Thank you for such a detailed and helpful article! I hadn't even thought of using Substack. I'm just here for the content, but now I'm thinking I totally need to add Substack to my toolbox. (Like others, not sure how I came across you all, but glad I did.)
I always appreciate how you break everything down into easy to understand points and practical steps we can take. And thank you for sharing my stack, BTW. ❤️
All good advice, and I'm doing a lot of those things and getting steady subscribers. The paid thing is a bit sticky because I struggle with asking, but with some post I'm getting over a thousand views -- that must tell me something useful. I'm just not sure what because views doesn't equal engagement, as in likes and comments.
Hi S.J., here's my take - regardless of engagement, likes, and comments, your posts are still appearing in Google and AI searches. While I know we ALL love to get comments, likes, etc., the most important metric is how you show up outside the SS universe.
This is bloody brilliant. Thank you love. I always intend to do all the things but....well sometimes I wish I had an assistant (butler???) to do all the admin clever bits so I can just write. Really helpful though and I've just subscribed ✨️
Thank you so much, Heidi! So glad it resonated. And it's not hard - you can totally do it. And I'm all for hiring a VA (virtual assistant) or AA (author assistant) to help with administrative tasks. Most are very affordable!
Specifically RE: Substack? Relying on SS to grow your subs. Use other more efficient options like Booksweeps or Written Word Media (I've written about both if you search my publication). Reasonably priced, genre-based options IF you have a book out (or on preorder).
In general? Most writers only follow other writers because that's our comfort zone. But most writers also want to connect with readers.
Also, that publishing one book will make them a millionaire. Good luck. That was rare before digital publishing; now it's almost impossible. Have realistic expectations.
I could go on... 🫠 mostly because I made these mistakes myself!
Wow this is fantastic advice. How kind of you to take the time to write it all down for those of us still trying to figure it out. I will print it out and hang it on my pin board now. Thank you so much for sharing your experience for free 🙏🏻✨❤️
This is such an insightful one. I really felt lost on day 1 of Substack but the community here is so welcoming for writers I wrote a post on why being a copywriter or a content writer could make someone lose their ability to write. This post is purely from experience and I felt so good about getting that off my chest. Though I would really love to understand my niche, but I think it's still too early for it. Any suggestions as to what niche could I pick and how do I pick and choose what content comes free and what comes as a paid content?
Suggestions: This is really a question of author branding. What to share? Write about your experiences, what's working, what's frustrating, and what you hope to learn more about. E.g., I write about socials, Substack, publishing, book marketing, and ways to do all of that without selling our souls. I also share writing lessons from my fav movies and shows.
What are 5 topics (even those that have nothing to do with writing or your book or business) that you are passionate about? Start there. Hope that helps you!
This was helpful Rachel! I read somewhere that substack posts weren't discoverable (or not very discoverable) outside of substack. I'm curious if that's true or not?
Hi Barbara! Great question. Google and AI search index our public posts (e.g., not behind a paywall). Those posts also go to our subscribers, where they are NOT indexed. Our Notes (which work as social media here) are NOT indexed.
Substack has several 'arms' - posts that live on the site (and/or get sent to your subs if you have them), Notes (social media), Chat (private), audio and video. So whatever is public-facing will be indexed. I hope that makes sense.
Thanks Rachel. It does. I'm glad to hear the public posts are indexed. I wasn't sure about that. I get a lot less views here than I do on my old blog but I think that's because this is a relatively new publication. I started the blog in 2010.
I find that the different week-by-week tasks that you lay out are making the whole Substack thing more manageable. I'm still on Week 1, but it's working!
I can't recall how I came upon BRHMedia, but I'm very pleased I did.
Thanks.
Thank you, Linda! Glad you're here.
I always learn a lot from both your content and the way you present it. Really helpful every time. Thank you
I appreciate the feedback, Jennifer. Thank you!
This explains a structure that I didn’t really understand - how notes and posts can work together to build engagement. Thanks for that insight!
Hi Joni! Thanks for the feedback. It can be confusing. There are many cool options here, but sometimes it just takes that one connection.
Thank you for such a detailed and helpful article! I hadn't even thought of using Substack. I'm just here for the content, but now I'm thinking I totally need to add Substack to my toolbox. (Like others, not sure how I came across you all, but glad I did.)
