I have 60 subs currently! It's been challenging for me to find ways to reach out to more people and increase my newsletter's subscriptions. Despite the difficulties, I find this platform very enjoyable and it has a positive impact on my mental health, unlike Instagram and other social media platforms.
I've always felt like this was a slow-burn place, for the majority. It's amazing to read about the huge success stories, especially those starting with zero audience, but I find it more comforting to know there are those who are slowly creeping along, keeping up momentum, maintaining the joy in writing and discovery and community that is often so prevalent here.
I agree completely! It also helped to reframe my focus when I switched from thinking 'why aren't people reading my work' to 'I'm so lucky that I have X number of people reading my newsletter.' My own impatience is the problem, and it's comforting to know I'll have a record of my growth as a writer.
Enjoy it while it lasts! It seems Substack if moving more toward social media w/ podcasts, more users etc. Once it goes mainstream, harder to keep out bots, spammers and bad apples.
I think you hit what makes this a special place; an outlier in the redundant duplicated world of social media. I am enjoying my regular schedule of reflecting and writing, I am growing, sharing, connecting, and building, what could be better?
I agree with what everyone has said; it may be slow growth, but it's healthy and organic and meaningful. I started in July and I have 28 subscribers and I'm actually feeling pretty good about it. I may have gotten more TikTok subscribers in less time, but I didn't like feeling like I had to churn out content that even I didn't really like. I'd rather just focus on Substack.
Anything that gets you writing more regularly... That's the way I try to think of it when it feels like you're shouting out into the void... or like a time capsule maybe
Agreed. Best out there right now. I created this post to guide new Substack'ers get on their feet. Anyone can achieve great results if your writing is consistent and follow the strategies. The article has several links from other writers who have successfully increased their subscriber numbers. If done right, yes, you can achieve such big following.
Great question, @MikeSowden . I am not going to dignify that person's nasty reply to you with a response (i.e. just like with toddlers, "Don't feed the beast"), but want to say how good it is to see you around as I overlap with other writers. Congrats on being featured here, and keep up the great work!
We show up with quality, kindness, consistency, and something to contribute, and community creates the secret sauce. Success has many definitions, only one of which is financial, and only a few of which are metric-centered. I've already kvetched elsewhere about the dreck of the phrase "data-driven decision-making"! I find that human-centered meandering in good faith paves a much finer road. Cheers and best to all!
That's really kind of you to say, Kate! Thank you. (He seems to have deleted that nasty reply.) I agree - showing up as a decent, empathetic and curious human is the best way to get anywhere, and the best metric to chase (and the hardest to measure directly) is getting someone to care - about our work, yes, but also about themselves and the world around them. That's the real game that's afoot.
I love the way you stated that second paragraph, Kate. "Showing up with quality, kindness, consistency (a trait I desperately need to work on!), and something to contribute...human-centered meandering in good faith." What a beautifully-crafted description of community I want to show up for and engage with. Other social media sites, X in particular these days, are filled with so much piss and vinegar intended to inflame and enrage. I've spread myself thin on social for years. The idea of pulling back, focusing on quality vs. quantity is very appealing. Substack seems like a great choice for that.
Thank you for the informative post about it, I'm sure it would be tremendously helpful for newcomers like myself. IMHO Mike's question is reasonable, I don't think there's any reason to call him "moron". You're in the public and people have the rights to state their doubts. There's nothing wrong about it, just take it easy
I see you deleted your comment where you called me a "moron" and gloated about getting 29 new subscribers from this thread - which seems weird if you're saying anyone could get 100,000 subscribers from your advice? 29 isn't a lot, compared to that number?
There's a lot of tension here, but as a newbie, starting at 0 here, would love to get my initial set of followers to give me the boost to keep going. I would love your feedback. See my substack here - https://ashikad.substack.com/p/the-thing-about-friendships
I began in August of last year, and am chugging along with 77 subs, one of which is an annual. Slow and steady with quality and consistency; those are my north stars!
You will get there if you stick with it and offer high quality posts that are true to you as a writer/artist. I am coming up on one year in August 2024. I now have 4 paid subs, 172 free, and 402 following. The best part is making new friends with other writers and supporting each others' work. I can't afford to subscribe to
those friends, but I will order their new book and restack for my subscribers. There are a lot of ways to help that don't involve a lot or sometimes any money at all. It will happen for you, too! 🎉💗
Being able to reach 60 people is so great - and remember, you'd need about 600 social media followers to reach 60 of them (if you're lucky). You're doing great, keep it up!
Hey Danica, I'm a mom too! Two kids in the house. One sick. Me too ^^
Homeschooling is a huge topic I think. I know Danusia from Parents Who Think! is doing it.
My idea is to connect with other writers in the parenting category. See how you can help each other, collaborate, guest-posts, Notes, re-stacking.
But also think about contributing to Scary Mommy or other media outlets such as Frazzled on Medium where you can build an audience and then win new subscibers.
