The Simple 80/20 Strategy That Added 910 Subscribers to My Substack in 30 Days

I've been working hard over here growing my Substack and preparing for some digital product updates.

It had me reflecting on everything we’ve accomplished in the last few months, especially these recent milestones: 910 new subscribers in just the last 30 days and hitting over 9,000 total subscribers. ::cheers::

9,000+ subscribers feels wild. It honestly feels like we just celebrated hitting 8,000.

But I couldn't do it without you all (obviously). You are this Substack.

The Substack community has been incredible—from fellow writers who've shared my posts to readers who engage with my content and spread the word. The collaborative spirit here is unlike anything I've experienced on other platforms.

I want you to know that I'm in your corner, too.

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The Reality Check: Burnout Happens (And That's Okay)

Here's an honest moment: about a month ago, I got a bit burnt out with Substack. I hit it hard when I started and gained good momentum, but then I inevitably hit that wall where everything felt like a grind.

THIS IS TOTALLY NORMAL and I guarantee it'll hit you too.

Know that this is okay and part of the process. The key is to take a break when you need to. Your Substack will be there.

Then, keep writing and push through, but more importantly, recognize when you need to adjust your approach. Because I did.

What I realized after this burnout phase is that if I was going to continue growing my Substack, I needed to do this sustainably. There's no point in building something that burns you out completely.

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The 80/20 Discovery That Changed Everything

Here's what clicked for me: there are 100+ ways you can grow your Substack, but you need to use the 80/20 rule. You need to identify the 20% of your tasks that are driving 80% of your results.

For me, that turned out to be:

• Substack Notes (my biggest growth driver)

• Building relationships for Recommendations

• Writing quality content that gets shared naturally

• Creating content that people find organically through search

(Subscribers do find me through LinkedIn, too. But I’ve realized it’s on the lower end.)

Once I focused on these core activities instead of trying to be everywhere at once, my growth accelerated while my stress decreased.

And here's what's encouraging for you: these strategies are accessible to everyone. You can write Notes. You can build relationships with other writers. You can create valuable content that people want to share.

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5-Step Mini Masterclass: Grow Your Substack in the Next 30 Days

If you're brand new to Substack or struggling to gain traction, here's exactly what you should focus on:

Step 1: Master Substack Notes (Your Growth Foundation)

Notes are the fastest way to get discovered on Substack. Start engaging authentically with other writers' Notes daily. Share your own insights, ask questions, and be genuinely helpful. I spend 15-20 minutes per day on Notes and it drives more subscribers than any other single activity.

Step 2: Build Relationships for Recommendations

This isn't about networking—it's about genuine connection. Read other newsletters in your space, engage thoughtfully, and build real relationships. When writers know and trust you, they're more likely to recommend your newsletter to their audience.

Step 3: Create Shareable, Quality Content

Write posts that people actually want to forward to their friends. Focus on solving real problems, sharing actionable insights, or telling compelling stories. The best growth hack is simply writing something worth sharing.

Step 4: Optimize for Organic Discovery

Write with search in mind. Use clear, descriptive titles. Answer questions people are actually searching for. Some of my biggest growth days come from people finding my content through Google months after I published it.

Step 5: Stay Consistent Without Burning Out

Pick a publishing schedule you can maintain long-term. It's better to publish one great post per week consistently than to burn out trying to post daily. Sustainability beats intensity every time.

Bonus: Solve Problems Only You Can Solve

Here's the secret that separates growing newsletters from stagnant ones: write content that solves people's problems in a way that only you can solve them.

Get acquainted with your audience's real challenges, then find your unique angle—your personal experience, your specific expertise, your particular perspective. When you combine problem-solving with your unique voice and approach, you start building an audience for life, not just casual readers.

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You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

I want you to know that you don't have to navigate Substack growth by yourself. I'm right here with you.

That's why I put together my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass—so you don't have to figure out sustainable growth strategies through trial and error like I did.

It’s wild that 100’s of writers have now taken this masterclass. I get DMs every week thanking me for creating something so easy to replicate (and affordable).

Inside, you'll get the complete system I use to consistently grow my newsletter, including my exact Notes strategy, relationship-building templates, content frameworks that get shared, and the sustainable posting schedule that prevents burnout while maximizing growth.

This isn't just theory—it's the exact playbook I used to add those 910 subscribers in 30 days, and the same strategies that took me from 0 to over 9,000 subscribers in less than a year.

You don't have to do this alone. I'm right here with you. Join below:

Keep Writing, Wes

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Question: Are you new to Substack or have you been writing here for awhile?

Let’s start a bit of a “boost” in the comments. Share with us what you write about and drop a link to your best Substack post. Then, read through and find someone new to follow and subscriber.

This is one of the best ways to find new, fresh voices and expand your Substack bookcase.