The publication platform and social media website, Substack, has grow to be one of many hottest areas for on-line creators—and now manufacturers and celebrities are becoming a member of the bandwagon. Boasting more than five million paid subscribers throughout the platform, Substack invitations creators like myself to construct an viewers, generate income, and join with different readers and writers.
My identify is Alex Lewis, and I joined Substack in December 2022. My publication, Feels Like Home, is now dwelling to greater than 3,500 subscribers and receives over 20,000 month-to-month reads. I began the publication to discover a few of my favourite issues (like music, sports activities, and popular culture) and to have a artistic outlet outdoors of my 10-year profession in social media advertising and marketing.
Listed here are the steps I took to develop my publication by 7,000% in lower than three years and the way it continues to assist me keep away from burnout and keep my love for writing. Let’s get into it.
1. I wrote about what I get pleasure from.
The great thing about Substack is you may write about no matter you need, and there’s an excellent likelihood you’ll discover individuals who truly need to learn it.
When beginning my Substack, I got down to write about issues I really like and the individuals and moments which have formed me. This ensured that my writing would all the time be private and all the time really feel gratifying as a result of I’m writing about subjects that I’m genuinely serious about, comparable to NBA basketball and healthy masculinity.
Consistency is rather more attainable when writing and publishing really feel like much less of a burden. I get excited to return to the web page as a result of I’m following my curiosities—and what I usually discover on the opposite facet of this pursuit are individuals who love the identical issues and really feel seen, in addition to individuals who aren’t as conversant in the subject however achieve a newfound appreciation for it.
Ana Calin, whose How We Grow publication has tons of of paid subscribers, encourages creators to “write the publication you’d need to learn—not the one you assume will ‘carry out.’” She provides, “Readers can inform whenever you’re being genuine, and so they’ll stick round in your voice—not some polished model of what you assume they need.”
Whereas Substack enables you to label your publication below 1-2 classes to assist readers discover your publication, you don’t must nook your self into a selected area of interest so as to develop. Sharing your pursuits can pave the best way for connection and consistency.
2. I nurtured the individuals who already supported me.
Substack makes your writing accessible for individuals who need to learn it.
Earlier than becoming a member of Substack, sharing my work on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X felt like the one means for individuals to be taught that I printed one thing new. Mates would inform me they missed one thing I wrote as a result of the algorithm didn’t serve my posts to them.
I selected to hitch Substack and begin publishing a publication as a result of I wished the individuals who loved studying my work to obtain it immediately of their inbox. Whereas I nonetheless publish about my publication on social media, e-mail is my publication’s prime visitors driver by far, producing 186% extra views than the Substack app (which is my subsequent closest).
By inviting readers to choose into a neater option to learn my work, I began my Substack journey with over 100 subscribers inside the first week. That’s greater than 100 individuals who may share my publication and invite others to subscribe and start sharing.
If you have already got an viewers however are having hassle reaching them on-line, contemplate beginning a publication.
As noted by Seth Werkheiser, who writes his Social Media Escape Club publication to greater than 6,000 subscribers, “Direct entry to your viewers is so essential, and really a lot definitely worth the time and power.”
Social media algorithms are unreliable. By means of Substack, you may take possession of your e-mail listing and converse on to your viewers whereas making it simpler in your long-time supporters to proceed supporting.
3. I targeted on constant high quality over constant amount.
Simply because your favourite Substack author posts daily doesn’t imply you have to.
What I started to watch, previous to becoming a member of Substack, is that I averaged two new essays per 30 days. These weren’t simply throwaway concepts; they have been well-researched, considerate, long-form items that got here on account of studying, residing, listening, and wrestling.
As soon as I began my publication, I launched a content material advice sequence, Take It or Leave It, to fill within the gaps between essays. These began as weekly drops, however I shifted the cadence to month-to-month at the start of this yr as I discovered how difficult it was to keep up a weekly rhythm—particularly since writing isn’t my full-time job.
Additionally, I knew my largest metric for fulfillment was making work I’m happy with, and that takes time. Work I’m happy with is figure I’m snug with returning to and need to share even after its publish date. That is work I imagine readers can come to at any level and nonetheless discover worth in.
Consistency, by way of how a lot you publish, is usually mentioned as being tied to development. However Sarah Fay, whose Substack Writers at Work publication has over 36,000 subscribers, says, “Substack’s algorithm doesn’t favor frequency.”
Fay provides, “Engagement is what issues.”
Posting extra might get your publication in entrance of individuals extra usually, however it will possibly additionally make your work tougher to maintain up with and even bombard readers’ already jam-packed inboxes. By specializing in constant high quality over upping your amount, you are able to do a greater job of delivering work your readers received’t need to miss as a result of they know you all the time deliver your greatest.
4. I “stole” from my favourite writers.
Your fellow Substack writers are the very best blueprint for getting began.
I started my Substack journey on a whim. After months of pushing aside beginning a publication, I lastly determined to leap all in. Not understanding the place to start, I checked out publications from Substack writers I already adopted, comparable to Hunter Harris and Emily Sundberg.
