Why Most Substack Writers Fail at Notes (And How to Fix Them)

The simple strategy for Notes that brings in 10 to 30+ subscribers per day

From day one, I knew my Notes would go viral and bring me thousands of subscribers...

Of course, I'm joking - my first Notes disappeared into the void like everyone else's.

But something interesting happened.

After months of testing, failing, and finally cracking the code, I grew from zero to 4,300+ subscribers. A huge chunk of that growth? Pure Notes strategy.

Now I watch other writers make the same mistakes I did:

• Publishing randomly and hoping for the best

• Treating Notes like Twitter or LinkedIn

• Missing real connection opportunities

• Wondering why nothing sticks and say, “Notes doesn’t work for me”

Sound familiar?

The worst part isn't even the lack of growth. It's the constant doubt. The nagging feeling that everyone else has figured out some secret you're missing.

I know because I felt it too.

Here's what nobody tells you about Substack Notes: it's not social media. It's not another marketing channel. It's something entirely different.

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The Truth About Notes Nobody Tells You

Most writers see Notes as mini blog posts or Twitter-style updates.

This is exactly backwards.

Think about it: When was the last time you randomly discovered a great newsletter post from someone you don't follow? It rarely happens.

But Notes? They show up in your feed constantly. They're digestible. They're engaging. And most importantly – they're your secret weapon for consistent, daily growth.

Here's a Note that brought me over 100+ new subscribers in one week:

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Calling all Substack writers <500 subscribers and under:

New Week Introduction Thread. Share with us:

• What do you write about?

• What inspires you to write?

After introducing yourself, follow / subscribe to 3 new writers below. Let’s get to growing 👌

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Simple, right? Yet it works because it understands what Notes is really about: building genuine connections. And yes, these Notes templates work for ANY niche.

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The Fatal Mistakes Killing Your Growth

1. The Platform Trap

"I'll just post like I do on Twitter."

I hear this all the time. And I get it – I made the same mistake. But here's what happened when one writer in my community shifted their approach:

From: "5 tips to grow your newsletter 🧵" Result: 6 likes, 0 subscribers

To: "The scariest part about starting my newsletter was..." Result: 85 likes, 15 new subscribers

The difference? Understanding that Notes isn't social media – it's a community of Substackers supporting Substackers.

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2. The Strategy Gap

Most writers approach Notes with what I call "hope marketing." Post and pray.

Let me show you what strategic posting looks like instead. Last month, I helped Diego implement a simple Notes system. Her results?

• Week 1: 7 new subscribers

• Week 2: 23 new subscribers

• Week 3: 41 new subscribers

• Week 4: 52 new subscribers

The growth and momentum compounds. The content didn't change. The strategy did.

These aren’t wild, unimaginable growth numbers. They’re realistic, sustainable subscriber growth goals.

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3. The Conversion Problem

Having lots of likes feels good. But likes don't pay the bills.

Here's what actually drives subscriber growth:

Value-First Framework:

• Lead with genuine help

• Share specific insights

• Create "aha" moments

• Build natural curiosity

Look at this Note structure that consistently converts:

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The biggest mistake I see newsletter writers make:

[Common painful mistake]

Instead, try this:

- [Specific solution point]

- [Implementation tip]

- [Quick win] Save this if you want to avoid rookie mistakes ⭐️

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This type of note falls in the “educational” category. It’s just one of the different types of notes I’ve been teaching people how to write.

The key is using a variety of notes, so you hit all the bases:

• Introduction / Collaborative Notes

• Educational Notes

• Inspirational / Motivational Notes

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My Zero to 4,300+ Journey

When I started on Substack, my growth was slow. I didn’t have a clear strategy.

First, I started using LinkedIn to help me grow my Substack, and it grew a bit.

Then, I started reaching out to other Substack writers so we could swap recommendations. It grew a little more.

But when I started adding in daily Notes to my growth strategy, my Substack exploded. Honestly, I had no idea that Notes was the best growth driver right now for Substack writers until I saw it with my own eyes.

This isn’t about:

• Complicated tactics

• Endless posting

• Fake engagement

• Growth hacks

It's about having a proven system that works while you sleep.

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The Advanced Strategies That Work

Beyond the basics, here's what really drives growth:

Content Multiplication. Every newsletter post can spawn 5-7 high-performing Notes. Here's how:

1. Pull key insights

2. Share specific examples

3. Ask engaging questions

4. Create micro-case studies

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Community Building.

• Host Note "parties" where everyone shares and grows

• Build genuine connections that multiply reach

• Create support networks that amplify content

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Conversion Psychology. Understanding why readers subscribe is crucial. My research shows:

• ~30% subscribe from educational Notes

• ~50% from community Notes

• ~20% from inspirational Notes

This is why you want to learn to master all three of these Notes types.

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📌 Ready to Transform Your Notes Strategy?

If you're tired of:

• Writing into the void

• Watching others grow while you stay stuck

• Missing real connection opportunities

• Fighting for every subscriber

Then I've got something special for you.

I've opening my 10+ Subscribers a Day Notes Workshop where I'll share my complete system for turning Notes into your personal growth engine. The Workshop starts Tuesday Jan 28th.

You'll get:

• My proven Notes templates (including the one that brought 240+ subscribers)

• Advanced engagement triggers

• Community support

• Growth frameworks that work in any niche

If you’re ready to start growing on Notes, click the button below & join:

Your subscriber growth story starts with a single Note. Let's write it together.

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Question - Are you currently using Substack Notes in your growth strategy? Drop your most recent Note in the comments and let’s give it a little extra love. 💡

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📌 PS - If you found this post helpful, would you please consider restacking it and sharing it with your audience?

This spreads the word and keeps me writing content that will help you grow your Substack and “escape the cubicle” life. 🙏