You've got this!
Always happy to connect with other moms. Hugs! Kristina
60 is great! Well Done! The best hting to do is keep interacting as much as you can with other writers and readers on Notes and on their publications. If you leave lots of Comments on things that interest you and things you like you'll soon meet lots of like-minded people who may potentially be interested in reading your work. Good luck... 😎
Agreed, Danica. Substack has felt like a safe space for me to create, without all the extra noise and therefore beneficial for my mental health. Personally, I have been growing slow but I’ve been ok with it. This article was very encouraging!
Oh and another idea. Do you know TPT. Teachers pay teachers? Just checked your newsletter. Maybe this would be an idea for you and another income stream.
There are some things you can do with seo, formatting, posting notes, timing of emails, settings etc but if you are not concerned with growth, that's fine.
Your message feels approachable but could use a bit more clarity and cohesion. Here's some feedback:
Tone: The phrase "sun emoji" might be a bit too casual, especially if your writing tends to lean deeper or more reflective. Emojis can work, but they might reduce the seriousness if that's what you're aiming for.
Clarity: The phrase "world and history" is broad. If you can focus or clarify it more (e.g., "on life, world events, and history's impact"), it would feel more grounded.
Call to Action: "Please check it out" is fine but could be more inviting—maybe "I'd love for you to visit."
Sincerity: Instead of "Sincerely," something a bit more personal like "Warm regards" or even just "Thank you" might feel more connected.
Here's an edited version:
Hello everyone,
I'm Mimi, sharing reflections on life, the world, and history's lessons. I'd love to hear your thoughts—whether supportive or critical, your input matters to me.
The notion that Substack only works for people with massive pre-existing followings has never quite rung true for me. I showed up with basically nothing, have spent a couple of years publishing weird science fiction, and have a healthy list of 3.5k readers. Including some paying subscribers, which I wasn't expecting at all.
And I thoroughly enjoyed every moment, which is perhaps the crucial thing, compared to the slog of other online venues.
Yeah, I have no interest in being a miserable writer. The lovely thing about the newsletter is that I can just bimble about writing the stuff that I want to write, and readers seem to find me.
Started the newsletter on Substack in mid-2021, with my weekly fiction serial beginning in September 2021. Have been weekly ever since! Prior to the newsletter here I was publishing fiction on Wattpad, which got me started in 2015 (after decades of procrastination) but never felt like it was really going anywhere useful, despite good numbers.
I really hope Substack improves discoverability so that there are more success stories of writers starting from scratch. There are many times when I search for writers of specific niches and don't find anything. Then, much later (months), I stumble on Substack writers via Google or forums that have been writing in that niche for a while but didn't appear in search or "Explore."
What could help you is go on the EXPLORE page, check out other writers in your niche, connect with them, start recommening each other, collaborate, have fun together.
Community is everything! It's a warm hug on a rainy day. It's a warm blanket in bed.
you don't have to do it alone, Paola. All the best for you!
Consider coming to the Office Party and using our 24/7 Open Thread. I'm not saying this to hook you as a subscriber. I have plenty. I'm really just here to help new people get the exposure they deserve. Everyone with a ton of subscribers had help from someone. No one does it alone.
I am new and wanted to have my newsletter under "Personal Development". No category in that name. I hope they include it in addition to your request. It's a great platform.
haha Substack recently added three more. Hopfully there will also be family etc.
Parenting might be a category for you then?
I know it's not easy to choose from the 29 categories (especially if you're multi-passionate OR feel between two categories) It's something I see many substackers ask for :D
The first time I heard about Substack was from Dan Bongino who mentioned a writer on a place called SUBSTACK.
Kudlow and various Fox news anchors on TV apparently do Substack. Certainly, the Twitter files were being monitored by Matt Tiabbi and Michael Shellenberger, neither of whom I had heard of because the people they wrote for leaned decidedly to the left of Center and more than likely still do but were introduced to the American public because of being on TV. I like both of them they seem like investigative journalists and that is what people like to read ACTUAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING if that is what you say you are .. not just an OPINIONATED person. As a retired scientist everyone has their own favorite areas.. and I also like Recipes, traveling etc. There is room for everyone. :) great post.. Good luck all. Plz lack of punctuation. phone always ringing and I need to go.
Hi Sutee, gotcha! I think Notes can help you. It's the social media platform inside of Substack. There you can introdude yourself, connect, engage. My friend David from Make a living Writing is an amazing Notes teacher ^^ He is a heavy user and builds his audience this way.
Consider coming to the Office Party and using our 24/7 Open Thread. I'm not saying this to hook you as a subscriber. I have plenty. I'm really just here to help new people get the exposure they deserve. Everyone with a ton of subscribers had help from someone. No one does it alone.
