The issue I see with this is that the only people who seem to post & peruse notes are other users with publications who want to grow...not the everyday reader account. So your subscribers seem to end up being skewed with other writers and you're hoping within that they may also be an ideal client. I'm not really sure how we're supposed to get infront of the general users without publications...just hope they find us in their searches or occasional notes scroll? I don't think I've had one subscriber yet who doesn't also write on here
I hear you, but not everyone who's registered here is a writer. Just like not everyone on Instagram or TikTok is a content creator. A lot of people here mostly read, and occasionally create something of their own. They may not be as visible, but they're definitely here, and Notes is one of the ways they discover new voices.
Very good point. The members of the audience I wish to serve, many times, is hearing about Substack from me for the first time and they are not writers. I don't want to forget about them just because they don't know how to use this platform.
When I share that I have a novel coming out, and I've started a Substack newsletter with friends or colleagues not in my inner circle who aren't writers, they usually don't know what it is. I'll share some posts via text, and I am getting some consistent growth. There are non writers on here.
I don’t think I’ve written one damn original Note or Post yet (after a year or more). But I love reading what others are writing about; creative works; investigative reporting and citizen journalism. I’ve been enjoying all kinds of writers and non-writers within Substack. So much so, that I can’t help but comment, like and restack things that really resonated w/me. And the weirdest thing happened - I somehow amassed my first 100 followers - all from simply consuming and commenting on the works of others, and connecting with the people themselves. It’s been quite a joyful journey actually!
I have some subscribers who don't use Substack at all, or who are subscribed to a couple of publications, I can tell when I go on their profile or sometimes they come out and say that they are new to the whole thing. I think the great thing is when they start to feel more comfortable and confident they sometimes start their own! I think it's amazing for empowerment that way.
Excellent point, thank you for bringing this up, Michelle!
I was wondering the same thing - Notes are for connecting with the other writers here, ok sure, but what's the best way to reach people who are hearing about Substack from me for the first time? I'm promoting my articles on Instagram now, but the entire ecosystem has not clicked for me yet...
From the responses to my comment people seem to be getting casual readers find them through notes. I assume some would be scrolling notes or searching keywords for new writers to subscribe to just like they would on other platforms. 84% of my subs have come from notes, and I would say 99% are writers that I'm hoping might also double as ideal clients. Might have to see how it all plays out throughout 2026
Well lol kinda...although on twitter I think there's waaaay more people with accounts that just read stuff and follow people, so you're still likely to get followers who might actually convert into a buyer/fan. Where as Substack is still so early that many people starting accounts are starting for the purpose of writing...I think this will shift as it becomes more popular. But people who do Substack growth will always find success/subscribers more easily, because every writer has an interest in that.
Great news, thanks for sharing this. I was worried most were coming over from people resharing to IG or LI and I just don't get much traction through those channels. My preference is go to all in on Substack
Thank you for the helpful info. New people seeing ‘archive’ are likely to think it’s very old stuff and not bother looking ☹️ Could they not have named it ‘articles’ in a sensible manner?
As a retired software engineer this tells me one thing. Their software lifecycle process is a mess. Or someone from the top walked back to the floor and intervened. This won’t happen in a mature organisation, so probably they aren’t.
That was me this weekend. I never saw the before times and when I read “Archives” I assumed it meant old feed posts (and did not click)… I’m only learning that’s not the case in this article. 🤷♀️
Thank you. I get it but… it’s genuinely depressing. I don’t want to be shackled to a social media platform. I always loved the freedom of Substack - I shared a thought on Notes when I felt like it, however my fiction and essays I posted with a military discipline. My growth was steady until recently it began to stall massively.
Now you’re telling I should switch it up? I undestand but it still feels sad. ‘Fast food’ culture…
TOTALLY agree! I’m getting off the social media platforms only to have Substack lean in to the social media arm of their platform? I feel as if it’s impossible to escape. Next it will be ads? And an algorithm geared toward outrage? Because that’s the basic biz model. Ugh.
The irony is that the trend is fighting against brain rot and using less social media. People are even creating their own personal curriculums and starting "grandma hobbies." Now would have been the perfect time to lean into posts.
I love this concept about making note writing a daily activity to sharpen your thinking. I’m a recent Substack convert because I wanted an excuse to improve my writing - in just a month I’ve already noticed my thoughts and opinions develop. So your daily note perspective is making me genuinely excited to give it a try.
This is another reason why I actually love Substack. I don't do well on IG or tik tok because I don't think in pictures or video. I articulate thoughts through writing. Facebook felt like the closest to this for me, shorter posts there and long form on my personal blog but then I stopped enjoying the platform.
I tried LinkedIn but it lacked soul. So Substack gives me a space to write shorter posts and long form. Which just feels like my lane.
