to play here if you want to get noticed. Sarah Fay is an expert!
I can really relate this + just posted something similar. Go with your gut!
CROSS POSTING
I am new-ish to substack, but my wisdom to share today is the absolute joy cross-posting will bring.
My friend Boysie Gordon @TheBluePath and I are working on our first cross-post this week. Besides the prospect of new subscribers, the collaborators get to know each other on a deeper level, and bond over shared interests!
My newsletter- Dear People Pleasers is about leveraging emotional intelligence to cultivate self-care into our routines and relationships.
My latest post came out on Tuesday as an Advice column answering a question from our community about how to be MORE of a people-pleaser (without loosing yourself)
Post: kaylenalexandra.substack.com/p/ask-a-people-pleaser-you-never-saw
Boysie’s newsletter is about building a personal brand, and discovering our purpose… 🪷
His URL: thebluepath.substack.com
We hope to connect with y’all soon, happy Friday and TAHNK YOU Miss Sarah Fay for starting another thread to bring us together! 💌
I could not agree more. Collabs are so much fun. I've just finished my second and am in the process of working on my third and fourth. And my experience has for sure been the same. Getting to know a writer whose work you've admired and getting to share what you've learned from that engagement with readers is a terrific combination. Great advice, K.
Marked your post--great topic--for my reading hour and looking forward to checking it out.
Oh how cool! I am just learning about cross-posting. I love that you’re finding such joy in working together. Writers’ souls are really kindred spirits, huh?
Yes 🙌🏽 I’m on my third collab with a podcast interview in the works too. So fun. Next up: learning WTF is time management??? 😳
Thank you for this reminder about collaborating and not doing this alone! Also sounds so fun! You’ve inspired me 💚
HERO POST AND NOTES TIP
I started my Substack a month ago and have grown by 125 subscribers in that time. I had a big jump after posting my ‘hero post’ introducing my publication, Letters From Therapy. (Link below) That’s tip one!
Tip 2. And then I shared it on notes. All my notes had been tumbleweed until then, but I believe the post got so much engagement is because I tagged some other substackers to thank them. I think the algorithm liked it.
This is my hero post attached, and you can see I have one note with 42 likes, about 42 more than usual! ✨💛✨
https://lettersfromtherapy.substack.com
That’s great insight about how the hero post can help, thank you for sharing that, Kate!
It’s made a big difference, I recommend it! ✨
I will need to try this out!
It’s worth the effort I think. Mines really a repeat of my about page with a few extras 💫
Great tip about tagging your inspiration peeps for your Hero post. Makes sense! And, a smidge counterintuitive? Isn’t it all about us? 😂 no!
Haha! I just did feel grateful, though a couple shared it which I think is prob also what helped! Generosity breeds generosity!
How interesting! Thanks for these tips.
Thanks Sue! Your publication looks v interesting!
Thanks Kate! I think we have some interesting cross-over potential. I am looking forward to reading your posts too.
Thanks, yes I followed along 💛
So your Hero Post is the same as your About page? Congrats!
Thanks. Great advice. Definitely will look into Hero post. (New one on me.)
It’s a good way to do a full intro of what to expect
Love this idea, Kate! I’ve not heard of a “hero” post so I checked yours out and will add to my “to-write” list! And I can definitely think of some people to thank as you did in your note-a great way to get more exposure. Thanks!
Yes I think so, you never know! 💛
Thank you for reminding me about 'hero post'! I seem to out that off 😅
And hello to another fellow therapist on Substack! ♥️
Thanks for tagging me in your note 😉
Thanks for this, Kate. I loved your hero post and you’re inspiring me to write one.
CONFIDENCE
As a newbie, I would say to others who have just launched that confidence in your platform is key. These last few weeks I decided to keep my head down, focus on the message and the content I wanted to share and just go for it with wilful abandon, channeling in the mindset that The TEN was the publication that the world was waiting for. I found my groove. That unlocked the floodgates of inspiration for me. That energy, excitement and confidence also attracts others.
https://lisamarkswrites.substack.com/
"Just go for it with willful abandon"--love this, Lisa! This is terrific advice.
