Meanwhile, most writers wake up every day staring at a blank Notes box, trying to think of something clever to post. That daily pressure kills creativity faster than anything.

So I built a system. And I'm going to show you exactly how it works, step by step, with screenshots.

By the end of this post, you'll have a full week of Notes scheduled and ready to go. Three per day. Morning, lunch, evening. All done in one sitting.

Ready to get your time back?

Why I started batching Notes in the first place

I was spending 45 minutes a day on Notes. Not writing them. Thinking about writing them. Opening the app, typing something, deleting it, trying again, getting distracted, coming back, posting something mediocre at a weird time because I ran out of energy.

45 minutes a day, 7 days a week. That’s over 5 hours of creative energy going into what should take 30 minutes total.

I tracked my subscriber growth for a month and found that 67% of it came from Notes. Notes are doing more for my growth than any article right now. So I couldn’t just stop posting them. I needed a better way.

That’s when I built the batch system.

Step 1: Analyze what’s actually working

Before I write a single Note, I ask Claude Code to analyze my last 4 weeks of performance. Claude pulls up my Substack stats and looks at what’s actually getting engagement.

I give Claude access to all of this and ask: what patterns do you see? What’s working? What’s not?

And the patterns were crystal clear:

• Vulnerable personal moments win big. My top Note (158 likes) was about sitting with my coffee for 40 minutes doing nothing. Another one about turning down money got 131 likes. The more emotionally honest, the higher the engagement.

• Specific numbers in the first line. “My first 100 subscribers took 4 months.” Notes with a number in the first sentence averaged around 95 likes vs around 45 without.

• Hot takes on Substack itself drive comments. One Note had only 70 likes but 52 comments. Anything about Substack’s platform changes triggers conversation.

• Ultra-short truth bombs get restacks. “The dream isn’t retiring early. The dream is building something you never want to retire from.” That one got 98 likes and 11 restacks. My highest restack count ever. Short plus quotable equals shareable.

• “Keep going” encouragement performs consistently. Multiple Notes in this theme landed in the 75-116 like range. My audience resonates with this.

This step matters because it means I’m writing more of what works instead of guessing every day.

If you’re learning something new, share this with a writer friend who’s still posting Notes manually every day. We all grow together.

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Step 2: Prompt Claude to write 21 Notes in your voice

This is where the magic happens. I give Claude a very specific prompt. Not “write me some Notes.” That gets you generic AI content that sounds like everyone else.

My prompt looks like this:

The key things in that prompt:

I tell it to match my existing style (because it already analyzed what works in step 1). I specify the content mix, not just Substack growth, but business, leadership, and AI too. I give it the time slots. And I tell it to put everything directly into the CSV format so I don’t have to copy-paste 21 times.

Three focus areas keep my Notes from feeling repetitive. If all 21 were about Substack growth, my audience would tune out by Wednesday. Mixing in AI tips and personal business stories keeps it fresh and is relevant for my other publication .

Step 3: Download the CSV template

I use my Substack Notes Scheduler for this. Go to the scheduler, click “CSV Template” to download the blank template.

The template is simple. Four columns: content, date, time, link. That’s it.

When Claude writes the Notes, it fills them directly into this format. Each Note gets a date, a time slot (morning around 8am, lunch around 12:30pm, evening around 5:30pm), and the full Note text with line breaks.

Step 4: Let Claude fill in the CSV

This is the part that saves me hours. Instead of writing each Note by hand and scheduling them one by one, Claude generates all 21 directly in the CSV format.

Here’s what the filled CSV looks like:

• Morning Notes go out around 8am. These are usually personal stories or vulnerable moments, the kind that perform best early in the day when people are scrolling with their coffee.

• Lunch Notes go out around 12:30pm. These are usually tactical tips or AI-related content. People are in work mode, they want something useful.

• Afternoon Notes go out around 5:30pm. These are reflective, “keep going” encouragement, or Substack hot takes. End-of-day energy where people want to feel something.

Each Note follows the patterns from step 1. Specific numbers. Vulnerable openings. Short and punchy when it calls for it, longer stories when the topic needs room.

I review every single Note before uploading. I’m not publishing anything I haven’t read and tweaked. Some I rewrite entirely. Some I adjust a few words. Some are perfect as-is. But I’m always the final filter.

P.S. If you want access to my Notes scheduler, is is part of my paid tier, you can sign up here and get immediate access:

Subscribe now

Step 5: Upload the CSV to the Notes Scheduler

Go to the Notes Scheduler at your dashboard. Click “Import CSV.” Select the file Claude just filled. Done.

All 21 Notes appear in the schedule. You can see each one with its date and time. You can edit any of them before they go live. You can delete ones you don’t like. You can move times around.

The scheduler connects directly to your Substack account using native scheduling. Your Notes post automatically at the exact times you set.

I check the scheduler on my phone every morning just to see what’s going out that day. Two Notes left for today. Three for tomorrow. Everything handled.

Step 6: Watch the magic happen

Here’s my Substack drafts right now. Every single Note scheduled, dated, timed, ready to go. I wrote zero of these today. I wrote all of them on Sunday in one 30-minute session.

That means today, Tuesday, I have time to:

• Reply to comments on yesterday’s Notes

• Leave thoughtful comments on 10 other writers’ posts

• Actually engage with my community chat

• Write my weekly article without rushing

• Take a walk without my phone

That last one matters more than you think.

The Notes Scheduler is available as part of the Wander Wealth paid community. If you want access to the scheduler, the community, and all the templates I use to run my content system:

Get it here

Bonus: Scheduled Notes actually perform better

I didn’t expect this, but since I started scheduling Notes in batches, my engagement has gone up. Not down. Up.

I think there are a few reasons:

• Consistency. My audience knows I’ll be in their feed 3 times a day. That reliability builds trust.

• Better writing. When I batch, I’m in flow. I write 21 Notes in one creative session instead of forcing one mediocre Note between meetings. The quality difference is noticeable.

• More time to engage. This is the big one. The time I used to spend writing Notes every day now goes into commenting, replying, and building real relationships. And Substack’s algorithm rewards engagement. The more I comment on other people’s work, the more visibility my own Notes get.

• Strategic timing. Instead of posting whenever I happen to be online, every Note goes out at a time when my audience is actually active. I tested this. My morning Notes between 7-9am get twice the engagement of random midday posts.

• Better content mix. When I plan a whole week at once, I can see the balance. Monday morning personal story, Monday lunch AI tip, Monday evening encouragement. Tuesday morning growth tactic, Tuesday lunch business insight, Tuesday evening vulnerability. Every day feels different. Every week covers all my pillars.

The 30-minute weekly system

To recap, here’s the entire workflow:

1. Pull up your Substack stats. What worked? What didn’t? (5 minutes)

2. Give Claude the analysis and your prompt. Tell it your voice, your topics, your time slots. (2 minutes)

3. Review and edit the 21 Notes. Make them yours. (15 minutes)

4. Download the CSV template, upload the filled version to the scheduler. (3 minutes)

5. Check the scheduler to confirm everything looks good. (2 minutes)

6. Close your laptop and go live your life. (Priceless)

That’s it. 30 minutes on Sunday. A full week of Notes handled. More time for the work that actually matters: engaging with humans.

If you want also want to batch schedule your Notes and grow more on autopilot, get my Notes scheduler which is included in my paid tier:

→ Subscribe to Wander Wealth

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Leave a comment

P.S. - New to Substack? Check out my resources to get started.

The shift nobody is naming out loud

I know this sounds dramatic. So I went looking for the numbers.

A Wharton study followed more than 10,000 people reading with AI vs. without. The people who used AI summaries ended up with shallower knowledge, fewer concrete facts, and they spent less time with the source material. The act of reading shrunk. The understanding shrunk with it.

Only 54% of Americans read at least one book last year. In the UK, 35% of adults now identify as "lapsed readers." They used to read. They stopped.

This is the reality you and I are writing into.

If this is hitting a nerve, come talk about it with us in the free chat. This is exactly the kind of shift we are unpacking together right now.

The money side of this is worse

Here's where it stops being philosophical.

The top 10% of creators now take 62% of all ad payments in the creator economy. That number was 53% just two years ago. The top 1% alone grabs 21%. And the median creators’ earnings dropped from $3,500 to $3,000 in one year.

48.7% of all creators make under $10K a year from their work.

That is the creator middle class getting crushed in real time.

Now look at Substack. The platform has over 5 million paid subscriptions. More than 50,000 publications are earning money. Over 50 creators are clearing $1 million a year from subscriptions alone.

So the platform is booming. But the gap between the top and everyone else is widening fast.

If you are writing more polished posts, more often, hoping to climb into the middle, you are running the wrong race.

Time to panic? Not yet.

What is actually working (the counterintuitive part)

Restraint. Humanness. Flaws.

Audiences are gravitating toward what feels undeniably human, because AI has flooded every other channel. Platforms are quietly discussing "human-made" content filters to help readers find real people again.

The edge in 2026 seems to be more obvious personhood.

And the creators I'm watching prove this.

Mike from Pithy Cyborg just did something brave

Mike runs a Substack called . He writes about AI news and teaches more than 30,000 students online. Last week he decided to record his newsletter in his real voice. Not a polished podcast read. Just him, talking.

His words: "nervous + scared AF."

That issue became one of his most popular ever.

He told his X audience he was doing it again this week. And the comments flooded in. People wanted more of him, not less. More voice. More personality. Less polish.

That is it.

Quick tip: if you want to catch these shifts before everyone else does, subscribe. I break down what's actually working on Substack every week, with the data behind it.

→ Subscribe to Wander Wealth

My own data is telling me the same thing

The Notes I write in my real voice, with flaws and all, get up to 50% more interaction than the ones I clean up first.

The Notes I almost don't post are the ones that hit.

So I stopped fighting it.

What I am doing differently on both my newsletters

• On Wander Wealth, I am leaning harder into the chat and community side. Less broadcast. More conversation. Less "here is my polished take" and more "what are you actually struggling with this week."

• On , I am shifting toward infographics and polls. Formats that invite response, not just consumption. People don't always want to read 2,000 words. But they will vote. They will react. They will engage with a visual.

