Grow: How Laura Kennedy made more money on Substack than anywhere else
On moving from Patreon and earning a steady income
The Grow interview series is designed to share the nuts and bolts of how writers have gone independent and grown their audiences on Substack. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
We invited
, who writes the publication , to share insights on how she moved from Patreon to Substack and went on to earn a steady income that’s more than any newspaper column she’d written, affording her the opportunity to move halfway around the world.
What’s your Substack about in one sentence?
Peak Notions is your weekly deep-dive into what we presume we know—by a writer whose favourite questions are the ones we aren’t supposed to ask.
What did you do before Substack?
I’ve written for legacy media in the U.K. and Ireland for about nine years. Over that time, I built up small but engaged followings on social media. During the pandemic, I decided to see whether there was any market for my writing if I went independent and stopped relying directly on bigger platforms to provide the readers. I started publishing on Patreon in May 2020. I held off on hitting “publish” on Patreon for about five months out of sheer terror. That’s putting it mildly.
Why did you choose to move from Patreon to Substack?
It became clear that I was going to hit a wall in terms of growth on Patreon if I stayed—my reach would only ever be as large as my social media following (which is only getting harder to grow), and paywalled content on Patreon can’t be shared.
When veteran U.K. magazine editor
moved to a role at Substack, I guessed that big change was coming in U.K. legacy media and that a concerted recruitment effort of bigger legacy media names in the U.K. would follow and, in turn, more mainstream awareness of Substack. It felt like a “now or never”-type moment—I decided to jump on the Substack train while I felt there was still capacity for less-well-known writers like me to get established on Substack.How does your Substack fit into your personal and professional life?
My Substack started as a side gig. When I first started writing Peak Notions on Patreon, I was doing it to help myself untangle that sense of frustration and rudderlessness that a lot of people working in media these days can feel.
The move to Substack meant starting back at square one, financially speaking, so it had to be a way of supplementing other income rather than my main focus. I went into Substack with a lot of drive, and it has felt different to my legacy media work from the very start—every subscription and achievement (or mistake!) is a direct result of action I take and work I produce. That generates an intense sense of satisfaction and responsibility toward the people who read and fund it.
Every subscription and achievement (or mistake!) is a direct result of action I take and work I produce. That generates an intense sense of satisfaction and responsibility toward the people who read and fund it.
Who reads your Substack?
The people who have always annoyed their family and friends by asking too many questions, or who feel a sense of discomfort around the ideas and norms that those around them don’t seem to care to look at carefully.
It’s been an immense joy to discover firsthand that readers on Substack are invested, engaged, smart, and interested. And they absolutely will pay for work they value. Overall, almost 11% of Peak Notions subscribers choose to pay for their subscription.
It’s been an immense joy to discover firsthand that readers on Substack are invested, engaged, smart, and interested. And they absolutely will pay for work they value. Overall, almost 11% of Peak Notions subscribers choose to pay for their subscription.
What do you uniquely offer them?
In Ireland, where I grew up, we refer to someone or something as “notions” when they’re considered to be pushing too far beyond their socially designated place. So often, in so many contexts, asking questions is understood as a threat, or an indirect judgment. I look at the questions or issues our culture tells us are black or white and find the grey places. The interesting stuff happens in the grey.
What’s your content strategy?
Weekly free column and paid subscribers receive an audio version: I write about diverse topics, from the philosophy of mental illness (my background is in the philosophy of psychology) to body image, grief, and why it is that millennials are doing worse than their parents. Also why so many women (including me) are fascinated by true crime. Because that’s an awkward question, right? And there are lots of potential lazy answers. Peak Notions isn’t about lazy answers.
Chat: The weekly paid subscriber chat is always oriented around a question.
Book club: The monthly book club for paying subscribers is designed to hone critical thinking skills and use philosophy as a practical skill.
Occasional bonuses for paid subscribers: I share extra pieces of writing and audio for paid subscribers as bonus content when I can. I also occasionally answer reader-problem letters in a series called Wicked Problems. Here, I’ll consider their problem for as many words as it takes, on the understanding that while a PhD in philosophy equips me to think about and look at problems in a careful and detailed way, it doesn’t qualify me to solve them. At all.
Learn more: Discover more about the features Laura uses to reach her subscribers, including podcast posts and Chat.
Growth by numbers
Started on Substack with paid subscriptions: June 2022
All subscribers: 3,035
Paid subscribers: 322
Meaningful growth moments
Getting started: I imported my Patreon email list of just under 400 people and got to planning how best to launch my Substack in June while balancing my media work, which was still the bread and butter of my income. At the time, I was sans Patreon income. I gave every monthly Patreon subscriber a free month on Substack and every annual subscriber a free year (regardless of how far they were into their year’s Patreon subscription). I stayed in touch to minimise the inconvenience, helped anyone who reached out with any subscription or technical issues moving to or from the new or old platform, and made sure to communicate how much I valued subscribers and appreciated their patience during the transition.
