52 One-Week Growth Experiments That Transformed My Substack (From 0 to 8,000+ Subscribers)

When I started my Substack, I had no idea what I was doing.

I'd watch other writers crush it while my subscriber count barely moved. Every day I'd refresh my stats hoping to see growth, but the numbers crawled up painfully slow.

I tried following all the generic advice:

• "Just write great content!"

• "Be consistent!"

• "Share on social media!"

But let's be honest - that advice is about as helpful as telling someone who wants to get fit to "just exercise more."

The Painful Reality of Starting from Zero

Every morning, I'd open my Substack dashboard with a mix of hope and dread. Hope that maybe today would be different. Dread that I'd see the same flat line I'd been staring at for weeks.

Meanwhile, I'd see other writers in my niche seemingly grow overnight.

"How are they doing it?" I'd wonder. "What secret do they know that I don't?"

I felt like I was missing something obvious. Like everyone else had received some special playbook I somehow missed. The whole experience was frustrating, isolating, and honestly? A little embarrassing.

I was putting in hours of work each week with almost nothing to show for it. And each passing day made me question if I was wasting my time.

Maybe you're in that exact spot right now.

The Breakthrough Moment

My breakthrough came when I stopped looking for the "perfect strategy" and started experimenting instead.

I realized something important: nobody actually knows exactly what will work for YOUR specific newsletter. Not even the most successful Substack writers.

Why? Because every newsletter is unique - different topics, different voice, different audience.

So, I made a decision that changed everything: instead of trying to find the "perfect" strategy, I'd try something new each week. Some ideas completely flopped. Others moved the needle a little. And a few became absolute game-changers that transformed my newsletter.

For me, the winning combination turned out to be LinkedIn newsletters that funneled readers to my Substack, posting 2-3 strategic Notes daily, and building a network through Recommendations with other writers.

But here's the thing - your winning formula might look completely different.

The only way to find out is to start experimenting. Try new approaches, measure the results, and double down on what works for YOU.

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The 52-Week Substack Growth Experiment Plan

To save you time (and lots of frustration), I've compiled a year's worth of experiments - one for each week. You don't need to try them all. Just pick a few that resonate and test them out.

Getting Started (Weeks 1-13)

1. Post your first Substack Note introducing yourself and what you write about, then engage with at least 10 other writers' Notes.

2. Write a welcome email sequence that automatically delivers your best content to new subscribers.

3. Cross-promote with another Substack writer who shares your target audience but isn't a direct competitor.

4. Add a "Best of" section to your newsletter homepage featuring your top-performing content.

5. Create a lead magnet (checklist, template, guide) that solves a specific problem for your audience.

6. Start a LinkedIn newsletter that links back to your full content on Substack.

7. Host a "Notes boost" in your Substack Chat where subscribers can share and support each other's work.

8. Add strategic buttons throughout your posts (not just at the end) to drive specific actions.

9. Write a viral-optimized Note using the "curiosity gap" technique to drive engagement.

10. Update your Recommendations to feature 5-10 newsletters that genuinely complement yours.

11. Join a Substack engagement pod where writers agree to support each other's content.

12. Create a community-building Note that asks readers to introduce themselves in the comments.

13. Add category tags to all your posts to improve discoverability within Substack.

Building Momentum (Weeks 14-26)

14. Test different subject line formulas for five consecutive newsletters and track which performs best.

15. Send an email-only update that feels more personal and exclusive than your regular content.

16. Post a "day in the life" Note sharing your creative process to build connection with readers.

17. Create a custom domain for your newsletter to boost professionalism and brand recognition.

18. Optimize your About page to clearly communicate your unique value proposition.

19. Write a "how I grew my Substack" post sharing genuine lessons from your journey so far.

20. Create a Notes series where you publish related content daily for a week to boost engagement.

21. Start a weekly thread in your Chat focused on helping subscribers with specific questions.

22. Test different publishing times and days to find when your audience is most responsive.

23. Add content upgrades to your most popular posts (expanded guides, templates, checklists).

24. Try the "three types of Notes" strategy: community building, educational, and motivational.

25. Offer a founding member tier with exclusive benefits beyond your standard subscription.

26. Reach out to 5 complementary newsletters for recommendation swaps.

Scaling Up (Weeks 27-39)

