It’s been less than a month since I started publishing on Substack, and here I am starting a second publication to document my journey.
While 90 subscribers is nothing for some, it’s everything for others. But at the end of the day, it’s not about the numbers.
It’s about all this platform has given me in the last month.
That includes:
Being inspired to write daily;
Reading amazing Notes and posts all the time;
Connecting with others;
Being in the energy of other writers and entrepreneurs, which helps me keep the momentum going;
Feeling the support of the community;
Thinking of leaving social media behind and only showing up here;
Seeing the potential in Substack as a business;
Celebrating our small wins with fellow writers;
Reading stop-scrolling Notes;
Feeling social on here, and yet not overwhelmed as I do on IG and TT.
That’s quite a lot. And it’s why I’ve turned Substack into a daily activity and one of the main projects in my business right now (even though my time is limited as I have a 3-month old baby girl).
It feels pretty amazing to be on this platform, though.
And, of course, I know this is the feeling of novelty, of the potential of a new project, of the big vision. This will wear off. Probably pretty soon. Then consistency is what it’s all about.
But because I’ve seen some engagement already and because it feels way more satisfying and meaningful than on any other platforms right now, I’m here to stay.
I’m committing, and I hope that with this, I inspire others to commit to posting on Substack daily (or a few times a week).
Let’s talk about what I did in my first month to see any traction.
You can do better or worse, but the point is to take action and go past month one, and onto your second month as a writer.
A breakdown of how I reached my first 90 subscribers:
Notes.
I’m posting on Notes daily now, and I believe that makes a difference.
I know from many experts that Substack is pushing Notes right now, and it’s your best chance to have one or a few of them go viral. This can bring you new subscribers, and a lot of traction.
Notes can also be quite general, but it’s never a bad idea to stick to your niche and teach what you’re best at. Give people quick wins and they are more likely to subscribe to learn more from you.
Engagement.
Substack is also all about engagement, and that’s why it’s part of my daily Substack ritual.
By engagement, I mean:
Checking my new notifications and reacting on them;
Engaging with the accounts who liked my content;
Leaving meaningful comments on some of their Notes or posts;
Whenever I actually read someone’s post, I definitely leave a comment;
Also, I see content from people who aren’t in my community and randomly engage with a few posts (I just go with the flow, there’s no specific strategy here);
I follow other people;
Some publications I’m subscribed to have subscriber chats and there are often invitations to share our latest Note or Post and engage with a few others, so I do that.
It’s easy to get lost in these little tasks, have a lot of fun and even do it for hours. And that’s what can grow your account over time.
Big chance the new followers and subscribers are fellow writers and creators, though, and not people who actually want to learn from you or who will become paying subscribers when you start charging.
Posts.
I also started publishing a lot. What made it easier is that I’m hosting a free blogging challenge. Seemed like the right first thing to do on the platform to present my expertise. Later - when I teach more advanced blogging strategies and monetization - I can refer people to that and other challenges for beginners if they haven’t built the foundation yet.
I wouldn’t say the posts contributed to my growth, though, at least not yet. But they are the main part of my publication, after all. I’m here for the long-form content.
What Hasn’t Happened Yet
I haven’t had a Note or Post go viral yet. This is totally normal, of course, and there’s no rush. It’s also not the main goal.
I’m learning how the platform works now, following experts, developing my strategy, publishing content, and genuinely forming connections and supporting other people’s work and celebrating their milestones.
What’s Next
Next is my milestone of hitting 100 subscribers, and continuing to take daily action to grow my Substack naturally, as well as posting good content and having a pleasant time while doing it.
How is it going for you?
How long have you been on Substack? What’s your next goal?
Talk to you in the next update,
Lidiya