EVERYTHING you need to know about the Notes BOOST Challenge!

April 8 - 29: Tremendous subscriber growth + connecting with other Substack writers and creators + support from our amazing community

» Substack Notes Boost Challenge FAQs, a video tutorial, guidelines, and my step-by-step guide are below.

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The only proven way to grow your Substack using Notes...

• April 8 - 29

During the last Notes Boost Challenge participants gained from 100 to 6000 new subscribers in just 70 days.

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Why this works

This is the original Notes Boost.

It’s not about empty growth or algorithm tricks.

It’s about building genuine connections with other Substack writers and creators, gaining visibility and engagement on Notes, getting subscribers—leaving you more time to focus on doing what you love on Substack.

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How it works: April 8 - 29

• We come together as a community to boost each others’ Notes by liking, restacking, and commenting on the Note to give it momentum in the algorithm and get in front of potential subscribers.

• You receive an email each day at noon CT inviting you to join that day’s Boost.

• I give you daily Notes prompts and templates—plus, inspiration and encouragement to keep you going.

• You share one of your Notes. Other participants like, restack, and comment on it so it gets momentum and gets in front of more people. You do the same for others—but be genuine. (This isn’t some lame follow-for-follow thing.)

FAQs, step-by-step guidance, and a video tutorial are below.

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Yeah, but does it really work?

• Don’t take my word for it. What people are saying:

  • “My subscribers grew by 42% in the last 90 days, from 2620 to 3729, and that is much higher than the previous 90 days, which had crawled along with a 5% a month growth rate. I got 700 new subscribers in March which is a record for me. I had two notes go viral (thousands of likes) and quite a few get into mid-high hundreds. An amazing lift.” —Ros Barber

  • “I nearly doubled my subscribers in the last 70 days. But more than the numbers, it’s the connections that matter—writers who’ve become real friends. That’s the part I never expected. And the part I’ll never take for granted. Thank you Notes Boost Challenge.” —Heather Hausenblas

  • Read hundreds of testimonials here.

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What does it cost?

It’s included in the paid subscription to Substack Writers at Work!

Two options to become a paid subscriber and join the Boost:

• Flexible option: $21/month (~$1/day)

• Discounted annual subscription: Go all in on the annual for $147/year and get 4 months free.

You also get everything else in the Substack Writers at Work subscription: the complete Substack Mastery Workshop library, the complete Notes strategy collection, exclusive Lives with top Substack creators, my essential guide to avoiding the top 5 mistakes people make on Substack, and more.

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FAQs

Wait, when do the Boosts happen?

• The Notes Boost Challenges happen each month for 21 days.

• This one is April 8 - 29.

• In April, an email will arrive in your inbox at 12 PM CT each day.

Wait, how much does it cost?

• Flexible option: $21/month (~$1/day)

  • This gives you the flexibility to join some months and not others according to your schedule.

• Discounted subscription: Go all in on the annual for $147/year—4 months free.

Wait, what happens in the Boost?

• You will share one of your Notes.

• Other participants will like, restack, and comment on your Note so it has momentum and gets in front of more people.

• You will do the same for others—but be genuine. (This isn’t some lame follow-for-follow thing.)

Why would participating help me grow on Substack?

• The Notes algorithm privileges engagement, not frequency. The Notes Boost is how you get engagement and give your Note a fighting chance instead of feeling like you’re screaming into the void.

Will there be Notes Boosts on Substack Writers at Work?

• There will be pop-up Notes Boosts and other community events for growth and connection—typically some sort of community event each month.

Who is in the Boost?

• The best, coolest, most talented people, i.e., paid subscribers to Substack Writers at Work and Mastermind members—and those who’ve committed to being in our private Notes Challenge Substack.

How will I know it’s started?

• You’ll receive the email in your inbox.

What if I don’t get an email?

• You can access the Boosts every day here.

• Check that you have email notifications, not push notifications turned on.

• Check your spam folder.

• Make sure you’ve opted into the Notes Boost Challenge section. You can manage your subscription here.

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NOTES IN A NUTSHELL:

• Watch Understanding Substack Notes: Your (unbelievable) growth opportunity.

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TUTORIAL:

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STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE:

These boosts are for paying members who are all-in on building their Substacks. It’s a team effort.

• I always give you a prompt and a preview of tomorrow’s prompt.

• I always sing Notes Boost Cha-llenge to you for inspiration. Not sure how that started, but now it’s a thing and we love it.

STEP 1:

• Post a new Note on Notes or find a Note you’ve already posted.

• Copy the text of that Note.

STEP 2:

• Come back to this post.

• In the comments below, paste the text of your Note.

• At the top of your Note in ALL CAPS, write the TOPIC of your note (e.g., TREES, HOW I MADE COFFEE).

STEP 3:

• Go back to your Note.

• Copy the Note’s URL by clicking the three dots in the corner.

STEP 4:

• Come back to this post.

• In your comment with the text of your Note and the topic, paste the URL.

STEP 5:

• Scroll through the comments below.

• Stop at every single one you can like, comment, or restack with authenticity (don’t fake it).

• Click their Note’s URL

• Restack, like, and/or comment on Notes.

STEP 6:

• Repeat as many times as possible.

STEP 7:

• Come back to the Notes Boost as many times as possible to support those who may have posted later in the day.

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GUIDELINES:

• Interact with 10 Notes from fellow members

  • Restack 2-5 Notes that resonate with you.

  • Like and/or comment on the remaining Notes until you've reached 10 total interactions.

  • ALL ENGAGEMENT HELPS YOUR NOTE!

• Follow my daily prompts/challenges. They’re designed to help you go viral.

• Revise old Notes to get engagement—don’t waste time writing new Notes every time without following my prompts.

• You can repost Notes that have been in the Boost before.

• Like the comment below to help us identify who needs more attention. (Some people comment below L/C/R ~ liked/commented/restacked according to what they’ve done.)

• There will either 2 Boosts by category/topic or 1 big Boost.

• There will always be an Afternoon/Evening Boost at 4 PM CT.