How to Stand Out on Substack in 2025-26
The Substack DNA Intensive, 10/10 + I just opened slots for 1:1s through 2025
Substack has never been more crowded.
It’s never been busier, noisier.
The truth: Most Substacks won’t grow long-term. They won’t be profitable.
Because most Substacks are generic. They’re utterly forgettable.
Most Substack writers and creators lack the confidence, consistency, and clarity that come from knowing their Substack DNA and proven strategies and mentorship.
Which is why I’m excited to announce two ways to work with me this fall.
Details are below:
Substack DNA Intensive: Stand Out in 2025-26
October 10, 12-3 PM CT | $185
Doors close this Friday, 10/3
1:1 Personalized Substack Strategy Sessions
I just opened additional slots for Q4
Filling fast
Substack DNA Intensive: How to Stand Out in 2025-26
20% off the Intensive for annual paid subscribers. Your access code is at the bottom of this post.
Doors close this Friday, 10/3 at midnight CT
→ For those looking for an affordable opportunity to access my teaching and implement the one thing that will actually move the needle on your Substack in a meaningful way.
The top Substacks—the ones with engagement and staying power—are unique.
They look and sound like no one else.
They take us to a place no one else can.
Because they know their Substack DNA.
Without knowing your Substack DNA (the core of who you are, your gifts and talents and perspective, how they’ll work best on the platform, why someone would subscribe to you above all others, and making it clear to subscribers), no strategy in the world will help you build an engaged platform and earn an income.
In this 3-hour intensive, I’ll take you through my proprietary method to find your Substack DNA.
I created the process of finding your Substack DNA™ based on my success with 700+ private clients.
I love getting to do it.
My ability comes from having done it for myself and created two bestselling, featured Substacks starting from zero and with no platform; the half-decade I’ve been on Substack; my twenty years teaching in graduate programs at the University of Iowa and Northwestern and elsewhere; and my time as an advisory editor at The Paris Review.
You’ll walk away confident with a Substack that’s clear and compellingly obvious why people must subscribe to it.
My client, David Roberts, became a featured Substack, a Substack bestseller, and grew by 4000 subscribers in just one year simply by figuring out his Substack DNA.
The Substack DNA Intensive is the only setting where you’ll discover your Substack DNA outside my premium 1:1s.
✨ “Sarah is brilliant and knows Substack inside out. But she also listens deeply and gets to know you and your goals for your newsletter, both short and long term. She respects what’s already working for you, even if it goes against conventional wisdom. That was crucial in my case, and a big part of how Sarah earned my trust in the first five minutes. Her guidance is not cookie-cutter; it’s very precisely tailored based on your specific publication and vision.” —Jeannine Ouellette, Writing in the Dark
If you prefer customized 1:1 support…
1:1 Personalized Substack Strategy Sessions
3-session Accelerated Growth Package | $1650
→ For those looking to invest in their Substacks for long-term growth and to explore the opportunities Substack can generate off the platform.
Every strategy is custom-crafted to build your platform, amplify your expertise, and create multiple pathways to income and opportunity.
Kate Hill increased her revenue from $21,000 to $26,000 in just 6 weeks.
Jeannine Ouellette’s paid subscriptions increased from 560 to 953 in 70 days.
Together, we implement a strategy personalized to your gifts, talents, expertise, and business model and offerings, including your Substack DNA and content calendar, growth strategy, paid strategy, engagement strategy, and dive into how you can use Substack to fuel your professional and financial goals.
My most committed clients have exponentially increased their subscribers and revenue and used Substack to build six-figure incomes, launch successful writing careers, attract the attention of literary agents and sponsors, and more.
My clients include CNN political analyst Kirsten Powers, Former CNN commentator Chris Cizzila, Publisher’s Weekly editor Maya Popa, activist and founder of Moms Demand Action Shannon Watts, bestselling authors, and organizations like Resolute Square.
I work with a limited number of 1:1 clients (those with a platform and without) to ensure each receives my full attention and expertise.
✨ “Sarah takes her in-depth knowledge of how Substack works and truly personalizes her advice. She is able to home in on not only where you can improve your content, but how. Each time I talk to her, I leave with a unique and actionable insight to make my Substack better for my subscribers, in a way that is also very reasonable and do-able for my mental health. Sarah is a true expert who I admire and would recommend to anyone trying to find their voice here on Substack, whether it’s purely for writing for yourself or kickstarting a business.”—Evelyn Skye, Creative. Inspired. Happy.
