My Top Secrets of Supercharged Substack Growth
Whatever you’re building — start now
The first day my newly revamped Substack newsletter went live, I promoted it on LinkedIn. My inbox lit up with new subscriber alerts.
I switched off the notification function because my inbox was getting flooded — a good problem to have. I was also pretty stoked because it’s taken me a long time to get here.
Two years ago, I began my Substack journey. Three months ago, I considered walking away from Substack entirely. Now, I’m returning to the Substack platform with a new project.
Failure is helpful
The world of online writing and content creation is evolving at a breakneck pace. It’s often challenging to keep up with every new advancement. As creators, we want to find the best home for all our shiny, new ideas. The most popular place isn’t always a fit.
As you try new platforms, you can always change your mind. You can start something and then call it quits. When your bright idea isn’t working, shut it down, move it, or change it. That’s evolution, and it’s good.
Failure is helpful.
The reason I started on Substack and where I’ve landed are two very different places. Both had value. Medium was a better home for my first project, and Substack is the better alternative for the new one.
Let’s dig in.
A Brief Look Back
I started my newsletter on Substack two years ago because Medium was a heavily guarded platform. Getting into popular publications was a slog. I lost count of all the rejections.
As much as I liked Medium, I felt stifled. I wanted to publish whatever I wanted without gatekeepers looking down on me. So, I did. I created my own Substack newsletter. I tried all kinds of features: paid, playlists, and highlighting guest writers. It was fun.
It was freeing to have creative autonomy, and it was a little all over the place. It was unfocused. When I finally landed on a desired theme, I realized I wanted to build a community with other writers.
Medium is the best place to do that, so I moved my Substack idea here and established License to Chill. The theme? Take a break, already. You’re doing enough. Naps are encouraged.
I was stoked about the move but didn’t know what to do with that Substack. I left it for months. I was thinking of just unplugging it altogether.
Until one night, all my ideas fell into place.
The Pieces Fit
I spent over two decades running retail stores. I led frontline retail teams. I quit that career in early 2022. Today, as a freelance writer, I write a newsletter on LinkedIn called Leadership Field Guide. I give leadership advice to the retail sector.
I enjoy writing it and will continue to do so; however, LinkedIn can feel like a pair of too-tight jeans. Everyone on the platform has to beware of their bosses peering in.
It’s loosened up lately but is still a “professional” platform.
I wanted to create an unfiltered version of my LinkedIn newsletter. I wanted to swear occasionally and call out corporations on their shenanigans on a larger, more uninhibited scale.
Ah ha! That was it.
Back to Substack, I went. After returning from a five-hour road trip, I worked for four hours straight and created The Voice of the Frontline. I established the logo, wrote the first newsletter, and sent it out.
I was in the zone.
What came out of that intense work session was a very focused, niche newsletter. Do you work in customer service? Do you wish you could tell your boss what you really think? Do you want my expert advice? This newsletter is for you.
Each issue will offer
- My big mouth opinions on retail, leadership, and the frontline.
- Answers to all the questions I get in my DMs (anonymously, of course).
- An actionable takeaway that readers can use today.
That’s why subscriptions skyrocketed. That’s the secret. It’s focused and niche. It’s not trying to be all things to everybody. My focus is one type of person — those who work in customer-facing jobs.
I’m sick of hearing what CEOs have to say. I’m creating a dialogue with the frontline workforce.
Start Now
If you can get to the heart of the people you’re writing for, they’ll be all in. You’ll build your subscribers if you can find the angle that few people are talking about.
It may take some time, but your purpose will become clear as you build.
The best advice I can give you? Start now and experiment. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike or for all your friends to read it first. Begin. Only then will you be able to see who you want to reach and how you’ll do it.
Hey, I’m Kit. I spent 20 years leading retail teams and I now write about retail, Web3, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
Join The Voice of the Frontline newsletter right here.