What's a little wilful abandon amongst friends? 😂
Exactly! 🤣 Did I already say this? Just flagged a couple of your posts for my reading hour. Looking forward to checking out your work.
“That energy, excitement and confidence also attracts others.” 🙏🏽 thank you for this. My little Worry Monkeys tell me I’m too much (even as I encourage people to use their brave voice!) 😂
Tell those Worry Monkeys to take a day off! 😂 I was initially so unsure. I lurked on Substack for so long before realising that I needed to adjust my mindset. Once I did, and took the plunge, I started having so much fun.
COLLABORATIONS
I've met so many lovely humans through inviting them to be guests on my Pathfinders series, guest posting, hosting a community art share, being interviewed, or simply having a conversation about the hard things in life and sharing it with others. Most recently, I started a Resources for Grief thread, inspired by this community and have since connected to so many who are navigating grief with courage, compassion, and grace.
My advice would be to put the call out for collaborations, keep an open mind, and be creative! It doesn't always have to look like a guest post or interview. There's so many ways to build relationships and the momentum is really contagious!
This was one of my favorite collaborations with @Dr. Renée Eli about presence, making decisions, and soothing our nervous systems. 💗
https://thebarefootbeat.substack.com/p/how-do-we-decide
I’d love to do something similar as my Substack grows 💛
It will honestly HELP it grow! Don't feel like you have to wait to be popular to throw your own party. Office Hours (and this thread!) is a great way to connect to others and see what resonates. A lot of my collaborations have been with people who have a way bigger following than me but I think we both really got something out of the experience! Just show up and be authentic and people will want to participate in an exchange. Best of luck! 💞
Thank you so much for your encouragement, yes I’ll look around with that lens 🫶
Yes! I’ve been wanting to collaborate with another humor author. I do interviews with funny women but am hoping to collaborate with one soon.
Do it! It's so much fun and I've learned a lot from the experiences.
You are good at this, Mariah! Hmmm 🤔 Maybe it’s your last name
Thank you, Christine! I love the work/art you're making and putting into the world. I'd love to concoct a fun way for us to collaborate someday! 💞
Awww 🥰 You totally rocked my world today, recommending Heart, Soul, and Monkeys. I just saw your Crossroads Stack, too - so much synchronicity! I wrote a whole book on navigating crossroads. Yes, LET'S. I promise to dig a lil deeper in your stack; trust that a Thingy will emerge quite easily.
CONTRIBUTE WHERE YOU CAN: whether it’s new content, a note, re-stacking, commenting, or sharing something you found on Substack is VALUABLE. I’ve serialized a memoir, offer poems and short essays, but I’m mostly known for none of that. Most know me as THE HEADLINE BOSS. Click here for my latest plum https://open.substack.com/pub/johnmoyermedlpcncc/p/the-wisdom-of-wrinkles?r=3p5dh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
POSTING
I think the best piece of advice I have to share is to just be CONSISTENT. There are so many wonderful writers on here who post a few times and then disappear forever. Not everyone is an overnight success and sometimes it takes time to get momentum. Personally, posting every Tuesday has worked well for me.
I post every other Thursday, so at least we're not clashing...
Thank goodness! Haha
I just posted for the first time yesterday. I'm committed to posting once a week. I need to figure out how to write my posts a little faster and be willing to pull the trigger to post even if it's not perfect. That's hard for me to do.
Congratulations on posting for the first time Daria! That is a HUGE accomplishment. For the first couple of months I was posting weekly, it took me days before I thought a post was ready to release to the world. But now I have refined my process and am able to press publish way sooner than I used to. I’m sure you will refine your own process as well!
That's so good to hear! Thank you for the encouraging words. They're reassuring and much appreciated.
I post Wednesday and Friday - so the week is getting covered somehow! 🥰
Nice Christine!!
COLLABORATION + PROMOTION
I've been sending out my newsletter for about four months now, and one of the most successful ways I've driven new subscribers (I just hit 500 free subscribers earlier this week!) is by collaborating with other Substackers and experts in my niche. I've written guest posts for a couple of other newsletters, plus I've done Q&As with a few fellow writers in my newsletter. This helps get your name out to a wider audience, and you get the bonus of the other person promoting you to their network. And you help them in the process too!