The common thread is simple. I am making readers participate, not just read.

And if you want the full playbook I am using to escape the middle class squeeze, I share it inside the paid Wander Wealth Community. That's where I go deep on the systems, the numbers, and the weekly moves for writers in the 0 to 5K range.

→ Join the Wander Wealth Community

What you can do this week (if you have 0 to 5K subscribers)

Four small shifts. Pick one. Do it this week.

1. Record a voice Note or go live on Substack. Just once.. Your real voice, flaws included, no editing.

2. Turn your next post into a poll or chat prompt. Even if your post is already written. Add a question at the end that makes reading optional and responding easy.

3. Stop optimizing your prose. Start optimizing for response. Ask yourself after every post: what do I want the reader to do next?

4. Ask your community one real question. And read what they send back.

The creators winning in 2026 are going to be the most present ones.

Be present. Be a person. Show up with your voice.

That is the whole playbook now.

Was this helpful? 🧡

If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow Substack writer who’s trying to grow their audience. Or leave a comment. We all grow together.

Leave a comment

P.S. - New to Substack? Check out my resources to get started.

I felt sick. I had spent 20 minutes that morning following a "viral Notes formula" I had pulled from a file. The Note was technically good. It had a strong hook, a clear payoff, and a CTA. It also had zero of me in it. If you covered my name and profile picture, nobody could have told it apart from any other growth-focused writer on the platform.

That was the moment I realized something had shifted on Substack in 2026, and most of us are still playing the 2024 game.

Quick pause. If you’re reading this and feeling a little exposed, you’re in the right place. Come hang out with 13,000 writers who are figuring this out in public, together.

Become a member

Tactics are now commoditized

Think about what's actually available to every writer right now. Notes templates. Headline formulas. Subject line generators. AI tools that will write your draft (in another person’s voice (!)), schedule your posts, and even reply to your DMs. There are at least 40 free swipe files floating around. There are paid courses teaching the exact same 5 hooks. There are agents that will scrape top-performing Notes and rewrite them for you in your "voice."

Tactics used to be the thing. In 2024, knowing how to write a good Note was a real advantage. In 2026, everyone has the prompts.

So I went back and looked at the writers who actually grew in the last 6 months.

They had nothing in common tactically. Some posted daily. Some posted twice a month. Some used long Notes. Some used 2-line zingers. Some had pristine design. Some looked like they wrote everything in the Substack app on a moving train.

But every single one of them had this thing where I could read 3 sentences and know exactly who wrote it.

That's the only edge left.

The "oh, that's so you" test

I started calling it the "oh, that's so you" factor. It's the moment a reader sees your post, your Note, your headline, and before they even check the byline they think, oh, that's so Claudia. Or that's so Sarah. Or that's so whoever.

It has nothing to do with quality. It has everything to do with recognizability.

And recognizability is built from very specific, very weird, very personal ingredients that no AI tool and no template library can hand you. You have to mine them from yourself.

So here are the 5 places I started looking when I rebuilt my own.

1. A recurring format that belongs to you

Pick one thing you do on a schedule that nobody else does in quite that way. For me it's the Wednesday boost in my chat that people actually look forward to week by week. For Sarah Fay it's her honest paid-subscriber breakdowns. For Ben it's his Saturday "what flopped this week."

The format is the container. The container is what readers start to anticipate.

Quick tip: if you don't have a recurring format yet, look at your last 10 posts and find the one piece of structure that feels the most natural to you. Make that a weekly thing for 4 weeks and see what happens.

2. Words and phrases only you say

I say "we all grow together" in almost every post. I say "trust me" when I want you to believe me without proof. I say "884 subscribers" when I mean "a small but real audience." Those are mine. They're not clever. They're just consistent.

Pull up your last 5 posts and circle every phrase that feels like a verbal tic. Those tics are your fingerprint. Lean into them instead of editing them out.

3. The topics you can't stop circling back to

I keep writing about community building. I keep writing about the messy middle of growth. I keep writing about the moment a tactic stops working. I have written some version of those 3 ideas at least 30 times.

For a long time I felt embarrassed about that. I thought I was supposed to have new ideas every week. Then I realized the writers I subscribe to also keep writing about the same 3 things, and that's exactly why I subscribed.

Your obsessions are the entire point.

4. The admission only you would share

Every writer who feels recognizable has one or two admissions they keep coming back to. Mine is that my summer on Substack was horrible and I almost quit. I have written about it 8 times. New readers find it shocking. Old readers find it grounding.

The vulnerability that feels too specific to share is usually the exact thing that makes you sound like you. If it makes you slightly nervous to publish, that's a good sign.

5. What you refuse to do that everyone else does

I don't do giveaways. Not because it’s wrong. It’s just not me, and saying so out loud over and over has become part of my identity on the platform.

Make a list of 3 things you will not do, even if they work. That list is half of who you are.

The 10-minute action

Here's what I want you to do today. Open your Substack, go to Notes, and copy the last 5 Notes you posted into a doc. Strip out your name and profile picture. Send the doc to one friend who also writes online and ask them one question: "could you tell these were mine without my name on them?"

If they say yes, you have an identity. Lean harder into the things they recognized.

If they say no, you don't have a tactics problem. You have an identity problem, and no scheduler, no AI tool, and no swipe file is going to fix it. The fix is to go back to the 5 questions above and answer them honestly.

I did this in February. My friend told me my Notes sounded like everyone else's. It stung for about an hour. Then I rewrote my next 10 Notes from scratch using only my own weird recurring phrases and obsessions, and I stopped looking at any swipe file at all for 3 weeks.

My subscribers grew by 412 in that stretch. My open rate went up 6 points. More importantly, 9 different people DM'd me to say some version of "I always know it's your Note before I see your name."

That's the metric I care about now. That's the metric that's going to matter for the rest of 2026.

Was this helpful? 🧡

If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow Substack writer who’s trying to grow their audience. Or leave a comment. We all grow together.

Leave a comment

P.S. - Can you believe there are more than 13,000 of us here now? 🤯

If you are thinking about monetizing your efforts like the other 13,000 creatives, then join our Wander Wealth Community.

P.P.S. - New to Substack? Check out my resources to get started.

My "best" post, the one that brought in 484 people, had converted exactly 5 of them to paid. Five. That's a 1% paid conversion rate. My second best performer converted 1 out of 134. Less than 1%.

Meanwhile, a post I almost didn't publish, one that brought in a grand total of 9 new subscribers, had converted 8 of those 9 to paid. That's an 89% paid conversion rate.

I stared at my screen for a long time.

Seems that I've been measuring the wrong number. And if you're a Substack writer trying to monetize, there's a good chance you are too.

So I went back and looked at everything.

The numbers I've never shown anyone

I went back through my posts and split every subscriber gain into free vs. paid. The results were not what I expected.

Here are my top posts ranked by total new subscribers:

• "The Substack Rules Changed. Here's Your 2026 Playbook" brought in 479 free subscribers and 5 paid. That's a 1% paid conversion rate.

• "The Simple Homepage Trick That Doubled My Paid Subscribers" brought in 133 free and 1 paid. A 0.7% conversion rate. The irony of that title is not lost on me.

• "From 0 to 14,000 Subscribers" got 20 free and 0 paid. Zero percent. Not a single person who found me through that post decided to pay.

• "The Substack Growth Hack That's Working Right Now" pulled in 44 free and 4 paid. An 8% rate. Better, but still mostly free.

Now look at these posts. They barely moved the needle on total subscriber count. But they brought in my post paid subscribers.

Here are my highest converting posts in the last 6 months. And why that is so.

Read more

• “What’s going on?”

• “I’m not doing anything different.”

• “Why did everything just stop?”

Yeah. I hear you.

Substack changes constantly. The algorithm shifts. What worked three months ago suddenly doesn’t hit the same way. New subscribers that used to roll in from Notes or recommendations just... slow down. And if you’ve been showing up consistently, doing all the right things, and watching your growth flatline anyway, I know how frustrating that is.

I’ve been there. More than once.

But I’ve also been doing this long enough to know something most people don’t stick around to learn: the creators who push through the slow seasons are the ones who eventually break through. Every single time. The ones who quit during the stall never get to see what was on the other side.

So instead of spiraling, I’m focusing on five specific things right now. Things I can control. Things that will compound over time, even when the numbers don’t show it yet.

If you’re in the middle of a growth stall right now, I want you to know two things. First, you’re not alone. Second, you don’t have to figure this out by yourself. I write about this stuff every week. Strategies that actually work, from someone testing them in real time. If you've been thinking about going paid, just a heads up, prices go up next week. Get in now before that happens.

Sign up now before prices go up

1. I’m Writing More, Not Less

This sounds counterintuitive when growth stalls. Your brain says, “Why bother? Nobody’s reading anyway.” But that voice is lying to you.

I normally publish once a week. Right now, I’m testing twice a week. Not because I think more posts equal more subscribers automatically, but because more content means more surface area. More chances for someone new to find you. More opportunities for Substack to recommend you.

And it’s not just the newsletter itself. I’m doubling down on Notes. I’m posting every day. Short, punchy, real things. Not polished thought leadership. Just honest observations, quick tips, things I’m actually doing.

The other thing I’m leaning into hard right now is Substack Live. If you haven’t noticed, Substack is pushing Live features like crazy. That’s not an accident. When a platform is clearly investing in a feature, you want to be early. You want to be visible there before everyone else catches on. I’ve been going live more, having real conversations, and every single time I do, I see new faces show up in my subscriber list afterward.

So if things feel slow, write more. Not less. Post more Notes. Go live. The algorithm rewards activity, and more importantly, your future readers need content to find you.

2. I’m Building a Lead Magnet That Actually Solves a Problem

I’ve been meaning to do this for months and kept pushing it off. But right now, while growth is quiet, is actually the perfect time.

A lead magnet is a free resource, something like an ebook, a checklist, a guide, a template pack, that you offer in exchange for an email signup. The key word is free. You’re giving people a reason to subscribe beyond “I write a newsletter.”

Here’s what makes a good one: it has to solve one specific problem your audience actually has. Not a vague “ultimate guide to everything.” One clear problem, one clear solution.

