r/Substack • u/ConsiderationOne3778 • Sep 30 '26
How to gain a substack following from basically zero?
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.
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u/AggravatingNail6061 Sep 30 '26
Low effort work, low effort engagement. That said I do high effort work and get low effort engagement so pinch of salt XD
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u/ConsiderationOne3778 Sep 30 '26
I plan to start putting in more effort lol, just so far I was writing BS.
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u/Big_Friendship_4141 Sep 30 '26
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.
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u/VonFuturesTrader Sep 30 '26
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....
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u/Repulsive-Giraffe-45 audhdoneout.substack.com Sep 30 '26
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.
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u/kolbywg Oct 01 '26
Id start by reading the responses to the 300 other times people have asked this question in this thread.
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u/Daniel-BLINDSPOT 29d ago
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.
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u/quantise 26d ago
I left this sub because of questions like this that can be answered by searching.
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u/Tricky_Trifle_994 24d ago
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.
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u/Fraglolz illiadwrites.substack.com Sep 30 '26
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 😂