I really appreciate your transparency Claire. When no one wants to talk real numbers it is so difficult to know if it's something you want to put your energy into and what realistic expectations look like. I have my calendar marked for Oct 17th. I'm in California, so I'll have coffee cup in hand!
I have seen many Substack publications on "How To.....on Substack" (which are absolutely helpful). This topic and similar How To... publications seem to attract the largest number of subscribers, as people want to know the "secrets" , tips and best practice in whatever they are doing to achieve their goals.
I've been on Substack for just over 6 months now, and it is clear to me that the first and most important key to being a successful writer on Substack - in the number of subscribers, engagement and in paid subscriptions - is the RIGHT TOPIC of your publication that will resonate with people reading your posts. In fact, this is a prerequisite that will either make and break your success. Everything else will follow.
One might say - of course, that's no brainer. And yet, it escapes many writers that building a complex mining infrastructure around a shaft with the underground resources not many people are interested in, won't bring the abundance they want no matter how hard they try. However, once we have a resource that everyone wants - then we strike gold.
It is one thing to enjoy reading a well written, interesting and moving or inspiring post, or several such posts in a publication; subscribing to it, especially willing to pay for reading it, is a completely different kettle of fish.
Don't get me wrong: The "How To....on Substack" posts and courses are great and super helpful in growing My Substack. I have learnt a lot from many of them. But the subscriber numbers you quote like 20k, 70k etc are simply unreachable for my current publication, given its nature and content, regardless of any new technical and marketing tools, approaches and strategies I might learn and implement. It's as simple as that. Heck, if and when I reach 1000 free subscribers, I'll be ecstatic.
So after watching my publication grow in the context of others here on Substack that attract thousands of subscribers and followers for six months now, my unequivocal conclusion and the answer to the question: how can I have a popular and profitable publication on Substack is that I need to create a new, different publication on a topic that will resonate with thousands rather than a niche hundreds of readers.
In other words, I need to start from scratch, back to square one.
If you’re going to give a platform 10% of every dollar you make, then you should probably either 1. Find out how to use the algorithm and structure of that platform to be worth 10% or 2. find another platform.
The whole of publishing has been taught they should be everywhere, even if they struggle to grow there, but that’s ludacrous. I spent months looking at Substack before I started doing it, and we wrote this book after spending hundreds of hours on Substack. So, yeah…probably if you growing you should figure out how to grow.
I absolutely disagree that you need to write about how to grow on substack. That is a cynical thing writers say, but in reality the hardest thing to make money on is a publication writing about a platform where everyone already gives so much information out for free. Money comes from finance, business, and other publications where information is hard to come by. Just because something goes viral doesn’t mean it’s good for monetization.
We are always on the growth to monetization parallel and where we are on it is nebulous, but I absolutely don’t think a how to substack blog would be very effective, especially since there are entrenched players in the market who have stake in keeping their position as experts. Sure there is space for another player, but only one that actually wants to do the work of being there.
I never said I should write "How To...on Substack" - that was just an example of How To as the most sought-after topic, and that "How to...on Substack" publications are generally helpful. So that's a misunderstanding. I was talking about successful writing of "How To..." on Substack not "How To...on Substack". I have no intention or interest to dissect the platform's algorithm, structure, best practice, tech tips or anything else for that matter. There are more than enough publications here doing just that.
And speaking of investment, I agree with your first point, adding that before sharing my profits from subscriptions with the platform, first I need to have a substantial number of free subscribers who are likely to pay for my writing, to make it worthwhile. Not the other way around. Similarly, before investing $100 in a Masterclass on how to monetize my writing on Substack (which I expect is worth every penny), I need to already have a publication well positioned for monetisation growth. Not the other way around. Unlike most people, I don't like putting the cart before the horse as that's simply counterproductive.
Interesting Anna. It really does depend on your goals. I have another publication mentioned at the top and I just hit 3k subs there. It doesn’t have anything to do with how to write or how to build your Substack and it brings in $5k a year. It also acts like the one as a funnel for my other offers.
