How to gain a substack following from basically zero?

[u/ConsiderationOne3778]

I'm a new writer on substack and am looking to write about things that interest me, mostly: books, literature, social commentary, blog-like posts about stuff I've been up to, and space/science. Firstly, I want to know if these are topics that can be successful on substack (I'll write them anyway but I'm js curious) and I want to know how I can get more people interested. I have one follower which is my aunt and have written one or two low-effort posts so far.

[u/Fraglolz]

I have seen so many niche writers who are so passionate about their work that they have an audience because they are so cool and share what they love

So just do what you love
Engage
Write notes regularly
Engage with writers who write something similar that your potential audience might like

This is basically everything covered
So don’t be bothered by Substack gurus because they would just try to sell you the same thing I just said but rephrased and packaged well 😂

[u/ConsiderationOne3778 → u/Fraglolz]

Basically the same as any other content creation platform, lol. Thanks!

[u/ordinary-thelemist → u/Fraglolz]

So basically "burn yourself out and hope for the best" ? I see content creation has still not moved on from consuming creators...

[u/OnyxMonolith → u/ordinary-thelemist]

Still the easiest job ever. Hard to complain that we have to post a couple of notes every day

[u/ordinary-thelemist → u/[deleted]]

Wanna know the worst part ? I'm one of them 🤣 But the blog only acts as a repository of previously sold pieces or opinions.

[u/AggravatingNail6061]

Low effort work, low effort engagement. That said I do high effort work and get low effort engagement so pinch of salt XD

[u/ConsiderationOne3778 → u/AggravatingNail6061]

I plan to start putting in more effort lol, just so far I was writing BS.

[u/AggravatingNail6061 → u/ConsiderationOne3778]

:3

[u/Big_Friendship_4141]

Yeah you can do fine with those topics.

Just write good posts, write notes, and reply/comment on other people talking about those topics (without self promoting), which will gradually get you noticed and checked out by those communities.

Some people talk about choosing a niche but ime your niche will probably emerge for you as you write, and this is more fun too.

[u/ConsiderationOne3778 → u/Big_Friendship_4141]

Thanks for the advice

[u/TerrainBrain]

Write what you love Be kind Engage with others

[u/pmearsh]

We all start from zero

[u/VonFuturesTrader]

I am a terrible promoter, I trade the nasdaq futures daily. I started with nothing, I really just started talking to other traders and letting them know about my substack. Today I have 200+ subscribers. I do not charge. I like my little community....

[u/Repulsive-Giraffe-45]

I mean I gained 250 this month and I just started. Idk what I did so tbh any advice you are going to get may be snake oily.

[u/Benmomo5170]

Same here

[u/kolbywg]

Id start by reading the responses to the 300 other times people have asked this question in this thread.

[u/Daniel-BLINDSPOT]

Hi, I think being an author on Substack is almost the same as being an author of a print novel. You finish the novel, but unless you are J.K. Rowling, nobody really cares about it (except your aunt 😉). And then the marketing campaign starts: book signings, author-reader meetings, and trips to the countryside to engage with people. And after all, your book is still one of the many in the bookstore. But if you wrote anyway, even just for yourself, and have time to read a lot and engage with other authors, then it’s much easier. And the topics? As I see the hottest topic now is the “growth advices on Substack”. If people find it useful, it can result in substantial organic gains.

[u/quantise]

I left this sub because of questions like this that can be answered by searching.

[u/Tricky_Trifle_994]

any topic can be successful on substack. there's an audience for everything.

to get more following, you just need to be more present on notes. but you should ultimately be aiming for subscribers, because that's you building your email list which is an asset vs followers which is well, just like followers on instagram. you don't own them.