Comping Patreon subscribers: This looks like nothing at all on the chart, but it was the point when my monthly comped subscriptions for Patreon subscribers expired, and I sent an email to those people to thank them for coming with me and sharing my plans for Peak Notions. Overall subscription numbers didn’t jump, but paid numbers did, and this was the moment the small income I was making from Substack doubled.
Recommendations: This jump happened when
, a writer whose work I love, recommended Peak Notions on his Substack. Hundreds of people have found Peak Notions and subscribed directly through Tom’s recommendation. This wasn’t a giant sudden spike, but you can see, that January, it increased over a period of days. People are still subscribing based on that recommendation.Free vs. paid reader growth: There are lots of ways this chart progressed, as I remind myself every time I think of Peak Notions’s slow but relatively steady growth rate—paid subscription jumps have not necessarily coincided with jumps in free readers. I’ve had a lot of conversion success over time with direct email appeals to readers and special discounts, and also noticed that paid subs jumped in December.
All in on Substack: I recently wrote a Peak Notions column about how my Substack was partially responsible for my decision to step away from most of my legacy media work and move to Australia. Now Substack provides me with a modest but steady income which pays more than any single newspaper column I’ve ever written. Without Substack, I wouldn’t be able to make this international move, and I wouldn’t have this completely independent, meaningful work to anchor me as I establish life in a new country. It’s allowed me to avoid getting an office job (which I really don’t thrive in—too many questions etc.) while prioritising the writing I’ve always wanted to create.
Without Substack, I wouldn’t be able to make this international move, and I wouldn’t have this completely independent, meaningful work to anchor me as I establish life in a new country. It’s allowed me to avoid getting an office job while prioritising the writing I’ve always wanted to create.
What is the sharpest piece of advice you can offer other writers about growing a Substack publication?
A lot of writers appear to see the marketing and monetary element of writing as grubby or embarrassing. Marketing is definitely not my forte, but when I communicate within and about my work in a way that positions it as valuable, worth reading, and worth paying for, it lands better. More people read it. More people pay for it.
Writers are undervalued. Those of us who cut our teeth in traditional media are very much accustomed to bad pay, rigid hierarchies, and the constant message that it’s the platform and not the writer who holds power. My experience of Substack so far (in just over a year) is very much the opposite. So my advice to other writers on Substack: don’t apologise for your best efforts. Don’t preempt rejection or lack of engagement by smothering or diminishing your own work. Push it as though it has value, because it does, and because no one will ever invest in it as deeply as you will.
When I communicate within and about my work in a way that positions it as valuable, worth reading, and worth paying for, it lands better. More people read it. More people pay for it.
What advice have you received about growing your publication that didn’t prove to be helpful?
“Be consistent” is great advice. It would benefit Peak Notions if I could do that.
“Don’t quit when conditions aren’t optimal—find a way to make it work, publish regularly, and keep going!” would have been more fitting advice for me this year. I’ve lived between Ireland and the U.K. this year, moved house three times, and had a lot of unexpected hurdles and changes.
Peak Notions has grown despite the unpredictability of my schedule, and now that I’m about to emigrate and make Substack my primary job, I can finally initiate that more rigid consistency which was—and still is—great advice!
Who’s another Substack writer you’ve turned to for guidance or inspiration?
is a writer whose work makes me feel that writing for a living is actually feasible and not just the insane “notions” pipe dream it felt like when I was growing up. He rejected the old media model long before there were platforms like Substack and proved for all the rest of us that, though it’s challenging to make a living without compromising your work, it can be done. ’s model is an excellent blueprint for other writers on Substack. I often fret about balancing research time with constant output. Mike writes in seasons, which ensures that what he creates is always meticulous and so refreshingly enthusiastic. He’s been an incredibly supportive source of advice and help with Peak Notions and is one of those Substack writers whose expertise I’ve been so lucky to benefit from.Takeaways
Great writing is valuable. Laura has found that when she positions her writing as valuable, it resonates with her audience and people go on to support her work. Don’t apologize about it.
Take the leap and communicate. When Laura moved to Substack, she took a chance and was transparent with her subscribers each step of the way. In communicating with them thoughtfully and generously, she found even greater support.
Learn more about switching from Patreon to Substack
Build a paid offering around your free work. Instead of creating distinct, ongoing series for paid subscribers, Laura adds paid perks to her free posts, including voiceovers and Chats. This offers paid readers a richer experience around Laura’s best work.
What questions do you have for
that we didn’t ask? Leave them in the comments!To read more from this series on growing your publication, see our interviews with Hetty Lui McKinnon, Katelyn Jetelina, Rob Henderson, Tyler Bainbridge, Melinda Wenner Moyer, Leslie Stephens, and more.
It's relatively easy for those who have been associated with the traditional media previously. Very different for some of us who are trying to build audience from scratch. Let's help each other as much as we can.