Additionally, I go hard on promoting my newsletter. I'm a professional health writer, so when I first launched, I sent a mass email to every writer, editor, and publicist I've worked with in the past 10 years letting them know. This resulted in my first 50 subscribers! I also share every newsletter I write on IG and LinkedIn, my two most-engaged platforms. Finally, I had business cards made, which include a QR code for my newsletter. Anytime I attend an event or meetup related to my niche (celiac and gluten-free living), I introduce myself to people and hand out my card.
https://celiacselfcare.christinaheiser.com
Wow thank you for sharing all this! I love the boldness with which you launched your newsletter. The QR code idea is so great, too. In a digital world, we forget that having something physical to share with others can be helpful too!
You are welcome! I’m lucky that I had relationships with a lot of writers, editors, and publicists from my years working in journalism previously, and everyone was so excited for me! So I definitely encourage working your existing network!
I agree with all of this- partnerships and collaborations are so rewarding and fun!
Yes! The collabs have been the most fun!
This is amazing advice Christina. Collabs are something I haven't done properly yet but they sound like fun :)
It really has been fun and rewarding to connect with other people in my niche and get to highlight their work to my readers! Everyone has a slightly different perspective, so I do like sharing their experiences in my newsletter.
This is great advice, and something I’m considering for mine. Did you just reach out and hope for the best? ✨
I highly recommend it! When I first joined the platform, I did a search for relevant keywords (for me, "celiac" and "gluten-free") and subscribed to a few other newsletters in this space. I started interacting with the writers by liking and commenting on their posts and sharing their posts in my notes. And then I actually had a fellow writer reach out to me asking if I would write a guest post for her first! In return, I asked if I could do a Q&A with her in my newsletter. From there, I actively started reaching out to other Substackers asking them if they wanted to collaborate in this way. I have two more guest posts in the works. I've also published Q&As with some other writers who have blogs but are not on Substack. There are benefits to this as well because we're still both promoting each other when the interview goes up, even if they're not on Substack.
Yes it’s nice to know it’s possible. I have a shortish list of relevant questions that I thought I could send out if I could find willing participants, I thought the benefit could be mutual, thanks for paving the way and for the info! 💛
You are welcome! I just subscribed to your newsletter so I can follow along! :)
Hi Christina, thank you so much for sharing your experience and ideas! I specialize in nutrition/functional medicine & fertility…and I’m new to Substack. I would love to collaborate with you, if you’re interested 😊
We should definitely connect! I just subscribed to your newsletter!
Wonderful! I subscribed to yours too 😊 What’d the best way to be in touch regarding collaboration?
I’ve been thinking about putting a QR code on stickers that I can put on my business cards (so I don’t have to print new ones). Glad to hear you’re doing this.
Yes! I think putting stickers on your existing cards makes a lot of sense.
Lots of great tips here. I think a lot of us are just trying to figure out how to show up, let alone promote! Thank you for this!
Thank you! I hope my advice is helpful!
Love the idea of a QR code on a printed biz card. ✔️
POSTING
When I wake up and can't go back to sleep, one of the reasons is because I start thinking about ideas for future posts. I've become somewhat obsessed. I'm always thinking, "that would make a great post." Does anyone else do this or am I just weird?
Oh my gosh YES. I’ve been awake 3 of the last 5 nights for several hours because I get so excited about new things to write about!
I'm so glad I'm not alone!
Yes!!! and I have a huge list of drafts. I can't seem to keep up with my own thoughts.
That beats the alternative, right?
It sure does!
Yes! And when I can make myself laugh I know it will be a great essay. (I write humor.)
POLL: I just discovered this and have used it to get my readers' help on choosing a cover for my novel.
https://jamesrmarshall.substack.com/
That is super fun!!
DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
I've been on Substack since October 2023, and I've had to turn down the volume on the competitive energy I sometimes see here to monetize, grow your subscribers and essentially measure yourself by a certain set of metrics. I'm on Substack to share and offer stories, guidance, strategies, tools and resources to provide comfort, inspiration and practical help in making the human journey--specifically, the spiritual path--easier. I want to enjoy the experience, not spend time worrying if I'm not growing fast enough or losing subscribers or not experiencing enough engagement. The fact that I'm here at all is what I'm celebrating. If you're new here, I hope you're celebrating your willingness to share yourself and your writing. It's a big deal! I appreciate you!
https://thecosmicyes.substack.com/
This feels like truly resonant with me. I feel the pressure (and the worry) that I am at 100 subscribers yet. Thanks for this perspective.
