Substack Diaries: What do you do if you're not growing as fast as others?
Lessons from an absolute beginner :: Dec 2023
I went all in on Substack at the beginning of December. I made it a priority, scheduled uninterrupted writing time, downloaded the Substak app, published at least once a week and I started commenting and subscribing.
So what has been my experience on Subsack so far?
You can easily have deep and meaningful interactions straight away.
I don’t mind small chit chat at social events, but I like nothing more than being in a corner somewhere having a meaningful conversation. You can do that on Substack! (And I think what I was missing from social media.) I love how you can comment on someone’s newsletter and often get thoughtful replies and conversations.
You can easily get discovered.
You don’t need to create a landing page with an offer to collect emails in order to get your newsletter into reader’s inboxes. Substack pushes your work in front of people, you can also leverage Notes and comments to connect and get in front of new readers.
You can easily get caught up in the comparison game.
When I used to blog, many many years ago, we didn’t talk about our growth journey. It was very difficult to make a full-time living (or part-time living) from blogging. You needed ads, have affiliates, sponsorships, sold products etc. Whereas with Substack, you don’t need any of that, you just need paid subscribers. Suddenly, the dream of turning writing into a viable income seems not just plausible but tantalisingly within reach, yet for many, it remains an elusive mirage.
What about traditional newsletters before Substack came along? (The kind of newsletters you get when you sign up to something.) Those sending out the newsletters don’t talk about their newsletter growth journey unless they are marketing gurus, they are too busy trying to building up the “know, like and trust” hoping it’s built up enough before the launch of their next product, course or other offering.
So why do we find ourselves immersed in discussions about growth journeys on Substack? (Yes, including this one you're reading!) I think it’s because Substack has changed the game. Writers are sharing their journey in the hopes of helping other creatives. I genuinely believe the talk about growth is the shared excitement about breaking free from the old hurdles of publishing houses, freelance contracts, social media algorithms and content mills.
Now, let's get real for a moment. If you've been on Substack for over a year and haven't hit the same success you see from some writers in their first month, it's easy to start playing the comparison game. But here's the thing: success on Substack is as unique as our writing styles. Each journey is different, and timelines vary. So, take a deep breath when you read another success story (and they will keep coming, because that is the beauty and curse of Substack), keep honing your craft, and celebrate your own wins, big or small. Your moment might be just around the corner, and in the meantime, enjoy and celebrate that you are putting your writing out into the world! (Drop a link to one of your pieces in the comments, I would love to read it and cheer you on!)
Below is my humble “growth journey” update with the hopes of helping others who are having their own humble growth journeys too. Enjoy!
Carving out a space for yourself online, somewhere where you can express yourself and share your work, is still one of the best possible investments you can make with your time.
My December (real) numbers
I love it when people open up about their journey, especially the nitty-gritty details of starting something new. Here's me, sharing it all, stepping into the Substack world with no email list to my name.
Started Substack: April 2023
Subscribers: 27
I gained 20 amazing new subscribers in December, after having 7 subscribers since April!
It’s easy to overlook celebrating until you have a larger number, but I believe it’s crucial to celebrate every step, no matter how small.
Posts: 8
April-Nov: 2
Dec: 6 (including this one)
Revenue: $0
It is a totally free newsletter. I turned off paid subscriptions and pledges.
Monthly check-in
Things I tried:
Experiment. Having a low number of subscribers is the perfect time to experiment! I gave myself permission to tweak my sections, headers, footers, welcome emails, and about page as many times and as often as needed. I removed paid and pledges just to release the pressure I was putting on myself. I gave up trying to figure out the “one” topic I was going to cover on Substack and just started having fun!
Dedicated Substack writing time. I set aside time every Wednesday to write. Do other things come up? Every time! Do I still make it work? Every time!
Get involved in the community. Take advantage of tagging people in your newsletter and Notes. It helps them see what you appreciated about their writing and helps others discover them too! (I just want to shout out
who kindly gave me my first recommendation 🙏)Tap into your individuality. I may not have been in the publication world for long, but I have been a graphic designer for almost a decade. I used my skills to create custom dividers, signature and artwork for the newsletter - and had a ball doing it!
What I learned:
Get visible. I love commenting and participating in Notes, Newsletters, Office Hours and Chat threads. I didn’t realise that this was a way that people can discover you and be introduced to your work!
Pin top performing pieces. Once readers come to your page, they have to have something they can read. Think about pinning the pieces that get a lot of engagement or shares.
Build connections. I subscribed to a few people straight from recommendations, without reading their newsletter first. I think I prefer to subscribe after reading something that has touched me and having a conversation about it in the comments. I also really love being able to let the writers know how their piece resonated with me by replying to their welcome email.
It all comes down to the writing. If your post gets “picked up” and shared, you will gain a lot of subscribers. I know this not from experience (yet!) but because that is how I have discovered a lot of people that I now subscribe to. What this tells me is to keep developing your writing skills and storytelling skills.
What I’m struggling with:
Expectation vs Reality. I wrote a piece which I LOVED! I had fun writing it and I went to bed SURE it was going to get engagement because it was so relatable. (I even decided to try doing a voice note for the first time!) Fast forward to waking up, and there it was—just one like. Instead of celebrating that lone heart, I found myself a tad disappointed. It served as a gentle nudge to release the grip on how our writing will be perceived or received, treating it more like a gift without expecting anything in return. Lesson learned!
Focus on your own journey. I saw someone I really admire restack and gush over a very new writer on Substack. I suddenly felt this weird feeling - a mixture of wanting to be in the “group” (there is no group!), and wanting to be noticed. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit these feelings - I don’t think I’ve felt that way since High School! But I wanted to share it with you, in case you feel these feelings too. I think as we are all trying to find our footing here, it can uncover some old insecurities. Once we acknowledge these feelings are totally normal, we can redirect our focus towards building our OWN community, our own writing and continue sharing our unique perspective and having meaningful interactions. Remember if it’s possible for them, it’s possible for us!
✍️ Now it’s your turn. I would love to hear how has your month been? Any milestones or struggles?
If you are looking for a supportive community who can hold you accountable and champion you, join us in our weekly chat thread!
Let’s encourage and help each other as we navigate Substack together!
You won’t believe what happened next:
January 2024:
February 2024:
Want to read what happened before:
November 2023:
April 2023:
I spent hours and hours crafting an essay with a "narrative arc" because I did the workshop with Sarah Fey on memoir and it got zero traction lol. I began Substack with no email list at all, I now have 67 subscribers and it's taken me a little over a year to get that many! I don't see the fabulous organic growth that others rave about (and I'm on Notes all the time) but I write because I love writing and I'm proud of what I put out into the universe. I'm trying to become a better writer, that's my goal.
I used to get caught up in the comparison trap when looking at other creators here or on social media, but I figured out a way to steer clear of it (mostly). I am imperfect :-).
When I come across someone 2 or 100 steps ahead of me, I make the choice to LEARN from them instead of compare myself to them. Then I go about studying their work and strategy and if it resonates and seems practical and doable, I can take that knowledge and apply it to my strategy. Ever since I made that mindset shift a few years back, it has changed how I look at those successful creators. Game changing!
I actually have a 'list' of those I aspire to and often refer back to their platforms to keep learning.