Copying this reply I wrote to someone else in this thread:
For what it’s worth, my two cents: Notes, Notes, and more Notes. Have been posting on there pretty much everyday since it launched and have gone from about 400 subs to 3000. It feels like shouting into the ether at the beginning but it really works if you stick at it!
Thanks for sharing this. I thought these notes could not be discovered through search etc. So I was a little sceptical about their relevance. Your comment is really helpful.
No problem - happy to help!
Perhaps you can write about your journey on Substack. Many of us would be happy to learn. Cheers!
I’ve thought about it but am a bit reluctant because I’m no expert! Just a person who spends way too much time making dumb jokes on the interwebs. Perhaps I might make a little series on Notes about it, if that’s of interest?
One of the things I have noticed is that more than the expert opinions, there's a lot of appetite for personal anecdotes, life experiences of ordinary folks who are trying to navigate their way. Expert opinions have their place too, but these little human stories are far more refreshing to an average reader.
I write poetry but that doesn't seem to have any place to settle down in Subtract. Their are no yea's or nay's which is disturbing
I agree! Share your wisdom! 🤩
Yes agree, any help to write stuff that other's like or recommend is all good. X
Do you mean posting on Notes, interacting with other people, mix of all?
Mix of all
I think notes are a wonderful idea, as with journals you can look back & reminisce! Good luck to everyone whose succeeded & those that are just starting out, GG
Thank you for the like, I hope you have a wonderful creative day! X
thanks for this - I will try to use Notes more as a newbie on Substack and hoping to grow my profile so all advice appreciated!
WOW! That's amazing... do you think it's all/mostly from Notes?
Yup, notes brings me lots of likes on my comments. Those good people who "like" tend to subscribe and send me lovely complements. After 3 months I am being offered payments - without me asking. I think this shows just how supportive the substack, sharing and caring, community is. So, in my 30th August post I announced, via Libre Libris, my intention to thank paid subs with free books and art prints from my huge collection. Payments are to be voluntary, no Paywall. Happy to mail for free to anywhere in the world. How the collection came to exist is a whole 'nother story.
Yeah pretty much. It’s either from Notes directly or from Recommendations from other writers who found me through Notes
That is very impressive! Because my Notes dont do much, they did when it was new, but not now.
So little curious on what you post in Notes?
If you click through onto my profile and click the Notes tab you’ll be able to see the kind of silly nonsense I post on there 😂
Super helpful and nice to hear that it worked for you!
That's truly incredible
Sounds like a plan
Oh wow! That is the kindest shout-out, Laura, thank you so much...
I really love how Laura's been building Peak Notions up, with an incredibly engaged audience (11% is a stonking conversion rate, and a very clear sign that her voice and her work are really valued by her readers). Also - I love the experimental mindset. I really think so much of this newsletter lark is enthusiastically chucking spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, and Laura's an expert pasta-hurler. The very best way to stumble over something that works, every time.
Sorry, I’d just like to learn more - what kind of sauce would you recommend to accompany said spaghetti-throwing? Marinara sauce would be quite sticky, but carbonara would stain less? Would welcome your advice, thanks 🙏🏻
I recommend using awesomesauce. It makes a bit of a mess, but everyone's so happy that they don't care.
You’re a genius! How did I not think of that
i get the sense she's using authenticisauce 😋
Love the writing Mike! Looking forward for the next adventure
Thank you for this spark of inspiration that came just in time, Laura! I've been living back and forth between home in New Orleans and my adopted country of Portugal for the past three years and feeling so unsettled. I have that diminishing voice in my head telling me you can't be successful on Substack until you are stable, but reading your interview proves that notion wrong :) So happy to have come across your work here. I wish you continued success and fulfillment with your Substack as you settle into life in Australia!
I think it would be incredibly fascinating to hear about your travels back and forth between New Orleans and Portugal. What's different, what's the same? Comparing different cuisines from one day to the next, the different cultures. What routines are you able to keep in each location, and what routines stick with you through both locations? I would love to read that.
I'd love to know how he gets on driving in Portugal 🇵🇹 I was four months pregnant & my husband decided to get a 4 x wheeled truck! Seriously how I didn't give birth astounds me!
hahaha my husband is hell bent on teaching me how to drive a stick shift here. It's a futile effort, but he persists nonetheless.
How you getting on, stick shift & all? At least he cares about you & seems patient, sending love from UK 🇬🇧 ❤️
In the UK 🇬🇧 we say gears so I feel you maybe American or Canadian? Just wanted to wish you good luck! ♥️
Thank you so much for your thoughtful insight, Joaquin! It hadn't even occurred to me to chronicle the different cuisines! When I factor in my Palestinian heritage, the cuisine gets very interesting. Grape leaves, gumbo. My mom just shipped a package of her delicious date cookies or 'mahmoul' that my son Jaad is crazy for. loll I'll be keeping that in mind while I'm thinking this all through and writing. Thank you again!
You're making me hungry! Please some pictures also.
