31 Ways to Grow Your Substack When You've Hit a Plateau & Feel Stuck
The counterintuitive strategies that break through growth walls (when everything you've tried stops working)
You’re staring at your Substack dashboard again.
700 subscribers. Same number as yesterday. Same number as last week. Almost the same number as three weeks ago.
Your finger hovers over the refresh button, as if clicking it one more time might magically reveal that you’ve gained 50 new subscribers overnight. But deep down, you know what you’ll see: that same stubborn number mocking me from the screen.
You know that sinking feeling when you realize your growth has completely flatlined?
We’ve ALL been there. Trust me.
That's where I was sitting about 6 months ago, questioning everything. Maybe I'd hit my ceiling. Maybe I wasn't cut out for this. Maybe those other writers had some secret I'd never figure out.
The doubt creeps in fast when you're stuck, doesn't it?
Maybe you've been there too. Maybe you're there right now.
The Plateau Problem That Nobody Talks About
Here's what nobody tells you about growing a newsletter: plateaus are inevitable.
And they're brutal.
You'll be cruising along, gaining 20-30 subscribers a week (or even per day), feeling like you've figured out the game. Then suddenly—without warning—everything stops.
Your growth flatlines. Your engagement drops. That momentum you worked so hard to build just... disappears.
I've talked to dozens of newsletter writers about this, and here's what I've learned: plateaus kill more newsletters than bad content ever will.
Why? Because plateaus mess with your head.
You start questioning everything. Is my content boring? Am I writing for the wrong audience? Should I just give up and go back to my day job?
The plateau paradox is real: you're doing everything "right"—publishing consistently, engaging with readers, following all the advice—but nothing's moving. You're working just as hard but seeing zero results.
And here's what makes it worse: while you're stuck, you're watching other writers in your space seemingly explode overnight. They're gaining hundreds of subscribers while you're celebrating getting five new people to subscribe in a week.
The comparison trap during a plateau is devastating.
Most writers quit during their first major plateau. They assume they've maxed out their potential audience, or that their content isn't good enough to grow beyond a certain point.
But here's what I wish someone had told me during my first plateau...
What if Plateaus Are Actually Breakthrough Moments in Disguise?
Here's the reframe that changed everything for me:
Plateaus aren't failures. They're data points.
They're your newsletter's way of telling you that what got you here won't get you to the next level. That the strategies that worked to get your first 1,000 subscribers might not work to get you to 5,000.
Stay with me on this...
Every successful creator I know has hit multiple plateaus. The difference between those who break through and those who quit isn't talent or luck—it's what they do when growth stops.
The breakthrough creators don't panic. They get curious.
They start asking different questions: "What are other successful writers doing that I'm not? What new strategy could I test? What would happen if I tried something completely different?"
How I Broke Through 7 Different Plateaus on My Way to 10,000 Subscribers
Let me tell you what really happened during my journey from zero to nearly 10,000 subscribers in 10 months.
I didn't grow in a straight line. Not even close.
I hit my first plateau at 1000 subscribers. Stuck there for weeks. I was frustrated, thinking I'd maxed out at only 100 people who cared about what I had to say.
Then I discovered Substack Notes. Started posting consistently. Boom—breakthrough to 3000 subscribers.
Hit another wall there. Nothing worked for a month. Then I started collaborating with other writers in my niche. Another breakthrough to 5000
Plateau again. This time I optimized my content for SEO and started using better headlines. Shot up to 6000.
Each plateau taught me something crucial: when momentum stops, you need to try something new.
I started studying what other successful writers were doing. I'd analyze their content, their promotion strategies, their community building. Then I'd pick one thing—just one—and test it consistently for a few weeks.
Not everything worked. But when something did work, I'd double down hard.
That's the pattern that took me from zero to nearly 10,000 subscribers. And that's exactly what I'm going to share with you right now.
Why Plateaus Actually Happen (And Why They're Not Personal)
Before we dive into solutions, let's talk about why plateaus happen in the first place.
It's not because your content suddenly got worse. It's not because you lost your touch.
Plateaus happen because of math and psychology:
Algorithm fatigue: Platforms get used to your content style and stop promoting it as aggressively.
Audience saturation: You've reached most of the people in your immediate network who are interested in your topic.
Content staleness: Your audience gets used to your format and style, reducing the novelty factor.
Market evolution: Your niche gets more crowded, making it harder to stand out.
This is all normal.
Understanding this takes the personal sting out of plateaus. It's not about you—it's about systems and timing.
The writers who break through understand that plateaus are simply signals to evolve. To try something new. To expand their reach or change their approach.
Sometimes all it takes is one new strategy to restart momentum completely.
31 Substack Growth Strategies to Break Through Any Plateau
Here are the exact tactics I've used—and seen other successful writers use—to break through growth walls. You don't need to try all 31. Pick one or two that resonate and test them consistently for 2-3 weeks.
Content & Writing Strategies (1-11)
1. Start writing on Substack Notes consistently (2 posts daily). Notes is Substack's most underutilized growth engine. I gain 10-30 new subscribers daily just from Notes. Share insights, ask questions, and engage authentically with other writers.
2. Write better headlines that create curiosity and urgency. Your headline determines if someone clicks. Instead of "Newsletter Growth Tips," try "The Newsletter Strategy That Gained Me 500 Subscribers This Week."
3. Use AI to brainstorm polarizing content ideas for your niche. Ask ChatGPT: "Give me 20 controversial opinions about [your niche] that would spark debate." Controversy drives engagement and shares.
4. Optimize your posts for SEO with strategic keywords. Most newsletter writers ignore SEO. Research what your audience searches for and naturally include those terms in your posts.
5. Experiment with different post formats (lists, case studies, tutorials). If you always write long-form posts, try quick lists. If you do lists, try in-depth case studies. Format changes can restart growth.
6. Write contrarian takes that challenge conventional wisdom. "Why I Deleted My 10K Newsletter and Started Over" performs better than "How to Grow Your Newsletter." Be willing to challenge norms.
7. Share more personal stories and behind-the-scenes content. People connect with humans, not content machines. Share your failures, struggles, and breakthroughs.
8. Create series content that keeps readers coming back. Weekly series like "Startup Sunday" or "Tool Tuesday" give readers a reason to anticipate your content.
9. Write shorter, punchier posts to increase completion rates. Sometimes plateaus happen because your posts are too long. Test 500-800 word posts vs. your usual length.
10. Use more strategic subheadings and formatting for readability. Scannable content gets read more. Use bold text, bullet points, and white space strategically.
11. Ask thought-provoking questions at the end of posts. Instead of "What do you think?" ask specific questions that spark genuine discussion in comments.
Community & Collaboration (12-22)
12. Reach out to writers in similar niches for cross-promotion. Find newsletters with similar audience sizes and propose content swaps. This instantly exposes you to new readers.
13. Start recommending other newsletters (some will recommend back). Substack's recommendation feature is powerful. Recommend 5 to 10 quality newsletters and many will reciprocate.
14. Join Facebook groups in your niche and engage organically. Don't spam your newsletter. Provide value first, build relationships, then mention your newsletter naturally.
15. Participate more actively in Substack Chat features. Build community directly on Substack. Host weekly discussions, answer questions, and create connection points between posts.
16. Comment meaningfully on other writers' posts. Thoughtful comments on popular posts expose you to new audiences. Make your comments valuable, not promotional.
17. Host collaborative threads on Notes. Create Notes asking others to share their expertise. These threads often go viral and introduce you to new followers.
18. Guest write for other newsletters. Reach out to writers in complementary niches and offer to write a guest post. Include a brief bio linking to your newsletter.
19. Invite guest writers to your newsletter. Guest posts bring their audience to you while giving your readers fresh perspectives.
20. Join or create a writer accountability group. Connect with other newsletter writers for mutual support, idea sharing, and cross-promotion opportunities.
21. Attend virtual or in-person writing events. Network with other creators. Many of my best growth opportunities came from connections made at events.
22. Start a podcast interviewing other newsletter writers (or whatever makes sense for your niche). This builds relationships while creating content. Your guests will share the episode with their audiences.
Growth & Promotion (23-31)
23. Share your Substack consistently on social media (LinkedIn, etc.) with native posts. Don't just share links. Write native LinkedIn posts that provide value and mention your newsletter naturally. Optimize your profile linking to Substack.
24. Use Substack tags more strategically to get discovered. Research which tags successful writers in your niche use. Tags help new readers find your content through Substack's discovery features.
25. Create and give away a valuable free lead magnet. Offer a PDF guide, template, or mini-course that solves a specific problem. This builds trust and showcases your expertise.
26. Launch a simple $20-30 digital product to identify engaged subscribers. Low-priced products help you identify your most committed readers while generating revenue and proving market demand.
27. Send polls asking your audience what they want to read. Let your subscribers guide your content strategy. They'll tell you exactly what they need help with.
28. Take a course or class for fresh perspectives and ideas. New learning sparks new content ideas. Invest in yourself to break through creative plateaus.
