How I Get "New Subscriber Notification" Pings Every Single Day (10K Subscribers and Counting)
The 3 simple strategies that get me 10-20 new subscribers daily (without burning out on social media)
You know that little rush you get when you hear the "new subscriber" notification ping?
In the beginning, I used to go days without hearing it.
Everyone told me I needed to be everywhere at once. LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, Medium, Instagram Stories, threading tweets, viral hooks, trending hashtags. The whole circus of "building your personal brand."
So, I tried it. I hustled across every platform. I had the LinkedIn followers (100K+), the content calendar, the "authentic" posts about my morning routine. I was doing everything the growth gurus said to do.
And my Substack was still sitting there. Quietly. With maybe 2-3 new subscribers a week if I was lucky.
The crazy part? I was working harder than ever but getting the results I least wanted. All that effort was going toward building other people's platforms while my own newsletter sat empty.
Then I discovered a simple routine that finally made my newsletter grow…
The One Metric that Changed My Mind
After months of grinding on external platforms, I finally looked at where my subscribers were actually coming from. I expected to see LinkedIn driving most of my growth since that's where I spent 80% of my time.
Instead, I saw something that made me change my thinking:
30-50% of my new subscribers weren't coming from LinkedIn, Twitter, or any external platform.
They were coming from inside Substack.
People finding me through Notes. Writers recommending my newsletter. Readers discovering me through search. The platform itself was doing the heavy lifting while I was out there trying to drag people to Substack instead of connecting with people already on Substack.
That's when I realized I was fighting the wrong battle.
The Simple System That Brings Daily Subscribers
Instead of spreading myself thin across every platform, I focused on three things that actually move the needle. These aren't complicated strategies or growth hacks. They're simple, sustainable actions that compound over time.
And here's the best part: I literally get 10-20 new subscriber notifications every single day just from doing these three things consistently. Some days it much more.
Thing #1: Master Substack Notes (Not Just Post Them)
Most writers treat Notes like a random stream of thought or a place to drop their latest posts. "New post up! Link in comments!"
That's not what works.
I post insights. I ask questions. I reply thoughtfully to other writers' Notes. I share interesting observations from my week. I treat Notes like conversations, not broadcasts.
The difference is night and day. When you're actually helpful and engaging on Notes, people notice. They check out your profile. They subscribe to see what else you have to say.
I gain 10-20 subscribers every single day just from being active and thoughtful on Notes. Some days it's much more. It's honestly the best discovery tool Substack has, and most writers completely ignore it.
Thing #2: Build Real Relationships (Not Just Follower Counts)
Here's what I don't do: Follow 500 writers and hope they notice me.
Here's what I do: I actually engage. I leave thoughtful comments that add value. I share other writers' work when it's genuinely good. I send DMs. I build relationships instead of just collecting followers.
Some of my biggest subscriber spikes came from other writers recommending my newsletter. Not because I asked them to, but because we'd built a real relationship over time. They knew my work. They trusted it enough to share it with their audience.
This is the compound effect that most people miss. One good relationship can lead to dozens of cross-recommendations, guest appearances, and collaborative opportunities. But you have to be genuine about it.
Thing #3: Write Content That Works Double-Duty
Every post I write serves two purposes:
It solves a real problem for my existing readers
It gets found by new people who need that solution
I don't just write for my current audience. I write for the person who's never heard of me but desperately needs what I'm teaching.
When you do this consistently, two things happen:
Other writers naturally mention your work in their posts. Readers share it because it actually helped them. And Google starts sending you organic traffic because your content genuinely helps people.
I checked recently and my Substack is ranking for over 1,200 keywords, all around my core topics. That's 1,200 different ways (and counting) people can discover my newsletter without me having to create content on other platforms.
The Results: 10K+ Subscribers and Daily Growth
In 11 months, I went from zero subscribers to over 10,000 (almost 11,000). I'm consistently making $5K+ per month without a single paid subscriber. And I get those satisfying notification pings every single day.
But here's what matters for me: I'm working less than when I was trying to be everywhere at once. I have more time for writing, more energy for creating, and way less stress about keeping up with every platform's algorithm.
We have to find a sustainable system that works long-term or else we’ll burn out.
Sometimes less really is more. Sometimes the best strategy is to stop doing everything and start doing the right things really well.
My “Independence Day” Gift to You: Giving Away My Best Stuff
Speaking of doing the right things well, this 4th of July weekend feels like the perfect time to help you get your own daily notification pings.
I'll be honest: I've been hoarding my best stuff.
For months, I've been keeping this personal swipe file of Notes ideas, post titles, and hooks that I use whenever I'm stuck staring at a blank page. These aren't random templates I found online—they're the exact formats that helped me build this newsletter from nothing to 10K+ subscribers.
I usually keep this collection locked away in my bookmarks. But hitting 10K subscribers and celebrating independence weekend feels like the perfect excuse to share it with writers who are serious about growing.
Here's what I'm doing: Join my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass through this holiday weekend, and I'll giving away my personal Substack Swipe File as a bonus. This is the same collection sitting in my Google Drive right now—the one I reference when I need inspiration for my next viral Note or post title.
This isn't available anywhere else. It's literally my personal collection, and I'm still adding to it every week. When you join, you'll get live updates as I discover new ideas that work.
If you're ready to start getting those daily subscriber notifications and take your Substack seriously, you can join hundreds of writers who've already joined below:
(This holiday weekend special ends Sunday night. After that, the swipe file goes back in the vault.)
Stop overthinking. Stop spreading yourself thin across every platform. Start focusing on what actually works.
Your future self (and your notification sounds) will thank you.
P.S. - If you've already taken the masterclass, check your masterclass backend. Login and you’ll find it sitting there for you under Module 1. :)
This was helpful! Makes a lot of sense.
Wes, I invite you to subscribe to my Substack. I am patient and look forward to where I’ll be on this journey in the long run. Lots still to learn. But I do have some plans up my sleeve.