Thank you very much, Wes! I've only been on Substack for less than 20 days and found your article interesting and helpful. With all the pressure to arise, go forth, and conquer within social platforms, I appreciate how you are paying attention to building community, offering helpful advice, and providing encouragement no matter where a person is on their Substack journey. I wish you the very best on your life's journey, and thank you for taking the time, effort, and care to write and share this information. 💖
Love this take! After coming here from TikTok and LinkedIn, I’ve had a lot of the thoughts you outlined here, especially the fact that so many writers on here have gotten traction because 1. They were established well before SS or 2. They mainly post growth content that so many of us new creators are on a desperate search for. So many parallels to the coaching industry.
Substack definitely has its challenges, like any platform, and I love that you’re speaking on it.
Having built a substantial following on TikTok for silly shallow content, I am eager to build a community here around my deeper thoughts. Thank you for sharing this encouragement to keep going despite the uphill climb.
Thank you for this excellent summary of your Substack experience, Wes. I feel so validated! I loved this honest review, which resonated with my experience thus far, and particularly your insight about the comments being full of depth. I have noticed this as well. Substack is for real readers.
I’ve been enjoying your posts and Notes here for some time, and you are one of the few writers I always read when you land in my inbox! I have found Substack to be the place where I can finally do the thing I love - write! - while never fearing negative judgement (people only connect when they have something generous and/or interesting to say, I find) nor feeling the pressure to ‘ramp up’, monetise, get a gazillion likes. Typically, I get a few comments from regular readers and I love this sense of building community.
One day, I would like to look more carefully at how I might grow some small income from writing and creating digital products (I teach online so I have the know-how!), and I’ll definitely be signing up to your workshop for inspiration!
Thanks for sharing everything you do with such generosity - and a total lack of salesy BS! 😊
Thank you for this beautiful advice on building momentum! As a new Substacker with just 13 subscribers after my first month, I'm living in that "deafening silence" you described so perfectly.
What's surprised me most is the unexpected freedom I've found here. After feeling stifled by Facebook and Instagram's algorithms, Substack has become this little sanctuary where I can write from my heart without filters. Starting from absolute zero (no audience to bring over!) has been humbling, but there's something deeply fulfilling about this space that feels entirely mine.
Your post resonated so deeply because you truly understand this journey. The freedom to be authentically myself has been worth every moment of that silence, though I'd certainly love to connect with more readers!
I'm hitting the recommend button because every new writer here needs your wisdom. You'll be my first recommend ever (still figuring out how this all works, haha)!
My newsletter is "The Sovereign Feminine" where I explore sovereignty and femininity in our lives. Truly grateful our paths crossed—it feels like perfect timing as I find my voice here.
Really good post! About the discovery limitations, Medium is older than Substack so I wonder if the reason Medium allows for more discovery is because they already have writers. Substack might be trying to get writers onboard first, then to make it easier for readers to find newsletters.
Not sure who pressured you to go paid, but I’m super disappointed it’s happening. I just went through your digital product course and that was the first thing I wrote down - don’t go the paid route. I don’t want to ask you to justify yourself, but I am genuinely curious - why the turnabout?
Great article. Very helpful. I joined a coupla weeks ago. My head's spinning. Getting subscribers ain't easy. I'm not in it for the bucks. I just wanna share my thoughts with other writers and creators.
Thank you very much, Wes! I've only been on Substack for less than 20 days and found your article interesting and helpful. With all the pressure to arise, go forth, and conquer within social platforms, I appreciate how you are paying attention to building community, offering helpful advice, and providing encouragement no matter where a person is on their Substack journey. I wish you the very best on your life's journey, and thank you for taking the time, effort, and care to write and share this information. 💖
well put.
Thank you.💖
Love this and can so relate. Great post 👍
Love this take! After coming here from TikTok and LinkedIn, I’ve had a lot of the thoughts you outlined here, especially the fact that so many writers on here have gotten traction because 1. They were established well before SS or 2. They mainly post growth content that so many of us new creators are on a desperate search for. So many parallels to the coaching industry.
Substack definitely has its challenges, like any platform, and I love that you’re speaking on it.
Brilliant - love this! 💙
Thanks for putting this together Wes. I think it was a valuable and insightful read.
Also, if no one has told you this yet - your writing is really good. The layout in your posts make it easy to read and follow. Thanks!
Having built a substantial following on TikTok for silly shallow content, I am eager to build a community here around my deeper thoughts. Thank you for sharing this encouragement to keep going despite the uphill climb.
Hi Wes,
Although I didn't read all your article I got a good idea of what is about.
Yes Substack has many talented writers.
My 6 months were focused more on engaging and connecting with people through notes .
I have 27 subscribers and I'm okay with that.
I will never press the pay button to limit their experience unless I offer a new product or something.
You have valuable knowledge and your audience likes it and that's what matters.
God bless.
Thank you for this excellent summary of your Substack experience, Wes. I feel so validated! I loved this honest review, which resonated with my experience thus far, and particularly your insight about the comments being full of depth. I have noticed this as well. Substack is for real readers.
I’ve been enjoying your posts and Notes here for some time, and you are one of the few writers I always read when you land in my inbox! I have found Substack to be the place where I can finally do the thing I love - write! - while never fearing negative judgement (people only connect when they have something generous and/or interesting to say, I find) nor feeling the pressure to ‘ramp up’, monetise, get a gazillion likes. Typically, I get a few comments from regular readers and I love this sense of building community.
One day, I would like to look more carefully at how I might grow some small income from writing and creating digital products (I teach online so I have the know-how!), and I’ll definitely be signing up to your workshop for inspiration!
Thanks for sharing everything you do with such generosity - and a total lack of salesy BS! 😊
Thank you for this beautiful advice on building momentum! As a new Substacker with just 13 subscribers after my first month, I'm living in that "deafening silence" you described so perfectly.
What's surprised me most is the unexpected freedom I've found here. After feeling stifled by Facebook and Instagram's algorithms, Substack has become this little sanctuary where I can write from my heart without filters. Starting from absolute zero (no audience to bring over!) has been humbling, but there's something deeply fulfilling about this space that feels entirely mine.
Your post resonated so deeply because you truly understand this journey. The freedom to be authentically myself has been worth every moment of that silence, though I'd certainly love to connect with more readers!
I'm hitting the recommend button because every new writer here needs your wisdom. You'll be my first recommend ever (still figuring out how this all works, haha)!
My newsletter is "The Sovereign Feminine" where I explore sovereignty and femininity in our lives. Truly grateful our paths crossed—it feels like perfect timing as I find my voice here.
With heartfelt thanks,
Jennifer
Really good post! About the discovery limitations, Medium is older than Substack so I wonder if the reason Medium allows for more discovery is because they already have writers. Substack might be trying to get writers onboard first, then to make it easier for readers to find newsletters.
This is my go to publication for advice on growing my Foodie newsletter - Thanks Wes! ☮️❤️🍷
This was really helpful, thank you, especially for a newbie like me!
Not sure who pressured you to go paid, but I’m super disappointed it’s happening. I just went through your digital product course and that was the first thing I wrote down - don’t go the paid route. I don’t want to ask you to justify yourself, but I am genuinely curious - why the turnabout?
Great article. Very helpful. I joined a coupla weeks ago. My head's spinning. Getting subscribers ain't easy. I'm not in it for the bucks. I just wanna share my thoughts with other writers and creators.