Thanks so much, Pauline! It's a great option, and the growth here is insane overall. That's good for the indexing on Google and other search engines.
Super helpful 🙏
Thanks so much, S.H.!
I always appreciate how you break everything down into easy to understand points and practical steps we can take. And thank you for sharing my stack, BTW. ❤️
Thanks so much, Linda. I appreciate your feedback. If it's not practical, why bother? Of course, that's very Capricorn of me but I own it. ♑️
All good advice, and I'm doing a lot of those things and getting steady subscribers. The paid thing is a bit sticky because I struggle with asking, but with some post I'm getting over a thousand views -- that must tell me something useful. I'm just not sure what because views doesn't equal engagement, as in likes and comments.
Hi S.J., here's my take - regardless of engagement, likes, and comments, your posts are still appearing in Google and AI searches. While I know we ALL love to get comments, likes, etc., the most important metric is how you show up outside the SS universe.
Always be thinking VISIBILITY.
These suggestions will help everyone interested in growth on Substack make their mark. At least, they give me assorted ways to try.
Thanks so much for sharing, Jim. There are new things practically every day as well. Do whatever works best for you!
I LOVE this.
Yay! Thank you, Mona 🌻
Thank YOU for the great content!
This is bloody brilliant. Thank you love. I always intend to do all the things but....well sometimes I wish I had an assistant (butler???) to do all the admin clever bits so I can just write. Really helpful though and I've just subscribed ✨️
Thank you so much, Heidi! So glad it resonated. And it's not hard - you can totally do it. And I'm all for hiring a VA (virtual assistant) or AA (author assistant) to help with administrative tasks. Most are very affordable!
Boom 💥. I have some more work to do. What’s the #1 mistake, albeit well meaning, that you see?
Specifically RE: Substack? Relying on SS to grow your subs. Use other more efficient options like Booksweeps or Written Word Media (I've written about both if you search my publication). Reasonably priced, genre-based options IF you have a book out (or on preorder).
In general? Most writers only follow other writers because that's our comfort zone. But most writers also want to connect with readers.
Also, that publishing one book will make them a millionaire. Good luck. That was rare before digital publishing; now it's almost impossible. Have realistic expectations.
I could go on... 🫠 mostly because I made these mistakes myself!
Wow this is fantastic advice. How kind of you to take the time to write it all down for those of us still trying to figure it out. I will print it out and hang it on my pin board now. Thank you so much for sharing your experience for free 🙏🏻✨❤️
Hi Judith and thanks so much! So sorry I missed this comment. I hope it's helping you - and happy new year.
This is such an insightful one. I really felt lost on day 1 of Substack but the community here is so welcoming for writers I wrote a post on why being a copywriter or a content writer could make someone lose their ability to write. This post is purely from experience and I felt so good about getting that off my chest. Though I would really love to understand my niche, but I think it's still too early for it. Any suggestions as to what niche could I pick and how do I pick and choose what content comes free and what comes as a paid content?
Hi Alifya! Thanks so much for commenting.
Suggestions: This is really a question of author branding. What to share? Write about your experiences, what's working, what's frustrating, and what you hope to learn more about. E.g., I write about socials, Substack, publishing, book marketing, and ways to do all of that without selling our souls. I also share writing lessons from my fav movies and shows.
What are 5 topics (even those that have nothing to do with writing or your book or business) that you are passionate about? Start there. Hope that helps you!
This was helpful Rachel! I read somewhere that substack posts weren't discoverable (or not very discoverable) outside of substack. I'm curious if that's true or not?
Hi Barbara! Great question. Google and AI search index our public posts (e.g., not behind a paywall). Those posts also go to our subscribers, where they are NOT indexed. Our Notes (which work as social media here) are NOT indexed.
Substack has several 'arms' - posts that live on the site (and/or get sent to your subs if you have them), Notes (social media), Chat (private), audio and video. So whatever is public-facing will be indexed. I hope that makes sense.
Thanks Rachel. It does. I'm glad to hear the public posts are indexed. I wasn't sure about that. I get a lot less views here than I do on my old blog but I think that's because this is a relatively new publication. I started the blog in 2010.
I find that the different week-by-week tasks that you lay out are making the whole Substack thing more manageable. I'm still on Week 1, but it's working!