24 Resources to Help You Succeed on Substack (Even If You’re Starting From Scratch)

Your roadmap with the right resources for where you are right now in your Substack journey.

Jari Roomer, Philip Hofmacher, and Sinem Günel

Jan 08, 2026

Want to kick off 2026 with a clear, actionable plan to grow on Substack?!

2026 is shaping up to be Substack's biggest year yet—major brands and thought leaders are flocking to the platform, which means NOW is the time to establish your presence.

But here's the thing: having access to great resources isn't enough. You need a clear system to turn knowledge into results.

That's why we're hosting a FREE live Masterclass next week to help you cut through the noise and build a clear, step-by-step plan to grow in 2026!

Now, let’s get into the resources!

Over the past 1.5 years, we’ve published 200+ articles, workshops, podcast episodes, videos, and other resources to help you grow on Substack.

Some of them help complete beginners get started on the platform.

Others are for writers who already have traction and want to accelerate, monetize, or systemize what they’re doing.

That’s why, in today’s post, we’ve handpicked 24 of our best Substack resources and organized them into the four key phases of the Substack journey:

Phase 1: Getting Started
Phase 2: Getting Ahead
Phase 3: Growing Your Paid Substack
Phase 4: Monetizing Beyond Paid Subscribers

Think of this as a clear roadmap with the right resources for where you are right now - not where you think you “should” be.

Phase 1: Getting Started

If you’re new to Substack or struggle to move beyond a few dozen subscribers, these resources are best for you:

💥 Substack for Beginners: The Complete 2026 Tutorial
- In this YouTube video, Sinem shares exactly how new Substackers can set themselves up for success in 2026.

📧 How To Get Your First 1,000 Substack Subscribers (Ultimate Guide)
- In this ultimate guide, you’ll learn the exact steps to take to work your way towards your first 1,000 subscribers in the most efficient way possible.

⚙️ How To Set Your Substack Publication Up For Success
- Setting up your Substack publication the right way is the foundation of everything. This ultimate guide has got you covered.

7️⃣ Do These 7 Things If You Have Less Than 1,000 Substack Subscribers
- If you’re below 1,000 subscribers, these are the exact steps you need to take to get more traction and grow faster.

👤 How to Build an “Ideal Reader Persona” to Grow Your Audience With Confidence
- Getting clarity on who you’re writing for (and what you’re writing about) is one of the most important steps to set your publication up for success.

📚 365 Lessons We Learned in Our First Year on Substack
- After being on Substack for a full year, we collected our most important lessons in one ultimate resource.
🆕 What I’d Do If I Had to Start on Substack From Scratch
- In this YouTube video, Sinem shares how she would start a brand-new publication from scratch based on all the lessons she learned so far.

Phase 2: Getting Ahead

Once you’ve got the basics of Substack down, it’s time to get ahead by focusing on the many different growth features Substack has to offer:

✉️ The 2026 Substack Notes Playbook: How to Write Notes That Turn Strangers Into Subscribers
- Substack Notes has brought 1000s of subscribers to our publication. In this guide, we share everything you need to know about writing engaging Notes.
🎙️ 10 Lessons From Starting a Podcast on Substack
- Substack isn’t just for writing. You can host your podcast on Substack, which is a powerful way to connect with your audience and grow your list.
🫂 How To Grow Your Substack With Collaborations
- Collaborating with other creators is the fastest way to grow. In this guide, we talk about newsletter recommendations, guest posting, livestreaming & more
📷 The Ultimate Guide To Livestreaming On Substack
- Doing Substack lives is a great way to connect more with your audience and to get your message in front of new audiences.
📝 13 Ways to Get More Subscribers Using Substack Notes
- In this YouTube video, Sinem shares how to use Substack Notes to grow your list of subscribers.

Phase 3: Growing Your Paid Substack

Once you’re growing steadily, it’s time to focus on setting up your premium Substack and attracting more paid subscribers:

💵 Most Substack Pricing Advice Is Wrong - Here’s How & When to Go Paid
- In this YouTube video, Sinem shares exactly when to turn on paid and how to price your Substack for the best ROI.
💬 3 Ways to Sell Your Paid Substack Tier Without Feeling ‘Salesy’
- Promoting your paid Substack doesn’t have to feel awkward. In this post, we share three practical strategies to promote your paid tier in a natural way.
🧠 7 Mental Shifts That Will Help You Make More Money on Substack
- Mindset is everything. You’ll only make as much as you believe you’re worth. That’s why this article covers seven essential mindset shifts.
📈 5 Proven Ways to Build a Bestselling Substack Publication
- In this YouTube video, Sinem shares the most effective strategies that helped us become a Substack bestseller.
🔟 Step-By-Step Playbook: From 0 To Substack Bestseller In 10 Steps
- In this podcast episode, Jari shares the exact ten steps you need to take to go from beginner to Substack bestseller.
📙 The Ultimate Guide To Monetizing Your Substack
- If you’re seriously looking to grow your list of paid subscribers, this ultimate guide covers everything you need to know about Substack monetization.
✍️ 3 Things We Learned From Reaching 1,000+ Paid Subscribers On Substack In 2025
- In this podcast episode, we share the biggest lessons we learned in 2025 that helped us go from 100 to 1,000+ paid subscribers.

Phase 4: Monetizing Beyond Paid Subscribers

The most profitable Substack publications don’t just focus on paid subscribers, but they also monetize through different revenue streams:

💻 Every Substack Creator Should Have *This* Digital Product In 2026
- If you’re thinking about creating a simple but profitable digital product, this is where you should start.
💰 How I Attract $3k Coaching Clients With A Simple “Offer Doc”
- Offering high-ticket coaching is one of the best ways to monetize your Substack publication. In this post, we break down exactly how we do that.
💵 5 Ways To Monetize Your Substack (Without Paid Subscriptions)
- In this podcast episode, Jari shares the most effective monetization models for Substack (that have nothing to do with paid subscriptions).
💹 [Workshop] How to Attract Your First $1,000+ Coaching Client
- If you’re new to coaching or consulting, this workshop shows you exactly how to attract your first $1,000+ client.
💡 How To Validate, Build & Sell Your First Digital Product
- In this podcast episode, Jari and Landon Poburan talk about the exact process to find, build, and sell a highly profitable digital product.