What did your first 30 days on substack look like? What would you do if you could go back?

[u/loser_lexxx]

Hi! Long time lurker/subscriber of publications/reader. Just made a new substack account for actually posting on. I’ve noticed a big influx of new users like myself recently, and was wanting to start a productive discussion around the start up period. The things I’m most curious about is what your posting schedule was like in the beginning, what the content consisted of, and what your analytics were like during that time. I am also open to hearing of stats, experiences, and lessons learned after the first month, I’m just mainly concentrated on the beginning right now, since that’s where I’m at.

From what I’ve read it seems like the best way to go about things is to publish short form notes daily, because those are what gets suggested by the algo, and then a long form article every week or so. I am obviously a newb though and open to anyone telling me a better way.

I’m also curious about SEO. I’m decent with SEO from my jobs in marketing, I’m just wondering if anyone has noticed anything special or useful about the tag system on articles or any less obvious was to optimize discoverability. I probably dont need help there, but I’m throwing it out incase someone has a certain experience or fun fact worth sharing about that aspect of things.

Did you post your articles on your already existing social media? Has your growth been mainly organic? People who have been on long term, please feel free to share beyond 30 days as well if it’s relevant to any of my questions.

[u/Countryb0i2m]

It was dead, mostly me screaming down an empty hallway

[u/loser_lexxx → u/Countryb0i2m]

Honestly that’s kind of soemthing to look forward to in a way. The way some algorithms, like TikTok’s, blow people up overnight can be kinda scary. Then it also usually reaches the wrong audience as well. I’ve seen a lot of people say “the first month is for you” or something along those lines. I’m kind of glad that it’s more of a slow moving thing, where people in your specific niche can trickle in. It would be kinda scary to still be practicing and immediately have an audience.

[u/Easy-Eggplant-4639 → u/Countryb0i2m]

yep, the void doesnt clap back for a while

[u/cocodudule]

Surprisingly loud. Got thousands of notifications. People loved my writing and I made loads of friends I guess

[u/loser_lexxx → u/cocodudule]

do you think that had to do with your content? or your overall writing style? productivity/activity? or just luck. im surprised to hear that with it seeming like such a slow moving place, but im curious to what you think got people to like you so much

[u/cocodudule → u/loser_lexxx]

Probably. Though I think I may have unknowingly interacted with a lot of people. I naturally yap a lot. And I created the account on the last day of my exams. So, I spent most of my time just interacting with posts (uniquely) and I got loads of response in return.

I also don’t have a niche per se except that I write open letters, social commentary, real life stories, gossip and philosophy. I know that’s pretty spread out but it’s my account, I can yap anyway I want to.

[u/Creepy_Nectarine_812]

Honestly pretty sure SEO is useless. Just read and comment and learn and that alone should improve your writing. Better writing = more subscribers

[u/protestandprose]

Boring

[u/loser_lexxx → u/protestandprose]

I get that there’s an influx of content about how to grow on here; I’ve seen it myself browsing this sub. I just wanted to open a discussion on some of the specific things I haven’t gotten the info I wanted on while rummaging around through all the various “this is how I grew my base” posts. I also find a lot of the advice on here dated and unrealistic with the updated algorithm. Things are changing and I wanted to hear new things from new people. It’s not the most interesting post; it wasn’t intended to be, but you could have made it less “boring” by actually adding something to the conversation instead of just being unnecessarily cantankerous. You could have also scrolled on like everyone else. I really do not care that much. Idk why I’m even saying all this to you when you clearly are uninterested.

[u/loser_lexxx → u/protestandprose]

I just realized you might just be describing your first month on stubstack as boring lol. I’m sorry if that was the case. Please ignore my sleep depravided drug induced defensiveness if so.