About Notes:
Notes has become an amalgamation of other social media platforms.
It’s mostly Twitter with a dash of Instagram, a heaping dose of Facebook, and a dollop of LinkedIn.
About the algorithm:
The algorithm changes all the time.
No one knows how it works.
There’s no way to game it.
About “going viral”:
It used to be fairly easy to go viral during the Notes boom (January - June 2025)—less so now.
“Viral” is relative.
“Going viral” isn’t necessary for Substack growth and earning an income. Substack is a long game; slow and steady growth is perfect.
How to stay mentally healthy on Notes:
Notes is social media. It’s a good version of it, but it’s just social media.
Take it with a grain of salt and don’t confuse it with your Substack.
The 5 types of Notes below aren’t examples of what you should or shouldn’t write; they’re models of the structures and types of Notes getting traction right now.
If you’re confused by Notes, you’re not alone. Watch my Notes in a Nutshell 7-Minute Overview.