It's encouraging to see writers start from zero and gain a real following. That's where I am at and I hope someday the consistency and passion pays off. :D
I started in October 2021 with an email list import of 19 people, and got maybe 30 people from IG and Twitter to subscribe (I deleted those accounts recently). Just passed 1,300 subscribers this week - you can do it!
It will, John! I'd recommend going two routes. #1 inside out - use Substack's ecosystem. #2 - use other platforms, media outlets, your webiste etc. to win subscribers and build an audience. All the best!
Thank you for the encouragement! Yes, I post every Monday and when the post goes live I Tweet(X?) it out, make a Substack note and also post on my Ko-fi page.
I started with a mailing list of 200 and have grown to 1700+. My original list was made up mostly of contacts from in-person classes and events I was teaching. Switching to a newsletter format with a focus on writing was a big change and I attribute much of my growth success to leaning into the Substack ecosystem and what it offers. I have since incorporated my classes into the paid tier option, the rest of the writing and content I offer is free.
What's great about Substack is that there's no one road to success, each of us can find a way that fits our personal style and needs.
That's it, right there. None of this stuff should be seen as prescriptive and one-size-fits-all - it's like a massive toolbox of different things to try, because there are just so many ways to get a newsletter working in the way you want it to. For example I read folk who send a newsletter every day, and folk who publish once a month, and they're all making it work in equally impactful ways. The main thing is to keep testing different things to find out what's fun to do *and* effective at building the audience you want.
Agreed, I've experimented with different style posts, paywalls vs none at all, recorded vs live classes, frequency of posting, etc. You very rarely get it right the first go around, and I've learned so much by trying things out.
I completely agree, Alyssa. I wanted to try and show all those different paths in the piece by speaking to writers/creators with very different journeys 🔀
I love reading these stories - thank you for sharing! I joined Substack in mid-2022 with around 500 subscribers imported from Mailchimp. After years of seeing ZERO growth in my list (outside of Substack), I’m now at 2,177 subscribers and see new sign-ups each day. Plus, I just love being here. Finally, "organic growth" feels fun rather than spammy.
Oh! And another thing I’ll mention is that writing here has led to other opportunities. For example, I was recently hired as a regular freelancer for a really sweet project in my niche solely because someone in the company found my writing after doing a search on Substack.
Hi Issa. I used to share my Substack assets on Instagram, but I quit Instagram last December. I had already quit Facebook, and never got on the rest of it. I do share my assets on LinkedIn each time I publish here, but that results in very little traffic. For all intents, I’m ONLY on Substack. I’m currently at 2,877 subscribers.
Well, I don't know that Substack is a "new career" for me — at almost 90, I've already had a long career as a writer, editor, music promoter, band manager, publicist and festival organizer — but it has got me writing again. In six months, my Substack (Stories from the Edge of Music) has 480 subscribers and the modest income is a welcome addition to my old age pension! I've always said that if you spend your life doing something you love with passion and energy, and you don't have any stories to tell, you've really blown it. Thanks the gods, I have enough tall true tales to last for at least another year!
Thanks for your note, Anna!!Six months in, I still wander around Substack like a drunken sailor in a strange port. A dear friend actually uploads my weekly stories 'cause I have the tech skills of worm. And I want to contribute to Notes, but I'm not sure how...
This is truly inspirational. It's the epitome of what Substack is all about: sharing stories, knowledge and experiences. Good luck with your publication... 😎
I'm a piece of trash line cook who has grown a subscriber list to almost 2000 in little over a year. I couldn't be prouder of being able to welcome each one of those readers. Three cheers to Substack for the opportunity!
I've been writing on Substack for two years. I didn't do much the first year, but got serious about it in the second year. I now have more than 2,000 paid subscribers and Substack is my full time job. I spent 15 years as a full-time freelance writer, but this is the first time I've ever truly felt a sense of control over my work. I love this model, love being accountable only to my readers, and hope to see folks continue to grow and thrive here.
The feedback that I consistently get from readers is that I am the only person writing about the issues I cover in the way I do. Specifically, I write about motherhood, feminism, and misogyny, with a focus on household labor inequality. Lots of writers cover this topic, but most talk about it as an accident. They tell women to communicate better, or make more lists. I talk about labor inequality as a deliberate act of oppression, why it happens, etc. I think it makes women feel less alone, and honestly less gaslit.
I think it's important that you're writing something unique, something only you offer, and that you have a clear and compelling message. Most of my paid subscribers are new subscribers rather than free subscribers who convert. I offer a 50/50 balance of content--two free pieces and two paid per week--because I want people to see what I have to offer (and benefit from it), but also to pay for the work that demands the most of me.
This was inspiring to hear. Sometimes, it still feels like I'm sending my words out into the void. Good to know that I just need to keep sending them out into the world.🙏💙💚🦋
Consider coming to the Office Party and using our 24/7 Open Thread. I'm not saying this to hook you as a subscriber. I have plenty. I'm really just here to help new people get the exposure they deserve. Everyone with a ton of subscribers had help from someone. No one does it alone.
