{"id":2455,"date":"2025-07-31T18:35:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T18:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zoomlavilin.com\/?p=2455"},"modified":"2025-08-07T13:17:45","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T13:17:45","slug":"how-i-grew-my-substack-by-7000-in-less-than-3-years-without-burning-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.zoomlavilin.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/31\/how-i-grew-my-substack-by-7000-in-less-than-3-years-without-burning-out\/","title":{"rendered":"How I grew my Substack by 7,000% in less than 3 years without burning out"},"content":{"rendered":"

The newsletter platform and social media site, Substack, has become one of the hottest spaces for online creators\u2014and now brands and celebrities are joining the bandwagon. Boasting more than five million paid subscribers<\/a> across the platform, Substack invites creators like myself to build an audience, make money, and connect with other readers and writers.<\/p>\n

My name is Alex Lewis, and I joined Substack in December 2022. My newsletter, Feels Like Home<\/em><\/a>, is now home to more than 3,500 subscribers and receives over 20,000 monthly reads. I started the newsletter to explore some of my favorite things (like music, sports, and pop culture) and to have a creative outlet outside of my 10-year career in social media marketing.<\/p>\n

Here are the steps I took to grow my newsletter by 7,000% in less than three years and how it continues to help me avoid burnout and maintain my love for writing. Let\u2019s get into it.<\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

1. I wrote about what I enjoy.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The beauty of Substack is you can write about whatever you want, and there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll find people who actually want to read it.<\/p>\n

When starting my Substack, I set out to write about things I love and the people and moments that have shaped me. This ensured that my writing would always be personal and always feel enjoyable because I\u2019m writing about topics that I\u2019m genuinely interested in, such as NBA basketball<\/a> and healthy masculinity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Consistency is much more attainable when writing and publishing feel like less of a burden. I get excited to return to the page because I\u2019m following my curiosities\u2014and what I often find on the other side of this pursuit are people who love the same things and feel seen, as well as people who aren\u2019t as familiar with the topic but gain a newfound appreciation for it.<\/p>\n

Ana Calin, whose How We Grow<\/em><\/a> newsletter has hundreds of paid subscribers, encourages creators<\/a> to \u201cwrite the newsletter you would want to read\u2014not the one you think will \u2018perform.\u2019\u201d She adds, \u201cReaders can tell when you\u2019re being authentic, and they\u2019ll stick around for your voice\u2014not some polished version of what you think they want.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Substack lets you label your newsletter under 1-2 categories to help readers find your publication, you don\u2019t have to corner yourself into a specific niche in order to grow. Sharing your interests can pave the way for connection and consistency.<\/p>\n

2. I nurtured the people who already supported me.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Substack makes your writing accessible for people who want to read it.<\/p>\n

Before joining Substack, sharing my work on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X felt like the only way for people to learn that I published something new. Friends would tell me they missed something I wrote because the algorithm didn\u2019t serve my posts to them.<\/p>\n

I chose to join Substack and start publishing a newsletter because I wanted the people who enjoyed reading my work to receive it directly in their inbox. While I still post about my publication on social media, email is my newsletter\u2019s top traffic driver by far, generating 186% more views than the Substack app (which is my next closest).<\/p>\n

By inviting readers to opt into an easier way to read my work, I started my Substack journey with over 100 subscribers within the first week. That\u2019s more than 100 people who could share my newsletter and invite others to subscribe and begin sharing.<\/p>\n

If you already have an audience but are having trouble reaching them online, consider starting a newsletter.<\/p>\n

As noted<\/a> by Seth Werkheiser, who writes his Social Media Escape Club<\/em><\/a> newsletter to more than 6,000 subscribers, \u201cDirect access to your audience is so important, and very much worth the time and energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Social media algorithms are unreliable. Through Substack, you can take ownership of your email list and speak directly to your audience while making it easier for your long-time supporters to continue supporting.<\/p>\n

3. I focused on consistent quality over consistent quantity.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Just because your favorite Substack writer posts every day doesn\u2019t mean you need to.<\/p>\n

What I began to observe, prior to joining Substack, is that I averaged two new essays per month. These weren\u2019t just throwaway ideas; they were well-researched, thoughtful, long-form pieces that came as a result of reading, living, listening, and wrestling.<\/p>\n

Once I started my newsletter, I launched a content recommendation series, Take It or Leave It<\/a>, to fill in the gaps between essays. These started as weekly drops, but I shifted the cadence to monthly at the beginning of this year as I learned how challenging it was to maintain a weekly rhythm\u2014especially since writing isn\u2019t my full-time job.<\/p>\n

Also, I knew my biggest metric for success was making work I\u2019m proud of, and that takes time. Work I\u2019m proud of is work I\u2019m comfortable with returning to and want to share even after its publish date. This is work I believe readers can come to at any point and still find value in.<\/p>\n

Consistency, in terms of how much you post, is often discussed as being tied to growth. But Sarah Fay, whose Substack Writers at Work<\/em><\/a> newsletter has over 36,000 subscribers, says<\/a>, \u201cSubstack\u2019s algorithm doesn\u2019t favor frequency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fay adds, \u201cEngagement is what matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Posting more may get your newsletter in front of people more often, but it can also make your work harder to keep up with or even bombard readers\u2019 already jam-packed inboxes. By focusing on consistent quality over upping your quantity, you can do a better job of delivering work your readers won\u2019t want to miss because they know you always bring your best.<\/p>\n

\"by<\/p>\n

4. I \u201cstole\u201d from my favorite writers.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Your fellow Substack writers are the best blueprint for getting started.<\/p>\n

I began my Substack journey on a whim. After months of putting off starting a newsletter, I finally decided to jump all in. Not knowing where to begin, I looked at publications from Substack writers I already followed, such as Hunter Harris<\/a> and Emily Sundberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By looking at their newsletters, I gained a better understanding of how I wanted to structure my About page, as well as what to include in the header and footer of my emails. While I made the words my own, they helped me learn what\u2019s possible with my publication.<\/p>\n

Austin Kleon, whose self-titled Substack<\/a> has 297,000 subscribers, authored the book, Steal Like An Artist<\/em>. Within the guide, Kleon quotes fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto: \u201cStart copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy you will find your self.\u201d<\/p>\n

Your best path forward isn\u2019t plagiarism; it\u2019s learning from the writers and creators you admire. It\u2019s letting the best of what they do inspire you to make the best work you can.<\/p>\n

A few of my favorite Substackers are:<\/p>\n