Member-only story
One Thing Killed My Growth on Substack
It wasn’t the algorithm. It was me.
I’m totally not exaggerating or trying to be dramatic in the title.
I really did one thing that screwed up my growth on Substack. Yes, I know you really care about my “growth.” I almost feel like one of those fake writing gurus just for typing the “G” word.
I was gaining around three free subscribers most days.
So, I did what any insane person would do and added my subscriber count to my monthly goal series for May. It’s something I have absolutely no control over, but I figured I might could reach 300 subscribers by the end of the month. Or at least get close.
What happened after I set that goal?
My growth flatlined. Instead of gaining 36 new subscribers, I’m stuck at a lucky number 13. At this rate, I won’t even hit 250.
I have no idea what I need to do to reverse the trend. Stay on Substack for 23 hours a day? Buy one of those overpriced writing courses? Sell my soul? Sacrifice something under a full moon? I have no clue.
All I know is that it definitely has nothing to do with the quality of my writing. Or the idea that real growth takes time. No way.