29. Repurpose your best content across other platforms. Turn your newsletters into Twitter threads, LinkedIn posts, and YouTube videos to reach new audiences.
30. Start an email welcome sequence that showcases your best work. Most new subscribers see only your latest post. Create a welcome sequence that highlights your greatest hits. Also be sure to optimize your Substack Welcome Email. It always surprises me how many people haven’t done this…)
31. Run a subscriber referral contest with prizes. Incentivize your current subscribers to share your newsletter. Offer valuable prizes that your audience actually wants.
The Plateau is Temporary (If You Take Action)
I know how discouraging plateaus feel. Trust me, I've been there more times than I can count.
You start questioning everything about your content, your strategy, your ability to grow. You watch other writers seemingly effortlessly gain hundreds of subscribers while you're stuck celebrating five new people joining your list.
But here's what I learned after breaking through seven different plateaus: this is completely normal.
Every successful newsletter writer hits multiple walls on their growth journey. The plateau isn't a sign that you've failed or maxed out your potential. It's a sign that you're ready for the next level—you just need to try something new to get there.
You don't need to implement all 31 strategies I shared. Pick one or two that feel aligned with your strengths and test them consistently for 2-3 weeks. Give them time to work.
Maybe it's starting to write on Notes consistently. Maybe it's reaching out to other writers for collaboration. Maybe it's optimizing your headlines or creating your first lead magnet.
The key is taking action instead of staying stuck in analysis paralysis.
When one strategy starts working—and one will—double down on it. Don't immediately jump to the next shiny tactic. Master what's working before adding something new.
Remember: the plateau is temporary, but only if you refuse to stay there.
📌 Ready to Break Through Your Plateau Faster?
After helping hundreds of writers break through their growth walls, I've learned something important: you can figure this out on your own through trial and error, or you can learn from someone who's already navigated these challenges.
I spent 10 months testing strategies, hitting plateaus, and finding breakthroughs on my way from zero to nearly 10,000 subscribers. Some strategies wasted weeks of effort. Others unlocked massive growth in days.
The difference between writers who break through quickly and those who stay stuck for months often comes down to having a proven system to follow.
That's why I created the Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass—to give you the exact playbook I used to break through every plateau on my journey to building a profitable newsletter business.
Inside the masterclass, you'll discover:
✅ The "LinkedIn-Substack Flywheel" System: My complete blueprint for leveraging LinkedIn to explode your Substack growth (This alone helped me gain 1,000+ subscribers in 90 days)
✅ The "Collaboration & Recommendation Framework": Build a small mastermind of other Substackers to recommend & grow together, and attract a tribe of raving fans who share your Substack for you
✅ The "Viral Notes" Strategy: Master Substack's Notes platform to attract subscribers organically (Stop posting into the void and start growing your audience strategically)
✅ The Multiple Revenue Streams Formula: Package your knowledge into various income sources (paid subscriptions, digital products, coaching, and more)
✅ The Growth Automation Layer: Set up systems that nurture and convert subscribers automatically (Reduce your content creation time while maximizing impact)
✅ The Audience Acceleration Framework: Scale your results without spending more time or money on ads
Plus, you get the complete Substack Growth Playbook ($197 value) including:
High-Converting Homepage Templates
15 Proven Newsletter Frameworks
Substack Notes Content Calendar
Email Subject Line Swipe File
Monetization Strategy Guide
Growth Tracking Spreadsheet
This isn't just theory from someone who read about newsletter growth online. This is the exact system I used to build a profitable newsletter business that generates $5,000+ monthly while working from anywhere.
The writers who join the masterclass typically see breakthrough results within 30 days because they stop guessing and start following a proven system. Join the class below:
Question: Have you hit a growth plateau?
Or have you hit 7 plateaus like me? Share where you’re at on your Substack journey below. Let’s band together and help each other grow.
Thanks Wes, I totally agree with your points. I also think some growth slowdowns may be due to quiet algorithm tweaks aimed at discouraging over-posting and self-promotion.
I’m new here and mostly observing, but I’ve noticed a trend: lots of creators posting 30+ times a month for exposure, while genuine engagement like restacks gets overlooked.
It feels like Substack is gently pushing us back to real collaboration. If we all slow down a bit and focus on sharing each other’s work, the whole platform thrives.
Thank you for sharing, Wes! It's enlightening to understand the mechanics behind Substack subscriber growth - how one might get stuck, and how to get unstuck.
Same pattern applies to Life in general - an energy-work trick to kickstart movement in one's Life is to move at least 27 things in your Home. As one does that, intentionally, the energy flow in ones' home shifts, manifesting changes in Life!