For me, that means creating something around Substack growth tactics. A checklist. Something someone can download and use that same day. Something so useful they’d feel silly not signing up for it.

If you’re a food writer, maybe it’s your 10 best weeknight recipes in a printable PDF. If you write about productivity, maybe it’s a morning routine template. Whatever it is, make it specific, make it valuable, and then promote it everywhere. In your Notes. In your bio. In your welcome email. Mention it on Lives.

This is the kind of thing that works even when the algorithm doesn’t.

3. I’m Using Pop-Ups and Timed Offers Strategically

I know, I know. Pop-ups feel annoying. But they work. The data is clear on this.

If you have a website or even just your Substack page, you can use timed pop-ups to catch people before they leave. Offer them something. Your lead magnet. A discount on your paid plan. Exclusive content they can’t get otherwise.

The timing matters. Don’t hit someone with a pop-up the second they land on your page. Give them 30 seconds. Let them read a little. Or set it to trigger when they move their cursor toward the close button. That exit-intent moment is when you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I’ve been experimenting with this and honestly, even small tweaks to when and how I ask for signups have made a noticeable difference. It’s not glamorous work. But it’s effective.

4. I’m Hosting Free Workshops

This one takes more effort, but it pays off in ways that go beyond subscriber numbers.

Hosting a free webinar or workshop on a topic your audience cares about does a few things at once. It builds trust because people get to experience your knowledge live, in real time. It builds your email list because you require registration. And it positions you as someone worth following long-term.

I’ve done workshops before and every single one led to a bump in subscribers. Not massive. But consistent. And the people who come to a live workshop are way more engaged than someone who randomly stumbled across a Note.

Pick a topic you could talk about for 30 to 45 minutes without notes. Something your audience keeps asking about. Promote it for a week. Make registration free but required. Show up, deliver real value, and watch what happens.

Even 15 people on a live workshop is 15 people who now know you, trust you, and are way more likely to open every email you send.

5. I’m Bringing People In From Outside Substack

This is the one I’ve been neglecting. And I think it’s going to matter more and more.

Think about it from Substack’s perspective. They’re building a platform. They want it to grow. If you’re a creator who only circulates within the Substack ecosystem, you’re valuable, sure. But if you’re a creator who actually brings new people onto the platform from the outside, e.g. from Google, from social media, from your own website - that’s a different level of value to them.

I have a feeling, and it’s getting stronger, that Substack’s algorithm will increasingly reward creators who drive external traffic in. It just makes sense. You’re not just growing your newsletter. You’re growing their platform.

So I’m starting to take this seriously. Sharing my posts on LinkedIn. Mentioning my Substack in other communities. Making sure my SEO is working so people find my articles through Google. Creating content on other platforms that funnels back to my newsletter.

I haven’t been great at this. I’ll be honest. I’ve been very Substack-focused, which felt efficient but now feels limiting. If the internal discovery engine is slowing down, the answer isn’t to wait for it to speed back up. The answer is to build your own roads in.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Slow growth periods suck. You start questioning everything. You wonder if you picked the wrong niche, the wrong platform, the wrong time to start.

But I’ve watched this cycle play out over and over again. The creators who survive the stall are the ones who kept writing, kept experimenting, kept showing up even when the numbers said don’t bother.

Most people give up right before things start to work. I’ve seen it happen so many times it almost feels predictable. Someone writes consistently for 4 months, growth slows in month 5, and they disappear by month 6. Meanwhile, the person who pushed through month 5 and 6 hits a breakthrough in month 7 that the quitter will never see.

Don’t be the person who stops at month 5.

The platform will keep changing. The algorithm will keep shifting. Your growth will speed up and slow down and speed up again. That’s normal. That’s how every platform works.

What you can control is showing up. Writing. Trying new things. Building systems that work even when the algorithm doesn’t.

That’s what I’m doing. And I really hope you’ll do it with me.

Was this helpful? 🧡

If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow Substack writer who’s trying to grow their audience. Or leave a comment. We all grow together.

Leave a comment

P.S. - Can you believe there are more than 13,000 of us here now? 🤯

If you are thinking about monetizing your efforts like the other 13,000 creatives, then join our Wander Wealth Community.

P.P.S. - New to Substack? Check out my resources to get started.

I read it three times.

Because honestly, I should have written this post first.

I started my Substack chat on September 18, 2024. Four months into my journey. My first message was almost apologetic:

21 people replied that day.

That was 18 months ago. Today, my chat is the most active space in my entire newsletter. More active than my comment sections. More active than my emails. My community shows up every Wednesday like clockwork. New subscribers find readers for their own newsletters there. Paid subscribers use it to get direct feedback they can’t find anywhere else.

And I almost didn’t start it until my first year was over.

If you haven’t launched your chat yet, I want you to do it today. Not next week. Today. Here’s the full system I use, the types of prompts that actually work, and the exact templates I come back to every single week.

Why Chat Is Different From Everything Else on Substack

Posts get read and forgotten. Notes get engagement for 24-48 hours.

Chats live. And they help you to be discovered as they are promoted by Substack on people’s home feeds.

It’s the only place on Substack where conversations stack on top of each other, where your readers can talk to each other — not just to you — and where something a subscriber wrote three weeks ago is still visible to someone who joined today.

Chat is one of the most powerful conversion tools on Substack. Not because you’re locking people out. Because you’re showing them what they could have.

I didn’t understand this on day one. It took months of experimenting to build a chat that people actually show up for. But once I did, my paid conversion rate climbed in a way I couldn’t fully explain at first until I traced it back to chat.

Three things chat does that nothing else on Substack can:

1. It shows free subscribers what belonging feels like before they pay

2. It creates a reason to open your newsletter every week beyond your posts

3. It turns your newsletter into a community, which is much harder to unsubscribe from than a content feed

The rest of this post is for paid subscribers. You’ll get my 5 chat formulas, 15 fill-in templates, and the exact 45-minute weekly system I use to keep my chat active without it taking over my life.

The 5 Types of Chat That Actually Work

Read more

Writing on Substack and feeling invisible?

I know that feeling all too well. But I spent 2 years figuring out exactly how to fix that. Every pivot, every algorithm change, every shift in how Notes, recommendations, and the network actually work.

If you don't want to figure it out alone, join me.

Let's build this together

Since May 2024, I’ve posted 3 to 5 Notes every single day. That’s roughly 2,000 Notes in 22 months.😱

Some of those Notes brought in more than 200 subscribers in a day. Some got 3 likes and disappeared. Most landed somewhere in the boring middle.

2,000 Notes is a lot of data. So I finally did something I should have done months ago. I pulled up my analytics, sorted A LOT of Notes by engagement, and tagged the top 50 by format, by length, by opening line, by closer.

Six patterns emerged. Not five. Not ten. Six.

Every single one of my top 50 Notes fit neatly into one of six formulas. The ones that flopped didn’t follow any of them. 2,000 Notes, and the answer was hiding in 6 structures the entire time.

So I turned those six formulas into 30 fill-in-the-blank templates. Five per formula. Each one ready to customize and post in under 2 minutes. No AI needed. No existing article to repurpose. Just fill in the blanks and hit publish.

Today, I’ll share with you my learnings and my templates.

Ready to grow with Notes?

The 6 Formulas Behind My Best Notes

Before I hand you the templates, you need to understand what makes each formula work. Because the templates aren't magic. They're shortcuts to structures your audience already responds to.

Here's what my data showed:

Read more

One that I wrote in November last year. 😮⬇️

I wasn’t expecting that at all. It was a post about homepage tricks, how I doubled my paid subscribers by changing three things on my Substack. The response blew up. DMs, comments, reposts. People were screenshotting their own homepages and asking me what to fix.

And it hit me: design is the thing nobody talks about on Substack. Well, or at least it’s not talked about enough.

Everyone’s focused on growth hacks and Notes strategy (including me - guilty here), but your homepage is doing heavy lifting in the background and most of you don’t even know it can be optimized.

Why it matters?

Visitors decide within 0.05 seconds whether your page feels credible. That’s not a typo. Fifty milliseconds. And 38% of people will leave if your page looks unattractive. Your words could be brilliant, but if your Substack looks like a default template with a blurry profile photo, people bounce before they ever read a sentence.

Today I’m sharing 5 easy design fixes that will help you grow and build credibility. Practical changes you can make today.

Let’s dive in.

Would you like your writing to become your main income?

I help writers grow an audience, build community, and earn from their words. Escaping the 9-5 grind, step by step. I’ve done it and so can you. ✨

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Part 1: Your Publication Design

Your publication is your newsletter’s homepage. It’s the storefront. And most writers leave it looking like a default template with zero personality.

1. Set a Theme That Feels Like You

This is the single biggest visual upgrade you can make, and I suggest doing it early on. Head to Dashboard > Settings > Website > Theme Editor and click Edit.

Under Branding, you can update your logo and wordmark, but the real impact comes from colors and fonts. Substack lets you customize your button colors, background, and typography and you can preview changes across your Homepage, Welcome Page, and Posts in real time.

Here’s what I did:

1. I wrote down my values and the feeling I wanted readers to have.

2. I asked ChatGPT for color recommendations that matched those values.

3. I searched “green color palettes 2026 trend” on Google and did a Pinterest deep dive for extra inspo.

4. I played around with fonts and my publication name in Canva until something clicked.

That’s it. No branding agency. No design school. Just intention plus a few free tools.

Once you have your palette, apply it everywhere: button colors in the Theme Editor, header images, your logo. Consistency builds trust, even subconsciously.

Quick tip: Keep your wordmark simple. It displays small on most screens, so intricate designs just look messy.

2. Pick a Layout That Works

Still under the Theme Editor, click over to the Homepage tab to check out the Intro and Body styles. This is where you choose how your posts are displayed.

Substack gives you several layout options. I personally like a “Newspaper” style with a list on the side, but play around to see what fits your vibe. Some writers prefer a grid, others a simple list. There’s no wrong answer, but there is a wrong answer, and it’s leaving it on whatever Substack defaulted to.

The layout you pick changes how people browse your content. A grid makes your images pop. A list feels clean and editorial. A magazine-style layout makes it feel like a real publication. Think about what matches your content type.

