The Ultimate Guide To Writing Substack Notes

How writing Notes has generated 1,000s of new subscribers for our publication.

(Icon by Freepik - Flaticon)

Notes are like the short, snackable content of Substack.

They’re perfect for sharing quick insights, engaging with your audience, and attracting new readers (aka, subscribers) for your Substack publication.

Looking at our statistics, we estimate we get about 25% of our subscribers through Substack Notes. In other words, Notes are a powerful way to grow your publication.

(The screenshot above says 41%, but that includes all subscribers from the mobile app.)

Not only does writing Notes lead to new subscribers, but they also help to:

• Build a deeper connection with your existing subscribers: Notes are far easier to publish than a long-form post, so you can have multiple touchpoints per week with your subscribers (compared to 1-2 long-form posts per week). And more touchpoints lead to a stronger connection between you and your audience.

• Connect with other Substack creators: I’ve met dozens of awesome creators simply by engaging with their Notes (or creators engaging with mine). Some of these new connections turned into newsletter recommendations, guest posts, and (best of all) new friendships.

All in all, writing Notes is an invaluable tool for building your audience, deepening relationships with your readers, and growing on Substack.

But consistently writing Notes that get a lot of engagement - and lead to subscriber growth - can be a challenge. That’s why I’ve created this ultimate guide.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Part 1: The 4 Elements Of Writing Engaging Notes

• Part 2: How To Effortlessly Publish 1 - 5 Notes A Day

Ready? Let’s dive straight in.

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Part 1: The 4 Elements Of Writing Engaging Notes

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.

Let’s break it down.

#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.

Below is an example of a Note that is formatted for more engagement:

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:

“Want to grow your Substack faster? Here are 3 hacks I wish I knew sooner 👇”

In other words, the goal of a hook is to stop readers in their tracks and make them want to read your post.

If you want to get better at writing hooks, experiment with these formats:

• Promise a benefit

  • “Want to grow your Substack faster? Here’s how I gained 500 subscribers in 30 days.”

• Use numbers

  • “3 simple ways to grow your audience starting today 👇”

• Challenge a common belief

  • “Why consistency isn’t the most important part of growing your Substack.”

• Share a bold statement

  • “Most writers don’t how to monetize their writing. Here’s what to do differently…”

• Highlight pain points

  • “Struggling to get more subscribers? You’re not alone—here’s how to fix it.”

• Create curiosity

  • “This one trick doubled my Substack subscribers in a week 👇”

Below is an example of a Note that uses a strong hook, as it leads with a bold statement that challenges a common belief:

To check if your Note has a strong hook, only read the first sentence and feel whether it pulls you in to read more or not.

#4: Clear Objective

If your Note doesn’t have a clear objective (or message), it’ll feel scattered. Instead, decide what you want your Note to achieve and stick to that objective.

Examples of objectives for a Note could be:

• Educate: Share a quick tip, insight, or actionable advice that helps a reader solve a problem or get closer to their goals.

• Inspire: Motivate your audience (with a quote or personal story) to get into action.

• Entertain: Make your audience laugh or feel other positive emotions.

• Social Proof / Credibility: Share a milestone or achievement to show your authority on a subject.

• Being Personal: Share something about your personal life to let your audience see the human side of you (instead of just the writer/expert/business owner side).

For example, the Note below has one clear objective, which is to educate people on how to create an online mini-course:

Just don’t mix too many objectives in one Note. For example, don’t try to educate, inspire, and entertain all at once—it’ll confuse your message and dilute its impact.

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Part 2: How To Effortlessly Publish 1 - 5 Notes A Day

Consistency is key if you want your Notes to get a lot of engagement and bring in many new subscribers. Posting a Note every now and then isn’t going to do much.

But consistently posting Notes can be a challenge. That’s why this second part of the ultimate guide covers five effective methods that will help you easily publish between one and five Notes a day.

Let’s dive straight in.