How to Write Viral Substack Notes that Get Noticed (Part 2)

How to consistently add 10 to 30+ new subscribers everyday by writing Notes

Jan 20, 2025

After my last post blew up about writing better Notes, my DMs exploded. But one message at 2 AM hit different.

"I’m about to lose my entire TikTok following," the text read. "Three years of building... gone."

The TikTok ban has been looming lately. And whether the platform will or won’t be taken down permanently, it’s getting creators thinking. Hard.

You don’t own your audience on these platforms like TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. However, with newsletters like Substack, you do own that audience. It can’t be taken away from you.

The Opportunity of Substack Notes

I shared with this person that I’ve been growing my audience through Notes. “Notes? What the heck is Notes?”

That was my question, too, only a few months ago. However, Substack Notes is quickly becoming my platform of choice, for many reasons.

This conversation got me thinking about what really makes Notes stand out. Because just 3-4 months ago, I was where you might be now – watching my Notes disappear into the void.

Now, Notes consistently bring me 10 to 30+ new subscribers every single day. Some days much, much more.

Let me share four specific strategies that changed everything for me (and how you can use them today).

1. Spot Trends Before Others Do

Here's what most writers get wrong: They wait until everyone's talking about something before they write about it. By then, it's too late.

Example: This week with the TikTok ban news, my DMs are flooded with creators panicking about their future. While everyone's debating politics, I noticed something bigger happening.

I wrote a Note about "Why the next wave of creators isn’t TikTok dancers; they’re writers on Substack." It wasn't about the ban. It was about ownership.

That Note got a lot of engagement. Why? Because I spotted the underlying shift before others did.

How to spot trends early:

Spend time looking for trends on Substack
Set up Google Alerts for your niche
Follow industry leaders on Substack Notes
Pay attention to what your audience is worried about before they say it
Look for patterns in your DMs and comments
Watch for shifts in behavior, not just headlines

The key isn't being first. It's seeing what others miss and connecting dots they haven't connected yet.

2. Take an Interesting (Even Controversial) Point of View

Sometimes taking a controversial perspective can help your Note stand out. For example, think of something that almost everyone agrees on, like working out is good for you.

You might have a different point of view and say, “Cardio is actually making you gain weight.” Then explain your perspective and support your statement.

You’ll likely get plenty of comments (and maybe even some DMs) fighting your statement, but that’s ok. It’s about starting a conversation in the comments around your Notes.

Why do these notes perform well? Because it challenges what everyone "knows" to be true.

Here’s a few more examples:

“Writing a novel is actually easy.”
“Speaking up for yourself might get you fired.”
“Divorce is 100% avoidable.”
“Cleaning your house is a waste of time.”

Each one of these challenges something most of us believe to be true, right?

How to develop strong takes:

Look for commonly accepted "truths" in your industry
Ask "What if the opposite were true?"
Draw from your personal experience that contradicts conventional wisdom
Focus on what's working for you that goes against "expert" advice
Share results that challenge popular beliefs

Remember: The goal isn't controversy. It's sharing genuine insights that make people question their assumptions.

3. Say Something Surprising

"I almost quit Substack last month."

That Note opening made people pause mid-scroll. Why? Because in a sea of success stories, raw honesty stands out like a lighthouse in the fog.

I went on to share how switching my strategy completely turned things around. The response? Hundreds of writers saying, "This is exactly what I needed to hear."

Types of surprising statements that work:

Admitting failure when everyone's bragging about success
Sharing the messy middle of your journey
Revealing industry secrets nobody talks about
Challenging popular "gurus" with real data
Showing vulnerability when others show perfection

Honesty is powerful. It helps us cut through the noise and connect with our audience. Sure, it might feel raw and a little uncomfortable, but we’re writers. We have to put our heart on our sleeve a bit sometimes.

The magic happens when you say what everyone's thinking but afraid to admit.

4. Master the Art of Storytelling

I was talking with Sarah last week (member of my Substack Growth Masterclass), and she expressed feeling frustrated.

"My Notes are packed with better research than anyone else's," she said. "Why isn't anyone engaging?"

I pulled up her latest Note: "5 Ways to Optimize Your Investment Strategy"

That’s boring. Like watching paint dry boring. I told her let’s try taking the same concept but turning it into a story. Here’s how it started…

"I lost $100K following expert advice. Here's what actually works..."

The result? Her highest-performing Note ever. And it brought in tens of new subscribers.

The concept was exactly the same; however, turning it into a story made it more relatable.

Elements of stories that convert:

Start with the moment everything changed
Share the obstacle that felt impossible
Reveal your unexpected solution
Show specific results and transformation
End with a lesson others can apply

The best stories aren't about perfect journeys. They're about relatable struggles and real solutions.

Quick Notes Win You Can Try Today

Want to test these strategies right now? Here's my proven template:

1. Find a trending topic in your niche

2. Look for the underlying shift nobody's talking about

3. Connect it to a personal story where you learned this lesson

4. Start your Note with something surprising about your journey

Let’s take the TikTok ban example. You could tell a story of your friend who has 100K+ followers and nervous about the ban. Then close the story with how she’s overcoming this obstacle and moving forward.

Here’s the first line: “While everyone’s talking about the TikTok ban this week, my friend Gina (with 100K+ followers) decided to delete the app…”

That’s a hook.

Here’s your next step: Write your hook in the comments below and share it with us. Let’s brainstorm your next Note together.

Remember: The Notes that get noticed aren't just well-written. They make people think differently.

Want to Master Writing Substack Notes?

I'm breaking down my entire Notes strategy in the upcoming Six-Figure Substack Notes Challenge & Workshop. You’ll be able to join this coming week.

In the Workshop, you'll learn:

How to spot trends before they explode (my exact process)
My framework for takes that make people think
The storytelling template that converts lurkers into subscribers
How to turn Notes into gaining 10 to 30+ new subscribers / day
How I write my Notes in only 20 minutes a day

I’m breaking down the exact strategy that’s helped me grow from Zero to 4,300+ subscribers, much of them coming from Notes.

If you’d like to get first access to join this workshop, just drop "Notes" in the comments and I’ll DM you a link when it’s open.

📌 Need more help NOW? Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass (Re-opened)

PS – For those who are ready to go big in 2025 on Substack, I’ve reopened my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass below for the next 48-72 hours. This is the same class I’ve now taken 300+ Substack writers through who are killin’ it on Substack and growing every day.

Listen, I know Substack can feel a little lonely at first. It’s actually not difficult to grow on Substack once you have a good strategy. Going it solo can be tough.

Jake said about the class: “I wanna 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. Keep up the good work.”

This class has helped a lot of writers get their bearings on Substack and take first steps. Inside the class, I share the same strategy I’ve used to go grom Zero to 4,200+ subs and $5K+ per month consistently 👇

Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass

You’ll also get access to our private community of writers who collaborate and share ideas.

Hope to see you in the class!