Fav Five 🖐️ | How I've broken Substack growth rules and have no regrets
The anti-growth guide to loving Substack
In my piece last week, I mentioned I’ve been on Substack for two years now.
It’s been a wild, amazing ride!
As someone who often starts things and then loses interest, I’ve honestly wondered how I’ve managed to stick with Substack for so long!
Sometimes I laugh when I see my posts, because it might seem like I’m giving Substack growth tips or trying to be strategic. But really, it’s more like I’m writing a diary about the emotional side of being a writer. A very human, very imperfect one. If anything’s growing, it’s probably just the trust in myself.
Over the past month, I’ve been noticing all the ways I don’t follow typical “growth strategy advice”. I thought it would be fun to share some of them.
A gentle disclaimer: if you do follow any of these strategies and they feel aligned for you, amazing! Keep going! This is just me sharing what’s felt right in my world, and it might look different in yours (which is what makes this whole thing so beautifully human🥰).
1. Check your Substack stats often to stay on top of growth
I have no clue what my current stats are
Other than reporting the stats for my monthly Subtack recap on Substack Diaries, I don’t purposely go on my dashboard to see my subscriber count (I’ve even taken the subscriber count off my bio…for now).
In January 2024, my publication jumped from 27 subscribers to 180 subscribers, this led to a really harmful habit of checking my phone the first thing in the morning to see how many new subscribers I got, then staying on my phone.
In February 2024, I knew I needed a dashboard detox and quieten the outside world - during that quiet time, Find Your Tribe was born! (a place where you can find and be found by your tribe!)
I’m still human, and sometimes I compare my numbers to others, but I quickly try and ground myself and remind myself I’m on my own journey.
2. Be consistent with Notes to grow your visibility
I don’t have a Notes strategy
Some days I’ll share four Notes in a row, then nothing for a month.
This is because often ideas for my Notes come from my morning writing, and if I’m not writing, there are no Notes. But what it does mean is that everything I write is straight from the heart and what I feel needs to come out at the time.
I also never go back to count how many people have liked it or commented on it. I don’t get caught up in the numbers because it’s out of my control. All I can control is writing what I enjoy and what I think might uplift and help others.
Could I have “grown” more if I wrote more Notes, probably. Would I have stressed myself out and felt pressure to follow some plan, definitely!
(Lately, I’ve really enjoyed reading through my old pieces and sharing little gems from them on Notes.)
3. Stick to a reliable publishing schedule to build reader trust
I follow my heart, not my posting schedule
Although, I try to post on Fridays (NZ time), there are times, like this week, when it doesn’t flow until Saturday. And ocassionally, I am not in the headspace to write at all…so I don’t.
I love having a plan to follow, but I also love that I have allowed for flexibility around it.
When I worked as an employee, I was the kind of person who never missed a deadline. I brought that same energy to Substack…until I remembered: I’m the boss. And sometimes, the boss lets herself rest.
4. Always include a call to action to upgrade to paid
I leave out customised requests to upgrade
Other than the “subscribe” button that automatically becomes an “upgrade” button if someone’s already subscribed, I actually don’t add anything to my posts to encourage it.
Partly because I don’t offer anything extra with a paid subscription (apart from the weekly chat thread), so it’s really a patron model.
But also, every time I tried to write something about upgrading, it just made me feel icky. So I stopped. It may change later, but for now, this feels good. Which is why it always feels like such a lovely (and surprising!) gift when someone does decide to upgrade.
5. Pick a niche Substack name so people know what to expect
I chose a vague name for my publication.
musings by mika is a pretty non-discript name for a publication…but I have no regrets.
It gives me the freedom to write about whatever I want.
I’ve started so many niche Instagram pages over the years and then lost interest (not joking: Zero waste page, Thermomix inspo for families, a page to track my fitness journey, and many more!)
I’m okay with having an obscure title if it means I get to stay creatively free.
By not following the usual “growth hacks” it may have hurt my numbers and exposure, but all I know is that it’s helped my growth on the inside…as a writer and creative.
This approach means that “Substack” and I have a great relationship. I make sure it never asks more of me than I can give, and I think that’s been the secret to still loving this space, even after two whole years.
Thanks so much for being here for the ride. It truly means the world. 🥰
✍️ I would LOVE to hear your experience on following “growth hacks”, what ones make you feel good, what ones have you abandoned?
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I’m with you on many of these, Mika!
My primary motive on Substack is not for growth. I’m very grateful for those who follow along/read and feel no need to have bigger numbers just for the sake of it. I’d personally rather have ten engaged readers than hundreds who aren’t. Plus, since my newsletter is smaller, it feels easier for me to sustain, freely experiment, and have a more 1:1 connection with anyone who does share their thoughts. Years ago, I would’ve had a different approach or goal, but I like where I’ve landed now. It feels peaceful and more exciting to create from this place. 🤗
You are going knowingly or unknowingly against traditional advice which works for you. It just shows. Put yourself out there as you are, as you feel is right for you, and good readers will come. Thanks for sharing, Mika. This is precisely what I needed to hear. I've been over-obsessing about renaming my publication-- this helped make a lot of decisions much easier ❤️