I Analyzed 50+ Viral Substack Notes: Here's the 3 Types of Notes that Drive the Most Growth
How to Generate 10-30+ New Subscribers Daily Using a Simple 20-Minute System
The Growth Problem No One's Talking About
I just gained over 200 subscribers in three days.
Not from a viral tweet. Not from a guest newsletter spot. Not from paid ads.
Just from Substack Notes.
And the craziest part? Each Note took me less than 10 minutes to write.
But it wasn't always like this.
For months, I was doing everything "right." Publishing weekly newsletters. Crafting valuable content. Sharing on social media. And yet my subscriber count barely moved.
Each time I hit publish, my post seemed to vanish into the void. I'd refresh my stats obsessively, hoping for that sudden spike in subscribers that never materialized.
Meanwhile, other writers seemed to be growing effortlessly, gaining hundreds of followers while I was fighting for every single one.
The worst part? My content was good. Maybe even great. I poured hours into crafting thoughtful, valuable newsletters. But it felt like shouting into an empty room.
Most Substack writers are trapped in this exact cycle. They're creating quality content that nobody sees. They're spending hours on full posts that bring in a trickle of subscribers. They're told to "just keep publishing" and eventually growth will come.
I did that. For months.
Then I got obsessed with figuring out what was actually working on Substack Notes.
I started studying the platform like my Substack life depended on it. I created a massive swipe file of successful Notes from other creators. I tested posting the exact same Notes days apart to see if performance would vary. I experimented with different times of day (spoiler: it matters way less than everyone thinks).
I even used AI to help me analyze patterns across 50+ viral Notes to find the hidden commonalities most writers miss.
What I discovered surprised me.
The difference between Notes that disappeared and Notes that drove growth wasn't about writing skill. It wasn't about having a huge following already. It wasn't even about having the "perfect" topic.
It was about understanding three specific Note types that consistently outperformed everything else.
These three Note formats weren't just marginally better — they were exponentially more effective at driving subscriber growth. When implemented strategically, they turned my trickle of new subscribers into a steady stream.
And the best part? They're ridiculously simple to create. No fancy writing skills required. No complicated strategies. Just a straightforward approach anyone can implement in less than 20 minutes a day.
In this post, I'm pulling back the curtain on exactly what these three Note types are, why they work so well, and how you can implement them to transform your own Substack growth.
Let me show you the exact moment everything changed for me...
The Moment Everything Changed: My Treadmill Epiphany
I remember the exact moment everything changed.
It was a Tuesday morning. I was walking on my gym's treadmill at my usual pace, scrolling through Substack on my phone. My coffee was getting cold on the cupholder as I checked yesterday’s Substack stats.
Twelve new subscribers. Not terrible, but considering the three hours I'd spent writing that post? The math didn't add up.
Then I noticed something. Nine of those twelve subscribers had come after I'd posted a quick Note I'd written. A simple idea I had about how Substack felt like sitting in a coffee shop with all our best friends.
Wait a minute…
Three hours of work = three subscribers. Seven minutes of work = nine subscribers.
Something wasn't adding up—or rather, something was adding up in a way I hadn't expected.
Curious, I dug into my analytics. Over the past month, I'd gained more subscribers from Notes than I had from my actual Substack posts or sharing on LinkedIn (combined…).
We're making this way too complicated.
The truth hit me: I was spending 95% of my time on the content that brought in 10% of my growth. This was the classic 80/20 principle staring me in the face.
I was investing the majority of my time and energy into activities that were generating the minority of my results. Meanwhile, the quick Notes I was tossing out as an afterthought were driving the bulk of my subscriber growth.
That day, I made a decision that transformed everything: I would flip the equation.
Instead of pouring hours into content that barely moved the needle, I'd reallocate that time to what was actually working. I'd become ruthlessly focused on the 20% of actions driving 80% of my results.
That didn't mean abandoning my newsletter—it meant being smarter about where my energy went. I still wrote my weekly posts, but I stopped obsessing over them. I cut my writing time in half by focusing on quality over quantity and perfectionism.
Then I redirected those freed-up hours to developing a strategic Notes system. Not random Notes whenever inspiration struck, but a deliberate approach based on what the data was telling me actually worked.
It’s like my Newsletter Posts are a coffee shop and my Substack Notes are the sidewalk billboard. They’re an advertising system to bring traffic into my shop.
