Struggling to Promote Yourself? Here Is How to Break Through
Nobody will just stumble upon your work. You need to take that extra step to be seen.
I started my Substack in May last year with no following and no experience. Six months later, I’m a Substack Bestseller with a fantastic community. If you’re ready to start earning from your writing in 2025, let’s make it happen together.
I’m here to help you every step of the way on your Substack journey.
Marketing is tough for writers, I know.
There are so, so many talented writers on Substack. Those that just started, those that have been writing for years, bestselling authors, and complete newbies. You can find it all.
It’s AWESOME. Everyone has a story to tell and we are here to read them.
But what differentiates the ones actually being read from the ones who aren’t comes down to one thing: proper MARKETING
They do their Substack setup right,
They use call-to-action buttons and design their posts well, and
They promote themselves through email outreach.
If you're here to write, whether it's to build a community, earn from your words, or simply have others read your posts, don’t fall into the trap of thinking people will just find you. They won’t.
That’s why today, I want to share 4 essential things I’ve learned about promoting yourself effectively.
#1 Do the basic Substack Setup
Let people understand what you have to offer as quickly as possible.
Establish a Credible Personal Bio:
This is your chance to share who you are and why you’re the right person to write about your chosen topics. Keep it brief but impactful. Mention what you do and add proof, like how you’ve helped 1,000 clients, been an online writer for five years, or generated X amount in revenue as a marketing expert.
Publication Bio:
Be specific about what your newsletter offers. How often will you send it? What topics will you cover? What value can subscribers expect? For example, you might say, “Join my Friday newsletter for one actionable tip each week on marketing your business through online activities.”
I wrote more about Substack Hacks here:
11 Tips to Skyrocket Your Substack Growth
🚀 Ready to grow your Substack? I launched a 12-email crash course sharing how I gained 500 subscribers in 3 months.
#2 Design & CTAs
When I say “design,” I mostly mean the structure of your post. Make it easy to read: avoid big blocks of text, space things out, and write clearly and simply.
I also like to add links to my Notes and polls to make posts more interactive. You can add polls by clicking on the “More” drop-down in the top bar when writing a post.
Next to it is the “Button” drop-down, where you can click “Custom” to create fun call-to-actions. Don’t just stick with “Subscribe”, mix it up.
Make it fun, make it urgent, make it desirable.
#3 Promote Yourself
Finally, your best way forward is to actively promote yourself. But do it smartly.
Tell a Story:
When selling a digital product or service, use a story structure:
Start with a hook.
Show the problem you faced.
Explain how you overcame it.
Share where you are now.
Present your product/service as the solution.
Create Urgency:
Give people a reason to act now, offer discounts, announce price increases, or set deadlines (e.g., “Last chance to sign up”).
Be Persistent:
It takes people an average of 10 emails to notice you, so don’t be shy about sending reminders. Just reframe them each time: tell a new story, share a new perspective, or highlight a different benefit.
Leverage Substack’s Email Feature:
Substack’s built-in email tool allows you to send direct emails without a post structure, which feels personal and targeted to readers. Use this to your advantage when promoting yourself. I write more about how to do this here.
Let’s Summarize
#1 Basic Substack Setup
Create a credible personal bio: Briefly share who you are, what you do, and include proof of expertise (e.g., clients, years of experience, results).
Write a clear publication bio: Explain what your newsletter offers, how often you post, and the value readers can expect.
#2 Design & CTAs
Structure your posts for readability: Avoid long blocks of text, space things out, and keep it simple.
Add interactive elements: Use Notes, polls, and links to keep readers engaged.
Use custom call-to-action buttons: Make them fun, urgent, and desirable—don’t just stick with “Subscribe.”
#3 Promote Yourself
Tell a story: Hook readers, share a problem, show how you solved it, and present your product/service as the solution.
Create urgency: Offer discounts, set deadlines, or announce price changes to encourage quick action.
Be persistent: Send multiple reminders, reframing each message with new stories or benefits.
Use Substack’s email tool: Send direct, personal-feeling emails to connect and promote effectively.
Check out my products to help you grow on Substack:
Oh and have you checked out my latest launch? I started a new publication all around how to build an online business around your newsletter.
If you found this post helpful, please comment, like, share. It really helps.
Have you joined the FREE chat yet? We support each other every step of the way.
What if you don’t have email outreach? I am new to Substack and wondering how to grow here without already having an audience elsewhere to market to.
My email has been disabled on here. I have no idea why. I think I'm still struggling with the basics and getting things set up. My last two posts haven't even shown up on any thread.