Thank you! Yes so often a bit of personal life chaos with moving etc can make it feel impossible to grow. It’s certainly possible that I’d have had more growth with a bit less chaos this year, but with as much consistency as I could manage, I’ve still had some. And the some has been enough when I needed it to!
As a new Substacker, I personally appreciate the positive flavor and usable information that this post has fostered. From the high degree of positive responses, it is also obvious that the vast majority of respondents agree.
I appreciate and am thankful when I read helpful advice that, “makes sense” from an intellectual as well as a visceral perspective. In other words, your post hit me pleasantly in the logical and emotional “gut” and this is no exaggeration.
I thank you from the heart and appreciate your logic of well thought out post (which is probably coming from your philosophic paradigm and background; mixed with a caring heart).
In appreciation and gratitude,
--Zach
Thanks Zach. Welcome to Substack. One of its best features is that (I’ve found at least) the positive and supportive attitude which dominates the comments here is reflective of the wider atmosphere of Substack. People are generally kind and helpful, and it’s lovely!
Thanks Laura!
That's very reassuring. Thank you, Laura! And I hope it continues too!
I got so excited and then I slowed down and really read the headline pitch--“Oh, Kennedy”... darn
Hope to make it past this more-than-stressful time with a new outlook
Interesting read! For a future edition it would be illuminating to interview someone who built an audience from 0 on Substack.
The value proposition for writers with existing followers is well-documented by now. Majority of writers on Substack are trying to grow from 0 to 1.
Well, everyone starts from zero at some point, whether it's on Substack or before it - and there are always good lessons to learn from looking at that whole growth arc (and also beforehand, what they did before they got their very first subscriber).
But here's one Grow interview with folk who started from zero on here: https://on.substack.com/p/grow-series-27-perfectly-imperfect That's an audience of 30,000 in about 3-and-a-bit years, which is stellar work.
Hey Mike! That’s true, appreciate your perspective. Will check out that article
Indeed. Thank you for sharing this, Mike!
Thank you Mike!
Clarification: ^ original comment means no negative comments towards Laura. Very impressive what she has (and will continue to) build
I started from 0 and am currently on 23. I'm finding Notes difficult to separate out from my weekly posts. Any advice?
Not an expert by any means. This might be a good start: https://on.substack.com/p/alexdobrenko-notes
I agree with you! Would be very intersting to read a interview of someone who started a substack and also Social media in general and grew it.
I love that she started writing for herself.
What advice do you have for those of us who don’t have significant social media followings (trying to grow them) or previous subscribers from another platform? I’ve been on Substack for 10 months with 30 total subscribers and 27% are paid.
For what it’s worth, my two cents: Notes, Notes, and more Notes. Have been posting on there pretty much everyday since it launched and have gone from about 400 subs to 3000. It feels like shouting into the ether at the beginning but it really works if you stick at it!
Wow this is awesome growth. Ok ok ok working on my notes strategy.
I am using Notes as well, but only 2 more subscribers have joined so far. I guess I need a better marketing strategy, as I started from zero too.
Apart from Notes and sharing on other platforms, are there any other strategies that someone can use?
Comment on other people’s substacks a lot. Be friendly and supportive of others. Soon you’ll have a little community around you that will support you on Notes and help your stuff get seen by more people
Just adding on to what’s already been written. We’re a smaller Substack at the moment and have had 7 subscribers added via Notes in the last 2 days. So I think it can be effective if the content you’re blasting out is decent
Exactly right!
Thank you! I will try it.
That’s amazing! Thanks for the reply. Do you have any tips on topics you’re posting about, using images or links?
I’ve been wanting to experiment with humorous writing. I’m always very serious and usually long-winded. Now’s the time to start trying new things and seeing what sticks. Thanks for sharing this advice!
Yes, do it! Would love to see more comedy writing on Substack :)
I share lots of images (takes up more space and seems to pull people into the post better) with a caption which is (hopefully) either interesting or funny. I’ve found adopting a silly sense of humour helps!
Seems to me that A). there is room for easy improvement of total subs, and B). you are doing very well to achieve 27%....... which is about 4x the norm. Peace, Maurice
Thank you! I am putting in a lot of time and effort to produce which has felt so good. I'm definitely on my way!
Wonderful example of someone betting on themselves and using their talents to build their own audience. Big fan of features like this -- they're so inspiring to follow along and learn from people who are doing it.
agreed, Bryce 🙏🏼
I thought I’d use Substack as my free newsletter to push people to Patreon. Then I found this platform so friendly and engaging, so I moved everything over here and haven’t regretted it one second.
"A lot of writers appear to see the marketing and monetary element of writing as grubby or embarrassing." -- that's me in a nutshell. All my life I've found it difficult to promote myself and my talents. I bet the reasons are psychological, stemming from my childhood, but I've accepted it and can't fight it. I have no "for paid subscribers only" features, will never have them, and I'm happy to know that Anne Kadet, the creator of CAFÉ ANNE, doesn't either. I doubt that I'll ever be half as successful as she is. Some of Laura's marketing strategies actually seem doable, even for me 😉.