Thank you for this very hopeful post:-) it came for me just in time. I was on a roll with new subscribers then got my first paid subscriber and everything screeched to a halt.
Just as I was being consistent.
I’m continuing though.
I started Substack because I wanted to write whatever lot up for me and see where it takes me.
Consider coming to the Office Party and using our 24/7 Open Thread. I'm not saying this to hook you as a subscriber. I have plenty. I'm really just here to help new people get the exposure they deserve. Everyone with a ton of subscribers had help from someone. No one does it alone.
What a comforting article! As a brand new Substacker, having just brought over my audience from MC a few weeks ago and still fumbling my way around, I'm excited and inspired to see all the interesting stories of success in all forms from financial to creative. Having hit frustrating roadblocks with other platforms, I'm very excited to see what the future brings!
Super interesting examples. It's not easy to start from scratch.
- I think Ami from "Finding Inner Pizza" has never used "social media" before. She's building her Substack from the ground up and already has one person who has pledged her support: Nikki Finlay!
- I could imagine with Nikki it's similar. Others are John Hamilton, David Blake and Avril Jason.
@Ami L Thompson @Nikki Finlay @Janice Walton @Kevin Palmquist @Doug Walton, PhD @Robert Puelz @AVRIL JASON
Even if you've made the effort and built an audience on another platform, such as Medium, you often still need to convert followers into subscribers, which isn't easy. I started at the bottom, got some subscribers from Twitter and then added some Medium subscribers.
We often forget that our email list is the most valuable asset in our business.
It's super smart to combine email list & social media - build an audience somewhere and turn it into subscribers.
You gain "followers" on most platforms, but getting those "followers" to sign up is a much bigger deal than someone just following you.
Congratulations to all the list builders mentioned!
One way is to grow from the inside out, the other is to grow from the outside in.
I'm at 46 subscribers and I just launched paid subscriptions. I like Substack as a platform and I love to write so I'll keep doing it even if I stay one of the small guys.
I have 60 subs currently! It's been challenging for me to find ways to reach out to more people and increase my newsletter's subscriptions. Despite the difficulties, I find this platform very enjoyable and it has a positive impact on my mental health, unlike Instagram and other social media platforms.
I've always felt like this was a slow-burn place, for the majority. It's amazing to read about the huge success stories, especially those starting with zero audience, but I find it more comforting to know there are those who are slowly creeping along, keeping up momentum, maintaining the joy in writing and discovery and community that is often so prevalent here.
I agree completely! It also helped to reframe my focus when I switched from thinking 'why aren't people reading my work' to 'I'm so lucky that I have X number of people reading my newsletter.' My own impatience is the problem, and it's comforting to know I'll have a record of my growth as a writer.
🙌
Good reframing ☺️
SAME!
I agree:-) I came here for the calm and the embers, not the raging fires.
What a great way to phrase it! 😄
Iagreecamehereforthecalim
Enjoy it while it lasts! It seems Substack if moving more toward social media w/ podcasts, more users etc. Once it goes mainstream, harder to keep out bots, spammers and bad apples.
love it!
I think you hit what makes this a special place; an outlier in the redundant duplicated world of social media. I am enjoying my regular schedule of reflecting and writing, I am growing, sharing, connecting, and building, what could be better?
That's excellent to hear 😊
The other special thing here is zero ads! It's such a clean reading experience.
I agree with what everyone has said; it may be slow growth, but it's healthy and organic and meaningful. I started in July and I have 28 subscribers and I'm actually feeling pretty good about it. I may have gotten more TikTok subscribers in less time, but I didn't like feeling like I had to churn out content that even I didn't really like. I'd rather just focus on Substack.
I am one of those who are slowly creeping along, but gaining momentum:)
You’ve hit the nail on the head for me with what you’ve said here!
Anything that gets you writing more regularly... That's the way I try to think of it when it feels like you're shouting out into the void... or like a time capsule maybe
Maybe an accountability buddy can help you :D
Agreed. Best out there right now. I created this post to guide new Substack'ers get on their feet. Anyone can achieve great results if your writing is consistent and follow the strategies. The article has several links from other writers who have successfully increased their subscriber numbers. If done right, yes, you can achieve such big following.
https://open.substack.com/pub/raisini/p/from-zero-to-100000-subscribers-the?r=aegif&utm_medium=ios
I'm curious - you say you can do it in 90 days, and you wrote that last June. Do you have 100,000 Substack readers now?
Every time I see that copy/paste I wonder the same thing. 😉
I love this question. Keep it coming.
Great question, @MikeSowden . I am not going to dignify that person's nasty reply to you with a response (i.e. just like with toddlers, "Don't feed the beast"), but want to say how good it is to see you around as I overlap with other writers. Congrats on being featured here, and keep up the great work!
