129 Comments
User's avatar
Mark G (Last of the Wild)'s avatar

You’re overthinking it. My best-performing notes are unfortunately just the ones with the best photos.

Expand full comment
Sheila Callahan's avatar

This is a super generous post. Thank you so much. I have been chugging along on Substack for four years and have only 254 subscribers plus a handful of followers. I am shaken to the core every time I pour out my soul in a Substack essay and receive at most a dozen likes, especially when I know the writing is pretty decent.

Like many a Substacker, I get frustrated when readers say they value my writing and sometimes email me to say so but can’t take a moment to hit the heart on a post. I know it’s pathetic on some level that I want that social media validation, but like all writers know, it’s a long lonely road, and the occasional “atta girl “ does a world of good. It drives me batty to think that people I will go the symphony with or cook dinner for won’t hit the like button on a post. I figure they are not reading, but then one day at a restaurant they slip in a comment of encouragement just as you are about to say goodbye.

Sorry for the long rant. Your post is about leveraging Notes, which I will attempt to do as an antidote to my deep frustration.

Abrigada.

Expand full comment
nick lidington's avatar

Is there anybody out there writing anything other than how you get more subscribers, or how to write on substack? It is so boring to keep on hearing the same old subject.

When you go into a library or buy a book on amazon you are not met with a wall of how to write a book - rather - the books themselves. Very much more interesting.

Expand full comment
Kristin A. Demoro's avatar

Hey, thanks for the pdf. I can't always read full posts on days when my cognitive capacity is spotty, so i appreciate being able to read it later!,

Expand full comment
Fiona Wilson's avatar

I was enjoying that until I clicked the ‘not click bait’ button to take me to a subscriber only PDF - cheeky!

Expand full comment
Trade Unions Curator's avatar

We're collective that provide an accurate and simple guide on how relationships are build, organised, managed, destroyed, repaired, overhauled and reconstructed in the national, regional and international trade unions and their leaders scene using historical narrations as a tool.

tradeunionscurator.substack.com

Expand full comment
Kat River's avatar

Loved this Sarah, far out notes have changed since 2023 and my little substack hiatus! It’s like coming back to a new world. I appreciate your real and honest comments on all of this x

Expand full comment
Forerunner Guy's avatar

very helpful, thank you so much

Expand full comment
Vaishnavi Radhakrishnan's avatar

A super useful read, thanks for sharing!

Expand full comment
Vanlife Ruminations's avatar

I think your niche matters but 20k on one note ??? Wow that’s massive!

Expand full comment
Joy V.'s avatar

What do you define as viral? I have 6k+ likes on a note right now…but haven’t gotten an onslaught of new subscribers or anything.

Expand full comment
ASHLEY  WINTERS's avatar

Ok I’m in and please forgive my neigh for using Notes wrong Sorry

Expand full comment
The Finance Blueprint's avatar

Discover a fresh take on global finance with my newsletter, The Finance Blueprint . I break down current events with humor, career insights, and engaging stories that make finance feel approachable and fun. If you enjoy unique perspectives and staying informed, I’d love for you to subscribe and join the conversation!

https://vandanaagarwal1.substack.com?r=4y5xpf&utm_medium=ios

Expand full comment
Dean's avatar

Golden nugget stuff from start to finish! Learnt a couple of new things from it. 🙏🏽

Expand full comment
Ren Powell's avatar

I'm enjoying notes, but realized notes are sent to subscribers. This means my subscribers who have signed on to receive my newsletters, and who aren't otherwise on substack are now receiving "occasional" spam. I can't turn it off for them, and it requires a lot more effort for them to figure out how to do that than it is for them to simply unsubscribe. This means the social media aspect is more important to substack than the newsletter service that I moved here for. I'm torn. And frustrated.

Expand full comment
jm-visuals's avatar

Thank you Ren, for this very important information. I'm new to the substack world and was wondering a lot about this notes thing. What you wrote here really keeps me holding back. I don't want to spam anybody either.

Expand full comment
Christiana Nikolopoulou's avatar

So insightful!!!

Expand full comment