Hi Jessica. I think the devaluing of self can be cultural too, and generational! There are so many outside factors discouraging us from saying ‘I made this, and it’s worth your time’. So every time I do say it, I try to remember that I’m pushing against all those factors - it feels difficult to do for reasons way beyond ourselves. Knowing that makes it a little easier somehow.
This is so good advice. Instead of being the passive victim of all these outside factors I actively look at them. I don't have to fight them, just be aware of them. Which gives me choices and power. Thank you, Laura, for your helpful comment!
OK, so now that you have identified the problem and gone public with it, perhaps its time to to say to yourself ......... "My new mindset is, Hey this isn't a fight at all, it's a learning curve". Honestly Jessica, when one is at the bottom of the swimming pool, there is only one option...... Head up up, burst through the surface, and BREATHE. Peace, Maurice
This is an interesting read with some helpful tips. I find it so inspiring to hear these stories and learn about what is possible on Substack.
Great stuff. I completely agree about Mike Sowden, too - he creates fantastic content, and from a wide variety of places.
Andrew! Thank you so much.
Well hey, thanks for giving me things I enjoy getting all the way through, Mike.
Love SUBSTACK! 🫡☝🏻
It is such a pure way of connecting through writing and make a possibility for your audience and community to stay growing alongside you.
Thank you for sharing your experience and insights so specifically. I am just getting started and absolutely love your tagline, "Answering questions we aren't supposed to ask." I'd like to use it as it relates to my publication, The Hidden Side of Leadership. With acknowledgement and appreciation to you of course! Best wishes for continued success.
thanks for sharing these insights, On Substack 🙏🏼
as writers, we can all stand to be reminded... that "Great writing is valuable. Laura has found that when she positions her writing as valuable, it resonates with her audience and people go on to support her work. Don’t apologize about it."
Loved reading this, Laura. Thank you so much for sharing. You have such a strong paid subscriber to free subscriber ratio, and I love how you offer audio for paid subscribers-- that's such a good idea!
Love the content! Would love to see the growth of every writer here! 🩵✌🏻
Great example of a success story & very insightful read.
Does anyone have experience with going from free to paid on Substack?
e.g. how many readers would you approx. convert?
How do you balance between growth through free content & monetization through paid content?
Would be amazing to receive aid and guidance on this aspect! I’ll think of making a way to share clarity about the support and community growth!
Read all the writers who write about the journey, there is so much gleanable value there. Peace, Maurice
Thanks for sharing! Instant subscribe for me.
I'm a lady who writes all the time, pen to paper is my motto! It alleviates my daily stress & lifts my anxiety. Retired now & left lonely at times, can I become a writer who has many year's of true stories? GG
Thank you for liking my comment, it was written from my heart! Not being soppy just how I feel. Full of the now & memories of a life that was. So much to say, not always anyone to listen.
Thank you for sharing this inspiring article! I have found Substack to be a refreshing alternative to other social media channels, and it’s wonderful to read about people’s growing success here. Congratulations Laura! 🎉
Great interview. Thank you for all the valuable insights. I am super new to the platform. About one month in with 24 subscribers. I love it so far, and am looking forward to reading more of your work. 🥰
Best of luck with your substack Sarah!
THANK YOU!! 🥰🔥🫶🏼
So many good points here. Thanks for sharing! 👏
This is a perfect example of mediocrity and the temporal high of "steady income".
Which substack is in essence. One succeeds, while 99 do not.
This is ungenerous and unkind.
I think you'll find that generosity and kindness do pretty well on Substack. If you're looking for a growth strategy, try that one.
Great response. It's jarring when these kind of negative responses pop up on Substack. It's usually a very positive and helpful place, unlike other social medias. So it always sticks out when someone brings the snark into the comment section, and love that you shut it down Mike!
thanks Mike 🙏🏼
a rising tide lifts all boats
let's all try to be more kind
and celebrate the success of our fellow Substackers ✍🏼
Absobloodylutely Mike.
Making any type of money from writing is impressive imo...no small feat to have hundreds of people willing to pay for your work
By that logic, it makes no difference what one writes about as long as people pay?
Hence there is no difference between a writer and an amazon worker. No small feat
we are here at the dregs of a very temporal economy. NOT TO LAST. Adios
Will have to take some time on my own to reflect on this comment. It’s really changing my world view in a profound way.
Have you read and accepted the comments on your negative thoughts yet ? Or are you just playing the devil's advocate ?
Sorry I was too busy making noise. Yet what I said in my original comment stays as is .. also the positive negative analogy is finished. Life is not black and white all the time. Adios!
She makes “a modest but steady income” with fewer than 325 paid subscribers? What does she charge for a subscription?
Hi Dan. Yup. Modest is the word indeed! But - as a freelance writer who has got ‘the call’ killing a legacy gig dead with no notice more than once, this modest income is not subject to an editor’s whim or budget and that does feel like a whole new kind of success to me.