I developed a dead-simple system:
Write three strategic Notes each day (morning, midday, evening)
Spend no more than 20 minutes total
Track which ones actually bring in subscribers
The results were immediate. Within the first week, I'd gained more subscribers than the entire previous month. Within the first month, my growth rate doubled.
And just this past week? Over 200 new subscribers from Notes alone.
But here's the part most people miss: this wasn't about working harder. It was about working smarter by focusing exclusively on what delivered results.
The system compounds with consistency—and it takes me less time each day than ordering a macchiato at my local coffee shop.
My Obsessive Notes Research Process
After my treadmill epiphany, I went all-in on understanding what makes Substack Notes work.
I became almost embarrassingly obsessive about it.
I created a massive swipe file of successful Notes from writers across different niches. Every time I saw a Note getting exceptional engagement, I'd screenshot it and save it to a dedicated folder, organized by type.
I wasn't just collecting examples—I was studying them like a scientist. What was the hook structure? How long were the sentences? What kind of call-to-action drove the most comments?
Then I took things further.
I started running controlled tests of my own. I'd write a Note that performed well, wait several days, then post an almost identical version to see if the performance held. (Spoiler: it usually did, sometimes even better the second time around).
I tested posting the exact same content at different times—morning, afternoon, evening—to see if timing mattered. Contrary to what most "experts" claim, the time of day had minimal impact on performance compared to the Note structure and type.
I even used AI to help me analyze patterns across my collection of 50+ viral Notes. I wanted to find the hidden commonalities that most writers miss—the subtle structures and approaches that consistently drove engagement regardless of topic.
This wasn't random testing. I tracked everything meticulously:
Views-to-likes ratio
Likes-to-comments ratio
Comments-to-followers conversion
Followers-to-subscribers conversion
Through this rigorous process, clear patterns emerged. The most successful Notes weren't randomly distributed across different styles and approaches.
They clustered around three distinct types.
These weren't just slightly better than other formats—they were exponentially more effective at driving engagement and, ultimately, subscriber growth.
The data was clear: if you wanted to grow on Substack, these three Note types were your fastest path to results.
The Substack Notes Algorithm: Myths vs. Reality
After months of testing and thousands of data points, I've uncovered some surprising truths about how the Substack Notes algorithm actually works.
Let's debunk some common myths first:
Myth #1: You need to post at specific times of day
My tests repeatedly showed that the time of day had minimal impact on Note performance. I posted identical Notes at 7am, 12pm, and 8pm—the engagement differences were negligible. What mattered far more was the Note structure and type.
Myth #2: You need a large following to go viral
Some of my most successful Notes came when I had fewer than 1,000 followers. The algorithm seems to care more about engagement rate than absolute numbers. I've seen Notes from creators with 100 followers outperform those with 10,000+ because the engagement ratio was stronger.
Myth #3: Shorter Notes perform better
The data showed the opposite. Some of my highest-performing Notes were actually quite long. The key is that they provide value. Long stories performed well. And educational posts I turned into long notes also performed well.
Myth #4: You should post once per day maximum
Multiple tests confirmed that posting 2-3 times daily actually increased overall engagement rather than diluting it. The key was varying the Note types throughout the day.
Now, here's what actually matters based on my research:
Reality #1: Early engagement is everything
The first 30-60 minutes after posting are critical. Notes that received comments and likes in this window were significantly more likely to be shown to a wider audience. This suggests the algorithm uses early engagement as a quality signal.
Reality #2: Comments outweigh likes
Notes with 10 comments and 20 likes consistently outperformed Notes with 5 comments and 50 likes in terms of new followers gained. The algorithm heavily favors conversation over passive engagement. (PS: this is why “community” notes do well…)
Reality #3: The algorithm rewards consistency
When I started posting regularly (2-3 times daily), my overall Note performance improved across the board. It wasn't just about individual Notes but establishing a pattern of reliable engagement.
Reality #4: Format matters more than you think
Notes with clear visual hierarchy—short paragraphs, strategic bold text, and bullet points—consistently outperformed wall-of-text Notes, even when the content was identical. The algorithm seems to factor in how long people spend reading your Note.
Understanding these realities transformed my approach. Instead of following generic advice about posting times or length, I focused exclusively on what the data showed actually worked: creating highly engaging, visually scannable Notes that sparked conversation.
And that led me to develop a simple structural framework that I now use for every Note I create.