I posted nearly the exact same thing 🙂🙂
This is so true for me. I am new too and still working out how I need to engage with Substack to provide whatever is needed to whomever I encounter through my writing. Well said and thank you.
Beautifully said, Victoria.
Yes yes! I do me and you do you. Love on fellow authors and enjoy the ride.
MIGRATION
Don’t rely on social media to get you more subscribers. It’s a waste of time, instead focus on your email contacts. I just spent a month off of IG/FB/X/TT and doubled my subscribers and views, finally going over 100 and 1k views per month after 4 months of stagnation.
https://open.substack.com/pub/adamscheiner?r=2sbbt3&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for sharing this! I am still trying to break over that 100 mark and other than Facebook, it has really felt like social media has been a big waste of time. Any further advice on how you lured your email contacts over?
Glad you liked it and yes. Substack’s somewhat dirty little secret is that you can add people by sending a welcome email. Then your email contacts can decide whether they want to unsubscribe or not.
I didn’t want to do this at first but then I bit the bullet that I was only sending it to people I knew liked me and if they didn’t like my writing, they would just unsubscribe. To my pleasant surprise, most of them have stayed and read it or at least open it each day.
How interesting! I still haven't really begun to understand Substack's email other than to just hit publish and have it go out to either free or paid. . . .I need to think more and learn more about sending emails that aren't tied directly to posts.
It took me a while to explore and I’m still learning, but there’s some nice features like that.
ooohhh so you added them w/o having them opt in?
Agreed! Slowly learning this, thanks!
The Zuckberg and Elon world’s are dying of self inflicted wounds. I hope that AI is going to turn people off this year and people will finally leave.
Thanks! I sent out an email when I first started my Substack to a few dozen or so people I thought would be interested. I wouldn't want to spam them again -- is there a way you can figure out who is in your contacts and not a subscriber? (I'm on Gmail and I hate spreadsheets...)
SHOWING UP
Be your weird self, showing up authentically makes the process more fun and rewarding. Show up for others-engage on their substacks, restack, comment. I make a mental intention to restack the work of someone else daily to continue to support a thriving writing community.
https://mindfulinthemud.substack.com
Definitely. There is no point in pretending to be somebody that you are not - it shows. People want to see the real you.
Absolutely!
YES!! The reader is here for you and only you. Nobody else. Love this, Kathryn.
Thank you!
Love it! We are singing the same song - isn’t it the weird uniqueness that we love in other humans? But it’s scary to lift our veils (skirts??? 😳) and reveal it.
Yay for weird!
I need to Restack more often. I forget or I worry my post is getting too long. Thx for the reminder.
Yeah, planning on it as a daily thing helps me. Sometimes I just save articles I love so I have things to come back to and restack when I have time. Because there is always good stuff around, it doesn't feel like a must do, it's something I enjoy.
Love this! I need to get into a daily habit of it but I sometimes get busy and then intimidated, and then feel bad, and then it becomes a loop! Hah
Ah yes I know the loop--I have a lot of those!
A lovely mindful intention! Thanks Kathryn
Consistency — if you’re new, first focus on the very practice of writing! It’s like building a muscle. And it takes strength to do it week by week. But be consistent.
Engage — spend time reading and commenting on other posts; share, restack and be active in notes!
Do what you love — it’s so much easier to write what resonates with your spirit, and you can be assured others will resonate with you.
Category fitness — Be conscientious of the category you’re in, you can double check in your settings and then go to the explore page and see what others are posting in your category. Check out the writers on the leaderboard, engage in their communities. If you find that your work isn’t suiting that category, go back to your settings and change it to something that might suit you a little better. Again, the explore tab is great for research here 😉
Great tips! Thank you.
Love these, Courtney. I just switched up one of my categories this week. Still trying to find where I fit. Thank you for sharing these tips!!