✨ “I cannot overemphasise what a pleasure it’s been to work with Sarah. I dilly-dallied about booking in with you for quite a while, wondering if I ‘deserved’ to make such an investment. I’m so thrilled I went for it! I feel so much more confident than when I started, with a clearer idea of not only what I’m writing about, but also my very identity.” —Emma Vivian, Attempts at Optimism
✨ “Sarah paid for herself before we met. What she does is so valuable. I feel like Substack has been the easiest, funnest way to make money. It’s all because of Sarah.” —Cassidy Frost, Dedicate Your Life to Music
Hope to see you!
All my best,
Sarah
✨ “Before I signed up with Sarah, I was clueless about how my posts were landing on Substack. Sarah taught me things that have been invaluable. The result has been an improvement in the quality of my posts and a surge in subscribers. I’m also having a lot more fun as a Substack writer. She is a superb teacher.” —David Roberts, Sparks from Culture
✨ “Within 24 hours of executing Sarah’s suggestions, my subscription base expanded to include countless new readers who not only pressed the ‘subscribe’ button but also took the time to engage with the material and write encouraging and insightful comments on the posts. Sarah helped me see a more holistic, comprehensive vision of my work on Substack. She provided clear, actionable steps to bring this expanded vision into reality.” —Kimberly Warner, Unfixed
✨ “Although I am a seasoned entrepreneur and writer, I knew I needed help to navigate this new environment. Sarah has been my guide and my wing-women throughout. She is an amazing person to brainstorm ideas with, and has the knowledge and experience with Substack I needed. Working with Sarah helped me develop a clear and impactful strategy to support my plans.” —Lisa-Marie Cabrelli, Call for Heroines
✨ “If you want to refine, clarify and expand your Substack — Sarah is an expert coach, sounding board, and cheerleader all in one! She has a sharp eye, tons of practical advice, real insight and examples to inspire. She helped me see my newsletter with renewed clarity and gusto!” —Madeleine Dore, On Things
✨ “More than worth the money. Sarah has an amazing ability to draw clarity out of confusion. Our meeting saved me weeks of dithering and probably going off on the wrong path.” —Joyce Wycoff, Voices of the Hopeful
✨ “Our one-on-one sessions have been an invaluable resource in bringing my best work to Substack in a smart and professional way.” —Mary Roblyn, Writer Interrupted
✨ “I recommend her know-how plus her positive, cheerful, encouraging attitude!” —Anna Schott, She’s Gone Chilaquiles
✨ “The most valuable part of working together was how Sarah infused me with confidence and a belief that I belonged on Substack and had something valuable to contribute.” —Elizabeth Coleman, Elizabeth.Ink
✨ “Seeing Sarah really supported my commitment to my Substack. She gave suggestions that helped me unify and clarify what I was doing, and make that easily understandable to a potential audience. She worked with me on my terms and goals, not a uniform set of ideas about what success means.” —Katie Cowan, The Living Library
✨ “First—Sarah is warm and kind and knowledgeable. She offers a clear and concise orientation that is a GAME CHANGER. Her and her resources helped me to understand where to focus my attention.” —Kristin Kaye, Write Your World Awake
✨ “My original goal when I first started working with Sarah was way, WAY smaller than what I’ve achieved. She’s shown me how much more is possible.” —Tiffany Chu, The Untangling
✨ “Sarah has decades of experience and insider knowledge of what it takes to make a Substack newsletter work. Since working with her I’ve revamped my entire newsletter and started seeing results in just a few days with a large increase in subscribers.” —Leon MacFayden, Trauma to Strength
✨ “What I appreciate the most is that Sarah made me feel seen. Within a very short time, she detected the missing elements that I should’ve injected and highlighted in Substack. I highly recommend meeting her one-on-one. You’ll stop wasting your time and energy on what doesn’t contribute to your goal, and focus 100% on what does.” —Louisa Wah, Lily Pond
✨ “For the first time since I started writing on Substack a year ago, I have a clear vision about the future of my newsletter. Her feedback is so high-quality. Now I have clarity about what I’m doing, and thanks to Sarah, a practical hands-on plan to execute it, I know exactly how to focus my energy every week.” —Shaina Read, Kindling