The 3 Viral Note Types That Consistently Drive Growth
My research revealed a fascinating pattern. Across different niches, audiences, and even writing styles, three specific Note types consistently outperformed all others. These weren't just marginally better—they generated 2-5x more engagement and subscriber conversions than any other formats I tested.
Here's the breakdown of these three power formats:
1. Community/Introduction Notes
These Notes create space for connection and visibility. They invite participation and make people feel seen in a platform that can often feel isolating for newer writers.
Here's what a simple Community Note looks like:
"If you've been here writing for at least 3 months, you're already in the top 10%.
We want to support you. Introduce yourself with a link to your Substack 👇🏼
Far too many talented writers quit just before their breakthrough. Keep showing up. Keep writing. ✍️"
That's it. No complexity. No fancy formatting. Just an invitation to participate.
Why do these Notes outperform almost everything else?
First, people naturally want to share their work. We all crave recognition for what we create. When you provide a legitimate space for people to promote themselves (that doesn't feel spammy), they'll jump at the opportunity.
Second, these Notes create engagement flywheels. More comments mean more visibility in the Substack algorithm. More visibility means more followers. More followers mean more potential subscribers.
A single Community Note I posted last week generated:
256 comments (and still growing)
15 restacks
50+ new followers
37 new subscribers
All from a Note that took me exactly 47 seconds to write.
The best part? These Notes keep working long after you post them. People continue to discover them through the comment section, creating a compounding effect that can bring in subscribers for weeks.
Best time to post: Mornings, when people are fresh and looking to connect
2. Educational Notes
These Notes deliver one clear, actionable insight. Not comprehensive guides. Not ten-step processes. Just one thing that works, explained clearly.
Here's an example:
"My Substack engagement jumped 5X when I started following a consistent plan:
✅ Write 2 specific types of Notes daily
✅ Publish 2 helpful posts every week
✅ Focus on solving audience problems
✅ Build a community-first newsletter
Following this simple, sustainable strategy helped me cross 6,000+ subscribers in 6 months.
My advice? Stay focused. Stay consistent. Stay generous."
Notice the structure:
Specific result (5X engagement)
Simple bullet points (scannable)
Proof (6,000+ subscribers)
Short takeaway
Here’s another example:
These Notes work because they deliver immediate value in a digestible format. They position you as a helpful guide rather than just another voice shouting for attention.
The mistake most writers make is trying to cram too much into a single Educational Note. Your goal isn't to be comprehensive—it's to deliver one valuable insight so clearly that people can't help but engage with it.
My highest-performing Educational Notes have driven:
20-30 new followers per Note
10-20 new subscribers per Note
Significant restacks (expanding reach beyond my immediate network)
3. Motivational/Inspirational Notes
These Notes tap into emotion. They provide encouragement, perspective, or a reminder of why the writing journey matters.
Here's a simple example:
This Note simply talked about the potential of growing a newsletter in a practical way.
These Notes work because they create an emotional connection. In a world full of tactical advice and how-to guides, sometimes what writers need most is encouragement to keep going.
The key with Motivational Notes is authenticity. These aren't about empty platitudes or generic inspiration quotes. They're about sharing genuine perspective from your own journey.
My most successful Motivational Notes have:
Generated comment threads (often with writers sharing their own stories)
Created strong emotional connections with readers
Led to direct messages thanking me for the encouragement
Converted casual followers into dedicated subscribers
When you combine these three Note types into a daily rotation, you create a powerful growth engine that addresses different needs at different times. Community Notes build connections, Educational Notes demonstrate your expertise, and Motivational Notes create emotional bonds.
This isn't about posting random content and hoping for the best. It's about deliberately creating the right type of Note for the right purpose—and doing it consistently enough that the results compound over time.
The Hook-Body-CTA Formula That Makes Notes Irresistible
Ever wonder why some Notes get ignored while others explode with engagement?
It's not random. And it's definitely not about length—some of my highest-performing Notes are just a few sentences long.
The secret is structure. Specifically, the Hook-Body-CTA formula that I use for every single Note:
The Hook
The first sentence of your Note is everything. If it doesn't stop the scroll, nothing else matters.
My best-performing hooks fall into a few categories:
The Contrarian Statement: "Consistency is killing your newsletter." "Most writing advice is making you worse."
The Specific Result: "I gained 127 subscribers last week using this one Note format." "This 3-line email subject line doubled my open rates."
The Intriguing Question: "What if everything you've been told about growing your audience is wrong?" "Why do some writers grow 10X faster with half the effort?"
