The Daily Substack Routine That Generates 20+ Subscribers Per Day
The simple system that consistently attracts new subscribers—without viral content, social media hustle, or spending hours creating posts
Today, I’ve been looking over analytics the last few weeks and it’s a pattern that’s becoming quite steady.
20-30+ new subscribers per day.
Six months ago, I'd be lucky to get 3-5 new subscribers on a good day. Most days it was 0-2, and I'd refresh my dashboard obsessively hoping something would change.
But here's what shifted everything: I stopped treating Substack growth like a hobby and started treating it like a system.
I developed a daily routine that takes me less than 45 minutes total but consistently generates 20+ subscribers per day. Not through viral moments or luck, but through simple, repeatable actions that compound over time.
The best part? It's not overwhelming. I'm not hustling 3-4 hours a day or posting everywhere constantly. I found what works and I do it consistently.
Let me show you exactly what that routine looks like.
Why Most Writers Are Stuck Playing the Growth Lottery
Here's the problem with how most people approach Substack growth: they treat it like a lottery ticket instead of a growth process.
They write a great post, publish it, and then... wait.
Maybe they share it once on social media. Maybe they mention it to a few friends. Then they hope the Substack algorithm magically discovers their brilliance.
When growth doesn't happen immediately, they get discouraged and post less frequently. When they do post, they put all their energy into writing the "perfect" piece instead of consistently showing up.
Meanwhile, they're completely ignoring the growth tools that are built right into the platform. Notes sits there unused. The recommendation system goes untapped. Community engagement gets pushed to "when I have time."
The result? Slow, frustrating growth that makes you question whether this whole newsletter thing is worth it.
But here's what I learned: consistent daily actions beat perfect weekly posts every single time.
The 30/70 Rule That Changed My Entire Approach
I used to think great writing was enough. Write something valuable, publish it, and readers would naturally find it.
That's not how it works.
The writers who grow fast understand that writing is only about 30% of the equation. The other 70% is visibility, relationship building, and community engagement.
When I shifted from "I hope people find my content" to "I'm going to make sure people see my content," everything changed.
It's not about being pushy or salesy. It's about being intentionally present where your ideal readers already spend their time.
How 30 Days of Experiments Led to 20+ Daily Subscribers
Three months into my Substack restart, I was averaging maybe 5 to 10 new subscribers per week. I was writing quality posts, but they were getting buried in the noise.
Then I started paying attention to the writers who were growing fast. I noticed they weren't just publishing weekly posts—they were active in Notes daily, commenting on other writers' content, building relationships.
So I decided to experiment. For 30 days, I'd commit to a specific daily routine focused on visibility and community building, not just content creation.
The results were immediate…
Week one: 47 new subscribers
Week two: 68
By week four, I was consistently hitting 20+ per day
The routine I developed during that experiment is the same one I use today. It's the foundation of everything I've built since then.
My 45-Minute Growth System (Broken Down by Time Blocks)
Here's my exact routine that generates 20+ subscribers per day. You can adapt this to fit your schedule, but the key is consistency:
Morning Block (15 minutes): The Strategic Notes Launch
I start each day by publishing 2 Notes. Not random thoughts—strategic content that serves my audience.
Note 1: Quick insight or tip related to my niche. Something immediately useful that takes 30 seconds to read but provides real value.
Note 2: Behind-the-scenes or community note. What I'm working on, a lesson I learned, or a question for my audience. Or a chance for others to share their posts.
The key is variety. One Note educates, one Note builds connection. This combination keeps my audience engaged and attracts new readers consistently.
Midday Block (20 minutes): The Community Connection
This is where most writers fail. They post their content and disappear.
I spend the first 10 minutes actively engaging with other writers' Notes and posts. Not just liking—actually commenting with thoughtful responses. Sharing others' work when it's genuinely valuable.
This isn't networking for the sake of networking. It's genuinely supporting other creators while building visibility for my own work.
The second 10 minutes is what I call strategic engagement. I take my best-performing Notes from previous weeks and reshare them. Seriously, most people won't remember seeing it, and new followers definitely haven't.
I also share one piece of someone else's content that my audience would find valuable. This builds goodwill and positions me as someone who curates quality content, not just promotes myself.
Evening Block (10 minutes): The Relationship Builder
I respond to some of the comments on my notes and posts from that day. This takes maybe 5-10 minutes, but it builds genuine relationships with my most engaged readers.
I also send one personalized message or comment to a writer I want to build a relationship with. Not asking for anything—just genuine connection. This often leads to us swapping recommendations (which is another natural growth tactic).
The Compound Effect That Most Writers Never See Coming
This routine works because it hits all the growth levers simultaneously:
Visibility: Two daily Notes keep me consistently in front of my audience and potential new readers.
Value: Every piece of content I share provides immediate value, which makes people want to follow for more.
Relationships: Active engagement builds real connections with other writers who often recommend my newsletter to their audiences.
Consistency: Showing up daily builds momentum and trust. People start recognizing my name and voice.
Discovery: Notes has incredible discovery potential. When other writers engage with my Notes, their audiences see them too.
The compound effect is real. Each day builds on the previous day. Each relationship leads to more relationships. Each Note increases the chances of being discovered by new readers.
Systems Beat Luck Every Single Time
Six months ago, I was frustrated with slow growth and wondering if I was wasting my time building a newsletter.
Today, I consistently gain 20+ subscribers per day with less than 45 minutes of daily effort.
The difference wasn't writing better content (though that helps). It was developing a system that ensures my content gets seen by the right people consistently.
You don't need viral moments or lucky breaks. You need a system you can repeat every day that gradually builds momentum.
Your breakthrough isn't about creating the perfect post. It's about showing up consistently with a plan.
Get the Complete Growth Blueprint (with These Extra Bonuses to Help)
This daily routine is just one part of the complete growth system I teach in my Six Figure Substack Growth Masterclass. Inside, you'll get the full breakdown of how to build a sustainable newsletter business that grows consistently without burning you out.
But since these bonuses end this weekend, when you join the masterclass right now, you're also getting:
My Personal Substack Swipe File (the exact templates behind my highest-performing posts and Notes)
My $1K Digital Product Roadmap (step-by-step guide to make your first $1,000 with a digital product)
My Newsletter Freedom Workshop (advanced strategies for sustainable growth and monetization)
All of this is waiting inside Module 1 when you login. You can join 100’s of writers inside the Substack Growth Masterclass below:
I'm also putting my Substack Notes Growth Workshop on sale through this weekend only. This is where I break down the exact Notes strategy that generates most of my daily subscriber growth—including the templates, timing, and engagement tactics that actually work.
Let’s stop hoping for growth. Let’s start systemizing it.
The writers who succeed aren't the ones who get lucky—they're the ones who show up consistently with a plan that actually works.
Yes you write note is really the gold mine I have 50 plus subscribers now as a new writer just from note alone
I just took a look at your notes feed and noticed many of them seem to be repeated. Repeats have different heart and comment counts, so im guessing part of your strategy is reposting your best performers frequently? Just curious if that's an intentional strategy ...