FREE EXCERPT IN WELCOME EMAIL - hi everyone! I’m newish to substack (imported my mailchimp list over about a year or so ago). My tip: In my welcome email to new subscribers, I send an extended excerpt from my latest novel as a welcome gift.
Love this community! You can find me at:
evelynskye.substack.com
where I show behind-the-scenes of a writing career, including my work with Netflix.
Thanks Evelyn! I did this with mine (a marketing strategy document tailored to kid lit authors) and it made me feel a lot better about asking for subscriptions too!
That's great idea about including your novel excerpt! Thanks for that, Evelyn.
Great idea. Congrats!
What a FANTASTIC IDEA!!! I love this. I'm not a novelist (yet?) but I love the idea of offering your new subscribers something really special that they won't get elsewhere.
that sounds like a lovely idea
COMMENTS
Leave comments on posts you've enjoyed reading, or that have stimulated your thinking or sense of well-being. Not necessarily War & Peace, but more substanhtial than "Great article".
Eclecticism: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/
I restack way more than I comment--I'll switch it up for awhile. Thank you!
Cheers, Kerry. I try to get the best of both worlds: when I restack I tend to select the "with quote" option, so I can add a comment to explain WHY I've restacked. Conversely, I sometimes select the "Add to Notes" option when leaving a comment, to help the article and writer get more visibility.
Yes, I also almost always restack with a little bit of my commentary. Thanks for sharing the "add to notes" option! That's what I'll try next.
Huge yes. I'm active in comments on other people's posts and find that my own comment sections are full of beautiful insights and conversation. This has not only transformed my experience of the platform, but also resulted in beautiful connections and lots more subscribers.
Thanks, Dana. I agree. I learn a huge amount from comments, and enjoy the interaction and engagement.
Love your stack. While your offerings are wonderfully eclectic you might add Humor to your description. Your posts often make me laugh. 🥰
Oh thank you, Carissa. I'm worried that as soon as I do that I'll suddenly become the unfunniest person on the planet. But I will definitely think about it, thank you!
Have you seen what Substack Reads considers funny? It will inspire you. 😊
No, but I'll look out for that. Thanks!
COMMENTS- go put a comment on your post after it goes live, people feel free to engage if someone else has started the conversation even if it’s you
A really good tip, I tried it and it worked! ✨
Fantastic!
I keep meaning to do this! Thank you for the reminder.
Great advice. Thx. 🙏
That's good to know. I would not have considered doing this. A lot of people don't want to be the first one to comment. By commenting on your own post first takes the pressure off.
It really does!
Oooh smart!
Such a cheeky tip, thank you!
CONNECT with kindness and genuine curiosity.
A month ago, I was so discouraged here. Poured my heart out. No response. Thanks to this Party, commenting in chats, posts and notes, I’ve met so many delightful souls. We care about the same things. We open our hearts, so quickly. We share common passions, vulnerable truths (beyond getting more subscribers!!)
Feels great. Now I get to regulate my extroverted, overly excited puppy self. Calm down! 🤣
Grateful. This post engaged people. 🥰 🙏🏽 https://heartsquest.substack.com/p/just-three-months-to-live
I’m also so grateful for these community post parties! 🫶
Christine! I have felt really emotionally drained whenever my efforts to engage go unreciprocated. The way you describe the Office Party is so accurate. I'm glad your inner puppy (CUTEST) is regulated.
Aww 🥰 Thank you. this regulation thing is a work in progress
Lovely. I feel the same way. 🥰
Amen 🙌
Yes! I’m so grateful for your exuberant puppy self!
POSTING
Okay, so this is serendipitous, as I was already composing a note about this. Tomorrow's post is about my evolving relationship with perfectionism, which has given me a lot of opportunity to reflect on how being on Substack has really forced me to ignore (begin to overcome?!) perfectionism. I make "mistakes" left and right with my posts: the images don't look right, I can't get a decent headline/subject, the run-on sentences only reveal themselves to me after the fact. AND IT'S BEEN OKAY EVERY SINGLE TIME. I don't draw attention to these missteps, or let myself ruminate on them for too long. I (of course) recognize them, and try to improve upon them in subsequent issues, but otherwise, I just keep it moving.
https://mskerrygraham.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web&r=1tvq0
Case in point: it is not uncommon for me to share the wrong link!
https://mskerrygraham.substack.com/
Just a reminder that we are human beings, not human doings! 😄
One of these days I'll be able to remember that. Thank you for the gentle nudge!
