How Substack Notes Brought Me 300+ New Subscribers in 30 Days (While Everyone Else Ignores It)
The 20-minute daily routine that consistently delivers 300+ subscribers per month
I was checking my Substack analytics yesterday and saw something that's become pretty normal for me now.
300+ new subscribers in May. All from Substack Notes.
This isn't a one-time thing anymore. It's been happening every month for the last 6+ months. Notes has quietly become one of my biggest growth drivers.
But here's what’s still surprising: so many people aren’t on Notes. They might try to post a few here and there, and then say “this doesn’t work for me.”
For those who don't know, Substack Notes is basically Substack's version of X/Twitter. Writers share quick thoughts, comment on each other's stuff, and discover new people to follow. Most writers check it out once in a while, scroll for a few minutes, then go back to grinding on LinkedIn or X.
I used to do the same thing.
I'd spend an hour writing the perfect LinkedIn post, hoping it would get decent engagement and maybe bring in a subscriber or two. Meanwhile, I'd completely ignore Notes or just use it to share links to my latest newsletter.
But once I started taking Notes seriously, everything changed.
Think about it: Everyone on Notes is already a newsletter reader. They're browsing around looking for new writers to follow. They're in the mindset of discovering new content. And they can subscribe to you with literally one click.
It's like having a room full of your ideal subscribers, and most writers just walk right past the door.
Maybe that's you too?
You're probably spending most of your time on external platforms, fighting algorithms that don't want people to leave. You're trying to convince random X users or LinkedIn connections to start reading newsletters, which is already an uphill battle.
But there are thousands of Substack enthusiasts hanging out on Notes every day, actively looking for new voices to follow.
The crazy part? Most writers either ignore Notes completely or just use it wrong. They'll drop a link to their latest post, maybe share a quote, then wonder why nothing happens.
They don't get that Notes isn't just another social media platform. It's a discovery engine specifically built for newsletter readers.
I didn't get it either for a long time.
While I was wasting time trying to crack LinkedIn's algorithm or get my tweets to go viral, other writers were quietly building massive audiences right here on Substack through Notes.
And now that I've figured out what actually works, I get a steady stream of new subscribers every single day without having to fight for attention on platforms that don't even want me to succeed.
The 5 Things I've Learned About Notes That Most Writers Miss
After 6+ months of consistently gaining subscribers through Notes, I've figured out exactly what works and what doesn't. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I started:
1. Your Notes Have a Shelf-Life Way Longer Than You Think
This one never ceases to amaze me. Over the last 24 hours, I had a Note that I wrote 3 weeks ago suddenly explode overnight. It's sitting at over 2,000+ likes now.
On Twitter, your post is basically dead after a few hours. Maybe a day if you're lucky. But Notes work completely differently.
I'll write something, it gets decent engagement for a day or two, then seems to die down. But then weeks later, it randomly surfaces again and takes off. I think it's because Substack's algorithm keeps showing older Notes to new people, especially if they're getting engagement.
This means every Note you write is like planting a seed that could sprout weeks or even months later. Your content compounds in a way that just doesn't happen on other platforms.
2. There Are Really Only 3 Types of Notes That Convert
I've tested everything. Quotes, links, questions, hot takes, industry insights. But after months of data, three types consistently bring in the most subscribers:
Community Notes: These invite people to introduce themselves or share their experiences. Something like "Drop a link to your latest post and I'll check it out" or "What's the biggest challenge you're facing with your newsletter right now?"
Educational Notes: Quick tips, frameworks, or insights. Not full tutorials, just bite-sized value that makes people think "This person knows what they're talking about."
Motivational Notes: Not cheesy inspiration quotes, but real encouragement based on your experience. Stories also work great for this type of note.
Everything else is just noise. Focus on these three and you'll see way better results.
3. Don't Try to Be Original (At Least Not at First)
Here's something that took me way too long to figure out: You don't need to reinvent the wheel.
Spend 20 minutes scrolling through Notes and see what's getting engagement right now.
What formats are working?
What topics are people responding to?
What styles are getting lots of comments?
Then write similar Notes with your own voice and perspective.
I'm not saying copy word-for-word. But if you see a community Note that's getting 200 likes, write your own version of that style. If someone's sharing a framework that people love, share one of your own frameworks in a similar format.
