What's Working, What's Not, and How to Grow a Sustainable $5K / Month Substack (without burning out)
My May 2025 recap: Building a profitable newsletter without the hustle (and what you can learn from my wins and failures)
I'm looking at my Substack dashboard this Monday afternoon, coffee in hand, reviewing my May stats.
977 new subscribers over the course of the month. A few Notes went viral this month and several older posts picked up with a lot of restacks.
$5K+ in digital product revenue. A thriving community of writers supporting each other.
And here's the kicker: I didn't burn myself out to get these results.
Six months ago, I was the guy trying to do everything. Writing daily posts, engaging on every platform, launching constantly, chasing every new growth hack I read about.
I was exhausted. And my results? Mediocre at best.
Maybe you know this feeling?
You're excited about growing your Substack, so you create this elaborate plan. You're going to write five posts a week, create daily Notes, engage for hours, cross-post everywhere, run lives, start a podcast, and somehow also have a life outside of writing.
Two weeks in, you're already behind. Three weeks in, you're overwhelmed. A month in, you're questioning whether this whole newsletter thing is worth it.
Here's what nobody talks about: Most Substack writers quit not because they lack talent or ideas, but because they're trying to sprint a marathon.
They see other writers seemingly doing everything and assume that's what it takes to succeed. So, they pile on more tactics, more platforms, more content types, more everything.
The result? They burn out before they ever hit their stride.
Meanwhile, the writers who actually build sustainable, profitable newsletters? They've figured out something different.
They've learned that doing less—but doing it consistently—beats doing everything sporadically every single time.
What if I told you that doing less could actually grow your Substack faster?
I know it sounds counterintuitive. In a world that celebrates the hustle, suggesting you do less feels almost rebellious.
But here's what I've learned after nine months of building this newsletter: sustainable systems beat sprint tactics every time.
The writers who are still here in two years aren't the ones trying to do everything today. They're the ones who found a rhythm they can maintain, day after day, week after week.
Your newsletter isn't a 30-day challenge. It's a long-term endeavor. And like any endeavor, it needs systems that work not just when you're feeling motivated, but especially when you're not.
My May Reality Check: What Actually Moved the Needle
Let me share exactly what worked (and what didn't) in May, because the results might surprise you.
What's Working:
Notes are my growth engine.
I'm consistently gaining 10+ subscribers daily through strategic Notes. I've had 2-3 semi-viral Notes last month that brought in a bundle of subscribers each.
But here's the key: I'm not posting randomly. I've found my groove with specific Note types that consistently get engagement.
My weekly Notes Boosts in Chat.
Every week, I create a space for writers to share their Notes and support each other. It's not complicated—just a simple way for the community to connect and get more eyes on their work. Writers love it because they're getting genuine support, not just algorithmic reach.
Recommendations are paying off.
I now have over 300 Substacks recommending mine, which has brought in 1,200+ subscribers. But this didn't happen overnight. It's taken months of building genuine relationships and credibility with other writers. The compound effect is real.
Digital products generate consistent revenue.
My newsletter consistently generates $5K+ per month through digital product sales, and I'm not busting my butt for it. Some months are higher when I'm actively launching, but this baseline is sustainable. The key is my content cycles—I write about a topic for 2-3 weeks, then naturally promote a related product with some bonuses.
I found my authentic voice.
I stopped trying to write like other successful writers and just write what interests me. If it interests me, it likely interests my audience too. This shift eliminated so much mental pressure.
What's Not Working:
Medium feels forced.
I thought about repurposing content there, but I haven't found a way to fit it into my schedule naturally. Instead of forcing it, I'm focusing on what's already working.
Substack “Lives” felt like pressure.
I planned to start doing live sessions, but it felt like adding stress I didn't need. I realized I was chasing tactics instead of doubling down on what was already successful. The pattern is clear: the sustainable approaches that fit naturally into my life are what drive real results.
Why Sustainable Actually Scales Better
Here's the business logic that changed everything for me:
Consistency compounds. A sustainable habit you maintain for 12 months will always outperform an intense effort you abandon after six weeks.
Think about it: would you rather gain 5 subscribers every day for a year (1,825 total) or gain 50 subscribers in a week-long sprint, then burn out and gain nothing for the next 11 months?
Sustainable growth also creates better relationships. When you're not constantly chasing the next tactic, you have time to actually connect with your readers, respond to comments, and build genuine community.
Most importantly, sustainability protects your creative energy. Burnout doesn't just slow your growth—it kills your voice. The very thing that makes your newsletter unique gets buried under the pressure to produce more, faster, all the time.
Your readers don't need you to be everywhere. They need you to consistently show up where you are.
The 5-Point Sustainable Substack System
After nine months of testing what works, here's my framework for growing without burning out:
Point 1: Start Stupidly Simple (Then Make It Simpler)
The biggest mistake new Substack writers make? Getting excited and planning to do everything.
"I'm going to write five posts a week, create ten Notes daily, engage for hours, cross-post everywhere..."
Stop.
Right now, you're thinking about what you could do when you're motivated. But what about Tuesday afternoon when you're tired? What about when life gets busy? What about when the initial excitement wears off?
You need a system so simple that you can maintain it even on your worst days.
Start with what feels manageable, then make it even simpler. If you think you can write three posts a week, start with one. If you think you can create five Notes daily, start with two.
The goal isn't to impress anyone with how much you're doing. The goal is to build a habit so natural that not doing it feels weird.
Point 2: Find Your Growth Engine (Not All of Them)
You don't need to master every growth tactic. You need to find the 1-2 things that actually work for YOUR audience and double down on them.
For me, it's Notes and building relationships with other writers through recommendations. It’s also some LinkedIn. These strategies drive 80% of my growth.
