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.
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 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
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.
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 🙏🏻
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!
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!
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).
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!
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).
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!
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
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!
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
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.
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
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.
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!
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 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!