I feel this. I just posted a piece about perfectionism a couple weeks ago.
https://chrisstanton.substack.com/p/on-perfectionism-and-pain
Thanks for sharing this post, Chris! I'll definitely be reading it, and surely nodding along.
Looking forward to reading yours tomorrow!
I appreciate your honesty here. Perfectionism is a challenge for me as well, and it shows up right when I'm about to publish my post. It might be helpful if we all see our posts as good enough and writing in general as work in progress. A light touch returns the joy.
Yes, that's such a more generous attitude to take, isn't it? Thank you for saying that!
Thanks for this. I find it so hard not to cringe when I see a mistake. We're our own harshest critics. A lot of people would never notice, and those who do aren't likely judging you for it.
Ohmygosh, I've cringed, cussed, cried--you're right about us being our own worst critics!
RECOMMENDATIONS -- by far the most helpful thing for me in growing my Substack has been Recommendations from other newsletters. I never asked for these generous recommendations, I simply subscribe, comment, and participate in Notes discussions as much as I can for the sake of learning and connection. Put that good karma out there and it will come back to you!
My Newsletter: https://sarahallen.substack.com/
Thanks, this is helpful. I must try this!
Yes! Being recommended by 67 pubs has brought me 431 new subscriptions so far. Like you, Sarah, I never asked for or expected it. I find that genuine kindness and generosity go far on this platform (and make it a fun place to hang).
Wow, that's amazing!!!! Yeah the community on here is pretty spectacular!
I started doing this a couple months ago. Whether or not I grow my stack I love recommending other writers.
100% agree with the good karma! Never thought of putting it that way, but it totally is good karma! 😊✨
DISCOUNTS AND FREE SUBS - I was amazed at how many of my free readers converted to a paid subscription when I offered a pre-Christmas discount. The uptake was huge. I left monthly subscription as they were and discounted the yearly price because I noticed that there were more stripe fees over time on the monthly subscriptions. The conversion rate was huge. I’ve also had good success from switching on referrals and rewarding my most engaged readers for bringing in new free subscribers. Telling people that they are helping me to find the time to keep the free content going and thanking them regularly has also really helped.
I love writing my journal and associated posts and I always get a little buzz from a new paid subscriber, knowing they value my work enough to pay for it means an awful lot.
https://rebeccaljones.substack.com
Ooooh this is so smart! I haven't started pushing for paid subs yet but when I get to that point I'm keeping this in mind.
I also went paid very early on and put additional posts behind my paywall. I had very few readers for them at first but it made it less scary and got me in the habit of writing additional work. And I think it meant my readers weren’t shocked when I promoted paid posts later because there had always be the option to pay to read more.
Very good to know!!
Ohmygoodness, I'm intrigued about your success with the referral program. I have had ZERO luck, which is frustrating because I'd really love a healthy word-of-mouth. I'll check out what you're doing! Congratulations.
Very good advice, I’m going to try it! I seem to get subscribers but I want to covert more to paid so maybe this will help ✨
I’m a sucker for a sale. I will try this. Thx!
Hahah me too! You had me at limited time only! 😂
Thank you 🙏🏽 big help to this newbie, getting ready to launch paid
ENERGY
Like many of us here I have a full time job (not writing) and posting regularly can be a challenge. I therefore often find myself writing from a bit of a low-energy place. When this happens I try and start where I'm at, what's resonating with me this week, what's been happening, what's irked me or inspired me. From this place I feel much more connected to what I'm writing, instead of just writing about something I 'should' write about. It's often these posts that do better.
https://josephrivers.substack.com/
Yes! Minimizing the amount of "should" in our lives is so valuable. I'm glad you give yourself this grace.
That’s awesome. Have you connected with fellow working Substackers? It might be an extra boost to have that community and commiseration.
