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What I'd Do If I Had to Start on Substack From Scratch

5 overlooked strategies to grow your audience and publication.

Sinem Günel

Jul 22, 2025

If I had to start my Substack from absolute zero today while knowing everything I know after building a Bestselling publication in record time, I’d do a few things differently.

This article is for creators who are just getting started or who feel stuck and unsure why their publication isn’t growing.

Below, you’ll find five shortcuts to accelerate your growth and one powerful decision that helped us gain our first 500 paid subscribers at Write • Build • Scale.

Let’s dive in!

1. Define a Clear Reader Promise

Most creators hate the typical advice of “focusing on a niche” because they’re multi-passionate.

But if you want to grow, clarity is non-negotiable.

And the easiest way to be clear is to define what your publication helps readers do.

Complete this sentence:

My publication helps you…

At Write • Build • Scale, our promise is simple:

We help you write confidently, build your audience, and scale your income.

2. Publish for Visibility & Connection

If I were starting again, I’d focus on two types of content:

• Content for visibility
• Content for connection

You need both types of content in order to grow your audience reliably and quickly.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Batch your Notes: Pick a day of the week and write 7–10 Notes for the week ahead.
• Create a simple posting habit: For example, post one Note every morning after brushing your teeth.

3. Offer a Bribe

Even though Substack doesn’t offer traditional lead magnet tools, you can still bribe your readers with a great freebie.

Here’s how:

• Deliver that gift inside your welcome email.

Your freebie could be:

• A PDF workbook (like our Substack Bestseller Workbook)
• A checklist, mini guide, or swipe file
• An audio guide, template, or resource bundle

4. Collaborate Like Crazy

Substack is a dream for collaborative creators because you can leverage dozens of tools to connect with like-minded people.

And the best news is that you don’t need a huge following to start. You just need genuine curiosity and the willingness to create win-win situations.

To build meaningful collaborations, we constantly ask ourselves:

• Who can we feature?
• Who can we collaborate with?
• What value can we create together?

5. Start Genuine Conversations Every Week

Here’s one of the most underrated growth strategies on the internet:

Talk to people.

Ask your readers questions in your Notes and posts.

Strong relationships are more powerful than viral hacks.

The #1 Decision That Helped Us Gain 500 Paid Subscribers

When we joined Substack in 2024, we treated it as a growth and marketing platform, not just a blog or newsletter tool.

The truth is, Substack is social.

If you want your publication to grow, treat it like a business.

Let me know which of these five tips you’ll implement first. I’d love to hear how it goes!

— Sinem 🧡