10,000 Subscribers in Less Than a Year (Giving Away My Swipe File?)
From zero subscribers to 10K in 11 months without burning out on social media (celebrating with my secret swipe file)
Holy moley. We’ve hit 10,000 subscribers.
And yes, it was about a week or so ago. But honestly I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had the time to write a proper celebration post. So here it is!
I'm sitting here thinking about how I didn’t even know this would be possible. My first Substack failed, and I scrapped it. I didn’t write for a year…
Then, I decided to give it a “go” one more time without much expectation.
Less than 10 months ago, I had zero subscribers. ZERO. I remember that gut-punch feeling of publishing my first post and watching it sit there with no one caring.
And now? 10,00+ people trust me enough to let me show up in their inbox every week.
But here's the thing that gets me: I didn't grow this newsletter the way everyone told me I had to.
You know what I mean. All the advice about building your audience first on Medium, going viral on LinkedIn, creating TikToks, being everywhere at once until you burn out.
I tried that approach. It didn’t work.
Instead, something interesting happened. When I actually looked at where my subscribers were coming from, 30-50% weren't from my LinkedIn (where I have 100K+ followers) or any external platform.
They were coming from inside Substack.
People discovering me through Notes. Writers recommending my newsletter. Readers finding me through search. The platform itself was doing the heavy lifting.
While everyone else was trying to drag people TO Substack, I was connecting with people already ON Substack. And it worked way better than anything I'd tried before.
3 Simple Things That Actually Grew My Newsletter
I get asked about growth consistently now. "How do I start when I have zero subscribers?"
Here's what actually moved the needle for me:
1. Show Up on Notes Every Single Day
This isn't about posting your latest article with "new post up!"
Post genuine insights. Ask real questions. Reply to other writers thoughtfully. I literally gain 10-20 subscribers every day just from being active and helpful on Notes. Some days much more. It's the best discovery tool Substack has.
2. Build Real Relationships with Other Writers
Don't just follow people and hope they notice you. Actually engage. Leave thoughtful comments. Share their work when it's genuinely good. Some of my biggest subscriber spikes came from other writers recommending my newsletter because we'd built an actual relationship.
3. Write Content That People Want to Share (And Google Wants to Rank)
Here's what I learned: write posts that solve real problems. Other writers will naturally mention your work. Readers will share it. And Google will start sending you organic traffic because your content actually helps people.
I checked today and my little Substack is ranking for 1200+ keywords, all around my core niche topics.
Stop writing just for your existing audience. Write for the person who's never heard of you but desperately needs what you're teaching.
PS - Scrap everything else that doesn’t work. Just find ONE thing that does work and go all in on it. Part of growth is cutting off what’s not working and draining your energy.
Let's Celebrate (And I Want to Give You My Secret Weapon)
Okay, hitting 10K is pretty surreal. But you know what would make this even better? Helping you hit your next big milestone.
I've been keeping this personal swipe file of Notes and post titles that I use whenever I'm stuck staring at a blank page. These aren't random ideas I found online—these are the exact hooks, phrases, and formats that helped me build this thing from nothing to 10K+ subscribers.
I usually keep this stuff locked away. But hitting this milestone feels like the perfect excuse to share it with people who are serious about growing.
Here's what I'm thinking:
Join my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass this week and I'll throw in my personal Substack Swipe File as a bonus. This is the same collection that's sitting in my bookmarks right now—the one I reference when I need inspiration for my next viral Note or post title.
I don’t offer this anywhere else. It’s literally mine and I’m adding to it every week. It’s a Google Doc, and you’ll have live updates to it as it happens.
Already went through the masterclass? Just drop a comment below and I'll DM you the swipe file directly. You've been part of this journey, so consider it my thank you.
This isn't some generic template pack. These are the actual titles, hooks, and Note formats I personally use when I'm stuck. The ones that helped take this newsletter from 0 to 10,000+ real subscribers who actually open and read my stuff.
If you’re ready to start growing and take your Substack seriously, you can join 100’s of writers below (and get the swipe file, too):
Seriously, thank you for being here. A year ago I was talking to myself. Now I'm talking to 10,000+ of you. That's insane and I'm grateful for every single one of you.
What Would You Like Help with Next?
Can you help me out by letting me know what you’d like to engage with here? This poll will help me write better content for you in the coming weeks. Thanks!
Loved this no-fluff breakdown. 🤌🏻 Amazing how you made it feel possible without romanticizing the hustle. 😩
Congratulations! I honor your Sacred service!
Yes I did purchase the Masterclass and works love the swipe file.