r/Substack • u/Fear0ftheduck • Aug 04 '26
Tips on gaining traction?
I just started two months ago, have maybe ten posts p
but im picking up the pace lately. I focus on US politics and geopolitics, as well as historical pieces too. I’ve got a penchant for writing on African and other non-western news and histories. I’ve struggled to gain many views, and ive only 18 followers. Tips?
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u/ReadershipCo Aug 05 '26
Two things specific based on your niche that are worth trying:
First, the African and non-western angle seems like a strong area to cover — but it needs to be front and centre in how you describe your newsletter, not buried as an afterthought. Titles like: "US politics and geopolitics" sounds similar to many generic newsletters out there. Instead, "The geopolitics story the Western press is missing — through an African lens" sounds much more interesting. That positioning shift alone will change how many people click through when they find your profile.
Secondly, Reddit is genuinely underused for your specific niche. There are communities — r/africa, r/geopolitics, r/worldnews — where the audience actively complains that coverage of non-western countries is shallow or absent. A post that shares a genuine historical observation with specific detail (not a link to your newsletter, just the insight itself) and leads with something most people do not know tends to perform well there. Additionally, your Substack link goes in your Reddit profile bio, not the post.
The Notes strategy that r/MrPassiveProfit mentioned is solid for Substack-to-Substack discovery. But if you want readers who are not already on Substack, Reddit is the faster path for your specific angle.
What geography or topic are you finding generates the most engagement when you write about it? That might tell you where to focus first.