The publication platform and social media web site, Substack, has develop into one of many hottest areas for on-line creators—and now manufacturers and celebrities are becoming a member of the bandwagon. Boasting greater than 5 million paid subscribers throughout the platform, Substack invitations creators like myself to construct an viewers, earn cash, and join with different readers and writers.
My identify is Alex Lewis, and I joined Substack in December 2022. My publication, Feels Like Dwelling, is now house 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 inventive outlet exterior of my 10-year profession in social media advertising and marketing.
Listed below 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 preserve my love for writing. Let’s get into it.
1. I wrote about what I take pleasure in.
The fantastic thing about Substack is you possibly can write about no matter you need, and there’s probability you’ll discover individuals who truly wish to learn it.
When beginning my Substack, I got down to write about issues I like and the folks and moments which have formed me. This ensured that my writing would at all times be private and at all times really feel pleasing as a result of I’m writing about subjects that I’m genuinely curious about, equivalent to NBA basketball and wholesome 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 aspect of this pursuit are individuals who love the identical issues and really feel seen, in addition to individuals who aren’t as aware of the subject however acquire a newfound appreciation for it.
Ana Calin, whose How We Develop publication has a whole lot of paid subscribers, encourages creators to “write the publication you’ll wish to learn—not the one you assume will ‘carry out.’” She provides, “Readers can inform whenever you’re being genuine, they usually’ll stick round to 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 particular area of interest so as to develop. Sharing your pursuits can pave the way in which for connection and consistency.
2. I nurtured the individuals who already supported me.
Substack makes your writing accessible for individuals who wish to learn it.
Earlier than becoming a member of Substack, sharing my work on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X felt like the one method for folks to study that I revealed one thing new. Associates 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 affix Substack and begin publishing a publication as a result of I wished the individuals who loved studying my work to obtain it straight of their inbox. Whereas I nonetheless put up about my publication on social media, electronic mail is my publication’s high visitors driver by far, producing 186% extra views than the Substack app (which is my subsequent closest).
By inviting readers to choose into a better technique 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 bother reaching them on-line, contemplate beginning a publication.
As famous by Seth Werkheiser, who writes his Social Media Escape Membership publication to greater than 6,000 subscribers, “Direct entry to your viewers is so vital, and really a lot well worth the time and power.”
Social media algorithms are unreliable. By way of Substack, you possibly can take possession of your electronic mail listing and communicate on to your viewers whereas making it simpler to your long-time supporters to proceed supporting.
3. I targeted on constant high quality over constant amount.
Simply because your favourite Substack author posts each day doesn’t imply you might want to.
What I started to look at, previous to becoming a member of Substack, is that I averaged two new essays per 30 days. These weren’t simply throwaway concepts; they had been well-researched, considerate, long-form items that got here because of studying, residing, listening, and wrestling.
As soon as I began my publication, I launched a content material advice collection, Take It or Go away It, to fill within the gaps between essays. These began as weekly drops, however I shifted the cadence to month-to-month at first of this 12 months as I realized how difficult it was to take care of a weekly rhythm—particularly since writing isn’t my full-time job.
Additionally, I knew my largest metric for achievement was making work I’m pleased with, and that takes time. Work I’m pleased with is figure I’m snug with returning to and wish 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, when it comes to how a lot you put up, is commonly 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 could get your publication in entrance of individuals extra usually, however it may possibly additionally make your work more durable 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 wish to miss as a result of they know you at all times carry your finest.
4. I “stole” from my favourite writers.
Your fellow Substack writers are the perfect blueprint for getting began.
I started my Substack journey on a whim. After months of laying 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, equivalent 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 study what’s potential with my publication.
Austin Kleon, whose self-titled Substack has 297,000 subscribers, authored the e book, Steal Like An Artist. Throughout the information, Kleon quotes clothier Yohji Yamamoto: “Begin copying what you’re keen on. Copy copy copy copy. On the finish of the copy you can see your self.”
Your finest path ahead isn’t plagiarism; it’s studying from the writers and creators you admire. It’s letting the perfect of what they do encourage you to make the perfect work you possibly can.
Just a few of my favourite Substackers are:
5. I embraced playfulness and experimentation.
There’s nobody technique to present up on Substack.
Since beginning my publication, I’ve tried several types of posts exterior of long-form essays and content material suggestions. I’ve interviewed artists I love, equivalent to Louisville rapper Horace Gaither and senior social media supervisor Jenn Crim. I’ve written love letters with my finest pals and collaborated on dialog collection with different writers.
For the sake of self-care and inventive freedom, I resist guidelines and restrictions on the subject of Substack. I deal with my publication as a playground as an alternative of a jail. I set the rules for my creativity. And similar to my very own little playground, I can decide and select what I wish to play with, in addition to how lengthy I wish to play with it.
Robert Monson, whose Musings From A Damaged Coronary heart publication has greater than 7,000 subscribers, provides himself “permission to play and never seem excellent 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. Observe your curiosities and see the place they may take you. Mike Sowden of the Every thing is Wonderful publication stated his first 12 months on Substack was “simply experimenting with every part.”
He additionally famous, “I simply didn’t wish to write stuff that didn’t fill me with pleasure, curiosity, and surprise.”
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 vital.
6. I shared about my Substack off of Substack.
There’s an entire world exterior 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 pondering 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 hundreds of thousands 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, famous, “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 folks. In some methods, it may 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 can assist 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 beneficial my Substack utilizing the platform’s Suggestion characteristic, I gained almost 1,000 subscribers in a single month initially of this 12 months.
I recurrently join with different writers and readers on Notes, which has similarities to short-form content material channels like X and Threads. Notes has additionally launched me to new Substacks and stored me impressed. I’m a greater artist and particular person due to the relationships I’ve been in a position to 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 at least one 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, however 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 12 months for me to achieve my first 1,000 publication subscribers. Six months later, I gained almost 1,000 subscribers in a single month.
Whereas every month seems totally different, my best achievement is that I’ve stored 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 relatively than fixating solely on the vacation spot,” she shared.
Persevering with on this matter, Mika wrote, “Exhibiting up and honoring what you’re feeling known as to write down, embracing your authenticity, sparking actual connections, and unleashing creativity is the true magic of Substack!”
Generally, the perfect factor to 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.
