4 Ways To Fast-Track Your Substack Growth

Growth doesn't have to be slow when you do these four things...

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Growing your Substack can feel like a slow grind sometimes.

You’re putting out content, showing up on Notes, and trying your best to get noticed - but the results can take a while.

But there are ways to speed up the process. Over the past few months, we’ve tested a bunch of growth strategies, and some have worked far better than others.

In this post, I’m sharing four effective strategies that have helped our publication go from zero to 4,300+ subscribers (of which 151 paid subscribers) in just six months.

So, if you’re ready to level up your Substack growth, let’s dive in.

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#1: Focus On 1 - 3 Core Topics

You want people to associate you (and your publication) with 1-3 core topics.

If you’re writing about everything - or it’s unclear what your publication is about - people are unlikely to subscribe.

Why? Because the value isn’t obvious to them.

Think about it. When you subscribe to a newsletter, you’re usually looking for specific insights, advice, or ideas. If someone’s all over the place, it’s hard to know what you’re actually signing up for.

That’s why, our publication focuses on three core topics:

1. Audience Growth

2. Building a Writing Business (like creating digital products and offers)

3. Substack Growth & Monetization

These aren’t just random topics we picked out of a hat. They’re the exact things we know our target audience (online writers and creators) cares about.

And that’s what leads to fast subscriber growth.

So, think about what your audience wants and needs. Think about their goals, challenges, and problems.

Then, think about what you enjoy writing about. The core topics of your Substack publication should sit at the intersection of those two things.

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#2: Post Consistently

If there’s one thing that will fast-track your Substack growth, it’s sticking to a consistent publishing schedule.

Consistency keeps you top of mind. The more your audience sees your name in their inbox or on their Notes feed, the more they feel connected to you.

And that connection turns casual readers into loyal subscribers (and eventually, paid ones).

Here’s the publishing schedule I recommend for Substack creators:

• Publish at least one long-form post per week: It could be a deep dive, a guide, or a thought-provoking piece that sparks conversation.

• Post at least one Note per day: Notes are perfect for quick, bite-sized content that keeps you visible and engaged with the Substack community.

You can think of your long-form posts as the main meal, and your Notes as the snacks in between. Together, they create a steady flow of content that keeps your audience engaged and connected to you.

Now, I know that creating content can be time-consuming, so here are a few tips to make it easier:

• Don’t overthink it: Your weekly post doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, and your Notes don’t have to be groundbreaking.

• Repurpose your content: Use the best snippets, sentences, and quotes from your long-form posts and use those as Notes (I do this all the time).

• Quantity leads to quality: Just focus on showing up consistently rather than striving for perfection. You’ll automatically get better the more you create.

But the bottom line is, stick to a consistent publishing schedule. It’s one of the most effective things to fast-track your Substack growth.

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#3: Swap Newsletter Recommendations

If you’re not leveraging newsletter recommendations on Substack, you’re missing out on one of the easiest ways to grow your audience.

Seriously, this one strategy helped us gain over 2,000 new subscribers, and all we had to do was reach out to other creators asking if they wanted to swap recommendations.

If you’re not using newsletter recommendations yet, here’s how it works…

Substack lets you recommend other newsletters directly from your publication - and vice versa. When someone subscribes to a newsletter that recommends you, these new subscribers get a one-click option to subscribe to your publication as well.

In other words, swapping recommendations is a win-win for both creators. If you want to get more newsletter recommendations, here are a few key tips:

• Connect with other creators first: Don’t slide into someone’s DMs with a cold pitch asking to swap recommendations straightaway - it’s not a great look. Instead, engage with their content first. Leave thoughtful comments, restack their Notes, and build a genuine connection. Once you’ve established some rapport, it’s much easier (and more natural) to suggest a recommendation swap.

• Don’t limit yourself to your niche: You don’t need to stick strictly to publications in your exact niche. For example, if you write about productivity, you could connect with creators in related areas like entrepreneurship or personal development. The key is to find some overlap in your audiences.

• Reach out to bigger publications: Bigger creators say yes more often than you’d think. Don’t let the size of their audience intimidate you. If you have a solid newsletter and you’re genuinely a fan of their work, many creators are open to collaborating—even if their publication is 10x the size of yours.

In short, newsletter recommendations are one of the most powerful (and underused) growth tools on Substack. Start connecting with other creators, build relationships, and watch your subscriber count climb.

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#4: Write Guest Posts For Other Publications

Guest posting lets you skip the slow grind of trying to grow your audience from scratch.

When you publish a guest post, you’re putting your work in front of an audience another creator has already built. In other words, you can directly get yourself in front of hundreds or thousands of people who might’ve never heard of you otherwise.

If your guest post is valuable, those readers are much more likely to check out your Substack and subscribe - making it a highly effective growth strategy.

Also, when other creators feature your work, it’s like a stamp of approval. It signals to their audience that you’re someone worth listening to. Over time, guest posting on respected publications boosts your credibility and positions you as an authority in your niche.

If you want to start guest posting more often, here’s what I recommend:

• Find the right publications: Look for creators with audiences that overlap with yours. They don’t need to be in the exact same niche, but there should be some shared interests.

• Pitch thoughtfully: Don’t just say, “Can I write a guest post for you?” Instead, pitch specific content ideas and explain why their audience would benefit from your piece.

• Bring your best work: Your guest post is often someone’s first impression of your writing, so make it count. Share actionable insights, compelling stories, or valuable tips that make readers want more. Don’t hold back.

In short, guest-posting is one of the fastest ways to grow your audience, build credibility, and connect with other creators. So, reach out, collaborate, and get your work in front of new readers. It’s 100% worth the effort.

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