By their newsletters, I gained a greater understanding of how I wished to construction my About web page, in addition to what to incorporate within the header and footer of my emails. Whereas I made the phrases my very own, they helped me be taught what’s doable with my publication.
Austin Kleon, whose self-titled Substack has 297,000 subscribers, authored the e book, Steal Like An Artist. Inside the information, Kleon quotes dressmaker Yohji Yamamoto: “Begin copying what you like. Copy copy copy copy. On the finish of the copy you will discover your self.”
Your greatest path ahead isn’t plagiarism; it’s studying from the writers and creators you admire. It’s letting the very best of what they do encourage you to make the very best work you may.
A couple of of my favourite Substackers are:
5. I embraced playfulness and experimentation.
There’s nobody option to present up on Substack.
Since beginning my publication, I’ve tried several types of posts outdoors of long-form essays and content material suggestions. I’ve interviewed artists I like, comparable to Louisville rapper Horace Gaither and senior social media supervisor Jenn Crim. I’ve written love letters with my greatest associates and collaborated on conversation series with different writers.
For the sake of self-care and artistic freedom, I resist guidelines and restrictions in relation to Substack. I deal with my publication as a playground as a substitute of a jail. I set the rules for my creativity. And similar to my very own little playground, I can choose and select what I need to play with, in addition to how lengthy I need to play with it.
Robert Monson, whose Musings From A Broken Heart publication has greater than 7,000 subscribers, gives himself “permission to play and never seem good on Substack.” Supporters of his work, together with myself, resonate with Robert’s openness and tag alongside for the trip wherever he chooses to go.
Attempt stuff. Comply with your curiosities and see the place they may take you. Mike Sowden of the Everything is Amazing publication said his first yr on Substack was “simply experimenting with every little thing.”
He additionally famous, “I simply didn’t need to write stuff that didn’t fill me with pleasure, curiosity, and marvel.”
Sowden now has over 31,000 subscribers. Even when your playfulness doesn’t result in viewers development, it would result in extra pleasure—and that’s simply as essential.
6. I shared about my Substack off of Substack.
There’s an entire world outdoors of Substack that doesn’t find out about your publication.
Earlier than becoming a member of Substack, I wrote an essay about rapper Child Cudi, which I’ve since re-published on my publication. Not considering something of it, I shared the essay on Twitter (now X) and tagged Cudi. Lower than 10 minutes later, he retweeted the essay and launched my writing to his tens of millions of followers.
I carried that technique over to Substack and now recurrently promote my publication on social media. A few of my hottest items gained traction on platforms like X, Threads, and LinkedIn, which drove extra visitors to my publication.
Andy Adams, who publishes FlakPhoto Digest to over 38,000 Substack subscribers, noted, “Instagram performs a major function in my Substack workflow.” He added, “[Instagram] has been instrumental in rising the viewers for my Substack publication. For me, they go hand in hand.”
You’re already on social media. Use it to get your Substack in entrance of extra individuals. In some methods, it will possibly even be an extension of your publication by inviting new readers to dive deeper into your work.
7. I benefited from Substacks’s options.
Substack is jam-packed with instruments that will help you develop your publication viewers.
The Substack Community, together with app options like Notes and Chat, has pushed 86% of my publication subscribers. As a result of tradition journalist Ayan Artan advisable my Substack utilizing the platform’s Recommendation function, I gained almost 1,000 subscribers in a single month at first of this yr.
I recurrently join with different writers and readers on Notes, which is analogous to short-form content material channels like X and Threads. Notes has additionally launched me to new Substacks and saved me impressed. I’m a greater artist and particular person due to the relationships I’ve been capable of construct on Substack.
Mario Gabriele of The Generalist says, “Substack isn’t only a place to publish or learn – it’s an ecosystem for writers and creators to collaborate and contribute to 1 one other’s development.”
You don’t must go elsewhere to develop. Your new readers are ready for you on Substack.
8. I caught with it.
Substack development may occur in a single day, nevertheless it’s extra prone to take time.
I’ve been on Substack for greater than two and a half years, and it took over a yr for me to succeed in my first 1,000 publication subscribers. Six months later, I gained almost 1,000 subscribers in a single month.
Whereas every month seems to be completely different, my best achievement is that I’ve saved returning to the web page. Writing has been a supply of pleasure for me, and I’m grateful that I get to nurture that love by my publication.
Mika, who publishes the musings by mika publication, wrote about plateauing on Substack. “My secret sauce on Substack is having fun with the journey reasonably than fixating solely on the vacation spot,” she shared.
Persevering with on this matter, Mika wrote, “Displaying up and honoring what you’re feeling known as to jot down, embracing your authenticity, sparking actual connections, and unleashing creativity is the actual magic of Substack!”
Generally, the very best factor in your development could also be setting the numbers apart and remembering what introduced you to Substack within the first place. That may preserve you going even when development slows down.