Your hook should create immediate curiosity or tension that can only be resolved by reading further. No setup, no preamble—just straight to the point.
The Body
Once you've captured attention, deliver value immediately. The body of your Note should be:
Scannable - Use white space generously
Specific - One clear point, not five vague ones
Visual - Strategic bold and bullet points guide the eye
The mistake most writers make is trying to cram too much into a single Note. Your goal isn't to be comprehensive—it's to deliver one valuable insight so clearly that people can't help but engage with it.
For most Notes, keep paragraphs to 1-2 sentences. Use bullet points for lists. Bold key phrases you want to emphasize.
Think of your Note as a highway billboard, not a textbook. People are scrolling quickly—make your point impossible to miss.
The CTA
Every Note needs a clear next step. But here's where most writers get it wrong: your CTA shouldn't be about subscribing.
The most effective CTAs on Notes are simply inviting a conversation:
Questions that invite response: "What's one writing rule you've broken that actually worked for you?" "Share your biggest Substack win in the comments below."
Specific challenges: "Try this format in your next Note and let me know what happens." "Post a link to your Substack below so others can discover you."
Ask a Question: "Am I the only one that feels this way?” “If you were me, what would you say?”
Only about 5% (or less) of my Notes directly mention my newsletter. The rest focus on building engagement and community first. The subscribers follow naturally when you've established trust.
This Hook-Body-CTA structure takes practice, but once you internalize it, you can craft high-performing Notes in minutes rather than hours. I often write mine while walking on the treadmill, waiting for coffee, or during the five minutes before a meeting starts.
Remember: One great Note can bring more subscribers than an entire newsletter post. Make each one count.
The Reuse Strategy That Multiplied My Results
One of the most surprising discoveries in my Notes research came almost by accident.
I had posted a Community Note inviting writers to introduce themselves, which generated a lot of engagement. A few days later, I was rushing to post something and decided to just repost my Note from a few days prior.
I expected mediocre results—surely people would recognize the repetition and engage less.
I was completely wrong.
The second Note performed almost identically to the first one. In fact, in some metrics, it performed even better.
This led me to one of my most valuable insights: Notes can be reused effectively.
I began testing this systematically. I'd take high-performing Notes and repost variations 7-10 days later. The results were consistent:
First posting: 42 likes, 28 comments, 9 new subscribers
Second posting (9 days later): 38 likes, 31 comments, 11 new subscribers
Third posting (12 days after second): 45 likes, 22 comments, 7 new subscribers
This flew in the face of conventional wisdom about "fresh content" being king. The Substack Notes ecosystem doesn't seem to penalize strategic repetition the way other platforms might.
Why does this work?
First, the Notes feed moves quickly. Most people won't see every Note you post, so repetition helps reach different segments of your potential audience.
Second, the Substack audience is constantly growing. A Note you post today will reach an entirely different subset of users than the same Note posted two weeks later.
Third, people respond to different variations of the same core idea. What resonates with one person might not with another, but the underlying concept still works.
I developed a simple reuse framework:
Identify your top-performing Notes for each type (Community, Educational, Motivational)
Create 2-3 variations of each, changing the:
Hook (different opening line)
Formatting (bullets vs. paragraphs)
Call to action (different question or invitation)
Rotate through these variations on a 10-14 day cycle
Track which variations perform best for future optimization
This approach allowed me to build a library of proven Note templates—formats I knew would perform well based on actual data.
Instead of reinventing the wheel daily, I could focus on slight improvements to proven winners. This reduced my creation time from 30+ minutes to under 10 minutes per Note.
The reuse strategy transformed my Notes workflow from a daily creative struggle to a systematic process that consistently delivers results.
The takeaway? Don't overthink each Note. Find what works and iterate on it. The algorithm rewards consistency more than constant novelty.
The 80/20 Principle: Working Smarter, Not Harder
The most profound realization from my Notes research wasn't just about what types of content worked best—it was about time allocation.
When I analyzed where my subscribers were actually coming from, I discovered a stark imbalance:
80% of my growth came from Notes (20% of my time investment)
20% of my growth came from newsletters (80% of my time investment)
I was living the classic Pareto Principle in reverse—investing the majority of my time and energy into activities that were generating the minority of my results.
This wasn't just inefficient. It was exhausting.