3. Organize Your Sections

Sections are how you organize your content into categories that show up as menu tabs on your homepage. They turn your Substack from a reverse-chronological blog into something that actually feels like a publication.

Think of it this way: if someone lands on your page and all they see is a wall of posts in random order, they have no idea what to expect. Sections give them a map.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Keep it to 3-5 sections max. Too many and it gets overwhelming.

• Name them clearly. “Growth Tips” is better than “The Vault.” Your reader should know what’s inside without clicking.

• Pin your best-performing post in each section. This is your storefront display, put your best work up front.

You can set up sections in Dashboard > Settings > Sections. Each section can have its own layout and style, which makes your homepage feel intentional rather than accidental.

And here’s a bonus most people miss: if you’ve set up sections, you can style them separately with unique layouts and fonts. So your “Tutorials” section can look different from your “Personal Stories” section. That level of detail makes your publication feel polished.

4. Create Consistent Post Thumbnails

This one’s subtle but it matters. When someone scrolls your homepage, the visual pattern of your post thumbnails tells a story. If every image is a different style — some photos, some AI art, some text-only, some with clashing colors — it feels chaotic.

Pick a template for your header images and stick to it. I use the same color palette, the same illustration style, and the same font treatment across all my posts. It took me a while to get there, but once I did, my homepage looked like it belonged to one person.

Here’s my approach:

• Use your brand colors. Every header image should feel like it belongs on your homepage.

• Pick one style and repeat it. Hand-drawn illustrations, clean typography, photography… Whatever you choose, be consistent.

• Center your text. Headlines and visuals should sit within the center 1200x630 safe zone so they look good in previews everywhere. I’m still working on this one to always be a fit…

Part 2: Your Profile Design

Here’s where it gets interesting. Most writers don’t realize their profile and their publication are two completely different things.

Your publication is your newsletter’s homepage. Your profile is *you* — the writer behind it.

5. Add a Profile Header Image

Substack lets you add a header image to your personal profile. This is the banner that sits behind your name when someone visits your profile page.

This matters more than you think. When someone discovers you through Notes, a comment, or a recommendation, they don’t land on your publication first. They land on your profile. And if it’s just a tiny avatar with no header and a two-word bio, it feels... empty. Like you’re not really here.

Here’s what to do:

• Add a header image that matches your brand. Use your color palette, a lifestyle shot, or a custom illustration. It immediately makes your profile feel intentional instead of abandoned.

• Write a real bio. Not just “Writer.” Tell people what you write about, who it’s for, and why you’re the person to read. Think of it as a mini version of your publication description.

• Link to your publication or any other page you’d like attention on. Make sure the path from your profile to your newsletter is obvious. You’d be surprised how many people have a great profile but no clear link to their actual content.

Profile vs. Publication — Know the Difference

Let me make this crystal clear because I get this question constantly:

| Your Profile | Your Publication|

What it is

| Your personal writer page | Your newsletter’s homepage |

Who sees it

| People who find you via Notes, comments, recommendations | People who click your newsletter link directly |

What to customize

| Header image, bio, profile picture | Theme, layout, sections, branding |

Where to edit

| Click your profile picture > Edit profile | Dashboard > Settings > Website |

Both need to look good. Both need to feel like you. And they need to feel connected somehow. Same colors, same energy, same vibe. When someone goes from your profile to your publication, it should feel seamless, not like they landed on a different person’s page.

The Takeaway

Open two tabs right now. One with your Substack profile, one with your publication homepage. Look at them side by side.

Do they feel like they belong to the same person? Do they look intentional? Or do they look like you set them up once and never came back?

Pick one thing from this article and fix it today. Set your theme. Organize your sections. Add that profile header. The smallest change shifts how people perceive you and whether they hit subscribe.

Don’t Want to Do This Yourself?

I get it. After that viral post, my DMs were full of writers saying: “This is great, but can you just do it for me?”

So I’m making that possible.

➡️ I’m now offering a done-for-you Substack Design Service.

I’ll set up your entire Substack, publication theme, layout, sections, branding, profile design, the whole thing, for a monthly flat fee.

If you’re interested, DM me.

We’ll look at your Substack together and I’ll tell you exactly what I’d change.

Was this helpful? 🧡

If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow Substack writer who’s trying to grow their audience. We all grow together.

Share

P.S. - Have you joined our FREE community chat yet? We’re supporting each other through all these changes.

New to Substack? Check out my resources to get started.

You wouldn’t believe how proud and happy this made me.

Within 1.5 years on Substack, I created a space where people like to connect, be inspired, share their fails and wins and literally just be human. And on top of it, it’s apparently something that people look forward to every week.

Every week thousands of people show up to be part of my community.

But this was not an overnight success. It took dedication, trial and error and a lot of time to figure out how to build a community here on Substack.

Ready to find out?

Wait a second: Would you like your writing to become your main income?

I help writers grow an audience, build community, and earn from their words. Escaping the 9-5 grind, step by step. I’ve done it and so can you. ✨

I'd like to earn from my words

The Moment I Realized Subscribers Aren’t Enough

When I hit 1,000 subscribers, I thought I’d feel different. More successful. More secure.

I didn’t.

Because I’d look at my open rates and think, “These are just numbers.” I had no idea who these people were. What they struggled with. What they actually needed from me.

So I did something uncomfortable. I started a weekly chat. Just me, showing up live, asking people what they were working on.

The first one had 6 people. I won’t lie, it felt awkward. But those 6 people talked to each other. They exchanged tips. One person helped another solve a problem I couldn’t have solved myself.

By month three, I had regulars. People who wouldn’t miss it. People who told me the chat was the reason they stayed subscribed.

That’s when it clicked: I wasn’t building an audience. I was building a community. And community is what keeps people around when the algorithm doesn’t show them your posts.

Why Community Is the 2026 Differentiator

AI is already flooding the internet with content. You know this. I know this.

The creators who win in the next five years won’t be the ones who post the most. They’ll be the ones who make people feel something. Who create spaces where readers become participants.

Here’s what I’ve noticed:

• Readers remember how you made them feel. Not your SEO-optimized headline. Not your perfectly crafted hook. They remember when you replied to their comment. When you mentioned their name in a chat. When you made them feel seen.

• Community compounds. Every genuine connection creates more connections. Someone meets a collaborator in your chat, and they both talk about you to their audiences.

• Community converts. When I launched my first paid workshop, I didn’t need a hard sell. I just told my community what I was building. 40% of the spots filled in the first hour. They were people who already trusted me because we’d been in the same (virtual) room together.

How I Built Community on Substack (The Real Process)

I’m not going to pretend this happened overnight. Here’s what actually worked:

• Step 1: I replied to every single comment. Not “Thanks!”, real replies. I asked follow-up questions. I remembered details people shared. This took time, but it set the tone: this is a two-way conversation.

• Step 2: I started asking questions in my posts. Not rhetorical ones, real questions I wanted answers to. Polls became my secret weapon. When people vote, they feel invested.

• Step 3: I went live. Scary? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. There’s something about showing up in real-time that builds trust faster than a hundred perfectly written posts.

• Step 4: I created rituals. Weekly chats. Monthly challenges. Things people could anticipate and plan for. Consistency isn’t just about publishing, it’s about showing up in the same spaces, at the same times, so people know where to find you.

• Step 5: I let the community lead. The best conversations in my chats aren’t started by me. I create the space, then I step back. My job is to facilitate, not to dominate.

Turning Community Into Business

Let’s talk about the part nobody wants to say out loud: you can monetize community without being sleazy.

Here’s how I think about it:

• Your community is your market research. Every chat, every comment, every DM tells you what people actually need. I don’t guess what workshops to create — my community tells me.

• Warm invitations beat cold pitches. When you’ve been showing up for people consistently, offering something paid isn’t a pitch, it’s a natural next step. “I’m hosting a workshop on this thing we’ve been talking about” lands very differently than a random sales email.

• Premium tiers are for deeper access. My paid subscribers don’t just get extra content. They get smaller rooms. More direct access. The community itself becomes the value.

The writers who struggle to monetize are usually the ones who built a list, not a community. A list is people who might open your emails. A community is people who would notice if you disappeared.

The Honest Truth

Building community is slower than growth hacking. It doesn’t have a viral moment. You won’t see hockey-stick charts.

But 18 months in, I have something better than vanity metrics: I have people who genuinely care about this space we’ve built together. People who show up not because an algorithm served them my content, but because they want to be here.

That’s not just good for business. It’s good for staying sane as a creator.

Want to go deeper? Join me tomorrow.

I’m hosting a live workshop on exactly this: How to Turn Readers Into Real Connections.

In 60 minutes, I’ll walk you through:

• The 2026 Community Shift: Why “just be consistent” no longer builds loyalty, how Substack Notes changed what community actually means, and what readers expect from creators now.

• The Community Flywheel: The simple framework I use to create repeat interaction, how to invite conversation without forcing it, and where most writers accidentally kill momentum.

• Community That Converts: Why community is your strongest sales asset, how to sell workshops and offers inside community spaces, and the difference between warm invites and awkward pitches.

• Build-Along Session: Your first community ritual, Notes prompts that spark real replies, and a low-effort engagement system you can sustain.

You’ll walk away with a clear community strategy for 2026, a repeatable framework you can apply immediately, and Notes prompts designed for connection.

• 📅 Tuesday, February 3rd at 11am ET

• 💰 $99 for free subscribers | $49 for paid members

Join the Workshop

Was this helpful? 🧡

If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow Substack writer who’s trying to grow their audience. We all grow together.

Share

P.S. - Have you joined our FREE community chat yet? We’re supporting each other through all these changes.

Can you believe there are more than 13,000 of us here now? 🤯

If you are thinking about monetizing your efforts like the other 13,000 creatives, then join our Wander Wealth Community.

Subscribe now

New to Substack? Check out my resources to get started.

And I’m about to change everything again.

Not because what I did before didn’t work. It did. But Substack isn’t the same platform it was when I started. And neither am I.

Today I’m sharing:

• How I’m positioning myself on Substack in 2026

• The shifts I’m making (and why)

• My full workshop calendar for the year

• How you can apply this to your own strategy

Let’s get into it.