We show up with quality, kindness, consistency, and something to contribute, and community creates the secret sauce. Success has many definitions, only one of which is financial, and only a few of which are metric-centered. I've already kvetched elsewhere about the dreck of the phrase "data-driven decision-making"! I find that human-centered meandering in good faith paves a much finer road. Cheers and best to all!
That's really kind of you to say, Kate! Thank you. (He seems to have deleted that nasty reply.) I agree - showing up as a decent, empathetic and curious human is the best way to get anywhere, and the best metric to chase (and the hardest to measure directly) is getting someone to care - about our work, yes, but also about themselves and the world around them. That's the real game that's afoot.
So eloquently put! I could not agree more.
I love the way you stated that second paragraph, Kate. "Showing up with quality, kindness, consistency (a trait I desperately need to work on!), and something to contribute...human-centered meandering in good faith." What a beautifully-crafted description of community I want to show up for and engage with. Other social media sites, X in particular these days, are filled with so much piss and vinegar intended to inflame and enrage. I've spread myself thin on social for years. The idea of pulling back, focusing on quality vs. quantity is very appealing. Substack seems like a great choice for that.
The Eye of Sauron sees all! But... I remember, too. 😅
Thank you for the informative post about it, I'm sure it would be tremendously helpful for newcomers like myself. IMHO Mike's question is reasonable, I don't think there's any reason to call him "moron". You're in the public and people have the rights to state their doubts. There's nothing wrong about it, just take it easy
I see you deleted your comment where you called me a "moron" and gloated about getting 29 new subscribers from this thread - which seems weird if you're saying anyone could get 100,000 subscribers from your advice? 29 isn't a lot, compared to that number?
I just saw his comment in someone's note trying to drag them down, I guess it is just part of his personality at this moment.
There's a lot of tension here, but as a newbie, starting at 0 here, would love to get my initial set of followers to give me the boost to keep going. I would love your feedback. See my substack here - https://ashikad.substack.com/p/the-thing-about-friendships
This is great, Danica! Keep going ☺️
I am new here and really enjoying it.
Welcome!
Welcome!
I began in August of last year, and am chugging along with 77 subs, one of which is an annual. Slow and steady with quality and consistency; those are my north stars!
Congrats on having a paid subscriber! The day I get my first paid subscriber, I might just burst into a million joyful confettis!
You will get there if you stick with it and offer high quality posts that are true to you as a writer/artist. I am coming up on one year in August 2024. I now have 4 paid subs, 172 free, and 402 following. The best part is making new friends with other writers and supporting each others' work. I can't afford to subscribe to
those friends, but I will order their new book and restack for my subscribers. There are a lot of ways to help that don't involve a lot or sometimes any money at all. It will happen for you, too! 🎉💗
I've felt the same way but the one thing I love is the community I've grown since joining a year ago. Keep going!
Community is everything! I also love to connect with people around the world.
Being able to reach 60 people is so great - and remember, you'd need about 600 social media followers to reach 60 of them (if you're lucky). You're doing great, keep it up!
Excellent point!
Hey Danica, I'm a mom too! Two kids in the house. One sick. Me too ^^
Homeschooling is a huge topic I think. I know Danusia from Parents Who Think! is doing it.
My idea is to connect with other writers in the parenting category. See how you can help each other, collaborate, guest-posts, Notes, re-stacking.
But also think about contributing to Scary Mommy or other media outlets such as Frazzled on Medium where you can build an audience and then win new subscibers.
You've got this!
Always happy to connect with other moms. Hugs! Kristina
60 is great! Well Done! The best hting to do is keep interacting as much as you can with other writers and readers on Notes and on their publications. If you leave lots of Comments on things that interest you and things you like you'll soon meet lots of like-minded people who may potentially be interested in reading your work. Good luck... 😎
If all 66 people who liked my comment subscribed to my substack, it would be really cool! Just joking.😂
Agreed, Danica. Substack has felt like a safe space for me to create, without all the extra noise and therefore beneficial for my mental health. Personally, I have been growing slow but I’ve been ok with it. This article was very encouraging!
Same! It’s like a safe place for creativity 🌸✨
I love what you write about djt looso g
Oh and another idea. Do you know TPT. Teachers pay teachers? Just checked your newsletter. Maybe this would be an idea for you and another income stream.
There are some things you can do with seo, formatting, posting notes, timing of emails, settings etc but if you are not concerned with growth, that's fine.
Your message feels approachable but could use a bit more clarity and cohesion. Here's some feedback:
Tone: The phrase "sun emoji" might be a bit too casual, especially if your writing tends to lean deeper or more reflective. Emojis can work, but they might reduce the seriousness if that's what you're aiming for.
Clarity: The phrase "world and history" is broad. If you can focus or clarify it more (e.g., "on life, world events, and history's impact"), it would feel more grounded.
Call to Action: "Please check it out" is fine but could be more inviting—maybe "I'd love for you to visit."
Sincerity: Instead of "Sincerely," something a bit more personal like "Warm regards" or even just "Thank you" might feel more connected.