Honestly when Substack asked me to do the interview, my first thought was that my numbers are relatively small - there are so many big fish here with huge reach and mammoth income. I thought about turning down the interview. Then I talked about it with a Substack writer friend who kindly told me to get an effing grip. There are different metrics for success here (conversion rate to paid being one - mine is pretty good), and it’s probably more useful for people starting out here to see a slow and steady growth rate on a smaller substack producing a reliable (though not huge) income. So after thought I decided to do the interview. Am I a stratospheric success story here? Nope. But I’m paying my bills by writing what I want, and that is major for me!
$6/month, that's about $2k per month.
Solid tbh. Covers rent in most cities and that’s usually people’s biggest expense lol
Thanks for sharing, Laura.
Love substack
I found this interview really inspiring, I especially love how Laura has kept it simple by expanding on what she’s already offering, to me it definitely highlights her knowing that her writing is valuable in itself. If I were to turn on paid subscriptions I’d definitely want to do something similar.
This is valuable information. However, I think Substack suffers from offering enough Discovery opportunities to new writers; I believe it continues to push out only the writers with the most subscribers. The only issue here is that some of the work we as substackers produce fails to get noticed. Even with the Notes feature I haven't seen much of a difference. Peace ✌️
I would love to know how to get my readers more engaged in the comments sections. What I write is very controversial, and sometimes outright disturbing, so I maybe my readers are left in stunned silence, even though they rarely unsubscribe. I am sure that more mainstream topics would make them feel more comfortable, but like Laura, I am not mainstream and never will be. Be true to yourself is my motto, so hopefully those likely to appreciate my writing will eventually find me!
Hi Linda! For what it’s worth, this isn’t something I’ve cracked at all. There isn’t lively discourse in my comments section. Where I do get that is in the weekly chat I do on the substack app for paid subscribers. Particularly when discussing sensitive topics, the closed room of a paid subscriber chat can make people feel a bit safer and the conversation is more intimate than openly discussing eg news or political ideas in the comments.
That’s quite the story! 🩵
Interesting read! For a future edition it would be illuminating to interview someone who built an audience from 0 on Substack.
The value proposition for writers with existing followers is well-documented by now. Majority of writers on Substack are trying to grow from 0 to 1.
Come on, study hard
Come on, study hard
Thank you so much Laura for your honesty and willingness to share this with others. I just started writing on Substack and am on vacation, and pondering exactly WHAT and HOW I want to use the platform. I LOVE how you broke down each item you do on your Substack. I got some great ideas... that won't quite be copying you but nonetheless show me how I can expand what I want to do. I actually screenshoted some of your quotes for later incentive to myself. Your ideas are excellent and how you put it about your writing being valuable, was genius really! I'm definitely going to follow you and love seeing someone share so generously! May God bless you with much success! Serving others guarantees it for sure! Ty again because this 59 yr old writer just became a fan!😉🤩
Thank you Deb and best of luck with your Substack.
I’m so interested to read this, and thank you to Laura and Substack for putting this together. I am currently putting my content out on both Patreon AND Substack. So my paid Subscribers to both get the same content. I am an artist and illustrator and make mostly videos for paid subscribers. I have about 79 Patreon Subscribers (last time I checked) and 20 on Substack. I really would love to make the switch, as I am an utter Substack convert, but it feels like a lot of my Subscribers are more familiar with Patreon, and subscribe to other illustrators there.
Also, although it’s a relatively small amount, I am using it to save for tax at the moment (😇) and I really don’t want to lose it.
I can really see myself doing just Substack. I think I could have much more fun with paid posts. I Patreon, I tend to do few words and mainly videos, but Substack has encouraged me to write as well, which I have been really enjoying.
I am afraid I will make the switch and just not get as many paid subs! I know I probably just need to make the leap!
Laura, how long did it take for your Substack to match Patreon after the switch?
Hi Ella. That’s such a good question. It took me seven very uncomfortable months on Substack before I got back to the monthly income I’d been making on Patreon. I was really lucky to be in a position to take that hit financially. It was zero fun, but I got there eventually and I’m very conscious that that isn’t an option for everyone.
Thanks Laura! Really interesting to hear. I will keep pondering it. I’m really glad to hear it is possible, thanks for the inspiration!
I don't believe you. You make it sound like just writing on substack got you a windfall. I call b.s. Real life doesn't work like that. Come with something more believable.
More believable than writing professionally for a decade and then consistently each week on substack for over a year while promoting the articles doggedly via social media and working to develop relationships with other, more experienced Substack writers? Sorry man I can’t make it more believable than that. There’s no windfall. Just chipping away over time!
This was a wonderful read, and inspiring for those who are slowly trying to grow and reach others with their passion!