Subscribe now

Before We Dive In: A Quick Share

I co-founded Cozora for creators who want to learn AI from people actually using it daily. Every week, AI experts share their screens and show exactly how they work. Live.

👉 As a paid subscriber to Wander Wealth or Level up with AI, you get 50% off.

Join Cozora here

The Moment I Knew What 2026 Would Be About

Every end of year, I sit down with my sisters to make a vision board. It’s messy, creative, and completely unanalytical. No spreadsheets. No goals. Just cutting, gluing, and letting whatever wants to come through, come through.

This year, two phrases ended up on my board:

• “Du bist die einflussreichste Stimme in deinem Leben.” (You are the most influential voice in your life.)

• “Es sind noch so viele Türen die offen stehen und ich habe keine Angst dahinter zu schauen.” (There are still so many doors open and I’m not afraid to look behind them.)

That’s my 2026 motto.

Not “optimize harder.” Not “post more.”

But to trust myself. Try things. Open doors I’ve been curious about.

I’m adapting. Changing. Doing things I genuinely believe in. Because I’m excited about them.

I haven’t felt this energized about my work in months.

Bear with me, this is not going to be the most beautiful vision board you’ve ever seen 🙈 - I’m also too impatient to make it look beautiful, maybe you can tell that I’m the youngest of three sisters.

7 Shifts I’m Making in 2026 (Steal and Adapt)

1. Things change. Adapt or get left behind.

The strategies that built my newsletter in 2024 and 2025 won’t be enough for 2026. Substack is evolving fast. Features change. The algorithm shifts. What worked six months ago might not work today.

The writers who thrive are the ones who stay curious and keep experimenting. Not the ones who find one thing that works and cling to it forever.

Steal this: Look at your last 3 months. Be honest about what’s actually working and what’s not.

2. Don’t be shy to pivot.

I’ve rebranded Level Up with AI three times now. Three times.

Is that ideal for SEO? No. Does it matter? Also no.

What matters is building something I believe in. Something that reflects where I’m headed, not where I’ve been.

If something isn’t working — a format, a topic, a positioning — change it. Your readers follow the person, not the branding.

Steal this: Look at what’s not working that you’ve been afraid to change. Then change it.

3. Make your content more human.

AI can write content now. Everyone knows it. Readers are getting better at spotting it too.

The antidote: be more human, not less.

Share stories. Real ones. The messy ones. The ones where you didn’t have it figured out. The ones that make you a little uncomfortable to publish.

I’m committing to more anecdotes, more behind-the-scenes, more “here’s what actually happened” in 2026.

Steal this: Before you publish your next post, find a real story to add. Something only you could tell.

4. Build community first.

I spent my first year chasing subscriber numbers. It worked, but I missed something important: the people behind the numbers.

In 2026, community comes first. That means showing up in my chat more. Hosting weekly boosts where we support each other. Creating space for members to connect with each other, not just with me.

Steal this: Think about how you're building connection, not just collecting emails. (Substack chat is a great start.)

5. Monetize afterwards.

This might sound backwards. Hear me out.

When you lead with “buy my thing,” people feel it. When you lead with value and connection, the sales follow.

I’m not saying don’t monetize. I’m saying build trust first. Give generously. Then invite people into paid offers that genuinely help them.

Steal this: Build trust before asking for the sale. Always.

6. Find your tribes.

Recommendations and Notes still work. But not the way most people use them.

The key is finding your tribes — other writers whose audiences overlap with yours. People who believe in what you’re building and want to grow together.

I gained thousands of subscribers from strategic cross-recommendations and genuine engagement on Notes.

Steal this: Find 5 writers you could genuinely support and collaborate with. Start there.

7. Use Substack LIVE.

I resisted video for months. Too much effort. Too far outside my comfort zone.

But my most popular piece of content last year was a Substack Live that went viral in October.

Live video sends notifications to your entire list. No algorithm involved. Substack creates clips automatically. It’s the highest-leverage growth tool on the platform right now.

In 2026, I’m going live every month with workshops and Q&As.

Steal this: Schedule one live session this month. Even 15 minutes counts.

My 2026 Focus: Two Newsletters, One Mission

Here’s how I’m structuring my work this year:

• Wander Wealth: For writers and solopreneurs who want to grow on Substack, build community, and earn from their work.

• Level Up with AI: For creators and businesses who want to use AI to amplify their expertise and package it into income.

Both newsletters support the same mission: helping you build something that’s yours.

I’ll be more present on Level Up with AI this year. It’s a big focus for me. If you’re curious about AI but haven’t subscribed yet, now’s the time.

Subscribe to Level up with AI here

What You Get as a Wander Wealth Subscriber in 2026

Free subscribers:

• Weekly newsletter every Tuesday

• Wednesday Notes Boost (grow together in the chat)

• Access to the free community chat

Paid subscribers:

Everything above, plus:

• 50% off all workshops

• Monthly Q&A Office Hours (Substack LIVE — ask me anything)

• Monday Boost (exclusive for paid members)

• Direct access to me when you’re stuck

The 2026 Workshop Calendar

Every first Tuesday of the month at 11am ET, I’m hosting a live workshop for the Wander Wealth community.

Here’s what’s coming:

→ As a paid subscriber, you’ll always get 50% off on all workshops.

Join & save 50%

I’m curious…

Let’s Build Together

2026 is the year I tackle things with curiosity, excitement and by being brave.

Building real community. Building offers that help people. Building a business that feels sustainable, not exhausting.

If that resonates with you, stick around. I’m sharing everything — the wins, the experiments, the failures.

We’re doing this together.

🧡

Was this helpful? 🧡

If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow Substack writer who’s planning their 2026 strategy. We all grow together.

Share

P.S. - Have you joined our FREE community chat yet? We’re supporting each other through all these changes.

Can you believe there are more than 12,000 of us here now? 🤯

If you are thinking about monetizing your efforts like the other 12,000 creatives, then join our Wander Wealth Community

Subscribe now

New to Substack? Check out my resources to get started.

It wasn’t bad. It was correct. That was the problem.

Here’s what I almost posted:

I’ve helped 500+ newsletter writers find their rhythm. Here’s what I learned: the difference between publishing consistently and drowning in drafts isn’t creativity. It’s having a framework so simple that writing becomes automatic. DM me ‘template’ and I’ll send you mine.

Technically true. Solid hook. Clear outcome. Call to action.

I hated it.

So I wrote this instead:

105 likes. 17 comments. Not because it was strategic. Because it was true.

Subscribe now

The mental shift that changed everything

I used to write Notes to grow. Every post was a tiny campaign. Hook, value, CTA. Rinse, repeat, hope the algorithm noticed.

It worked, sort of. Numbers moved. But I started dreading the app.

Then I tried something different. I stopped writing to “my audience” and started writing to one person — usually someone I’d just talked to in DMs, or a version of myself from six months ago who needed to hear something specific.

The irony is almost annoying: writing to one person is what actually grows you. Because one person recognizes themselves in it. Then another. Then it spreads not because it’s optimized, but because it’s specific.

The tells that make a Note feel like marketing

You know the feeling when you see a Note and your brain just... skips it? Before you’ve even finished reading?

That’s your bullshit detector working perfectly. Here’s what it’s catching:

#1 Opening with a hook that sounds like a headline.

• “Want to 10x your growth?”

• “The one thing every successful writer knows.”

• “Stop making this mistake.”

These aren’t great conversation starters. Better, share a moment:

#2 Ending with a CTA every single time.

• “Subscribe for more.”

• “Comment below.”

• “Share this with a friend who needs it.”

One of these occasionally? Fine. Every post? You’re training people to tune out your last line.

#3 Making yourself the success story instead of the mess.

“I did X and now I have Y results” centers you as the aspirational figure. But connection happens in the struggle, not the summit. The mess is more interesting than the medal. Again doing these every now and then is also totally fine. But people are usually more interested in the messy middle.

#4 Generic wisdom vs. specific moments.

• “Consistency is key” is a poster on a middle school wall.

• “I posted every day for three weeks and felt nothing, then one random Tuesday a stranger emailed me crying about something I barely remembered writing” — that’s a story.

My Learnings from Notes

Notes that convert are trying to get something from people.

Notes that connect are trying to give something to people.

The twist is that connecting converts better than converting ever did. But you can’t fake it. You can’t write a “connection-style” Note with conversion goals in your heart and expect it to land. People can feel the difference. I can feel it when I’m writing it.

So now, before I post anything, I ask one final question:

Am I writing this because I want something from them? Or because I have something for them?

The answer usually tells me whether to post or delete.

By the way, I’m teaching exactly this.

How to write Notes that actually connect. The story formula I now use every time. And how I pivoted from a summer where I grew basically nothing to finally seeing real momentum again.

I’ll also break down what’s been bringing me paid subscribers directly through Notes.

I’m running one final workshop before the new year:

📅 Friday, December 19th
🕚 11am ET
⏱️ 60 minutes live
💻 Online (replay included)

Early bird pricing is still open, but not for long.

If your Notes have been flopping and you’re tired of guessing what works, this is your session.

Grab your spot here

P.S.: Want to see what’s actually working? I put together my top 10 Substack Notes from Q4 2025. The ones that got the most engagement, brought in subscribers, and converted to paid. Study the patterns. Steal what works.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hvXKp7ltBawPkbX_NtU1HYhUd8I4vpj85XYs1IEcX1Y/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ykrrj9jo319j

Along the way, I tested almost everything. Some strategies worked beautifully. Others flopped. And a few surprised me completely including the ones that are working right now in late 2025.

Something I learned the hard way this year: Substack is not the same platform it was when I started. The algorithm has shifted. The features have expanded. The competition has intensified. And the writers who keep doing what worked in 2024 and 2025 are going to wonder why their growth stalled.

2026 requires a new playbook.

Today I’m sharing:

• 5 shifts reshaping how growth works on Substack now

• What’s actually driving subscribers right now (it’s not what you think)

• The simple changes you can make this week to stay ahead

Let’s dive in.

Subscribe now

Before We Dive In: A Quick Share

I co-founded Cozora for people who want AI to support their work, not take it over. At Cozora you’ll get weekly live sessions where expert creators share their screens and show you exactly what they do, step by step, every Thursday.

