How I Gained 58 Subscribers This Weekend from Just 2 Substack Notes
Why most writers are sleeping on the easiest growth strategy on Substack
I’m wrapping up my weekend with a little glass of wine and checking over my Substack. I noticed a little bump in subscribers specifically from just 2 Notes I wrote:
58 new subscribers since Friday.
Not from a viral post. Not from a guest appearance on someone else's newsletter. Not from grinding on LinkedIn or Instagram for hours.
From two simple Substack Notes. Each one took me less than 10 minutes to write.
The first Note brought in 41 subscribers. The second brought in 17.
And the cool thing is, this isn’t the first weekend this has happened. It’s actually becoming a regular occurrence…
Here's the thing: Notes has been one of the biggest contributors to helping me grow to nearly 10,000 subscribers in less than a year. And most writers are completely ignoring it.
Substack recently reported that 30% of new subscribers come from within the platform itself. Think about that for a second. While you're burning yourself out trying to crack the LinkedIn algorithm or post the perfect Instagram story, there's a goldmine sitting right inside your Substack dashboard.
If you're someone who doesn't want to be grinding away on external social media platforms, then Notes might just be your secret weapon.
Let me show you exactly what happened this weekend and how you can replicate it.
The Two Notes That Changed My Weekend
Friday morning, I was procrastinating on writing my weekly newsletter (we've all been there) when I decided to write a quick Note instead. I write a simple Note about my journey so far on Substack:
Quit social media & focused on Substack.
Now, nearly 10,000 subscribers later (and a full-time income), I’m glad I did it.
I write part-time. Live life full-time.
& enjoying a lot more peace without the social media chaos / drama.
It’s possible to do things your own way and succeed.
That one’s attracted 41 new subscribers, so far.
Feeling energized, I wrote another simple Note about how unique of a space Substack is:
Substack is this unique space with so much untapped talent, 35M+ active writers.
So, why does it feel so hard to get seen?
Let’s fix it: Introduce yourself and share with us what you write about 👇🏼
I’d love to use this platform to help you find your next subscriber. Keep writing.
Another 17 subscribers by Sunday evening.
Total time invested: maybe 20 minutes across both Notes.
Total result: 58 new subscribers who are genuinely interested in what I have to say.
Ya’ll are you seeing how simple this can be? Not trying to be too creative or outside the box. Just following a simple format that I’ve tested out a bit.
While many writers are spending hours crafting the perfect newsletter post, these quick, authentic Notes are doing most of the heavy lifting for my growth.
Why Most Writers Are Missing the Notes Opportunity
I get it. Notes feel too simple, too casual, not "substantial" enough.
Most writers think they need to write these epic, 2,000-word masterpieces to prove their writing ability. They're so focused on perfecting their long-form content that they completely ignore the algorithm goldmine sitting right in front of them.
Here's what I've learned: the Substack algorithm loves Notes. They get distribution. They spark conversations. They build genuine connections with other writers and readers.
But here's the catch—most people give up too early.
I'll be honest with you, when I first started writing Notes several months ago, I almost quit. For weeks, I'd get maybe 2-3 likes and zero comments. I felt like I was doing a lot of work for a lot of nothing…
Then one Note caught fire. Just a simple observation about newsletter growth that resonated with people. Suddenly, I realized there was something powerful here.
The compound effect of consistent Notes is real, but you have to push through the slow start to see it.
The 5-Step Notes Growth System That Actually Works
After months of testing and nearly 10,000 subscribers later, here's exactly what works:
Step 1: Build Your Foundation (Followers ≠ Subscribers)
You need followers on Notes first—and followers aren't the same as subscribers. Think of Notes followers as your distribution network.
Commit to writing at least 1 Note per day (2 is better). But here's the key: spend time genuinely engaging with other writers' Notes. Like thoughtful comments, not just "Great post!" Reply to comments on your own Notes. Be a real person, not a content robot.
The followers will come, and they'll become the foundation for your subscriber growth.
Step 2: Master the 3 Types of Notes
Not all Notes serve the same purpose. I rotate between three types:
Community Notes: Behind-the-scenes moments, asking questions, sharing struggles. These build connection and tend to convert followers to subscribers.
Educational Notes: Quick tips, insights, mini-lessons. When people scroll through your feed, these show you know what you're talking about.
Motivational Notes: Encouragement, inspiration, mindset shifts. These get shared the most and bring in new followers.
The magic happens when you mix all three. Community and motivational Notes grow your subscribers. Educational Notes build your authority.