I was spending 5-6 hours crafting the "perfect" newsletter post that might bring in 10-15 subscribers. Meanwhile, I was tossing out Notes as an afterthought in 10 minutes that were consistently bringing in 20-30 subscribers each.
The math was undeniable:
Newsletter: 6 hours → 15 subscribers = 2.5 subscribers per hour Notes: 1 hour (6 Notes) → 60 subscribers = 60 subscribers per hour
That's a 24X difference in efficiency.
Once I saw this clearly, I made a radical shift in my approach. I didn't abandon my newsletter—it still provides value to my existing subscribers. But I completely reallocated my time and energy:
Before:
Newsletter writing: 15-20 hours weekly
Social media promotion: 5-7 hours weekly
Notes: 1-2 hours weekly (random posting)
After:
Newsletter writing: 6-8 hours weekly (focused on quality over quantity)
Social media promotion: 2 hours weekly (only the platforms that convert)
Notes: 5 hours weekly (strategic, consistent system)
The results of this reallocation were immediate and dramatic. My growth rate doubled without working any additional hours. In fact, I was working fewer total hours but seeing better results.
This isn't about working harder—it's about working smarter.
Most Substack writers are trapped in the same pattern I was. They're investing enormous amounts of time in activities with diminishing returns while underinvesting in the very things that would drive exponential growth.
The 80/20 principle asks a simple question: Which 20% of your efforts are generating 80% of your results?
For me, the answer was clear: Substack Notes.
By reallocating my time to focus on this high-leverage activity, I transformed my growth trajectory without adding a single minute to my workweek.
The question isn't whether you have time for Notes—it's whether you can afford to waste time on lower-leverage activities instead.
The 20-Minute Notes System in Practice
Let me break down exactly how I implement this system day-to-day. The beauty of this approach is its simplicity and low time commitment.
Here's my daily Notes routine:
Morning Note
I start each day with a Community Note. These are the easiest to create because they follow a simple formula: pose an invitation for people to introduce themselves or share their work.
My morning treadmill session is perfect for this. I'll review what's happening in the Substack world (any platform updates, trending topics, or common pain points) and craft a Note that creates space for connection.
Examples I rotate through:
"Introduce yourself and share your Substack link below..."
"What are you working on this week? Share your latest..."
"Drop your best performing post from last month so we can all learn..."
I keep a swipe file of my top-performing Community Notes and simply rotate through variations, changing the hook and specific invitation slightly each time.
Total time: 5-7 minutes
Midday Note
During lunch or a coffee break, I'll create an Educational Note. These require slightly more thought since they need to deliver specific, actionable value.
I use a simple system:
Check my "content ideas" note where I capture insights throughout the week
Select one specific tip or strategy that's working well
Format it with clear bullets or steps
Add a simple hook that emphasizes results
End with a question that invites application or feedback
I'm not trying to teach everything I know. Just one clear insight that writers can implement immediately.
Total time: 7-10 minutes
Evening Note
To close the day, I'll post a Motivational Note during my evening wind-down. These are often the quickest to create because they tap into universal emotions and experiences.
I'll reflect on a challenge I've overcome, a mindset shift that helped me, or a simple truth about the writing journey. These Notes are more personal and aim to create emotional connection.
Sometimes these include a simple graphic or quote that resonates with writers. The key is authenticity—sharing genuine perspective rather than empty platitudes.
Total time: 5 minutes
Weekly Tracking
The final piece is simple tracking. I keep a spreadsheet where I note:
Type of Note
Time posted
Initial 60-minute engagement (likes, comments)
24-hour follower gain
48-hour subscriber conversion
This takes me literally 5 minutes per day but provides invaluable data on what's working specifically for my audience.
Total daily time investment: 20-25 minutes
For this minimal time investment, I'm consistently seeing 10-30+ new subscribers daily. Compare that to the 5-6 hours I used to spend on a newsletter post that might bring in 10-15 subscribers total.
The system compounds with consistency. Some days bring modest gains of 5-10 subscribers. Others spike to 50+. But over time, the trend is consistently upward.
What makes this system truly powerful is its sustainability. It doesn't require massive time blocks. It doesn't lead to burnout. It's something you can actually maintain long-term while still having a life outside of Substack.
This isn't about posting more—it's about posting smarter.
Why Most Substack Writers Overcomplicate Growth
We're making this whole Substack thing way too complicated.
I see it everywhere: elaborate content calendars, complex growth strategies, multi-channel promotion plans, SEO optimization, guest posting schedules, cross-platform syndication...