I’ve seen and supported many writers to grow here across the categories spectrum and my honest advice is you can absolutely stay true to yourself. ✨🙏
Are you referring to your publication Creatively Conscious? It's not about Substack but still about HOW TO build a business (as I can see from its description) which proves my point. :-) It's not essays or opinion pieces. I tried my Quantum Talk publication to be a funnel for my coaching business and my podcast- didn't work. I also note that you started your publication two years ago, so time is also a factor.
I am going to review my Substack goals and strategy, and will check out your posts. Thank you for replying :-) (I don't have those cute little smileys on my online Substack - I rarely use the app).
Yes I am. True. It’s around 30% business and 70% lifestyle over there. I also host space for people to guest for me and have an anthology project called The Rejection Palace.
Yea time is a factor but my growth is steady at 100 free and 2 paid a month over there. It’s a very sustainable build and I’ve never gone viral.
Ahh the emojis. You can call them up on your desktop
Click on any text field, then press Command + Control + Space to choose an emoji from the list from a Mac. It’s different for windows I think.
There was a big outage on the Substack server few days ago affecting many functions. Not receiving test emails - I wrote about in my comment below - was one of them. The outage was apparently fixed, but I'm still not receiving test emails with my draft post which means that I can't publish a new post. Does anyone else have this issue?
I am on Windows. More importantly and urgently - there is a server issue as test emails with draft posts stopped working. I did receive a test email sent from the website testing page, so there is nothing wrong at my end or with my email address. I have cleared the cache for Substack website in my browser - nothing works. The chatbot can't help, and the old issue of the lack of support for free users (with no paid subscribers) has come up yet again - I have NO access to support. I can't publish my post until I check it in a test email, so I am stuck. Can't publish anything. Does anyone else have the same issue? How can I report this issue and get some help?
I just started writing on Substack a month or so ago, so I’m really looking forward to the masterclass! So far the eBook is amazing!!
Oh thank you Shannon! Welcome to Substack! ✨✨🌺
Thank you!
I really appreciate your transparency Claire. When no one wants to talk real numbers it is so difficult to know if it's something you want to put your energy into and what realistic expectations look like. I have my calendar marked for Oct 17th. I'm in California, so I'll have coffee cup in hand!
Yay! We are looking forward to seeing you! We’ll open up the portal for questions in advance too so get your thinking cap on. ✨🪡🥰
Sounds awesome!!
We are good when we put our heads together Janet! 😅 ✨🍎🤩
So true Claire 😅 ✨🍎🤩
Everyone was so lovely in the chats! I’m sure they’re looking forward to having you back! 🏝️
✨🍎💝
I have seen many Substack publications on "How To.....on Substack" (which are absolutely helpful). This topic and similar How To... publications seem to attract the largest number of subscribers, as people want to know the "secrets" , tips and best practice in whatever they are doing to achieve their goals.
I've been on Substack for just over 6 months now, and it is clear to me that the first and most important key to being a successful writer on Substack - in the number of subscribers, engagement and in paid subscriptions - is the RIGHT TOPIC of your publication that will resonate with people reading your posts. In fact, this is a prerequisite that will either make and break your success. Everything else will follow.
One might say - of course, that's no brainer. And yet, it escapes many writers that building a complex mining infrastructure around a shaft with the underground resources not many people are interested in, won't bring the abundance they want no matter how hard they try. However, once we have a resource that everyone wants - then we strike gold.
It is one thing to enjoy reading a well written, interesting and moving or inspiring post, or several such posts in a publication; subscribing to it, especially willing to pay for reading it, is a completely different kettle of fish.
Don't get me wrong: The "How To....on Substack" posts and courses are great and super helpful in growing My Substack. I have learnt a lot from many of them. But the subscriber numbers you quote like 20k, 70k etc are simply unreachable for my current publication, given its nature and content, regardless of any new technical and marketing tools, approaches and strategies I might learn and implement. It's as simple as that. Heck, if and when I reach 1000 free subscribers, I'll be ecstatic.
So after watching my publication grow in the context of others here on Substack that attract thousands of subscribers and followers for six months now, my unequivocal conclusion and the answer to the question: how can I have a popular and profitable publication on Substack is that I need to create a new, different publication on a topic that will resonate with thousands rather than a niche hundreds of readers.