Step 3: Stay Consistent Through the Slow Start
This is where most people quit. I'm telling you right now: it took me several weeks before I got any real traction on Notes. There were days I wondered if I was wasting my time.
Then I had my first mini-viral Note. It wasn't anything groundbreaking—just an honest observation about the writing life. But it made me realize there was something to this platform.
That one Note changed my perspective. I kept going, stayed consistent, and the compound effect eventually kicked in.
Consistency beats perfection every single time.
Step 4: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
Here's a shortcut that most people miss: go study what's already working.
Scroll through Notes and find ones that are getting good traction in your niche. Don't copy them—that's not what I'm saying. But study them. Look for patterns.
What emotions are they tapping into? What formats are working? What topics are resonating?
There are usually common themes that make a Note perform well. Learn from what's working instead of guessing.
Step 5: Use AI as Your Brainstorming Partner
This is my secret weapon for staying consistent.
Take 5-10 viral Notes from your niche and feed them to AI. Tell it about your writing niche and audience. Then ask: "Based on these successful Note styles, give me 10 new ideas for Notes about [your topic]."
You'll get a list of ideas you can refine and make your own. AI helps you see patterns you might miss and gives you that creative spark when you're staring at a blank screen.
Always refine the suggestions to match your voice and perspective—but let AI handle the initial brainstorming.
The Reality About Writing on Substack Notes
Let me be clear: this isn't some overnight success hack.
Building a following on Notes requires daily effort. You have to show up consistently, engage authentically, and push through the slow periods.
Actually, It’s more about consistently than effort. I spend less than 30 minutes a day on Notes now, but it’s because I’ve been super consistent…
Most writers won't do this because it requires consistent daily action without immediate gratification.
But here's what I know after growing to nearly 10,000 subscribers: the writers who commit to this process consistently see compound growth. Notes becomes a subscriber-generating machine that works even when you're not actively promoting.
While other writers are burning out trying to crack external social media algorithms, you're building a sustainable growth engine right inside the platform where your readers already are.
📌 Ready to Turn Notes into Your #1 Subscriber Growth Engine?
Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was struggling to grow my newsletter: you don't need to spend hours grinding on external social media platforms. You can grow right where your readers already are.
The Notes strategy I've shared isn't just about getting more subscribers (though the consistent 10-30+ daily growth is pretty incredible). It's about building sustainable growth that doesn't burn you out or require you to be everywhere at once.
When you master Notes the right way, you're not just posting content—you're building a subscriber-generating machine that works even when you're not actively promoting. That Note I wrote three months ago? It's still bringing in new subscribers every week without any additional effort from me.
But here's the thing: knowing the strategy and implementing it consistently are two very different things.
I spent months figuring out what types of Notes actually convert, how to engage authentically without being pushy, how to build genuine community, and how to turn casual readers into loyal subscribers.
The breakthrough came when I developed what I call the "Stop the Scroll" Formula—a system for creating Notes people can't ignore.
If you're ready to transform Notes into your most reliable subscriber source, I've put everything I've learned into my "10+ Subscribers a Day" Notes Growth Workshop.
This isn't just theory from someone who's never actually grown a newsletter. This is the exact system I've used to grow from zero to nearly 10,000 subscribers in less than a year—with Notes becoming my #1 source of new subscribers.
Inside the workshop, you'll discover:
✅ The "Stop the Scroll" Formula: My complete blueprint for writing Notes that capture attention and drive engagement (This alone helps me gain 10-30 new subscribers daily)
✅ The "Viral Notes Framework": The exact types of Notes that consistently drive growth with copy-and-paste templates
✅ The "Community Building System": Build genuine connections that turn into subscribers and superfans without being salesy or pushy
✅ The Notes Growth Calendar: Never run out of ideas with my proven content calendar system that keeps you posting consistently
✅ The Engagement Multiplier Method: Get more comments, restacks, and shares on every Note you write
✅ The Conversion Accelerator: Turn Notes readers into newsletter subscribers without being aggressive
This workshop is perfect for you if you want to grow your newsletter without social media burnout, attract engaged subscribers who actually want to hear from you, and create a system that generates growth 24/7 while you focus on creating great content.
When you’re ready, join 100’s of writing inside:
Remember: Your Substack growth doesn't have to depend on cracking algorithms or spending hours on social media. You can build a growing base right inside the platform where your readers already spend their time.
Question: Are you writing on Notes? Share your best Note below, and let’s help you get some new eyes on it. I’d love to find some new, fresh voices to follow.
I refuse to post a “share your substack below” type note. I hate seeing those.
I'm very intrigued by your $47 course on Notes. When does that offer end?