No I didn't realise there was a thing! 'Commiseration' - yes it might well be that 😅
This is advice I need right now, thank you.
GETTING STARTED. Don’t overthink it. Write something you are passionate about and post it. Nobody will read your writing if you never share it, and we all get better the more we write.
Marktpalmer.substack.com
POSTING + VULNERABILITY
Perhaps my top performing post in 2023 was my year in review essay, where I tried to return to the rawness and vulnerability that brought me to Substack originally. After a year of experimenting with different paywall strategies, a live workshop (with a replay), and other things that didn't feel natural, I opened up about more personal things and tried to articulate my "why" for 2024.
The result was double the traffic and 20 new subscriptions, 6 of them paid. That's pretty good for me in a given week. And there was no paywall. I think my lesson was that instead of trying to put forward a false front of confidence or search for a lever that would nudge readers to upgrade, I just need to lean into the mess sometimes and think of paywalled content more as an expression of appreciation for my paying subscribers, rather than as a sales pitch to free subscribers.
https://joshuadolezal.substack.com/p/the-recovering-academic-in-2023
That's great stuff, Joshua. Authenticity and vulnerability really do shine through.
Many thanks, Chris!
Fantastic news. It takes courage to be vulnerable. Congrats!
Thanks! It does kind of work against the notion of professionalism that many of us learn.
POSTING
I'm brand new to substack but so far I've been focusing on being present and acknowledging the self-doubt, but pressing publish anyway. Of course the doubt is going to be there but that shouldn't prevent you from sharing your words. I'm proud of myself and what I write and I hope others can gleam something from it as well.
At the end of the day, if I'm the only person interested in what I have to say that's ok too. It's about the experience and feelings I get from writing, not the metrics.
https://catieshine.substack.com/
I second all of this!!
Congrats on your new stack! You got this!
Agreed, I just read my post from this morning in my email inbox and I loved it! 🥰 yay for posting in spite of the doubt monkeys
COMMUNITY. After creating an annotated directory of other substacks in my niche (addiction recovery and sobriety), I started making many genuine, heart-sourced connections here - this feels so good! Totally changed my experience on the platform!
An unexpected but very welcome bonus: lots of new subscribers and 67 pubs recommending me (leading to 431 referred subscriptions so far).
I update the directory every few weeks (we're at 106 writers and counting!). I'm over at Sober Soulful (and you can find SoberStack in the navigation bar): https://danaleighlyons.substack.com/
Great advice. I love the community here and glad you found your people. Recommending is an excellent tool.
Thanks, CK!
I loooooove this advice, Dana!! As a fellow writer in recovery/who's sober, I love your Substack and the list you created is *so* incredible and comforting. I love that this is how you've created a deeper sense of community here! Great advice.
Thank you, Irina! I'm grateful for connecting with you in this space!
Wow, that's so impressive.
Thank you, Jeffery!
DEVOTION
Numbers, success, readership, growth, yes! But also: my writing practice has never, ever, ever been stronger. What I've learned is that creativity is for the world, but that it's also always for us, first.
Knowing this will *only* help the writing (& the living) get better.
https://sarahcook.substack.com
Absolutely speaking my language! For us first. This is the only thing that has driven me to actually be consistent. Thanks for this reminder
GETTING FOLLOWERS
I found that interacting with writers who write about stuff you're interested in (not necessarily the topic of your Substack) will help you get likeminded people to follow you. For example, I write about computer tips, but I'm also interested in Energy, so I interact with people who write about that field. I have no plans to write about Energy myself, but getting them to follow me (and viceversa) works on the long run because I help growing their follower base by commenting, recommending, liking, and restacking, while they do the same for me.
https://www.pcisdeadagain.com/
This is such a good idea! And also a reminder to explore our other niche interests.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Newbie here! I was lucky to receive a recommendation from a fairly large Substack account early on and it's garnered dozens of new free subscribers for me so far. I think building relationships with other writers and collaborating with /recommending other writers on here that you really resonate with is probably the most impactful way to grow and get exposed to other similar audiences.
TABS
I love that you can have separate tabs for different types of content. I recommend that others try this method as well. My Substack is about Eating Psychology and Culinary Nutrition. I have one section for my main articles and a section called "quick bites" that I post to for mini-blogs or resources and value type content. I also host a series on that tab called 5-Senses Sunday.