Here's an edited version:
Hello everyone,
I'm Mimi, sharing reflections on life, the world, and history's lessons. I'd love to hear your thoughts—whether supportive or critical, your input matters to me.
Feel free to visit: https://bleuetoile.substack.com
Thank you,
Mimi
The notion that Substack only works for people with massive pre-existing followings has never quite rung true for me. I showed up with basically nothing, have spent a couple of years publishing weird science fiction, and have a healthy list of 3.5k readers. Including some paying subscribers, which I wasn't expecting at all.
And I thoroughly enjoyed every moment, which is perhaps the crucial thing, compared to the slog of other online venues.
Love this for you, Simon 🎊
Thanks, Anna! Exciting times for writers.
That IS the crucial thing. Because to keep going and feel fed as a writer is everything
Yeah, I have no interest in being a miserable writer. The lovely thing about the newsletter is that I can just bimble about writing the stuff that I want to write, and readers seem to find me.
Congrats! 🙏🙏
Thanks!
How long have you been writing here, Simon?
Started the newsletter on Substack in mid-2021, with my weekly fiction serial beginning in September 2021. Have been weekly ever since! Prior to the newsletter here I was publishing fiction on Wattpad, which got me started in 2015 (after decades of procrastination) but never felt like it was really going anywhere useful, despite good numbers.
So good to read this as I'm juuuuuust starting my journey on Substack!
Enjoying it is the key to it all. I have stopped posting on other platforms because I didn't enjoy it anymore.
When I don't enjoy it, it becomes a drag, and my audience feels it. I end up having a miserable time and my audience too!
So happy I found Substack, feels like such a better fit! 🥰
Hello and welcome! :)
Love hearing these success stories. To everyone else who’s still in the trenches: we got this 💪
If any other travel / coming-of-age writers want to connect, shoot me a dm! :)
Truth!!!
I really hope Substack improves discoverability so that there are more success stories of writers starting from scratch. There are many times when I search for writers of specific niches and don't find anything. Then, much later (months), I stumble on Substack writers via Google or forums that have been writing in that niche for a while but didn't appear in search or "Explore."
So it's not just me! I'm still sort of new on Substack and I was wondering what I do wrong😅
What could help you is go on the EXPLORE page, check out other writers in your niche, connect with them, start recommening each other, collaborate, have fun together.
Community is everything! It's a warm hug on a rainy day. It's a warm blanket in bed.
you don't have to do it alone, Paola. All the best for you!
Such a valuable comment, thanks Kristina!
Collaborate indeed. It can be fun, too! Find the right people.
Consider coming to the Office Party and using our 24/7 Open Thread. I'm not saying this to hook you as a subscriber. I have plenty. I'm really just here to help new people get the exposure they deserve. Everyone with a ton of subscribers had help from someone. No one does it alone.
Substack Office Hours/Parties are the first Friday of the month: https://www.writersatwork.net/t/office-hours-friday-thread
24/7 Support and Connection just started: https://www.writersatwork.net/p/substack-office-hours-open-thread/comments
Thank you for your support and your kind words... that I'm reading only now because apparently I missed the notification :)
I am new and wanted to have my newsletter under "Personal Development". No category in that name. I hope they include it in addition to your request. It's a great platform.
You’re probably stuck with Health or Wellness? I write Humor but so much more.
You might enjoy my article: "Dear Substack: Please Fix Your Search Engine": https://daveziffer.substack.com/p/dear-substack-please-fix-your-search
Totally agree!! I want to find more substacks in my niche
It would be nice if there were more categories for authors. Ie: Marriage, Family…
haha Substack recently added three more. Hopfully there will also be family etc.
Parenting might be a category for you then?
I know it's not easy to choose from the 29 categories (especially if you're multi-passionate OR feel between two categories) It's something I see many substackers ask for :D
Empty Nester now. No need for a Parenting category. Kids are grown and flown.
The parenting role changes rather than ends.
This! I cover many "niches" so it's hard for me to check one specific box.
The first time I heard about Substack was from Dan Bongino who mentioned a writer on a place called SUBSTACK.
Kudlow and various Fox news anchors on TV apparently do Substack. Certainly, the Twitter files were being monitored by Matt Tiabbi and Michael Shellenberger, neither of whom I had heard of because the people they wrote for leaned decidedly to the left of Center and more than likely still do but were introduced to the American public because of being on TV. I like both of them they seem like investigative journalists and that is what people like to read ACTUAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING if that is what you say you are .. not just an OPINIONATED person. As a retired scientist everyone has their own favorite areas.. and I also like Recipes, traveling etc. There is room for everyone. :) great post.. Good luck all. Plz lack of punctuation. phone always ringing and I need to go.
Hi Sutee, gotcha! I think Notes can help you. It's the social media platform inside of Substack. There you can introdude yourself, connect, engage. My friend David from Make a living Writing is an amazing Notes teacher ^^ He is a heavy user and builds his audience this way.
