'If you publish a post and do nothing else, almost nobody will see it' — I can confirm this with data. 3 posts published in my first month, zero subscribers from any of them. Every single organic subscriber came from comments on other publications. The posts didn't bring people in — the conversations did. Starting Month 2 of my growth experiment today with daily consistency as the variable. Month 1 was the messy version. Let's see what showing up every day actually changes.
This is exactly part of my struggle. I started on Substack a couple of months ago, but I think I even started several years ago on and off. I came back because I was missing the blogging piece, but I unearthed my old blog and I thought I don’t write like that anymore nor do I want to.
In 2004, blogging was just for blogging sake. I don’t remember they’re being an algorithm and I don’t remember people making money from their blogs. I just remember we would share ideas on Twitter and write about the marathons we ran.
So yes, I treated this as a blog initially thank you for this post
You say the Substack algorithm focuses on helping writers grow their list because they make money when writers make money.
That leads me to wonder if Substack’s algorithm favors writers of paid newsletters over writers of unpaid newsletters. Have you researched this?
I had the same question!
'If you publish a post and do nothing else, almost nobody will see it' — I can confirm this with data. 3 posts published in my first month, zero subscribers from any of them. Every single organic subscriber came from comments on other publications. The posts didn't bring people in — the conversations did. Starting Month 2 of my growth experiment today with daily consistency as the variable. Month 1 was the messy version. Let's see what showing up every day actually changes.
I never saw it as a blog from Day 1. I saw it as a window to a brand new world for me.
Thanks. So helpful for a newbie like me. I'm about to do my first note!
If someone calls their Substack publication a blog, it’s an immediate no for me.
Hi Wes,
Did you send out the Notes Challenge for Day 4? I never received it. Can you resend it please? Thank you. -Elena
This is exactly part of my struggle. I started on Substack a couple of months ago, but I think I even started several years ago on and off. I came back because I was missing the blogging piece, but I unearthed my old blog and I thought I don’t write like that anymore nor do I want to.
In 2004, blogging was just for blogging sake. I don’t remember they’re being an algorithm and I don’t remember people making money from their blogs. I just remember we would share ideas on Twitter and write about the marathons we ran.
So yes, I treated this as a blog initially thank you for this post
Hi Wes, if I could only get one of the two which would you recommend - the notes workshop or the masterclass? Thanks!