This Is How Clever Creators Will Grow Subscribers in 2026 Without Selling Our Souls
Without giving up the messy, gorgeous parts that make us real
After working with hundreds of authors since 2011 and building my list to over 11K subscribers (99% free) in just the past two years, I’ve seen what works and what burns people out.
Not an author? That’s okay. This will help you, too.
And I’ll tell you exactly how I built it if you keep reading…
Most people think subscriber growth is about hacks or secret tricks. Kinda is, kinda not. Growth happens when you give people something that feels real and helpful.
This is not a post filled with hacks. Sorry.
As we enter a new year, that truth feels truer than ever because people are tired, overwhelmed, and craving voices they trust.
Let’s walk through what works now for creators, writers and non-writers, and how clever creators grow without sacrificing our mental health.
💥 Gratitude to my exclusive advertising sponsor, the always-free Booklinker, and the paid tool, GeniusLink. I love both💥 (affiliate link).
Why Email Still Outperforms Every Algorithm
With the absolute destruction of Twitter (I’m still there strictly for search indexing at this point 🧐), I started writing weekly here in August 2023. I had about 1800 free subscribers that I brought over from Mailchimp. I’m now over 11K+ subscribers, 99% free.
For me, this growth is pretty astounding, considering I started publishing in 2010 and had to (politely) scratch and claw to get even 1,800 subs (all free) over 13 years. But I never did much of anything with them, at least until now.
Social media is great for discovery and visibility, but also fairly chaotic. Algorithms shift without warning. Owners are charging for increased visibility and analytics. Views evaporate.
Your email list is stable and personal, and not subjected to algos.
People choose to hear from you. That choice builds trust that no platform change can take away. Growing subs, regardless of whether free or paid, is our own way of giving a big F-you to the algorithms, and that alone makes me want to keep growing.
A newsletter gives us a direct line to readers who actually want a relationship with our work. Combined with the visibility of socials, that’s the foundation of sustainable growth in 2026.
✍️ For Writers: The Most Effective Growth Paths Right Now
Now for the secret sauce*: this is my hack to help you grow if you have a book out (if not, jump down to the next section). It does cost money (not massive amounts). Each month, I gain anywhere from 500 to 1500 subscribers using these tools, ALL opt-in.**
*None of my recommendations below pays me. This is all based on my own experiences. Your mileage may vary.
**Fun fact: You can’t auto-add people to your subscriber list, or email everyone you know about your book release. By law, they must be given the option to opt in (receive your emails) and unsubscribe easily.
Read more here about the CAN-SPAM Act in the US and the GDPR guidelines in the UK and Europe.
Written Word Media
Written Word Media continues to deliver engaged, genre-specific readers. Their curated lists translate into real opens and clicks, not passive scrolls.
Subscriber Surge Giveaways are specifically a cost-effective way for you to grow your email list, reach qualified readers, and sell more books. Cost is $75.
Each giveaway lasts 60 days and features multiple eBooks in a genre-specific giveaway. That’s about $1.25/day expenditure. The more readers you add to your email list, the more chances you have to sell new releases, ask for reviews, find ARC readers, and more.
BookSweeps
BookSweeps giveaways and lead-magnet promos still provide some of the most targeted newsletter signups for authors. These readers often stay long-term because they love your genre.
They have several options. You can create a free account to access genre-based promos that fit your book and budget. Several options starting around $100/month. New promos will be posted soon.
If you spend $5/day at Starbucks, there’s your budget, with enough left over for a few lattes.
BookThrone and Niche Discovery Sites
These smaller platforms offer bursts of attention that complement the larger ones. Think of them as seasoning, not the whole meal. Costs range from $20 and up.
Reader Magnets That Offer Value
Readers love something special. Short stories, bonus scenes, or resource guides still convert beautifully. A simple, generous offering goes far.
Substack’s Built-In Growth Tools
Recommendations, Notes, Chat, collaborative posts, and consistent weekly posting remain incredibly effective. Predictability comforts readers.
Speaking of recs: shout out to Jason and Kris’ The Pupdate Newsletter for being at the top of my list! Be sure to subscribe to them - we’re in love with their new kitten, Brix. You can see here which accounts are recommending me, how many came in from Recommendations (699), and how many Stacks currently recommend me (88).
I don’t take this for granted. I also actively support those accounts by following, subscribing, liking, and sharing. Being a good citizen here matters.
🧐 For Non-Writers: Growth Strategies When You Do Not Have a Book
I work with all kinds of creators: mostly writers, but also several Ph. D.s, a musician, and a photo-visual artist. Many are here on Substack and want to grow, but they don’t have a book out, so they can’t use the options I mentioned above.
What to do? Lots of options:
Create One Helpful Freebie
A worksheet, checklist, recipe guide, mood tracker, or resource list is enough. Make it practical and generous. Not ready? That’s okay. You’ll know when you are.
Share Inside Communities
Substack Notes and Chat, Reddit, Facebook Groups, Discord, and LinkedIn groups still create organic discovery. People follow creators who show up with value, not self-promotion.
Collaborate With Someone You Admire
Collabs remain one of the strongest ways to grow. You borrow each other’s trust and share audiences without pressure. This can be a combo post, a guest post on each other’s stacks, or whatever else you come up with.
Tip: Don’t take it personally if someone declines. It’s probably that they’re too busy right now, not that they think you’re a horrible person.
Use Visual Platforms With Intention
Short videos, carousel graphics, and Pinterest pins reach audiences who prefer visual learning. A soft CTA (Call to Action) to subscribe works better than heavy sales language.
Boost What’s Working
Instead of cold advertising, boost a post already resonating. This leads to far better subscriber quality.
Make Your Signup Link Easy to Find
Place your signup link in your bios, on your website, in your email signature, and in post footers. Reduce friction wherever possible. If people have to search to subscribe, or buy your book, etc., you’ve lost them.
Call to Action: The Ask
When I added a gentle ask at the end of my posts, my paid subs doubled. Not because I pushed. People appreciate clarity.
What Doesn’t Work Anymore
Posting daily without a strategy, aka, ‘buy my book!’ spam, or constantly asking for subscriptions. If you can write a book or a newsletter, you can write way more than one-note posts. So, do it.
Trying every tool at once. Focus.
Buying followers. Fake followers don’t subscribe or purchase our work.
Chasing virality. Focus on quality instead.
Relying only on algorithms. That’s why subscribers are gold. 🔑
The Quiet Truth: Free Readers Matter
More than ten thousand of my subscribers choose to stay free, and they matter deeply to me. They read, share, and keep this community alive.
Paid support is fantastic; free subscribers provide momentum, energy, and visibility. They are not “less than.” They are essential.
Paid should feel like gratitude, not a requirement or a measure of worth.
Helpful Resources and Earlier Posts
Written Word Media’s guide to building an email list
Mystery Review Crew’s beginner-friendly email marketing guide
An earlier post on growth that might help you ⬇️
A Gentle Ask
If you find my posts helpful and want to support more work like this, would you consider becoming a paid subscriber? Free is always welcome. Paid support helps me write these guides without burnout or pressure.
Either way, I’m thrilled you’re here. Welcome.
Email is still king and where 99% of my newsletter opens come from. What I can't figure out, however, is how to deliver the same reader magnet that was so effective when my newsletter was hosted by aWeber. Any suggestions?
thanks love tony Z