What works today might be completely different next month, so you need to keep studying what's hot right now.
Do this at first until you build momentum, and then you can reinvent the wheel (if you want).
4. Notes Makes Perfect Sense for Substack Growth
This should be obvious, but most writers miss it: Everyone on Notes is already a newsletter reader.
They're not random social media users you have to convince to try newsletters. They're not LinkedIn professionals who might be interested in your content. They're people who are actively reading and discovering newsletters.
When they see your Note and like what you have to say, subscribing is literally one click. No friction. No "let me think about it." No bouncing between platforms.
It's like the difference between trying to sell ice cream to random people on the street versus setting up shop at an ice cream festival. Everyone's already there for what you're selling.
5. Keep It Simple and Don't Overthink It
I spend maybe 20-30 minutes a day on Notes, total. That's it.
I'm not crafting elaborate posts or trying to be clever. I'm not spending hours engaging with every single comment. I'm not stressing about posting at the perfect time.
I write a quick Note, maybe respond to a few comments, check out what other people are posting, and move on.
The beauty is in the simplicity. Notes rewards consistency over perfection. Show up regularly with genuine value, and the subscribers will come.
Most writers either ignore Notes completely or try to make it way more complicated than it needs to be. Both approaches miss the point.
Why This Changes Everything
Here's what 300+ subscribers per month from Notes actually means for your newsletter:
That's 3,600+ subscribers per year from one platform. If even 1% of those end up buying something from you or become paid subscribers, that’s 36 new customers/paid subs each month in your world. Just from spending 20 minutes a day on Notes.
But the real value isn't just the numbers. It's the quality of these subscribers. They found you organically, they're already newsletter readers, and they chose to subscribe because they genuinely liked your content.
These aren't random followers from a viral post. They're your people.
And while everyone else is fighting for scraps on Twitter or trying to crack LinkedIn's algorithm, you're building a real audience on a platform that actually wants you to succeed.
Look, I Get It If This Feels Overwhelming
When I first started taking Notes seriously, I had no idea what I was doing. I'd write random thoughts, share links to my posts, and wonder why nothing was happening.
It took me months to figure out what actually works. Months of testing different formats, studying what gets engagement, and slowly building up the routine that now brings me 300+ subscribers every month.
You could spend the next six months figuring this out through trial and error like I did. Or you could skip all that and learn from what I've already tested.
That's exactly why I created my “10+ Subscribers a Day” Notes Growth Workshop.
This weekend is your last chance to join before I close new sign-ups for awhile.
Inside the workshop, I break down everything I've learned about turning Notes into a reliable growth engine:
The exact Note formats that consistently convert browsers into subscribers
My daily routine that takes 20-30 minutes but drives steady growth
How to study what's working right now and adapt it to your voice
Templates for each of the 3 high-converting Note types
The engagement strategies that build real relationships, not just followers
How to spot trends early and ride them before everyone else catches on
This isn't theory or generic advice. It's the exact system I use every day to gain subscribers through Notes.
The workshop has already helped 100’s of writers start seeing real growth from Notes. People who were struggling to gain subscribers are now getting 5-10 new ones daily just from spending a few minutes on Notes.
If you're tired of grinding on platforms that don't want you to succeed, if you want to start building where your ideal readers are already hanging out, if you're ready to turn Notes into your most reliable growth channel, this is your chance. Join below:
Don't let another month go by watching other writers quietly build their audiences while you're stuck fighting algorithms on platforms that actively work against you.
P.S. What's your biggest struggle with growing on Substack right now? Are you using Notes yet, or is this the first time you're really thinking about it as a growth strategy?
Just picked up your Masterwork class, Wes—already shifting how I think about Notes, audience, and showing up daily. Appreciate the way you lead by doing. 🙌
I’m a new memoirist writing about small-town chaos, family grit, and the fight against forgetting. My latest post wraps a 3-part series on why I write—featuring my grandad, a master
storyteller who taught me how memory fights back:
👉 Why I Write, Part 3
Would be honored if you gave it a look. Thanks for building space for voices like mine to grow.
Interesting. I'll try it and let you know. Keep up the food work!