27. Create a "Start Here" guide for new subscribers to navigate your content.

28. Write a controversial (but thoughtful) Note taking a stance on an industry trend.

29. Send a survey to understand what your subscribers want more and less of.

30. Post 3 Notes daily for one week and track which type performs best.

31. Add "restackable" content to your Notes – frameworks, insights, or tips others will want to share.

32. Leverage Substack’s Referral Program with meaningful rewards for subscribers who bring in new readers.

33. Optimize your newsletter format for mobile readers (shorter paragraphs, clear headings).

34. Test different CTA placements throughout your newsletter to see what drives more engagement.

35. Write a collaborative post featuring insights from other writers in your niche.

36. Create a round-up Note highlighting great content from other Substacks.

37. Update your publication's visual branding for better recognition and professionalism.

38. Try different Note formats: lists, questions, statements, and stories.

39. Create a paid subscriber-only Chat for deeper community engagement.

Fine-Tuning Your System (Weeks 40-52)

40. Send a "milestone celebration" email when you hit subscriber goals, sharing the journey.

41. Test different pricing tiers for your paid subscription to find the sweet spot.

42. Share behind-the-scenes content about your newsletter process in a Note.

43. Create a content calendar to balance different post types for maximum engagement.

44. Write a step-by-step guide solving a specific problem your audience faces.

45. Feature subscriber success stories in your newsletter to build community.

46. Post "comment-bait" Notes designed specifically to spark conversation.

47. Test different header images in your posts to see if visuals impact engagement.

48. Create a public roadmap sharing your vision for the newsletter's future.

49. Post LinkedIn content that teases your newsletter and links back to Substack.

50. Try the "Notes Sandwich" technique: post one Note before and after publishing your newsletter.

51. Create "exclusive" Chat threads for paying subscribers that deliver additional value.

52. Write a year-in-review post highlighting your biggest lessons and successes.

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The Truth About What Really Works

Here's what nobody tells you about growing on Substack: there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

The "guru" who swears X/Twitter is the key to newsletter growth? They're right—for THEIR newsletter. The writer who insists cross-promotion is the only way? That's what worked for THEM.

But your path might look completely different.

After all my testing and experimenting, I discovered something powerful: success doesn't come from doing EVERYTHING. It comes from finding the 2-3 tactics that work specifically for YOU and your audience, then doubling down on those.

I went from zero to 8,000+ subscribers in just 8 months by testing, measuring, and focusing.

For me, that winning formula was:

1. LinkedIn newsletters that funneled readers to Substack

2. Posting 2-3 strategic Notes daily with a specific formula

3. Building a network through Recommendations with complementary writers

But I never would have discovered this if I hadn't experimented.

The Hard Truth About Growth

Growing a Substack isn't actually that complicated. We make it harder than it needs to be.

You don't need to be on every platform. You don't need to try every growth hack. You don't need to spend hours each day promoting.

You just need to find what works for YOU.

And the only way to do that is through deliberate experimentation.

What Will Your Success Story Look Like?

By now, you might be thinking: "This sounds great, but I don't have time to spend a whole year figuring this out."

I get it. That's exactly why I created the Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass.

After helping hundreds of writers find their own growth formula, I've distilled everything I've learned into a comprehensive system that helps you identify your winning strategy without the painful trial and error.

Why the Masterclass Works When Other Courses Don't

Most newsletter courses teach a rigid system that worked for the creator but might not work for you. They're essentially saying, "Here's my exact path—just follow it step by step."

The Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass is different.

Instead of forcing you into one specific growth model, I show you how to find YOUR unique path to growth based on your strengths, your audience, and your content.

Inside the masterclass, you'll discover:

• The exact framework I used to go from 0 to 8,000+ subscribers in 8 months

• How to identify which growth tactics will work specifically for YOUR newsletter

• Step-by-step implementation guides for the most high-impact Substack features

• The 3-Note Strategy that consistently brings in 10-30+ new subscribers daily

• Templates and formulas for creating content that actually converts

• My complete system for turning subscribers into students

Hundreds of writers have used this system to break through their growth plateaus and build thriving newsletters that generate real income.

Jake, one of my students, said: "I want to say thank you for putting this together, sharing it, and making it accessible. This was one of the best, most concise explanations of how to scale and monetize a newsletter I've ever come across."

The Choice Is Yours

You have two options:

1. Spend the next year experimenting on your own, slowly figuring out what works through trial and error (which is what I did).

2. Leverage what I've already learned and fast-track your growth with a proven system that helps you find YOUR unique path to success.

The window of opportunity on Substack won't stay open forever. The platform is maturing. Categories are getting crowded. The writers who master these growth systems now are establishing positions that will be harder to challenge later.

If you're ready to stop guessing and start growing, join us inside the Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass.

Remember: Growing your newsletter isn't about doing more. It's about doing the right things consistently. Let me show you what those right things are for YOU.

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💡 Question: What’s the best growth tactic that’s worked for you? Which one of these 52 growth experiments will you try out first?

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📌 PS - If you found this post helpful, would you please consider restacking it and sharing it with your audience?

This spreads the word and keeps me writing content that will help you grow your Substack and “escape the cubicle” life. 🙏