This was pretty inspirational stuff
Thank you Laura for sharing your story and for the pieces of advice given. The article is very motivating. 😊
Loved your article and your story. I appreciate Substack's 'Grow' series. This is the beauty of Substack and some social media sites: I can talk/discuss w someone half a world away as tho' we've been friends for years.
Your explanation of what you have to uniquely offer - "The people who have always annoyed their family and friends by asking too many questions, or who feel a sense of discomfort around the ideas and norms that those around them don’t seem to care to look at carefully." - is so much of what I've been experiencing these last few years. Best of luck on your move and in increasing subs.
Thank you for your inspiring article! I’m relatively new to Substack & still haven’t published anything. Still trying to learn the ropes & wondering how to navigate as a newcomer.
Good luck Parker! There are great resources here and I found the grow interview series helpful long before today.
So helpful. Excellent, considered advice.
The graph associated with the slow and steady growth was really helpful. It's good to hear about people's stories where they start with minimal subscribers and the growth is slow and steady. The fact is there is growth! It can and does happen. It's a nice change to hear from 'regular' folk as opposed to already established big name media types with huge followings. Thanks for this one!
Great piece! Really interesting interview!
Thankyou Ralph. Peace, Maurice
I am also providing paid subscribers with a voice over of my free posts. I was hoping to be able to add the recording to the same free post by putting it below the paywall, but have had to duplicate the post then do the voice over and send it to paid subscribers. It would be great if there was an easier way, with one less step. Laura, is this how you do it? Is there a better way?
I enjoy Substack taking the responsibility to explain to writers how to make this work for them, other "social media" sites like Youtube, Facebook, etc never did that. They seem to leave it up to PR companies to do all the heavy thinking for the "content creator"... I feel as I creep up to getting my own publications going, Substack has my back.
This was so helpful!
Well Kary, I have absolutely no Social Media, never got sucked in. but in three months I have gone 0-49, which seem to be rather more from notes, where I comment on a much broader range of subjects, than actual content in my narrower themed stack. Whilst I get responses to both, the best compliments and pledges come from the content. This has spurred me to go "Voluntary" paid without a paywall. There's a lot of very sound suggestions here below. Peace, Maurice
Really great advice and an interesting piece! Having just achieved my first paid subscriber - it's exciting and scary and hard to build from scratch!
Thank you 🙏 I'm just a lady that's had her world turned upside down & crawling back to reality & I can't mourn forever! And so, though we never forget our loved ones we need to live & eat good food & drink good vino & laugh, I miss laughter more than anything ❤️🩹 I miss his laughter!
That's great. Always happy to hear someone who's doing well. I've given 25 years of my life to share my years of deep investigative research. I did all from my heart and with a smile. :) Maybe one day, we can celebrate...we have to defeat this ugly darkness first...Zionist Nazi Israel, Bibi compulsive lying sociopathic/psychopath Netanyahu and his conspiratorial gangsters are all part of the global corruption, the spying technologies and the death weapons they all profit from. Brutal vicious criminals...they kill innocent Palestinians everyday including all of us and our families.
I wish I could give up my small fixed income. Too risky fo me...I won't ask for money, just happy to share my many years of knowledge with good compassionate caring open minded people.
私は今年初めてニュースレターを始めました､Yoshiko. Nakazawaと申します。読ませていただきました。9年前から、メディアお仕事をなさっており、書くことが大好きな方ですね。私には過去にもニュースレターを始める前も文章を書く仕事に就いたことはありません。ただ先生のことを書きたい、記録し残したいと思っていたときに、substackを知り書いてみたいと、何も知らなくて書き始めしまった。この気持ちが軽率でした、反省からですので、厳しく、困難な状況に落ち込みました。出版が目標に掲げて、有料 無料の購読者たちにメールしたり、自分の作品は価値がある、読む価値がある
お金払う価値があるとアピールすることを続けて、Substackにアドバイスやサポートをうけて有料購読者3035人 、有料会員322人と大きく成長しました。学ぶ内容に驚いております。書いたものの価値とは何か? 考えて書いていません。過去のことを勉強したこと、信頼関係や本音をかいています。書道も修練あをるのみ、お金をもらえる字にするまでは諦めない、貫く精神でひたすら練習あるのみです。 一心不乱 できましま。読んで下さる方がいて、習おうかなとか、興味を示してもらえれば幸いでございます。消極的だと思います。サブスタックのライターさんを読ませていただいています、私には難しい言葉や内容がたくさんあり、文章能力もないので、ただ先生への想いだけで書いています。Lauraさまの成長は素晴らしい内容でした。新しい土地から、たくさんの本を出版し 世界にアピールして、さらなる、ご活躍をかげながら応援致しております。 どうぞお身体を 大切にお過ごしください。🙏ありがとうございました。 🙇🙇😌
I've forever written journals & all are 💯 true. They are about my life & my parents life's & lifestyle & they includes much more. As I like to write true stories & add many other issues interesting I hope? I think this would help me especially to embrace times gone by & now! Maybe someone else may find this helpful. GG
Good help you
Slow start and win the race thank you God bless you and your family thank you
Hi I'm syed Hasan Mahmood Faisal Abad Pakistan you are great personality and punclty person thank you God bless you and your family thank you
Great story. May your following grow even bigger :)
Bringing over a Patreon list is interesting but I note there are fewer subscribers now than the original Patreon list.