Could I also be on X? Sure. Could I start a podcast? Absolutely. Could I create YouTube videos? Probably.
But why would I spread my energy across five mediocre efforts when I can focus on two that are already working?
Find what clicks for you, then resist the temptation to add more until you've mastered what you have.
Point 3: Build Your Sustainable Daily Routine
Here's my actual daily schedule—not the Instagram-worthy version, but what I really do:
Every morning: I write and post my first Note of the day. On Notes Boost days, I set that up in Chat. Then I write 2-3 more Notes to post throughout the day. I also handle emails and DMs.
Morning LinkedIn: I write and post my LinkedIn content. It's not always directly linked to Substack, but my profile does drive some organic traffic.
Afternoons: I export new subscribers to my email platform and add them to my welcome sequence (a few times per week). I write my weekly newsletter posts—usually 2-3 per week, not daily. I also send emails to my separate email list.
Some days this takes 30 minutes. Other days it's 2-3 hours. But it flows naturally with my energy and schedule.
The key isn't copying my routine—it's finding what works with YOUR life and sticking to it.
Point 4: Create Content Cycles, Not Content Chaos
Instead of frantically trying to come up with new topics every day, I work in cycles.
I'll write about a specific topic for 2-3 weeks. This lets me go deep, provide real value, and build authority around that subject. Then, naturally, I'll promote a related digital product—usually with some bonuses to make it fresh.
This approach serves multiple purposes:
I'm not constantly brainstorming new topics
My audience gets comprehensive value on subjects that matter to them
Product promotions feel natural, not forced
I can batch similar content creation
Each cycle builds on the previous one
Content cycles eliminate the pressure of daily inspiration while keeping your newsletter feeling fresh and valuable.
Point 5: Know When to Say No
This might be the most important point: protecting your energy by saying no to tactics that don't serve you.
Medium? Could be valuable but doesn't fit my current schedule.
Substack Lives? Might work for others but felt like unnecessary pressure for me.
Twitter/X growth? Probably effective, but I'm already seeing results without it.
Every "opportunity" you say yes to is energy you're not investing in what's already working.
The most successful newsletter writers I know aren't the ones doing everything—they're the ones who found their lane and stayed in it long enough to see compounding results.
Your goal isn't to build the most complex newsletter business. It's to build the most sustainable one.
You Don't Have to Do What Everyone Else Is Doing
I know it's tempting to look at other successful writers and assume you need to copy their approach.
You see someone crushing it on Instagram and think you need to be there too. You see another writer doing daily posts and wonder if you're not posting enough. You see someone launching constantly and worry you're not promoting enough.
Here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: your path will be different from everyone else's, and that's exactly how it should be.
The strategies that work for a full-time creator with a team might not work for someone writing around a day job.
The tactics that suit an extroverted personality might drain an introvert.
The schedule that works for someone without kids might be impossible for a parent.
Your job isn't to build someone else's Substack. It's to build the one that works for YOUR life, YOUR strengths, and YOUR audience.
The writers who burn out are the ones constantly chasing other people's definitions of success. The ones who thrive are those who define success for themselves and build systems that support that vision.
Trust the process. Trust your instincts. And most importantly, trust that consistent, sustainable action will get you where you want to go.
📌 Your Next Steps: From Sustainable Growth to a Profitable Substack
Here's what I've learned after nine months of building my Substack: sustainable growth isn't just better for your sanity—it's better for your bank account.
When you're not constantly chasing the next tactic, you have time to actually serve your audience. When you're not burned out, you create better content. When you're not overwhelmed, you can spot the opportunities that matter.
That consistent $5K+ monthly revenue I mentioned? It didn't come from working harder. It came from working smarter. From building systems that compound over time. From saying no to what doesn't work so I could double down on what does.
If you're ready to build your own sustainable, profitable newsletter—without the burnout, without the overwhelm, without trying to be everywhere at once—I'd love to show you exactly how in my Six-Figure Substack Growth Masterclass.
Inside, you'll discover:
The exact strategies that have helped me grow from Zero to nearly 9000+ subscribers in 9 months
How to build profitable product cycles that generate $5K+ monthly without constant launching
My proven system for finding and developing relationships that lead to 1,000+ subscribers through recommendations
The sustainable daily routine that grows your newsletter without taking over your life
How to find your authentic voice and build an audience that actually converts
This isn't about hustle culture or doing more. It's about doing the right things consistently, in a way that works with your life instead of consuming it.
You can 100’s of writers who have joined the training below:
Remember: you don't need to do everything to succeed. You just need to do the right things consistently. Your sustainable newsletter business is closer than you think.
What's Coming in June? Your Chance to Work Directly with Me
I'm also excited to share something special that's coming next month.
In June, I'm opening up a really exclusive small cohort for writers who want to work with in a small group to grow their Substacks. This isn't going to be another generic course—it's going to be the best way to work directly with me and a small group of committed writers as we all grow and monetize together.
Think of it as your newsletter bootcamp: intensive, personalized, and designed to get real results in a short time frame.
We'll work together on your specific growth challenges, optimize your systems, and build the kind of sustainable, profitable newsletter that supports your bigger goals.
If you're interested in getting on the wait list for this exclusive cohort, just comment "bootcamp" in comments. I'll make sure you're the first to know when applications open.
Thank you so much for a such a detailed, yet simple breakdown! I just started on Substack last month, so I appreciate this info! I have actually commented on your notes boost before and gained a subscriber or two, so thank you!
Thank you for your insight. Your post is something I definitely needed to read before getting too far in on Substack chaos. I tend to try to do it all and it definitely does burn me out. Your take is refreshing and honest — both of which I truly appreciate.