You can find me at - https://jennyedenberkmsed.substack.com/
I'm definitely looking to connect and collaborate with more writers in a health, Nutrition or psychology-adjacent field!
Do you ask other writers to recommend you or does that just happen naturally as you grow? I have a hard time imagining anyone deciding to recommend a smaller Substack unless they know the writer personally but curious how you made that happen!
Hi Dizzy! Nice to meet you! So to be honest I do know the writer personally and straight out asked for the recommendation. But it made me think that given how many new subs I got from that one recommending account that this could be an impactful way to grow but also develop more meaningful relationships within the writing community. I realize it's not necessarily easy though. I do wonder how writers approach this - but I think one way is right here through this Substack writers at work community!
JENNY, I love your tips and also we are so aligned. I am an Integrative and psychedelic medicine MD, author and speaker. I also taught Culinary Medicine for several years to my resident physicians and patients! I will go subscribe now and look forward to connecting more!
So nice to meet you! I subscribed back! Would love to chat with you more sometime! Your field is fascinating to me.
Thank you for this insight on tabs! I'll play with that tomorrow. (Oh, it's already after midnight?! I guess I mean later on today.)
you are so welcome and nice to meet you! Just followed you. :-)
Nice to meet you, too!
EDITORIAL CALENDAR: I’ve been using an editorial calendar since about 6 months, and it’s really helpful for the times when I’m not sure what to post about. Since my substack is about art & creativity, I need to schedule out time to photograph, record, edit video etc. Knowing what I’m posting when is incredibly helpful in streamlining the process.
HOW TO KEEP AN EDITORIAL CALENDAR: There are many ways, but for starters, keep it as simple as possible. I have mine in a paper planner, scheduled out for 3 months. Just note down the themes for each month’s posts and flesh it out as you have ideas. As an example, one of my themes is “Watch the process” — an art journaling video or photographs of my process. I’ll just put that into my calendar & then weave that into my regular creating so I have all the pieces ready to post. As I have ideas, I just go into my calendar & note them down.
My substack: https://shinjinim.substack.com
I have been trying to work on developing an editorial calendar lately, and am also a visual artist, so thank you for the advice! I like the idea of planning it out a few months at a time :)
I find that much easier to do. Trying to plot a calendar for a year or even longer than 3 months just feels overwhelming!
I just started working on this yesterday and had no idea there was a name for it! Thank you for sharing your process.
You’re welcome! I hope it helps :)
It's already giving me energy and priming me for writing to come. I have documents open with little observations or tiny seeds of a thought that will fit with something months from now. Wonderful approach for me, but I always love a plan!
How wonderful!!
Thanks for the tips on to get this process out of my head and into, well, a process. The irony is I do this for my day job but seem incapable of it for my own writing!
Sometimes things are just easier to do for a day job, aren’t they?
OMG. Me too! If I could do for my writing career what I can do for clients at my day job. You are reminding me that when I was struggling to write my MA thesis, I put the little money I had as a grad student into a separate bank account and paid myself for the time I spent on it. So I guess I made it into my job.
100% AGREE with this! I’m also visual, so I use the digital whiteboard Mural for my editorial calendar. Originally, it was 6 months, so I could plan weekly or monthly series and just see how much content I have to play with. I change it constantly, moving virtual post-it notes around and a finished post *always* gets a red check mark. I don’t know where I’d be without it.
It’s always fun to mark off the articles we’ve written/posted! :-)
I have not heard of Mural before thanks for the tip!
I use it for everything. Course planning. Students share their work. Crit days if we meet virtually. Discovered it during the pandemic and now I’m hooked.
I agree on the calendar. I use Notion for mine. Like any plan, it keeps changing. But it helps to have all my ideas in one place.
I love Notion! I use it to collect ideas & start drafts.
I find it's great for collecting ideas, less so for writing. I do my first full draft of a post in Google Docs before the final few edits on the platform.
I've just started experimenting with an editorial calendar, and it's good to hear it is helpful.
It really is! It takes the pressure off of wondering what to write about.