That’s correct Roland! Patreon has tiered subscription offers, so the vast majority of those Patreon subscribers were paying less than the cost of a monthly substack subscription. As a result, I was making less overall on patreon than I am now. Also, the fact that I can share my work for free through substack has resulted in other benefits apart from being read more widely, which is obviously what a writer most wants (commissions from newspaper editors for features etc, and even some interest from book publishers). What I’ve learned through this year on substack is that raw numbers alone don’t tell the whole story!
I'm starting out on here, so this was useful. Thank you.
Good luck with it James!
Interesting, just getting started and I LOVE this format--it is so easy to connect with like minds and support each other.
I would like to write a weekly column, but am flummoxed on how to do it on Substack. I can't seem to be able to even login. I do the right steps but end up repeating the same process system asks ending up where I began.
Anybody interested in helping me, please call me at 586-260-3220 Detroit time zone.
Thanks
Hi Laura Kennedy, sounds a little informal doesn't it, but I'm a novice & I am just going to enjoy reading your writing & everybody else's! It's extremely hard starting off & hopefully I'm not boring but I to have much to say, hopefully fun but the truth. It's fun reading about what others have to say. Much love x
Thank you, Laura! Where do I find the grow interview series?
Hi Parker. If you google ‘Substack grow interviews’ you’ll find a bunch of them. But they should be all available here on the On Substack page.
What you notice about this case study is the value proposition is so clear and it makes you want to dig into the newsletter more. The clarity of the value proposition that feels unique and relatable. I think in part increases the conversion rate of free to paid readers.
You don't need to be a genius to create that sort of a lead magnet, but you do need a fierce determination to create value for your readers. High open rates are correlated to higher conversion rates.
Everything from the name of your newsletter to your about page to your byline should feel like a pull in the hook to make the reader curious. This meticulous branding gives the publication a better chance of growing a paid audience.
Fascinating read, so interesting to learn more about how your journey started and has progressed.
Thanks Sonya.
Did you know most ad blocker extensions are now blocking Substack links?
As both a reader of ideas, the greatest distress comes in not always knowing where to invest my time. Not everything is worth reading. Not everything is worth my time. How can a platform provide discernment and salience in organizing my quiet intellectual life of ideas? We are all flooded with too much data in the endless flood of static noise from all fonts of media. I would like to be able to peruse new Substacks, but I cannot afford to buy a subscription to all content creators. The limitations of the current Substack business model should be rethought. There ought to be a subscription model whereby a subscriber can pick 10 to 20 substacks for one fee, and continue adding as wanted.
That model already exists. It’s what Medium does, and there’s a lot of downside for writers.
At what point after moving to Substack did you send a specific marketing message to your readers asking them to consider a paid subscription? Do you add a marketing message to every post you publish? Thank you. I'm only a couple months on this platform.
Hi Dan. Substack has pretty good metrics, so you can see which free subscribers read your work every time. I email specifically these people intermittently encouraging them to go paid, and occasionally offering a discount on annual subscriptions.
Congrats to Laura ! A quick question: When she gives paid subscribers an audio version of the free email, is that a voiceover she records herself? Or is that a built-in substack feature that automatically transcribes the article for an audio format?
Anyone who has knowledge of this can answer. Thanks in advance!
Hi Joe. I record a separate version with a good microphone, and I post it separately each week. Sometimes I do a little impromptu hello at the beginning, or share some news from my week, and then go into reading the article. I read it as though I’m speaking to the reader rather than reading from a piece of paper, and try to ensure my inflection reflects that and isn’t flat and transmissionist. I find that works best.
Thanks for your answer! That sounds great, something I'll definitely consider implementing.
I love writing on substack and the freedom and accessibility it provides. Best of all are the incredible writers who I learn from daily. I love it here, started earning a bit of money from a small amount of subscribers, but what I gain the most is the ability to share my thoughts with a global audience.
We have removed your comment because we ask commenters to stay on-topic. We want this publication to support thoughtful discussion around writers’ work. It is not a place for irrelevant rants or off-topic digressions.
That includes spam and repetitive self-promotion. You can learn about our Community Guidelines here: https://on.substack.com/p/community-guidelines
Literally the most relevant reply I’ve read today. Looking forward to more content!
We have removed your comment because we ask commenters to stay on-topic. We want this publication to support thoughtful discussion around writers’ work. It is not a place for irrelevant rants or off-topic digressions.
That includes spam and repetitive self-promotion. You can learn about our Community Guidelines here: https://on.substack.com/p/community-guidelines
This is a perfect example of mediocrity and the temporal high of "steady income".
Which substack is in essence. One succeeds, while 99 do not.