As a paid subscribe to Wander Wealth or Level up with AI, you get 50% off.

Join Cozora here

The Moment I Realized Everything Had Changed

It was a Tuesday morning in October, when I almost gave up on Substack. I’d just published what I thought was a solid Note, something I’d spent 20 minutes writing.

12 likes. 2 comments. 1 new subscriber.

Meanwhile, I watched a creator with 200 subscribers post a simple photo of their morning coffee with a three-sentence caption about their writing process. It got 400 likes and dozens of comments.

That’s when I started digging. I spent weeks analyzing what was actually getting traction. I read everything Substack published about their algorithm. I tracked patterns across hundreds of Notes.

And I discovered that Substack had quietly rebuilt how content gets distributed. The old rules (post weekly, stay consistent in Notes, engage in comments) weren’t wrong. They were just incomplete.

The 2026 playbook requires something different.

The 5 Shifts Defining Growth in 2026

Shift #1: The Algorithm Now Favors the Unknown

Here’s what changed: Substack’s Notes feed used to prioritize content from people you followed or recently interacted with. That made sense, it helped you stay connected to your community.

But now: the majority of what appears in a typical feed comes from creators the reader has never followed.

This is a gift for smaller creators. Your Notes can now reach completely new audiences without you doing anything extra. The algorithm is actively spreading discovery around.

What to do:

• Post Notes consistently (3-5x per day)

• Make each Note easy to engage with: tell stories, make people feel something

• Don’t worry about “bothering” your existing followers, they might not even see it

Shift #2: Visual Content Is No Longer Optional

I resisted this for months. I’m a writer. I write words. That’s what I do.

But the data doesn’t lie. One in three Notes now includes photos or videos, and that ratio keeps climbing. Substack has redesigned their media tab into a scrollable feed that makes visual content easier to discover.

This doesn’t mean you need to become a photographer. It means your words need companions.

What to do:

• Add a photo to your Notes (your desk, your coffee, your notebook—anything real)

• Screenshot your own posts and share them with context

• Experiment with short video clips—Substack auto-generates clips from livestreams, use them

Shift #3: Live Video Is the New Growth Engine

When Substack opened livestreaming to everyone in January 2025, I was skeptical. Another feature to learn? Another thing to add to my already-full plate?

But the numbers are undeniable. Going live sends email notifications to your entire subscriber base—no algorithm involved. Substack automatically creates highlight clips and shares them to your feed. If you connect your YouTube account, your best clips get uploaded to Shorts automatically.

What to do:

• Schedule your first livestream this month (even a 15-minute Q&A counts)

• Invite a guest—collaborations double your reach instantly

Some proof: my most popular post is now a Substack Live, that started going viral end of October. ⬇️

Shift #4: Human Touchpoints Beat Automated Everything

As AI tools get better at generating content, something interesting is happening: readers are craving the opposite. They want to know there’s a real person behind the words.

The top creators I’ve studied are leaning into this hard. They’re hosting mastermind sessions for their paid subscribers. They’re doing surprise live Q&As. They’re sending personalized welcome messages to new subscribers.

People want you, not a bot.

What to do:

• Plan one human-centric touchpoint this month (a live session, a personal email, a subscriber chat)

• Reply to every comment on your posts—especially the early ones

• Share behind-the-scenes moments that AI couldn’t fake

Shift #5: Diversified Income Is Now Essential

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: free-to-paid conversion rates on Substack are typically 2-3%. That means if you have 1,000 subscribers, you might convert 20-30 to paid.

Paid subscriptions are wonderful, but they can’t be your only monetization strategy. The creators who are thriving in 2026 have multiple income streams: courses, coaching, digital products, affiliate partnerships, sponsorships.

Substack is your audience-building engine. What you sell doesn’t have to live there.

What to do:

• Map your current monetization (paid subs only? time to expand)

• Identify one additional income stream to test in Q1 2026

• Think: what problem do I solve that people would pay more to solve faster?

Your One Move This Week

I know this is a lot. Five shifts. Dozens of tactics. It can feel overwhelming.

So here’s my challenge: pick ONE shift and take ONE action on it in the next 7 days.

Maybe you:

• Post a Note with a photo tomorrow

• Schedule a 15-minute livestream for next week

• Send a personal DM to three engaged subscribers

Small actions compound. And the writers who start adapting now will be miles ahead by this time next year.

I’m Curious...

Was this helpful? 🧡

If you found this helpful, please share it with a fellow Substack writer who’s planning their 2026 strategy. We all grow together.

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I spent three hours picking the perfect color palette. Sage green and steel blue. Very pretty. I tweaked my logo seventeen times. Changed my fonts. Made everything match.

Then I checked my stats.

2% conversion rate.

Two percent of people who landed on my homepage actually subscribed. The other 98% took one look at my beautiful, perfectly designed page and left.

Pretty doesn’t pay bills.

All that advice about first impressions and color palettes is not wrong. It’s just incomplete.

Your homepage can look amazing and still fail at the one job it actually has: getting people to subscribe.

Today I’m showing you the 3 things that actually make homepages convert. Not the design stuff everyone talks about. The conversion elements most people completely ignore.

Here’s what’s coming:

• The description mistake that kills 90% of homepages

• The grey bar feature you’re not using (but should be)

• The 20-minute fix that changed everything

Let’s go.

Before We Start: Some Quick Wins

Here are a few resources that might help while you’re fixing your homepage:

The Welcome Email Formula That Converts 30% of Free Subscribers - Because what happens AFTER someone subscribes matters just as much

How and when to turn on paid subscriptions - Make your life easier by knowing when and how to go paid

How to grow on Substack in November 2025 - Because we all want to be read and grow our audiences

Now, let’s fix your homepage.

The Pretty Homepage Trap

I made my homepage “beautiful” and nobody subscribed.

That’s the sentence I kept repeating to myself while staring at my analytics. I’d followed all the design advice. I had the stats memorized:

• “Users decide in 0.05 seconds if a site is credible.”

• “48% of people say design builds trust.”

I designed for trust. I designed for credibility. I designed for all the things the statistics told me to design for.

And it didn’t work.

So I started pivoting. I stopped asking “Does this look good?” and started asking “Does this make someone subscribe?”

Those are two completely different questions.

The first one gets you a pretty homepage that nobody converts on. The second one gets you a homepage that actually works.

My conversion rate before: 2%. After fixing these 3 things: 8%. Same traffic. Same content. Different homepage strategy.

Let me show you what was broken.

The 3 Conversion Killers (What’s Actually Broken on Your Homepage)

Killer #1: Your Description Doesn’t Promise Anything

I used to have this as my description: “I write about newsletters, AI, and creative entrepreneurship.”

Sounds nice, right? Professional. Clean. Broad enough to cover everything I write about.

Also completely useless.

Someone lands on my page. They read that description. And they think: “Cool. So what?”

What do they GET? What changes for them if they subscribe? What problem do I solve? When do I show up in their inbox?

None of that was answered.

Here’s what I changed it to: “Get one proven newsletter growth strategy every week to turn your Substack into sustainable income.”

Same me. Same content. But now someone reading it knows EXACTLY what they’re signing up for.

The test: Can someone read your description and know what they get? Not what you write about. What they GET.

Most homepage descriptions fail this test. They’re about the writer, not the reader.

• “I’m a writer exploring themes of identity and belonging.” Great. What do I get if I subscribe?

• “I share travel stories from 40+ countries.” Okay. But what happens when I hit subscribe?

• “Weekly essays on building a creative life.” How often? What kind of essays? What will change for me?

Your description needs to answer three questions in one sentence:

1. What will I get?

2. How often?

3. What outcome?

That’s it. Clear promise. Clear frequency. Clear outcome.

If your description doesn’t answer all three, rewrite it right now. This one change might be the only fix your homepage needs

Here is mine as a reference:

Killer #2: You’re Not Using Those Grey Bar CTAs

This is the homepage element almost nobody uses.

Go to my Substack homepage right now. Scroll down. See those grey background sections with text?

Those are advanced layout CTAs. And they’re conversion gold.

Here’s why: They show different messages to different people.

Free subscribers see one message. Paid subscribers see a different message. Non-subscribers see something else entirely.

Most people either don’t know this feature exists or they set it up once with generic text and forget about it.

Here’s how to access them:

1. Go to your dashboard > settings > website > open “Got to website theme editor”

2. Go to Homepage > Advanced Layout > Subscribe

I use them strategically and with different messages for different users.

Same homepage. Different messages. Targeted to where people actually are.

Set these up right now.

Here’s exactly how:

1. Go to Dashboard → Settings → Website → “Go to website theme editor”

2. Click on “Homepage” tab at the top

3. Scroll to “Advanced Layouts”

4. Click on “Subscribers”

Now write two versions:

• For non-subscribers/free readers: Focus on value and community. What do they get? Why should they care? Make it specific.

  • Example: “Get weekly growth strategies, AI tools, and conversion frameworks that actually work.”

• For paid subscribers: Focus on resources and exclusivity. They already paid, remind them what they have access to.

  • Example: “Your paid membership includes: Full course library, live Thursday sessions, all templates, and priority support in our chat.”

This took me 15 minutes to set up. It’s one of the highest-leverage changes you can make to your homepage.

Killer #3: Your Welcome Page Is Wasting the Hottest Moment

Someone just clicked subscribe.

They’re literally at their most engaged moment. They said yes to you. They gave you their email. They’re paying attention.

And most welcome pages waste this moment with: “Thanks for subscribing! Check your email.”

That’s it. Opportunity gone.

Here’s what I do instead:

My welcome page has a custom skip button. Most people use the default “Skip” button. Mine says: “I don’t want to earn more from my newsletter.”

It’s cheeky. It’s specific. It reinforces exactly what they just signed up for.

Your welcome page setup:

Go to: Dashboard → Settings → scroll to “Welcome Page”

Add:

• Cover photo (use something on-brand)

• Custom skip button text (make it specific to your value prop)

This takes 5 minutes. And it’s the difference between someone subscribing and forgetting about you versus someone subscribing and immediately engaging.

The 20-Minute Homepage Conversion Fix

Okay, let’s put this together. You’re going to fix all three conversion killers right now.

Set a timer. 20 minutes. Here we go.