In other words, I need to start from scratch, back to square one.
If you’re going to give a platform 10% of every dollar you make, then you should probably either 1. Find out how to use the algorithm and structure of that platform to be worth 10% or 2. find another platform.
The whole of publishing has been taught they should be everywhere, even if they struggle to grow there, but that’s ludacrous. I spent months looking at Substack before I started doing it, and we wrote this book after spending hundreds of hours on Substack. So, yeah…probably if you growing you should figure out how to grow.
I absolutely disagree that you need to write about how to grow on substack. That is a cynical thing writers say, but in reality the hardest thing to make money on is a publication writing about a platform where everyone already gives so much information out for free. Money comes from finance, business, and other publications where information is hard to come by. Just because something goes viral doesn’t mean it’s good for monetization.
We are always on the growth to monetization parallel and where we are on it is nebulous, but I absolutely don’t think a how to substack blog would be very effective, especially since there are entrenched players in the market who have stake in keeping their position as experts. Sure there is space for another player, but only one that actually wants to do the work of being there.
I never said I should write "How To...on Substack" - that was just an example of How To as the most sought-after topic, and that "How to...on Substack" publications are generally helpful. So that's a misunderstanding. I was talking about successful writing of "How To..." on Substack not "How To...on Substack". I have no intention or interest to dissect the platform's algorithm, structure, best practice, tech tips or anything else for that matter. There are more than enough publications here doing just that.
And speaking of investment, I agree with your first point, adding that before sharing my profits from subscriptions with the platform, first I need to have a substantial number of free subscribers who are likely to pay for my writing, to make it worthwhile. Not the other way around. Similarly, before investing $100 in a Masterclass on how to monetize my writing on Substack (which I expect is worth every penny), I need to already have a publication well positioned for monetisation growth. Not the other way around. Unlike most people, I don't like putting the cart before the horse as that's simply counterproductive.
Interesting Anna. It really does depend on your goals. I have another publication mentioned at the top and I just hit 3k subs there. It doesn’t have anything to do with how to write or how to build your Substack and it brings in $5k a year. It also acts like the one as a funnel for my other offers.
I’ve seen and supported many writers to grow here across the categories spectrum and my honest advice is you can absolutely stay true to yourself. ✨🙏
Are you referring to your publication Creatively Conscious? It's not about Substack but still about HOW TO build a business (as I can see from its description) which proves my point. :-) It's not essays or opinion pieces. I tried my Quantum Talk publication to be a funnel for my coaching business and my podcast- didn't work. I also note that you started your publication two years ago, so time is also a factor.
I am going to review my Substack goals and strategy, and will check out your posts. Thank you for replying :-) (I don't have those cute little smileys on my online Substack - I rarely use the app).
Yes I am. True. It’s around 30% business and 70% lifestyle over there. I also host space for people to guest for me and have an anthology project called The Rejection Palace.
Yea time is a factor but my growth is steady at 100 free and 2 paid a month over there. It’s a very sustainable build and I’ve never gone viral.
Ahh the emojis. You can call them up on your desktop
Click on any text field, then press Command + Control + Space to choose an emoji from the list from a Mac. It’s different for windows I think.
✨🪡✨☕️
There was a big outage on the Substack server few days ago affecting many functions. Not receiving test emails - I wrote about in my comment below - was one of them. The outage was apparently fixed, but I'm still not receiving test emails with my draft post which means that I can't publish a new post. Does anyone else have this issue?
I am on Windows. More importantly and urgently - there is a server issue as test emails with draft posts stopped working. I did receive a test email sent from the website testing page, so there is nothing wrong at my end or with my email address. I have cleared the cache for Substack website in my browser - nothing works. The chatbot can't help, and the old issue of the lack of support for free users (with no paid subscribers) has come up yet again - I have NO access to support. I can't publish my post until I check it in a test email, so I am stuck. Can't publish anything. Does anyone else have the same issue? How can I report this issue and get some help?
Woo! I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks again—you and all the fab guests were SUPERSTARS too! 🥳
You are super welcome! 🙏