There's one mistake I see over and over again that's costing writers hundreds of subscribers every single month.
And the worst part? Most writers have no idea they're even making it.
I was reading some Notes from writers in my community this week, and I saw the same pattern repeated dozens of times. Writers posting consistently, getting decent engagement, but somehow not converting any of that activity into actual subscribers.
Then it hit me. They're all making the exact same error…
They're writing Notes for other writers instead of for potential subscribers.
Let me explain what I mean, because this might mean the difference in your Notes.
Why Your Notes Get Likes, But Never Get Subscribers
Here's what's happening:
You scroll through Substack Notes and see what gets likes and comments. You notice posts about "writing struggles," "newsletter growth tips," and "creator life" get tons of engagement from other writers.
So, you start posting similar content. You share your writing wins. You ask questions about newsletter growth. You commiserate about the creator journey.
The other writers love it. You get likes, comments, shares. It feels like you're building an audience.
But here's the problem: Other writers aren't necessarily your ideal subscribers.
Think about it. The writer with 10K subscribers who's commenting on your Note about "newsletter burnout"—they're not going to subscribe to your newsletter (unless you write about newsletter burnout, which you probably don’t).
Meanwhile, the accountant scrolling Notes during lunch who could become a loyal reader? Your inside-baseball creator content means nothing to them. They keep scrolling.
You're optimizing for the wrong audience. You're getting validation from people who will never become subscribers while completely missing the people who actually would.
The Math on This Big Mistake
Let me break down the math on this mistake:
If you post 5 Notes per week that get good engagement but zero subscriber conversion, that's 20 missed opportunities per month.
Each Note, when done right, should bring you 10-15 new subscribers minimum. That's 200-300 subscribers you're leaving on the table every single month just because you're talking to the wrong people.
Over a year? That's 2,400-3,600 subscribers you could have had.
But it gets worse. Those subscribers would have brought friends. They would have shared your content. They would have become paying customers.
One small targeting mistake, compounded over time, literally costs you thousands of potential subscribers and thousands of dollars in revenue.
Just One Simple Mindset Shift Can Fix It
The solution is simpler than you think, but most writers never figure it out on their own.
Instead of writing Notes for other writers, you write Notes for the people you actually want as subscribers.
If you help entrepreneurs, your Notes should speak directly to entrepreneurs—not other newsletter writers…
If you write about parenting, your Notes should resonate with parents—not other parenting bloggers…
If you cover personal finance, talk to people who need financial help—not other finance creators…
And here’s the thing…even if your more targeted Note gets 20-30 likes, it could bring you 5 subscribers. Where the more general Note with 100+ likes brings zero subscribers.
Get the difference?
This shift changes everything. Suddenly your Notes start converting because you're finally talking to people who actually want what you're offering.
Kim made this switch and went from 2 subscribers per week from Notes to 40+ subscribers in one week. Same posting frequency, completely different audience focus.
Marcus told me, "I was getting lots of engagement from other writers but zero subscribers. Once I started targeting my actual readers, everything changed. My conversion rate went through the roof."
Last Day to Fix This Costly Mistake
Today is the last day to get my “10+ Subscribers a Day” Notes Growth Workshop before the price doubles tomorrow.
This workshop doesn't just tell you to "target better"—it shows you exactly how to identify your ideal subscriber, craft Notes that speak directly to them, and convert casual readers into loyal subscribers.
Here's what you get when you join today:
✅ The Complete 10+ Subscribers a Day Notes Workshop (the exact system I use to consistently convert Notes into subscribers)
✅ My Notes Conversion Strategy (the 3 proven Note formats that bring me the most subscribers)
✅ The 15-Minutes Per Day System (how to write all of your Notes for the day in one quick sprint)
✅ Weekend Bonus: My Top 10 Performing Notes (the actual Notes that brought me 100+ subscribers each—yours to use as templates and inspiration)
The bonus disappears at midnight tonight. The price doubles tomorrow morning.
What This Mistake Costs You Every Day You Wait
Every Note you post without fixing this targeting mistake is a wasted opportunity...
Another week of getting likes from people who will never subscribe while your ideal readers scroll right past...
Another month of wondering why your engagement doesn't translate to subscriber growth...
Watching other writers build massive audiences while you stay stuck in the creator echo chamber...
The writers who fix this today will be building real audiences while you're still getting validation from people who already have newsletters.
Time to Stop Wasting Your Notes
Look, I get it. It feels good when other creators engage with your content. It's validating. It makes you feel like you're part of the community.
But validation doesn't pay the bills. Subscribers do.
You can keep posting Notes that make other writers nod along, or you can start posting Notes that make your ideal readers hit subscribe.
The choice is yours. But you have to make it today. Can’t wait to see you inside:
Tomorrow the price doubles. The bonus disappears. And you'll be stuck with the same targeting mistake that's already cost you hundreds of potential subscribers.
💡 Question: What questions do you have about Notes? Are they working for you? Drop them in the comments, and I’ll try to answer as many as I can.
Thank you so much for this (and for your newsletters in general, which are **consistently**filled with really helpful tips!) I've been making this mistake, writing Notes for fellow writers. A bunch did sign on with me in July, but then whenever I post one of my heartfelt stories (for my newsletter, "The Heart Connection") a few leave. It's gotten so I joke with myself before my weekly post that "now it's time for some to leave!"
Immediately after reading this from you, I went in and wrote a Note "on brand," a warm anecdote about something that happened today. Thank you for helping me get back on track! I don't know exactly what will happen, but I feel intuitively that this is a very important shift to make if I want true readers.
Makes total sense .. when I write a post I’m taking to my ideal readers as if we’re having a coffee ☕️.
When I write notes .. it’s like my focus shifts to speaking to a larger audience.. made up of writers, authors and readers. As I’ve learnt from you and others who help people write and grow here I’ve tended to follow your format with notes .. I need to use a generic template but address the note to those I’ve written the post for. Thank you .. it’s simple when you see it !