💡 Want a Top Spot on Substack’s Leaderboard?

What the bestselling leaderboard publication is -- and how to use it to grow on Substack.

Hey Sutoscientists,

Here’s what I can tell you after watching a lot of people build here (and doing it myself):

You might be doing way better than you think — you’re just using the wrong benchmark.

I get it. Substack growth can feel like you’re shouting into the void and then refreshing Stats like it’s a slot machine.

Been there.

I was also the person quietly wondering, “Is this working… or am I delusional?”

And yes — you can literally watch my whole “making Substack work for me” arc on YouTube, including the climb from $0 to $96,000 and beyond (as you know from my other posts, I passed $180,000 in ARR this year). If you love behind-the-scenes growth spirals, it’s all there.

But today I want to talk about a spicy little form of social proof that Substack people care about way more than they admit:

The leaderboard.

Not because it’s The Meaning of Life™… but because it can be a visibility lever and a confidence lever — if you use it like a grown-up.

🏆 First: The Leaderboard is Not A Stand-In For Your Self-Worth. It’s a Tool.

I used to ignore leaderboards. Very “I’m just happy to be here.”

Then I noticed writers casually saying things like:

“We’re top 10 in ___.”

And I was like… oh. That’s not cringe. That’s proof. That’s positioning. That’s a reason for a stranger to trust you faster.

So I started paying attention.

And I was like:

✨ Oh. This is a thing. ✨

And since then, here’s the specific thing that’s been teaching me the most:

I’m at #25 in Business on the leaderboard, as you saw above.

And honestly? Getting to #25 taught me something way more useful than getting to #5 would’ve taught me (and don’t get me wrong #5 will be thrilling for me when I get there).

#25 on the Bestselling Business Leaderboard is the zone where I realized: this isn’t a trophy. It’s a tool.

You can also realize it once you’re on it — rising or bestselling.

Here’s the free takeaway you can steal immediately:

Social proof line: Top 25 in Business Bestselling Publications on Substack.

Drop it on your About page, welcome email, media kit, pinned post, even a casual “oh btw” in an intro. It’s not braggy if it’s context. It’s just helping the right reader trust you faster.

That’s the surface-level move.

Now, for paid subscribers: here’s what hitting #25 actually taught me (and how to use the leaderboard no matter where you’re sitting).

👇 What Hitting #25 Taught Me (And How You Can Use the Bestselling List Leaderboard Wherever You Are)