How I gained 1,871 subscribers in the last 90 days

The "Content Isn't Enough" concept that transformed my newsletter from zero to thousands of subscribers (and how you can copy it)

"Just write great content and subscribers will come."

That's what everyone told me when I first started my Substack.

And I believed them. For months, I poured my heart into crafting detailed, value-packed posts. I spent hours perfecting each one, convinced that quality content was the key to explosive growth.

But here's the truth: Great content alone isn't enough.

I learned this lesson the hard way. Despite publishing consistently for months, my subscriber count barely inched forward. Each new post felt like shouting into the void. The growth was so slow it was soul-crushing.

Something had to change.

That's when I discovered what I now call the "Substack Growth Trio" – three powerful growth channels that transformed my newsletter from a ghost town into a thriving community with thousands of engaged readers.

In the last 90 days alone, I've gained 1,871 new subscribers. And the best part? These strategies work together to create a consistent growth engine that keeps running day after day.

Here’s exactly how it happened:

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1. LinkedIn: The Professional Pipeline

The foundation of my growth strategy started with LinkedIn. Why? Because it's where my ideal readers already hang out, actively looking for valuable insights.

I created what I call the "LinkedIn-Substack Flywheel":

• Share one valuable insight daily on LinkedIn

• Engage authentically in the comments

• Strategically link to my "hero posts" on Substack

But here's the key that most people miss: I don't just drop links. I create a narrative bridge that makes the transition from LinkedIn to Substack feel natural and valuable.

For example, when I share insights about growing an online business on LinkedIn, I make sure my linked Substack posts dive deeper into those exact topics. This alignment makes subscribers feel like they're getting the "extended cut" of my best content.

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2. The Power of Substack Recommendations

Here's something most people don't realize about Substack: The platform is built on trust and community.

I spent weeks building genuine relationships with other writers in my niche. Not with the goal of getting recommendations, but to truly connect and support each other.

These authentic connections led to natural recommendation exchanges that felt genuine because they were genuine.

The result? Around 20-30% of my new subscribers in the last 90 days have come from recommendations alone. That’s amazing.

One simple tip that worked wonders: I started by finding 5-10 writers in adjacent niches (not direct competitors) and engaged with their posts consistently for two weeks before ever mentioning collaboration.

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3. The Community Builder: Substack Notes

I'll be honest – I was skeptical about Notes when they first launched. Another social feature to manage? No thanks.

Honestly…at first, I had no idea what the heck I was doing. I’d post a note and nobody would engage.

But what I discovered changed everything: Notes aren't just another distribution channel – they're a relationship-building tool that can explode your growth when used correctly.

My first viral Note brought in more subscribers in 24 hours than I'd gained in the previous two weeks combined.

The secret? I stopped treating Notes like mini-blog posts and started using them as connection points. Short, punchy insights. Relatable moments. Quick tips that solved immediate problems.

But…sometimes I write long notes. I decided I wanted to break the “rules” and just see what worked. I write 3 to 5 notes per day, a mix of short and long. Usually, I’ll batch write them when I’m feeling inspired; then I’ll post them throughout the day.

Now, I consistently gain 15-20 new subscribers daily just from Notes. It's become my most reliable community-building engine.

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A Quick Win: The "Introduction Note" Strategy

Want to try something that can bring you new subscribers today? Create an "Introduction Note" using this template I've tested:

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Calling all new Substack writers <300 subscribers and under…

New Year’s Introduction Thread 🎙️ Share:

• What do you write about?

• What inspires you to write?

After introducing yourself, go through and follow / subscribe to a few writers.

Let’s kick the year off with a growth bang 🥳

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This simple type of Note typically generates 50+ comments and leads to natural cross-pollination of subscribers. And, it could work for anyone in any niche. It’s about building collaborations.

The key is to actively engage with every comment and start genuine conversations.

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The Missing Piece with Substack Notes

But here's what I've realized after helping hundreds of other writers grow their Substacks inside my masterclasses: knowing these channels exist isn't enough.

You need to know exactly how to use them in harmony. How to create a LinkedIn-to-Substack pipeline that consistently converts. How to build genuine relationships that lead to recommendations. How to craft Notes that actually go viral.

I’ve got something exciting I’ll be announcing later this week that will help you write better Notes. It might be a Notes Challenge. Or, it might be a Notes Workshop. Or, it might be both! Stay tuned…

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📌 Need more Substack help NOW?

Are you feeling hopeful but a little lost on Substack? I get it because I was there, too.

That's why I created the Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass. It's everything I wish I had when I started – a complete roadmap to growing your Substack using these exact strategies (and many more I haven't covered here).

• If you're tired of publishing into the void...

• If you're ready to build a thriving newsletter that actually grows...

• If you want to turn your Substack into a reliable income stream...

Then click here the button below to learn more about the Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass. I'll show you exactly how I gained these 1,871 subscribers – and how you can do the same:

The best part? You don't need a huge following to start. You just need the right strategy and someone to show you the way.

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Question - Do you currently use Substack Notes? Why or why not? What’s your best strategy for attracting new subscribers? 💡

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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. 🙏