Different Paths to Substack Success: The Best Substack Tips of the Month
The Best Substack Strategies and Secrets for April 2024
So many folks liked my roundup, How 9 Successful Substack Writers Have Grown their Substacks in 2024, that I decided to do a round-up of the best tips about Substack from the last month alone.
Let me know if you enjoy this by clicking the heart on this post!
Oldies but Goodies
This old post from
at her one-year anniversary of going full-time on Substack is eye opening! Worth a read, or a re-read if it’s been awhile.
Her “tips”?
On why she came (remember, this was written in 2021, one year after arriving.)
I wanted to periodically be able to wake up, feel a cultural current shifting, and write about it immediately, and ask long, meandering questions of scholars whose work I admired and give them space to respond with long, meandering answers.
On how she thought about “growth”
I don’t have any grand plans for expansion. I just want to keep pushing myself in non-burnout ways to write weird and addictive and empathetic things, to publish other thinkers who challenge and texture my understanding of the world, to come up with goofier and even more sincere thread ideas, to keep doing the hard work of community-building.
On writing 5,000 word posts?
Just do it if you wanna do it (see below)
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This post, What we learned from writers about community building from
has some great stuff. She used to run a company called People and Company that was acquired by Substack, and she shares her learnings. She shares a link to some of the best resources, now free.We’ve made most of the resources that we created—frameworks, exercises, worksheets, case studies—publicly available at gettogether.world.
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This interview with
, who has several different Substack newsletters focused on non-fiction books, also has some good tips.His Tips?
Don’t compare yourself with others. It never helps!
Try to have fun and experiment, especially if you’re feeling down about growth.
Realize that, especially in the beginning, half of your paid subscribers will probably be people you have interacted with in a 1:1 capacity (online or other)
Growth
Charlotte is a former content strategist and wrote a great post looking at different ways to succeed on Substack.
Her tips
Remember where your advice is coming from
All of the growth advice is based on a small handful of success stories, all of which are successful because they did something unique that made them stand out. You will not stand out by copying what they did, you will blend in with everyone else that is copying what they did. Be original, and you might have a shot at being the next insert name of someone you admire
Don’t put out filler content
Don't put out filler content. If you don't have anything to say, don't push yourself to find something that doesn't genuinely feel right for you.
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Well-known Substack expert
did a beast of an interview with . Highly recommended.Her tips?
On Substack, creators don’t have to scream for attention
Tons of literary agents and publishers are on Substack. Use this to your advantage (if you want to!)
For her, it’s not about the money (she’s at 160K ARR, or annual recurring revenue)
Monetization
, who I STAN, shares how she launched her paid newsletter by combining it with an ebook launch. Her tips
Make it a really big deal (aka WRITE A BOOK) and make your launch coincide with its publication
Run a pre-sale campaign that discounted the book, in advance of launch day
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Substack seemed like a fantastic solution. It allowed audiences to support my work through paid and free subscriptions. I experienced wonderful initial success. But then I had doubts. For example, I felt writers were being pushed to gain more paid subscriptions because the more money I make, the more the company makes. It's just business. Yet, some writers do use Substack to earn a living. I greatly respect the dedication, craft, and devotion that takes.
Housekeeping
says you need a great About page.Her tips?
there IS a right way to do it
it will take you 15-30 minutes (after this free, 6-minute video)
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Her tips
Look at 5 Substacks of other folks you like. How are they organizing effectively?
Take a hard look at your own. How would you navigate your homepage as a newbie reader?
Controversial advice
says that nothing kills her vibe like an editorial calendar?!?
Did you learn anything else about Substack this month?
Let me know in the comments!
I really enjoyed this. It’s especially nice to be reminded that it’s better to not say anything if it doesn’t feel aligned. 🤍
Thanks a million for posting these. Super helpful!