💡The 7 Things I’d Tell You About Growing on Substack If I Wasn’t Afraid of Hurting Your Feelings

Because nice advice won’t get you paid on Substack.

Let’s not waste time. You’re here because you want your Substack to grow — like, for real. Not in that “once I finally figure out my niche and stop doom-scrolling” kind of way. I mean actual growth. Readers. Revenue. Return-on-time-spent.

So here’s the tough love you didn’t ask for, but absolutely need as someone who has grown to over $180,000+ in ARR on Substack and has helped clients land on the Substack bestseller charts:

1. You probably haven’t thought enough about your reader.

Like, really thought about them.

Who are they? What’s keeping them up at night? What are they dying to read that isn’t already clogging up their inbox?

Your newsletter isn’t about you — it’s about what your voice and perspective can do for someone else.

That could be anything from making them feel seen, to making them smarter, to helping them laugh through a breakdown.

That’s value. And if you haven’t figured out your version of that, go back to the drawing board.

2. Your post formats aren’t optimized — and it shows.

I’ve audited dozens and dozens of Substacks and 99% of people are winging it.

Your post has no hook, the layout is a wall of text, there’s no clear takeaway, and your best advice is buried like a forgotten heirloom in paragraph twelve.

Here’s a free tip: Readers love structure.

Lists. Series. Roundups. Frameworks. “If you liked this, you’ll love that.”

People want signposts — not scavenger hunts.

Want ideas? I have a full list of 30 post formats that people love. But even if you don’t snag that, remember: clarity wins. Every time.

3. You’re not writing in a real voice.