Consider coming to the Office Party and using our 24/7 Open Thread. I'm not saying this to hook you as a subscriber. I have plenty. I'm really just here to help new people get the exposure they deserve. Everyone with a ton of subscribers had help from someone. No one does it alone.
Substack Office Hours/Parties are the first Friday of the month: https://www.writersatwork.net/t/office-hours-friday-thread
24/7 Support and Connection just started: https://www.writersatwork.net/p/substack-office-hours-open-thread/comments
Hi Sarah, I'm already a subscriber and do come to the Office Parities. See you at the next one!
It's encouraging to see writers start from zero and gain a real following. That's where I am at and I hope someday the consistency and passion pays off. :D
I started in October 2021 with an email list import of 19 people, and got maybe 30 people from IG and Twitter to subscribe (I deleted those accounts recently). Just passed 1,300 subscribers this week - you can do it!
It will ☺️
It will, John! I'd recommend going two routes. #1 inside out - use Substack's ecosystem. #2 - use other platforms, media outlets, your webiste etc. to win subscribers and build an audience. All the best!
Thank you for the encouragement! Yes, I post every Monday and when the post goes live I Tweet(X?) it out, make a Substack note and also post on my Ko-fi page.
I started with a mailing list of 200 and have grown to 1700+. My original list was made up mostly of contacts from in-person classes and events I was teaching. Switching to a newsletter format with a focus on writing was a big change and I attribute much of my growth success to leaning into the Substack ecosystem and what it offers. I have since incorporated my classes into the paid tier option, the rest of the writing and content I offer is free.
What's great about Substack is that there's no one road to success, each of us can find a way that fits our personal style and needs.
That's it, right there. None of this stuff should be seen as prescriptive and one-size-fits-all - it's like a massive toolbox of different things to try, because there are just so many ways to get a newsletter working in the way you want it to. For example I read folk who send a newsletter every day, and folk who publish once a month, and they're all making it work in equally impactful ways. The main thing is to keep testing different things to find out what's fun to do *and* effective at building the audience you want.
Agreed, I've experimented with different style posts, paywalls vs none at all, recorded vs live classes, frequency of posting, etc. You very rarely get it right the first go around, and I've learned so much by trying things out.
Agree. Peoples Substack’s are like finger prints. No two are the same.
I completely agree, Alyssa. I wanted to try and show all those different paths in the piece by speaking to writers/creators with very different journeys 🔀
I've wanted to know more about Jungian physiology. I'm glad to have found your page! Congrats on the growth
Thank you! Any particular Jungian topics that you have interest in?
Probably just dream analysis and how I can better understand my dreams 😊
oooui! me too!! Dream analysis would be a great letter to read about.
Hello fellow facilitator! Offering classes to your readers is such a treat!
Connecting with people in-person is one of my favorite things — can't wait to start doing that for my community!
PS. I love Jungian psychology, just subscribed to your Substack!
I love reading these stories - thank you for sharing! I joined Substack in mid-2022 with around 500 subscribers imported from Mailchimp. After years of seeing ZERO growth in my list (outside of Substack), I’m now at 2,177 subscribers and see new sign-ups each day. Plus, I just love being here. Finally, "organic growth" feels fun rather than spammy.
Oh! And another thing I’ll mention is that writing here has led to other opportunities. For example, I was recently hired as a regular freelancer for a really sweet project in my niche solely because someone in the company found my writing after doing a search on Substack.
Yes, this! There are so many hard-to-quantify opportunities and secondary benefits that came from my newsletter
Oh Dana, this is interesting. Could you tell me more about it?
I feel kind of shy putting the details here, but will DM you!
I'm curious, Dana: did you use other channels to promote your Substack (social media, for example)? Your growth story intrigues me. :)
Hi Issa. I used to share my Substack assets on Instagram, but I quit Instagram last December. I had already quit Facebook, and never got on the rest of it. I do share my assets on LinkedIn each time I publish here, but that results in very little traffic. For all intents, I’m ONLY on Substack. I’m currently at 2,877 subscribers.
Anna,
Honored to be featured in this article. It will inspire many writers.
Best,
David
🙂
You really are such a good writer though. So cool to see you featured!
Thanks Elle!
Congrats, David. 🙏🙏
Thanks Carissa!
Well, I don't know that Substack is a "new career" for me — at almost 90, I've already had a long career as a writer, editor, music promoter, band manager, publicist and festival organizer — but it has got me writing again. In six months, my Substack (Stories from the Edge of Music) has 480 subscribers and the modest income is a welcome addition to my old age pension! I've always said that if you spend your life doing something you love with passion and energy, and you don't have any stories to tell, you've really blown it. Thanks the gods, I have enough tall true tales to last for at least another year!