Minutes 1-5: Rewrite Your Description

Open a doc. Write three versions of your homepage description using this template:

“Get [specific thing] every [frequency] to [clear outcome]”

Examples:

• “Get one AI tool breakdown every Thursday to actually use AI in your creative work”

• “Get weekly storytelling frameworks to write newsletters people can’t stop reading”

• “Get proven Substack growth tactics every Tuesday to turn your newsletter into income”

Write three. Pick the clearest one. The one where someone reading it knows EXACTLY what they’re signing up for.

Go to Dashboard → Settings → Basics → Update your Publication short description right now.

Minutes 6-15: Set Up Your Grey Bar CTAs

Dashboard → Settings → Website → “Go to website theme editor” → Homepage → Advanced Layouts

Write two CTAs:

CTA 1 - For non-subscribers/free readers: What do they get? Why does it matter? What’s the community/value?

CTA 2 - For paid subscribers: What do they have access to? Where can they find it? What’s the exclusive value?

Toggle “Show different content to subscribers” and make sure each is targeted correctly.

Click “Save.”

Minutes 16-20: Fix Your Welcome Page

Dashboard → Settings → scroll to “Welcome Page”

Write your custom skip button text:

• “I don’t want to grow my newsletter”

• “I don’t want to earn from my writing”

• “I don’t want storytelling tools”

Add a cover photo if you haven’t already.

Save.

Done. 20 minutes. Your homepage is now optimized for conversion, not just looking pretty.

Was this helpful?

I’m always trying to create valuable content. It would mean a lot if you took a second and let me know if this was indeed helpful.

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P.S. If you want help applying this (plus getting feedback on your actual homepage), join my premium community. I will review your homepage, and share what’s needed to increase your conversion.

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P.P.S. - Want to see how AI can help you write 10 versions of your homepage copy in 10 minutes? Join live sessions in Cozora every Thursday.

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Last week I asked what you needed most. Templates won by a landslide. Then yesterday, I asked which template would save your sanity, and #5 (The Weekly Format) seems to be the winner.

So here we are. Template #5 it is.

The others are coming in the next few weeks.

Here’s why this specific template matters:

After helping 500+ newsletter writers find their rhythm, I’ve discovered something nobody talks about. The difference between publishing consistently and drowning in drafts isn’t creativity or inspiration. It’s not even discipline.

It’s having a framework so simple that writing becomes automatic. Like making coffee. You don’t think about it, you just do it.

Today I’m sharing the exact template that changed everything:

• The 7-section structure that writes itself

• How to adapt it for educational AND creative writing

• The 20-minute workflow that actually works

Let’s dive in.

My post from last week, got so much love and comments, I’m so grateful.
Seems it has hit a nerve. You can check it here:

The 7-Section Framework That Actually Works

Section 1: The Hook & Setup (5-7 lines total)

Start with something that makes them stop scrolling.

• For Educational Writers: Drop a truth bomb or counter-intuitive statement. “Everything you know about growing on Substack is backwards.”

• For Creative Writers: Paint a moment they can feel. “The coffee shop smelled like burnt hope and fresh starts.”

Then tell them why this matters RIGHT NOW (3-5 sentences). Don’t be cute. Be clear.

End with 3 bullets of what’s coming. Even creative writers need to set expectations.

Section 2: The Appetizer (5-7 items)

This is where you prove you’re worth their time before asking for more of it.

Educational Version:

• Links that solve real problems

• Tools they’ll actually use

• Quick wins they can implement today

Creative Version:

• Quotes that set the mood

• “If you loved X, wait till you see Y” recommendations

• Micro-stories that tease the main event

Keep descriptions to 1-2 lines. This isn’t the main course.

Section 3: The Story Bridge (3-5 paragraphs)

Here’s where most writers mess up: They think educational means boring and creative means rambling.

Wrong.

Educational Writers: Share ONE moment that teaches, for example,

• The failure that taught you everything

• The client who changed your approach

• The day you figured it out

Creative Writers: Set ONE scene that matters

• The conversation that haunts you

• An ordinary Tuesday that wasn’t

• The moment before everything changed

Both types: Make them FEEL something before you make them THINK.

Section 4: The Deep Dive

Your main event. This is why they came.

Educational Options:

A) The Framework Here’s exactly how I do it:

1. Step one (with the why)

2. Step two (with the what not to do)

3. Step three (with the outcome)

B) The Breakdown

• What everyone gets wrong

• Why it doesn’t work

• What to do instead

Creative Options:

C) The Meditation Let your mind wander with purpose. Connect dots others don’t see. Ask questions you won’t answer. Leave space for them to think.

D) The Confession The thing you’re scared to admit. The story behind the story. Why this actually matters beyond the pretty words.

Section 5: The Takeaway

Don’t leave them hanging.

Educational Version: ONE specific action they can take in the next 10 minutes:

• What to do

• Why it works

• Exactly how to start

Creative Version: ONE thought to carry with them:

• A question that changes how they see things

• An image they won’t forget

• A feeling to sit with

Section 6: The Engagement Hook

End with something that BEGS for response.

Educational Writers:

• “Quick poll: Do you write better at 5am or 11pm?”

• “What’s your biggest struggle with [topic]?”

• “Try this and tell me what happens”

Creative Writers:

• “When’s the last time you felt this?”

• “What’s your version of this story?”

• “Complete this sentence: [thematic prompt]”

Section 7: The P.S. Power Move

This is where you put everything that doesn’t fit above but still matters:

• Your paid offer

• Related posts they missed

• Personal update

• Tomorrow’s teaser

Your Mixing Magic Plan

You don’t need to follow the same structure every week. Mix things up: for example next week, I might just use these 4 sections:

• Hook (Section 1)

• Quick list (Section 2)

• One lesson (Section 4)

• P.S. (Section 7)

Boom. 400 words. 10 minutes. Published.

How to Start TODAY

1. Copy this template

2. Pick ONE section to master first

3. Set a 20-minute timer

4. Write without editing

5. Hit publish (perfection is procrastination in a fancy dress 👗)

Then do it again tomorrow. And the next week.

Is this helpful? If so, a tiny comment would help so much to know if I should create more of these 🙌.

Leave a comment

P.S. - Feeling stuck implementing this alone? Our Wander Wealth community is full of writers using this exact template right now. Share your drafts, get feedback, find your accountability buddy. It’s free and we’re all figuring it out together.

→ Join the community here

P.P.S. - Whether you hate it or love it, but the fact is - writers that use AI will outperform those who will not use it. That’s why I founded Cozora. Join me and 13 expert creators for live Thursday sessions where we build REAL AI systems together. Imagine turning this one template into 30 variations, all in your voice, in minutes.

Join Cozora (50% off as paid subscriber)

My summer on Substack was absolutely horrible.

For the first time in my Substack journey (if you ignore the first very lonely 3 months on here when I just started), I completely stopped growing, and had almost no interaction.

Every morning I would get up just to stare at the screen and see basically nothing. Maybe 1-2 subscribers per day when I was lucky. Plus, every time I would post something or send out an email, I lost subscribers.

And while I tried to be positive, preaching about just going on (which, fair to say, I did), internally I was panicking. Was that it? Was this my Substack drive for 1.5 years and now it’s over? It cannot be…

Luckily, I don’t give up easily.

So, I pivoted and changed things up.

And there is exactly 1 thing that seemed to have outperformed anything that I tried to do. Let’s get to it.

Before I forget:

Cozora starts this Thursday. It’s where me and 12 other creators teach you AI tools live (think screen-sharing, building together, getting unstuck in real-time). Paid subscribers get 50% off.

Every week, there will be a session or a live Q&A on the latest AI developments.

Join Cozora Now

Upgrade first to get the 50% discount.

Subscribe now

My only growth hack that has catapulted me out of my summer hole

Here’s some proof: My growth pretty much stalled in June and started again in October. It pretty much exploded again, as you can see. And I’m thankful to every single subscriber that follows my journey. 🧡

Okay, but now: how did I manage to grow again?

The answer might bore you to death (but stay with me because there’s a twist): Substack Notes.

But not the same old story of simply posting 2-3 Notes per day, restacking them, engaging with other Notes. No. This is what I did all summer long anyway and it didn’t bring me further.

No, I pivoted my approach to Notes as the ones I was writing did not seem to work anymore.

My Notes Pivot

But this did…My Notes now get around 150 likes on average and bring me tons of new subscribers.

And trust me when I say, this is the best source to grow on Substack. Look at this. 884 free subscribers from one Note. A new paid subscriber from another Note.

It works.

What I changed on Notes

Instead of simply sharing tips, I started writing tiny stories.

Real moments that happened to me.

Look, here’s what works: Start with the exact moment. “I checked another creator’s stats. 50,000 subscribers. I had 47.” Not “I felt discouraged.” Give me the numbers. The time. The specific thing that happened.

Then show me what you did next. “I closed my laptop and went for a walk.” Don’t tell me you were upset. Show me closing the laptop. Walking. The street musician with five people watching.

Here’s my formula: Specific moment → What you did → What you noticed → The shift → The lesson.

Like this: “Someone unsubscribed with a message: ‘Your content isn’t for me anymore.’ I spiraled. Checked my last five posts. Then I got a paid subscription: ‘I’ve been waiting for you to offer this.’ You can’t be for everyone.”

See? No “here’s what I learned about audience building.” Just: This happened. Then this. Here’s what it means.

Write it like you’re texting your friend. Short sentences. Real numbers. “47 unread DMs” not “lots of messages.” “6.30 AM” not “early morning.” The DM that said exactly: “I’ve been struggling to get out of bed lately.”

I started to tell my little stories and not simply share my learnings. People want to feel connected. They want to feel you being human.

And it changed everything.

I hope this helps you, too. If you have any question, let me know! I’m here.

Leave a comment

Can you believe there are almost 10,000 of us here now? 🤯

If you are thinking about monetizing your efforts like the other 10,000 creatives, then join our Wander Wealth Community

I'm convinced 🤩

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The responses surprised me.

It wasn’t about the type of content. It was the sheer number of people asking for the same thing.

Here are the results.

I mean, wow.

At the end of the day, we all just want to be around real people who value what we create and give us that sense of belonging.

