The results are in! What you want on Substack Writers at Work

What free subscribers want in 2026

Last week, I asked free subscribers what their biggest challenges are and what would help them most. The results:

• Your biggest challenges (by a long shot) are getting started (welcome!) and growing subscribers (I’m so glad you’re still here!).

• And you want a proven framework to follow and weekly guidance.

I asked what’s most important to you, and your answers made me so happy.

You’re here to do something real and couldn’t care less about going viral on Notes.

You want to build your platform. And do your work.

This is what I do best.

For four years, I’ve helped tens of thousands of Substack writers grow; build real, often small (!) email lists with engaged, paying subscribers; offer Substack posts worth paying for; create unbelievable opportunities off Substack because of their Substacks (speaking gigs, book deals, agents, six-figure businesses, and more); and substantially increase their revenue.

But (!) you have to be willing to work and invest the time, energy, and/or money to do it.

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What paid subscribers want in 2026

Last week, I asked paid subscribers to help shape the paid subscription.

Your answers to what’s most important to you in terms of your Substack made me so happy.

You’re here to do something real and couldn’t care less about going viral on Notes.

In terms of your paid subscription, what you value most surprised me:

Not the chat or Notes Boost Challenge.

And nearly 90 percent of you want workshops. (Don’t worry, I’m hiring a video editor to create less-than-15-minute highlight replays.)

You want to build your platform.

And do your work with my expert guidance.

That’s what I do best.

For four years, I’ve helped tens of thousands of Substack writers grow; build real, small (!) email lists that actually engaged with their work; offer Substack posts worth paying for; create unbelievable opportunities off Substack because of their Substacks (speaking gigs, book deals, agents, six-figure businesses, and more); and substantially increase their revenue.

But (!) you have to be willing to work and invest the time, energy, and money to do it.

Most of all, stay with me. Substack is a long game—always.

Please restack and like this post.