How To Get Your First 1,000 Substack Subscribers (Ultimate Guide)

Follow these 4 steps to get your first thousand subscribers (without wasting your time on things that don't work)

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Upgrade to our paid tier right now to join us live and get access to the full replay.

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Getting your first 1,000 Substack subscribers can be a frustrating process. You’re putting in the time and effort, but subscriber growth just seems to go slow.

Maybe you’re wondering:

• What are the right steps to take?

• Which strategies actually lead to growth?

• Which features of Substack should I focus on?

That’s exactly why I’ve published this guide.

I’ll break down the four most important steps to get your first 1,000 Substack subscribers in the most time-efficient way possible.

These are the exact steps we have followed (and still are) to go from zero to 7,200+ subscribers on our publication.

Let’s dive straight in.

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Step 1: Define Your Newsletter (Positioning)

If people don’t understand what your Substack newsletter is about within 60 seconds of seeing your publication, they’re not going to subscribe. Clarity is everything—and that’s why positioning your newsletter is essential.

Positioning means you clearly state:

• What topics your newsletter is about (1–3 core topics)

• Who you’re writing for (your target audience)

• Why people should subscribe (the value they’ll get)

What Topics Do You Write About?

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.

Who Do You Write For?

Many writers want to appeal to everyone. They fear that narrowing their focus will limit their audience, but the opposite is true.

When you’re clear about your target audience, you’ll attract the right people.

And those people are way more likely to subscribe, engage, and eventually buy something from you.

For our newsletter, the target audience is clear:

Online writers and creators looking to grow their audience and monetize their expertise

Everything we write—every post, every Note—reinforces that message. We’re not trying to appeal to everyone; we’re here for a specific group of people.

And that’s the key; when you know who you’re writing for, it’s way easier to create content that truly resonates (and brings in new subscribers).

Why Should People Subscribe?

People subscribe to a Substack publication because they see clear value in your newsletter. So, ask yourself:

• What problems and challenges do you help your audience solve?

• What goals do you help them achieve?

• What transformation does your content bring?

Your readers should feel like subscribing to your newsletter is a no-brainer. They should know exactly what they’ll get—and why it’s worth their time.

Use your publication’s tagline, about page, and welcome emails so new readers clearly understand what your Substack is about and how it will benefit them.

Clear positioning is the foundation of building a successful Substack.

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Step 2: Follow A Consistent Publishing Schedule

When your audience consistently sees your work in their email inbox or on their Notes feed, they’ll feel more connected to you. And that connection turns casual readers into loyal subscribers (and eventually, paid ones).

But if you only publish every now and then—and sometimes let weeks pass without sending your audience anything—you won’t be on top of people’s minds.

You need to show up consistently if you want to build a connection with your audience and attract new readers.

That’s why we recommend the following publishing schedule 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.

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 (we 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 to follow a consistent publishing schedule. It’s one of the most effective things to fast-track your Substack growth.

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Step 3: Write 1x Note Per Day

About 25% of our subscribers (that’s roughly 2,000 people) come from writing Notes. So, if you’re looking to attract new readers, Substack Notes is a powerful growth engine not to overlook.

For example, just these three Notes below have generated more than 100 new subscribers to our Write • Build • Scale publication:

Now, not all Notes are created equal.

Some get a lot of engagement (likes, comments, and restacks) and bring in new subscribers, while others disappear into the void.

So what separates a good Note from a forgettable one?

It comes down to four key elements. Nail these, and your Notes will grab more attention, spark more engagement, and drive more subscriber growth.

#1: Keep It Short

Notes are meant to be quick, snackable bits of content that people can consume in seconds. It’s not an essay (save that for your long-form posts), so keep it short and sweet.

Here’s what that means:

• Use Simple Words: No need for fancy vocabulary. Write like you’re texting a friend.

• Write Short Sentences: Keep it punchy and easy to skim.

• Remove Filler Words: Cut out as many words as possible (without diluting your message).

Below are two examples of Notes that are short and to the point, which leads to more engagement:

To make sure your Note is short and sweet, read it out loud before posting it. If it feels clunky or wordy, trim it down.

#2: Attractive Formatting

Even if your Note has the best content in the world, no one’s going to read it if it looks boring. That’s why attractive formatting plays a massive role in how much engagement your Note will get.

The right formatting helps to get a reader’s attention and keep their attention.

Here’s how to format a Note for maximum impact:

• Use Whitespace: Break up your text so it doesn’t feel like a wall of words.

• Add Bullet Points: Bullet points make your content easier to skim. Use them to break down ideas, share lists, or highlight key takeaways.

• Use Emojis: A well-placed emoji can attract attention and make your Note feel more conversational. Just don’t overdo it.

• Use Bold or Italics: Highlight key words or phrases to draw attention to important points. Use bold if you want to emphasize, and italics to add subtlety.

To check if your Notes are formatted for attention, scroll rapidly through your own Substack account and see which Notes stand out (and why).

#3: Compelling Hook

A great hook grabs attention and makes people curious enough to read more. It’s basically the first thing people see—and it determines whether they’ll stop and read your Note or keep scrolling.

For example, a bad hook would be:

“I’ve been thinking a lot about how to grow on Substack, and I’ve come up with a few ideas I want to share.”

While a much better hook is: