fascinating! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.
But are we 100% sure that the emails are real? People have been buying email bases for decades. I'm not accusing anyone, it's just that sometimes we have to look at a situation and draw a conclusion. I raise this question because the creator didn't have much content and the number of subscribers is a trigger for social proof so that more people will follow you.
I just completed an article on writing Notes: Note-Worthy Observation: Preserving Substacks Integrity and Authenticity.
Of course, I am all for writing Notes, if it's written tastefully and with substance. it's a wonderful way for everyone to see your authentic voice shine.
I have a Note currently going viral and it’s been overwhelming. I think it’s more mini-viral because it’s only led to about 50 subscribers so far 🙂 I’m with you that it feels somewhat icky to be writing Notes with the intention to get noticed (which is not what I did…I was just annoyed by something and posted!) It gives you this weird sense that you need to continue producing pithy content, but I think I’ll just continue to be me!!
I use Notes daily and love sharing 1-2 sentence metaphors, musings, etc. I use them as I like the brain dump stuff and I also have a few people who always comment (highlight of my day sometimes). I’ve had at least 10 go viral (1k+ likes) in the last 2 months and don’t feel like the followers/subscribers translate much from the likes. I’ve definitely had a lot more people follow and subscribe than most others, but compared to my Notes engagement, it’s low.
This is a super generous post. Thank you so much. I have been chugging along on Substack for four years and have only 254 subscribers plus a handful of followers. I am shaken to the core every time I pour out my soul in a Substack essay and receive at most a dozen likes, especially when I know the writing is pretty decent.
Like many a Substacker, I get frustrated when readers say they value my writing and sometimes email me to say so but can’t take a moment to hit the heart on a post. I know it’s pathetic on some level that I want that social media validation, but like all writers know, it’s a long lonely road, and the occasional “atta girl “ does a world of good. It drives me batty to think that people I will go the symphony with or cook dinner for won’t hit the like button on a post. I figure they are not reading, but then one day at a restaurant they slip in a comment of encouragement just as you are about to say goodbye.
Sorry for the long rant. Your post is about leveraging Notes, which I will attempt to do as an antidote to my deep frustration.
Is there anybody out there writing anything other than how you get more subscribers, or how to write on substack? It is so boring to keep on hearing the same old subject.
When you go into a library or buy a book on amazon you are not met with a wall of how to write a book - rather - the books themselves. Very much more interesting.
Excellent post. I particularly like that line: 'Write from scars not wounds.' Wise words.
fascinating! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.
check us out:
https://thesecretingredient.substack.com
That's great! Subscribe here too - https://open.substack.com/pub/keithnewman?r=3d4ef&utm_medium=ios.
But are we 100% sure that the emails are real? People have been buying email bases for decades. I'm not accusing anyone, it's just that sometimes we have to look at a situation and draw a conclusion. I raise this question because the creator didn't have much content and the number of subscribers is a trigger for social proof so that more people will follow you.
I use deepseek to write just about anything. #mxtm
I post screen shots with their link all the time, it's a different URL and I prefer that one as well
I just completed an article on writing Notes: Note-Worthy Observation: Preserving Substacks Integrity and Authenticity.
Of course, I am all for writing Notes, if it's written tastefully and with substance. it's a wonderful way for everyone to see your authentic voice shine.
https://thetribaldreamstackers.substack.com/p/note-worthy-observation-preserving
This might be the best and most helpful “how to Substack” I’ve read!
I have a Note currently going viral and it’s been overwhelming. I think it’s more mini-viral because it’s only led to about 50 subscribers so far 🙂 I’m with you that it feels somewhat icky to be writing Notes with the intention to get noticed (which is not what I did…I was just annoyed by something and posted!) It gives you this weird sense that you need to continue producing pithy content, but I think I’ll just continue to be me!!
I use Notes daily and love sharing 1-2 sentence metaphors, musings, etc. I use them as I like the brain dump stuff and I also have a few people who always comment (highlight of my day sometimes). I’ve had at least 10 go viral (1k+ likes) in the last 2 months and don’t feel like the followers/subscribers translate much from the likes. I’ve definitely had a lot more people follow and subscribe than most others, but compared to my Notes engagement, it’s low.
Great insights in here. Thank you for taking the time to put all this together!
You’re overthinking it. My best-performing notes are unfortunately just the ones with the best photos.
This is a super generous post. Thank you so much. I have been chugging along on Substack for four years and have only 254 subscribers plus a handful of followers. I am shaken to the core every time I pour out my soul in a Substack essay and receive at most a dozen likes, especially when I know the writing is pretty decent.
Like many a Substacker, I get frustrated when readers say they value my writing and sometimes email me to say so but can’t take a moment to hit the heart on a post. I know it’s pathetic on some level that I want that social media validation, but like all writers know, it’s a long lonely road, and the occasional “atta girl “ does a world of good. It drives me batty to think that people I will go the symphony with or cook dinner for won’t hit the like button on a post. I figure they are not reading, but then one day at a restaurant they slip in a comment of encouragement just as you are about to say goodbye.
Sorry for the long rant. Your post is about leveraging Notes, which I will attempt to do as an antidote to my deep frustration.
Abrigada.
Is there anybody out there writing anything other than how you get more subscribers, or how to write on substack? It is so boring to keep on hearing the same old subject.
When you go into a library or buy a book on amazon you are not met with a wall of how to write a book - rather - the books themselves. Very much more interesting.
Hey, thanks for the pdf. I can't always read full posts on days when my cognitive capacity is spotty, so i appreciate being able to read it later!,
I was enjoying that until I clicked the ‘not click bait’ button to take me to a subscriber only PDF - cheeky!