Writers are drowning in tactics while missing the fundamental truth: Simple systems maintained consistently will outperform complex systems every time.
When I talk to struggling Substack writers, I notice a pattern. They're trying to do everything:
Write long-form newsletters
Post daily on Twitter/X
Create content for LinkedIn
Record podcast episodes
Build a presence on Notes
Guest write for other publications
Optimize for SEO
Run ads
They spread themselves thin across multiple platforms, multiple content types, and multiple growth strategies. The result? Mediocre performance everywhere and burnout within months.
Here's what changed everything for me: radical simplification.
I stripped away everything but the essential. For 90 days, I focused almost exclusively on:
My weekly newsletter (one to two high-quality post)
My daily Notes routine (three strategic Notes)
That's it besides my regular posts on LinkedIn. No creating videos for Instagram or TikTok. No Twitter threads. No complicated promotion strategies.
Just consistent delivery of value through fewer focused channels.
The results weren't just better—they were exponentially better. By eliminating the complexity, I:
Reclaimed hours of time each week
Maintained consistent quality
Developed genuine connections with readers
Actually enjoyed creating content again
Most importantly, I started seeing predictable, sustainable growth.
Why does simplicity work so well?
First, it's sustainable. Complex systems fail because humans can't maintain them over time. A 20-minute daily Notes habit? That's something you can actually stick with.
Second, it's focused. When you pour all your creative energy into two channels instead of six, the quality inevitably improves.
Third, it builds meaningful connections. Rather than broadcasting everywhere, you're creating deeper engagement in fewer places.
I've watched writers with elaborate growth strategies gain 50 subscribers in a month while burning themselves out. Meanwhile, others with simple, consistent approaches quietly add 200+ with a fraction of the effort.
The 20-minute Notes system isn't just about saving time—it's about focusing your energy where it actually matters.
Substack isn't about who creates the most content or who has the most complicated strategy. It's about who shows up, adds value, and builds connections—day after day, week after week.
The simplest path is usually the most sustainable. And on Substack, sustainability is everything.
The Simple Truth About Substack Notes
Let's be real for a moment.
Growing a Substack doesn't need to be complicated. We make it harder than it actually is.
Throughout this post, I've shared my journey from writing Substack posts that few people read to discovering the power of strategic Notes. I've shown you how I gain subscribers daily with just 20 minutes of focused effort—sometimes even bringing in 100+ new subscribers in a matter of days.
The heart of this approach is simple: three strategic Notes posted throughout the day.
A morning Community Note that creates connection. A midday Educational Note that delivers value. An evening Motivational Note that builds personal relationships.
Each one takes less than 10 minutes to write. Each one consistently brings new subscribers into my world.
No complex systems. No elaborate promotion strategies. Just showing up daily with value and creating space for others to connect.
What I've found most surprising isn't how effective this approach is—it's how few writers are actually using it. Most are still grinding away at long-form content that nobody sees while overlooking the simplest path to growth.
The truth is your success on Substack won't come from doing more. It will come from doing the right things consistently.
Write Notes that create community. Format them for maximum impact. Engage authentically with those who respond. The subscribers will follow naturally.
📌 Ready to Master Substack Notes? Join the Notes Growth Workshop
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If you're ready to build genuine connections with other Substackers...
If you want to tap into one of the most powerful growth tools on Substack...
I've created the Substack Notes Growth Workshop to help you implement everything you've learned in this post, step by step.
Inside the workshop, you'll discover:
My complete system for growing by 10-30+ new subscribers per day
The exact templates I use for all three high-performing Note types
My proven approach for converting engagement into subscribers
A detailed breakdown of what makes Notes go viral on Substack
The simple tracking system that helps you optimize for your specific audience
This isn't theoretical advice. It's the exact system I've used to grow my Substack to thousands of subscribers in a matter of months, and now I'm sharing it with you.
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An excellent complication of notes strategy. As journalist I always appreciate the research you do to support the suggestions you provide.
The thing I'm curious about is if notes actually work for people who don't write newsletters about how to write (or market/brand/sell yourself). Essentially, Substack is a platform for writers, but if you're not writing for writers, but (in my case) triathletes, or history buffs, fashion mavens, photographers, or fiction lovers, can the notes strategy be that useful?
I'm not sure. I have gained new followers from notes, but it doesn't seem like it's where the majority of what I would consider to be (my core readers) hang out.
great article so easy to digest!