This is incredible, Richard!! What a story
Thanks for your note, Anna!!Six months in, I still wander around Substack like a drunken sailor in a strange port. A dear friend actually uploads my weekly stories 'cause I have the tech skills of worm. And I want to contribute to Notes, but I'm not sure how...
Select the red plus sign on the left side. Or if wanting to comment on a post, select restack with note.
Loved reading this :) Thank you for sharing Richard!
This is truly inspirational. It's the epitome of what Substack is all about: sharing stories, knowledge and experiences. Good luck with your publication... 😎
I'm a piece of trash line cook who has grown a subscriber list to almost 2000 in little over a year. I couldn't be prouder of being able to welcome each one of those readers. Three cheers to Substack for the opportunity!
I've been writing on Substack for two years. I didn't do much the first year, but got serious about it in the second year. I now have more than 2,000 paid subscribers and Substack is my full time job. I spent 15 years as a full-time freelance writer, but this is the first time I've ever truly felt a sense of control over my work. I love this model, love being accountable only to my readers, and hope to see folks continue to grow and thrive here.
This is wonderful, Zawn!
Wow, that's so cool! How did you convert so many to paid? That is something I'm still experimenting with.
The feedback that I consistently get from readers is that I am the only person writing about the issues I cover in the way I do. Specifically, I write about motherhood, feminism, and misogyny, with a focus on household labor inequality. Lots of writers cover this topic, but most talk about it as an accident. They tell women to communicate better, or make more lists. I talk about labor inequality as a deliberate act of oppression, why it happens, etc. I think it makes women feel less alone, and honestly less gaslit.
I wrote here about some other factors that I think have helped: https://zawn.substack.com/p/what-ive-learned-about-substack-success
Ahhh thank you, so in addition to good content is paygating where you see most of your conversions?
I think it's important that you're writing something unique, something only you offer, and that you have a clear and compelling message. Most of my paid subscribers are new subscribers rather than free subscribers who convert. I offer a 50/50 balance of content--two free pieces and two paid per week--because I want people to see what I have to offer (and benefit from it), but also to pay for the work that demands the most of me.
This was inspiring to hear. Sometimes, it still feels like I'm sending my words out into the void. Good to know that I just need to keep sending them out into the world.🙏💙💚🦋
Consider coming to the Office Party and using our 24/7 Open Thread. I'm not saying this to hook you as a subscriber. I have plenty. I'm really just here to help new people get the exposure they deserve. Everyone with a ton of subscribers had help from someone. No one does it alone.
All free!
Substack Office Hours/Parties are the first Friday of the month: https://www.writersatwork.net/t/office-hours-friday-thread
haha we all felt this way when we started ^^ This is a good sign. You START and that's the beginning of a beautiful journey. All the best
Then I am in good company! 💙💚🦋
Thank you for this very hopeful post:-) it came for me just in time. I was on a roll with new subscribers then got my first paid subscriber and everything screeched to a halt.
Just as I was being consistent.
I’m continuing though.
I started Substack because I wanted to write whatever lot up for me and see where it takes me.
The experiment continues!
nnekatrini.substack.com
Consider coming to the Office Party and using our 24/7 Open Thread. I'm not saying this to hook you as a subscriber. I have plenty. I'm really just here to help new people get the exposure they deserve. Everyone with a ton of subscribers had help from someone. No one does it alone.
These are free:
Substack Office Hours/Parties are the first Friday of the month: https://www.writersatwork.net/t/office-hours-friday-thread
Paid subs:
24/7 Support and Connection just started: https://www.writersatwork.net/p/substack-office-hours-open-thread/comments
What a comforting article! As a brand new Substacker, having just brought over my audience from MC a few weeks ago and still fumbling my way around, I'm excited and inspired to see all the interesting stories of success in all forms from financial to creative. Having hit frustrating roadblocks with other platforms, I'm very excited to see what the future brings!
Super interesting examples. It's not easy to start from scratch.
- I think Ami from "Finding Inner Pizza" has never used "social media" before. She's building her Substack from the ground up and already has one person who has pledged her support: Nikki Finlay!
- I could imagine with Nikki it's similar. Others are John Hamilton, David Blake and Avril Jason.
@Ami L Thompson @Nikki Finlay @Janice Walton @Kevin Palmquist @Doug Walton, PhD @Robert Puelz @AVRIL JASON
Even if you've made the effort and built an audience on another platform, such as Medium, you often still need to convert followers into subscribers, which isn't easy. I started at the bottom, got some subscribers from Twitter and then added some Medium subscribers.
We often forget that our email list is the most valuable asset in our business.
It's super smart to combine email list & social media - build an audience somewhere and turn it into subscribers.
You gain "followers" on most platforms, but getting those "followers" to sign up is a much bigger deal than someone just following you.
Congratulations to all the list builders mentioned!
One way is to grow from the inside out, the other is to grow from the outside in.
I'm at 46 subscribers and I just launched paid subscriptions. I like Substack as a platform and I love to write so I'll keep doing it even if I stay one of the small guys.