In this episode, I’m joined by Benjamin Hies, and we break down how he turned his publication, Digital Citizen, into a Substack bestseller (with 100+ paid subscribers) and a thriving online business.
If you want to learn how to attract more paid subscribers - and turn your publication into multiple sources of revenue - you’re going to love this episode.
Here’s exactly what we cover:
The biggest mistake Benjamin made on Substack: writing for “everyone” instead of one clear reader (02:52)
The curse of knowledge: why writing basic content often performs best (05:45)
How Benjamin became a Substack Bestseller in 8 months (12:20)
The exact content + pricing strategy that pushed him past 100 paid subscribers (13:37)
Why paid subscriptions are just the starting point of monetization, not the end goal (24:49)
How Benjamin added a $5,000 consulting offer to his Substack (26:22)
What new Substack creators who want to build a business on the platform should start doing (28:38)
Why Benjamin recommends being “impatient with actions, but patient with results” (29:45)
And much, much more…
Benjamin is part of our private Substack coaching program.
If you want to apply for private Substack coaching so we can personally help you grow and monetize your publication faster, click here. Limited spots available.
Succeed on Substack In 2026 (You’re Invited!)
Whether you’re brand new to Substack - or you’ve already been here for a while and you’re looking to grow faster - we’ve got something just for you…
This Thursday, we’re hosting a live masterclass sharing the exact frameworks and strategies to help you grow your audience & income on Substack in 2026.
If this is the year you want to build a thriving Substack publication, click the button below and secure your seat for free:
Watch On YouTube:
👉 Subscribe to the Write • Build • Scale YouTube channel, where we’ll upload a video version of the podcast every week.
Connect With Benjamin Hies:
Key Lessons From This Episode:
#1: Write for Your Audience - Not Only for Yourself
One of the biggest early mistakes Benjamin made was writing only about topics he found fascinating, rather than what his audience actually needed.
The shift happened when he started asking: Who am I writing for? Where are they in their journey? What do they need explained right now?
Growth accelerated the moment he focused less on advanced topics (like niche tax details) and more on fundamentals his readers were still confused about - even if those basics felt “too obvious” to him.
If you want to attract an audience and actually monetize your Substack, you’ll have to treat it with an audience-first mindset.
#2: The “Basic” Content Is Often Your Most Valued Work
When you’re deep into a topic, it’s easy to underestimate how valuable the fundamentals are.
Benjamin noticed that the posts he almost didn’t publish - because they felt too simple - often received the most engagement, comments, and (paid) subscriptions.
This is what’s called the ‘curse of knowledge’.
When you know a lot about your topic, you might automatically assume everyone else knows it as well. You might think it’s ‘common sense’.
But most people still need the basics - the fundamentals.
As an expert in your field, this might seem too easy or not valuable enough, but it’s often what your readers need the most.
#3: Treat Your Substack Like a Business
Even though Benjamin has crossed the 100+ paid subscriber mark, turning him into a Substack bestseller, he realizes that paid subscriptions work best as an entry point, not the end goal.
That’s why he has designed his Substack like a marketing funnel:
Free content → paid Substack → low-ticket digital product → high-ticket coaching program.
Each step deepens trust and gives readers multiple ways to engage based on their needs and budget.
When you think of your Substack in terms of an ecosystem instead of a single monetization opportunity, it becomes a true business - not just a newsletter.
Benjamin is part of our private Substack coaching program.
If you want to apply for private Substack coaching so we can personally help you grow and monetize your publication faster, click here. Limited spots available.