I love that.

So today, let’s look at how you can grow on Substack while also building a community that genuinely cares. Because luckily, they can go hand in hand.

5 Ways to Grow on Substack and Build a Real Community (A 6 Month Roadmap)

Read more

These numbers how rapidly Substack is growing and evolving.

But with more writers joining every day, standing out is getting harder.

That’s why now is the time to get creative.

Luckily, I’ve got some ideas for you.

Wanting to grow on Substack or earn from your writing?

You don’t need to guess. For $8/month (annually), get direct support from me and join a community of writers who are growing and earning every week. ⬇️

Step inside

How to Stand Out With Creative Offers

Before you get fancy, you’ve got to nail the basics.

• Sell the dream, not the product. Focus on the transformation your reader gets when they subscribe.

• Make your offer crystal clear. Confusion kills conversions.

• Know exactly who you’re talking to. Speak directly to them, not everyone.

Once you’ve got these locked in, it’s time to get creative.

And there are countless ways to do that.

But today, I want to share just one idea that can take your offer from a 10 to a 100.

A Creative Way to Shine as a Creator

It all comes down to knowing your audience deeply and creating something tailored just for them.

For example, if your audience is full of writers who dream of publishing a book, why not create a curated list of:

• Small and mid-sized publishers active on Substack

• Contact info and submission guidelines

• Bonus: a short guide on how to pitch them successfully

This kind of curated asset positions you as a connector, and your subscribers will love you for it.

Here are more ways to apply this strategy:

• Audience: Aspiring Copywriters
  Create: A list of businesses and creators actively looking for copywriting help, plus a file of winning cold emails.

• Audience: Health-focused readers
  Create: A curated library of nutrition newsletters, broken down by topic (gut health, hormones, autoimmune, plant-based) with expert recommendations.

• Audience: Freelancers or Coaches
  Create: A tracker of free directories, job boards, and marketplaces to help them find clients, gigs, and speaking opportunities.

• Audience: People with a story to tell
  Create: A list of memoir-friendly publications or contests, plus a few prompts to help them get started writing their story.

I promise you, your audience will love these.

Wondering what is mine? Check this out.

The Product & Service Shelf for My Paid Subscribers

Your work deserves to be seen.

I created a shared space to showcase the digital products, offers, and creations from my paid members of my community. It's here to help us support one another and maybe even spark some fresh ideas for what you might create next.

What you can add:

• Digital products (eBooks, guides, templates)

• Coaching or consulting offers

• Workshops, courses, or cohorts

• Substack-specific tools or bonuses

• Anything you’ve created to help others and earn with your words

What you’ll find:

• A categorized, living directory organized by:

  • Topic (e.g. Writing, Mindset, Audience Growth, Business)

  • Format (Course, Coaching, PDF, Tool)

  • Price

  • Link to Offer

  • Made by (with link to their Substack)

Whether you’re looking for support, inspiration, or ways to cross-promote, this is your go-to library.

Plus, there’s a second shelf—for services people are actively looking for.

I already know paid members who are ready to hire for things like:

• Content creation on Substack

• Instagram carousel design

If you offer something like this, you can add it to the shelf and get promoted and discovered by others in the community.

Not a paid subscriber yet? Now’s the time to join and get listed.

Read more

So I looked into what other writers are doing to fight slow growth.

There are two main drivers of Substack growth for most writers here:

1. Recommendations

2. Substack Notes

At this point, I wanted to focus on what I can influence most: Substack Notes.

I also noticed that some writers have started reposting Notes from the past year that performed well. That made me want to try the same.

But since I’m posting 2–3 Notes a day, consistently, and restacking them 4 hours later, doing this manually is just not feasible.

So I wrote a script (because with ChatGPT, we’re all developers now) that pulls all my Notes with over 150 likes from the past 13 months on Substack.

And the result: Pretty neat.

Let’s get into it.

Trying to grow on Substack or earn from your writing?

You don’t need to guess. For $8/month (annually), get direct support from me and join a community of writers who are growing and earning every week. ⬇️

Step inside

What’s Actually Working for Substack Growth Right Now

As you can tell, it’s totally fine to repeat your content, even word for word.

Right now, Substack doesn’t penalize you at all for reusing the same Notes.

And in case you’re worried that your audience has already read it, I’m pretty sure you can relax. In my case, after a year of posting, most readers either haven’t seen my older Notes or don’t remember them.

The key is to write them as new Notes, not just restack them.

Doing this gives you access to a completely new group of people on Substack, many of whom might subscribe through Notes.

Ready to check my Top 15 Notes that have gotten more than 150 likes.

My Top 15 Notes

• Not everyone who loves your work will comment. Some will just read it in a quiet moment and feel a little less alone. Keep writing for them.

  • 9500 Likes

• Hey, NEW Substack writers with less than 500 subscribers:
  8 months ago, I started on Substack from zero. No other social media, no audience, just my words. Now, it’s your turn. Let’s grow together.
  Share:
  ✨ What do you write about?
  ✨ Where are you usually writing from?

  • 751 Likes

• Give people TIME to read your work.
  Don’t expect them to come running once it is online.
  Be patient and keep on writing.
  That’s your best bet.

  • 724 Likes

• Are you new on Substack?
  Let me help you out. 8 months ago, I started on Substack from scratch. No other social media, no audience, just my words.
  Now, it’s your turn. Share with us:
  What do you write about?
  A link to your publication.
  Let’s find us some new connections & readings 🚀

  • 723 Likes

• One of my best decisions in 2024?
  Starting a Substack account as a newbie to writing online and building from zero.🧡

  • 479 Likes

• If you start on Substack from 0 (like me) - with no previous following or credibility from other platforms, trust me when I say this:
  Building trust takes time.
  You have to prove yourself first before people believe in you.
  There are no shortcuts. It’s all about your work and the process.
  Trust it.

  • 451 Likes

• To all my Substack writers, let’s try something different today.
  Instead of just connecting, let’s connect by topic so you can find your tribe. ✨
  In one sentence, share what you write about. For example:
  Hi, I’m Claudia, and I write educational content to help writers grow.
  Now it's your turn ⬇️

  • 419 Likes

• Substack is the first platform where I dare to be myself.
  Dare to be active, vulnerable and real.
  On all other platforms, I’ve always only been the silent observer.
  But six months on Substack have turned my life upside down.
  I’m grateful for this space to grow as a writer and show up just as I am.
  Anyone can relate?

  • 379 Likes

• Funny how Substack attracts lots of introverts.
  It feels like I’m suddenly surrounded with people like me.
  It’s so great to be here. ✨

  • 359 Likes

• Yesterday was the first day I got more than 100 subscribers in one day.
  When I started 10 months ago, it took me 3 months to reach my first 100.
  Never give up. Show up. Write.
  And always trust the process.

  • 345 Likes

• Give people TIME to read your writing.
  I know the feeling of hitting publish and getting no engagement sucks.
  But people are busy. Give it time. They will come to read your words.
  Trust it.

  • 343 Likes

• Whether you’ve got 0 or 1,000 subscribers doesn’t matter.
  What matters is that you believe in your writing.
  We all deserve to be heard.
  Share your Substack link below. Check out others to connect to.
  Let’s grow together & make this whole journey a little less lonely.

  • 316 Likes

• Made it to 4k+ subscribers 🧡 thank you everyone for joining my journey, it means the world. Also, I know that some people HATE and some people LOVE seeing others sharing their progress. But I like to do so, because I feel it can inspire others who are on a similar path.

  • 308 Likes

• I often get asked how to "hack the system" on Substack.
  My answer usually disappoints: there is no hack.
  Show up. Be kind. Stay active.
  And write.

  • 283 Likes

• There are so many people who start on Substack with an already exported email list of like 1000+ subscribers.
  No shame in that.
  But for those of us starting at 0, let's prove we can grow our Substack from scratch too. 🌱💪

  • 279 Likes

Analysing All My Top Performing Notes

Looking at my 91 top-performing Notes (each receiving over 150 likes between May 2024 and June 2025) three key insights stood out.

1. Emotional resonance creates deep connection

The strongest-performing Notes weren’t the cleverest or the most strategic. They were the most felt. Notes that expressed empathy, vulnerability, or gentle encouragement performed far better than others.

In short: emotional connection has an impact. If your Note makes someone feel understood and seen, it will likely get shared, liked, and remembered.

2. Community-driven prompts fuel engagement and growth

Another clear pattern: the Notes that directly invited people to engage, especially newer Substack writers, consistently performed well.

Prompts like “Introduce yourself,” “What do you write about?”, or “Let’s connect by topic” work because they turn a Note into a shared space.

When people are encouraged to respond, share their link, or connect with others in the comments, engagement naturally spikes. It creates visibility for both you and your readers and helps grow your network organically.

3. Trust-building reminders offer calm and clarity

Many writers on Substack, especially those starting from zero, feel anxious about slow growth or low engagement. Some of my most appreciated Notes were the ones that gently reminded readers to trust the process.

Short Notes that say “Give people time,” “Keep showing up,” or “Growth takes patience” perform consistently well because they relieve pressure. They give people permission to be where they are and keep going anyway.

These Notes don’t promise quick results. They simply validate the experience of showing up when no one seems to notice. And that message resonates across all stages of the journey.

Summing It Up

Keep it short and human

All top-performing Notes had something in common:

• They were 20–55 words long

• They spoke directly to the reader, often using “you” or “we”

• They felt personal, encouraging, or collaborative

• They avoided clickbait and leaned into calm, authentic tone

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Final Thoughts for My Substack Writers

• Don’t be afraid to repeat what works. A well-written emotional reminder can resonate again and again.

• Invite participation: ask questions, prompt intros, build the circle.

• Share your own journey openly. People connect with honesty and humble beginnings.

• Keep it short, especially in Notes. Under 60 words tends to perform best (for me at least - I know there are other writers who write long Notes that do really well!)

• Most importantly: keep showing up. The quiet Notes, the repeated ones, and even the overlooked ones often carry more power than you realize.

If you’re stuck, look back at your own Notes that felt most true. Chances are, those are the ones others felt too.

If this was helpful, please leave a comment or restack. It really helps. 🧡

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