In this 21-minute clip from Thursday’s Substack Masterclass, Sinem shares which three systems you need to follow to grow your Substack on “autopilot”.
When we say “autopilot,” it means setting up repeatable, scalable strategies that keep working for you long after you’ve done the initial work.
(It doesn’t mean pressing a magic button and never lifting a finger again.)
So, how do you do that?
It comes down to three key areas:
Creating content that converts
Using Substack’s built-in growth tools
Collaborating with other creators
Let’s break it down.
System 1: Create Content That Converts
Not all content is created equal. Some posts get tons of engagement, new subscribers, and shares. Others? They disappear into the void.
So, how do you make sure your content falls into the first category? By mixing five key types of content into your strategy:
1. Inspirational Content
This is the kind of content that makes people go, “Wow, I needed to hear that today.”
For example, Jari recently posted this inspirational-type Note, and it got a lot of engagement:
Such a simple message—but it resonated with hundreds of people. Why? Because it reframed how small creators think about their audience.
💡 Tip: If you know your audience well, you’ll know what kind of inspiration will hit home for them.
2. Educational Content
This is your how-to guides, strategies, and deep dives. It’s the stuff that helps your audience solve a problem, learn something new, or improve a skill.
If you write about productivity, you might share "3 Ways to Beat Procrastination and Stay Focused."
If you write about freelancing, you could post "The Email Template That Landed Me a $5,000 Client."
Educational content is high-value, and people stick around (and subscribe) for it.
3. Personal Stories
People connect with people. That’s why personal content works so well.
It could be:
A lesson you learned from a mistake
A behind-the-scenes look at your writing process
A personal struggle that your audience can relate to
Even if personal stories don’t always go viral, they help you build a loyal audience that trusts you.
4. Entertainment
Not everything has to be serious! Sometimes, people just want a laugh or a fresh perspective.
Funny, lighthearted, or thought-provoking content is a great way to show personality. Many creators use memes, GIFs, or funny observations about their niche to entertain their audience.
And if you have a pet? Congratulations—you now have a content goldmine. (Seriously, pet photos with a clever caption = instant engagement.)
5. Engagement-Boosting Questions
Sometimes, the best way to get engagement is to simply ask for it.
Look at this Note as an example:
That one question got 150+ likes and 40+ responses.
When you ask simple, easy-to-answer questions, you encourage interaction and start building a real sense of community.
🔑 Pro Tip: Don’t limit yourself to just one type of content. Mix these five to boost both discoverability (getting new eyes on your work) and conversion (turning casual readers into subscribers).
System 2: Use Substack’s Built-In Growth Features
Substack has some seriously underrated tools to help you grow. If you’re not using them, you’re leaving potential subscribers on the table.
1. Substack Recommendations
This is one of the fastest ways to grow on Substack. When another creator recommends your publication, their audience gets exposed to your work—leading to an instant boost in subscribers.
💡 Our results: Almost half of our new subscribers (around 2,500 people) came from 100+ different Substack recommendations.
How to get more recommendations?
Start by recommending others. When you recommend someone, they’re more likely to recommend you back.
Build relationships. Connect with other writers in your space before asking for a swap.
Don’t limit yourself to your exact niche. If you write about freelancing, a creator in personal finance or productivity might have an overlapping audience.
2. Substack Livestreams
This is a brand-new feature, and it’s a game-changer.
Live streams let you engage with your audience in real time—and they’re also a great collaboration tool. You can:
Go live with another creator to share insights and cross-promote your publications.
Host live Q&A sessions to answer subscriber questions and build trust.
Repurpose your live streams into written posts or short clips for future content.
If you enjoy talking about your knowledge and expertise, live streams could be a perfect way to connect with your audience.
(For example, here is a recent livestream
did with .)System 3: Collaborate With Other Creators
Your network on Substack is your growth engine. The more you connect with other writers, the faster you’ll grow.
Here are three easy ways to collaborate:
1. Guest Posts
Writing a guest post for another publication instantly puts you in front of a new audience.
For example,
recently wrote a guest post for The Author Stack, which is ’s publication.This publication has well over 47,000 subscribers, so it’s safe to say it reached a lot of new readers who hadn’t heard of Write • Build • Scale before.
But aside from bringing in new subscribers, guest posting also works like a stamp of approval. If another creator features your work, it signals to their audience that you’re someone worth listening to.
So, the more guest posts you have on respected publications, the more you’ll boost your credibility and position yourself as an authority in your niche.
2. Cross-Promotions
One of the most natural ways to do a cross-promotion is to casually mention another writer in your newsletter.
This simple mention:
Provides value to your readers by recommending useful content.
Introduces the other creator to your audience in a genuine, organic way.
Opens the door for them to return the favor and introduce you to their audience in a future email.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to wait for a formal agreement to start mentioning other writers. Do it first, and often, and you’ll naturally build goodwill with other creators.
3. Restack Notes
Substack Notes is one of the best places to cross-promote other newsletters because it’s built for discovery.
Here’s how you can use it strategically:
When you come across a great Note or post from another Substack writer, restack it in Notes and add a personal comment on why your audience should check it out.
If another writer does the same for you, you instantly get exposed to their audience.
Substack System Is Now Live 🎉
Substack System is the step-by-step roadmap to build your audience and income on Substack in record time.
In the 70+ videos of this online program, you’ll learn how to:
Write Viral Notes: Capture attention and drive subscriber growth
Build Your Audience: Attract readers who truly appreciate your work
Create A Thriving Publication: Set your publication up for success
Grow Your Paid Substack: Turn readers into paying subscribers every month
Boost Subscriber Growth: Use effective growth strategies to reach more readers with less effort
And much, much more…
✅ Yes, I Want To Learn More About Substack System
But Substack System includes more than just video lessons…
We've created all the resources you need so you can easily take action on what you learn - and succeed as quickly as possible.
Here’s what’s included when you join Substack System:
Weekly Group Coaching Sessions: Join us for three months of live coaching sessions, where all your questions will be answered
The Substack Bestseller Case Study: Learn how we've built a Bestselling Substack publication with 100+ paid subscribers in less than 60 days
Substack Expert Interview Series: We interviewed 10+ top Substack writers to uncover their best strategies for growth, writing, and monetization
Substack Operation System: Your personalized toolbox full of plug-and-play frameworks and templates to succeed on Substack
Support & Accountability WhatsApp Group: You'll be supported by your coaches and an active community of like-minded creators
✅ Yes, I Want To Learn More About Substack System
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