Whyyy did they call it Archive?! I thought that was awful too. Can’t the long form writing (which came here to do, and spend a lot of time doing) have a little more time in the sun instead of immediately being shoved to the back of the metaphorical shelf?
Thank you, Andy. You see, (or find out from the overwhelm) a clear path to go further. Any structure starting from story telling is close to my heart. This is why I am here. I am old, I started as an old man with a million story recorded in my brain. I went trough courses how to monetise and scale them. How to build and develop my personal brand and grow an audience of ten thousand people and earn 5K a month. In the meantime my real stories have stayed unwritten, and the rest of my life shortened further. My stories will not be written and lost forever. Unless I write them for the few hundred people who will read, and the very few who may pay a small pocket money.
It took more than a full year to find "My way". In a few months, I will sign up for your strategic audit, when I have something substantial to offer. And the 1:1 can even happen in a fine café in the wonderful city we happen to inhabit.
I’ve been on Substack for about two years now. I’ve seen notes shift and sometimes become repetitive. The experts I’ve followed have always said Notes are important , even when they slacked off some this summer.
I found my voice through Notes and in the past month, Notes brought 77 new subscribers.
They don’t have to be hard to write. The more honest and consistent you are, the better they will help you find your audience.
This is actually very clarifying for me as someone newly on Substack and ready to write, connect, be real, without losing my sanity to the noise of traditional social media or my voice to the quick pops of content that are anything but evergreen. This post further confirms my decision to start showing up here consistently as a home base and find other people who share my values
This makes me so happy to read! You're starting at the right time and with the right mindset, that's more than most people have when they arrive here. Welcome!
This was a helpful way to frame what’s happening on Substack.
I’ve been describing the platform lately as a kind of dinner party of writers. The long essays are the moments when someone stands up and shares something meaningful. But Notes feel more like the conversations happening around the table, where people actually get to know each other.
It’s been a subtle shift over time. What initially drove the social media explosion hasn’t changed. I remember back in 2010, watching as Snap and Insta took off. We are still the same fallible creatures seeking to connect with something, anything.
Thank you for this advice, I think you're right about what's happening, and I will try to be more active, but also, the advice feels so exhausting. I like to post in notes when I have something to say or share. I'm not that interesting, but it seems like I have to do more work in order to grow my list.
I like how your work keeps inviting writers to actually notice the platform beneath their feet instead of drifting along on autopilot. It makes me think about how important it is to build something rooted in our own voice, so any shift in direction feels like information rather than a threat.
I've always thought of substack as a social media platform, despite its user base strongly denying it. It's a different one for sure, but still a social platform :) So thanks for validating my opinion!
The issue I see with this is that the only people who seem to post & peruse notes are other users with publications who want to grow...not the everyday reader account. So your subscribers seem to end up being skewed with other writers and you're hoping within that they may also be an ideal client. I'm not really sure how we're supposed to get infront of the general users without publications...just hope they find us in their searches or occasional notes scroll? I don't think I've had one subscriber yet who doesn't also write on here
I hear you, but not everyone who's registered here is a writer. Just like not everyone on Instagram or TikTok is a content creator. A lot of people here mostly read, and occasionally create something of their own. They may not be as visible, but they're definitely here, and Notes is one of the ways they discover new voices.
Exactly!
Very good point. The members of the audience I wish to serve, many times, is hearing about Substack from me for the first time and they are not writers. I don't want to forget about them just because they don't know how to use this platform.
Judit, reaching people who aren’t on Substack yet is a whole other topic. But a really good one! 😉
When I share that I have a novel coming out, and I've started a Substack newsletter with friends or colleagues not in my inner circle who aren't writers, they usually don't know what it is. I'll share some posts via text, and I am getting some consistent growth. There are non writers on here.
I don’t think I’ve written one damn original Note or Post yet (after a year or more). But I love reading what others are writing about; creative works; investigative reporting and citizen journalism. I’ve been enjoying all kinds of writers and non-writers within Substack. So much so, that I can’t help but comment, like and restack things that really resonated w/me. And the weirdest thing happened - I somehow amassed my first 100 followers - all from simply consuming and commenting on the works of others, and connecting with the people themselves. It’s been quite a joyful journey actually!
I have some subscribers who don't use Substack at all, or who are subscribed to a couple of publications, I can tell when I go on their profile or sometimes they come out and say that they are new to the whole thing. I think the great thing is when they start to feel more comfortable and confident they sometimes start their own! I think it's amazing for empowerment that way.
Excellent point, thank you for bringing this up, Michelle!
I was wondering the same thing - Notes are for connecting with the other writers here, ok sure, but what's the best way to reach people who are hearing about Substack from me for the first time? I'm promoting my articles on Instagram now, but the entire ecosystem has not clicked for me yet...
Exactly! Are casual readers even engaging with notes or just reading their newsletters and moving on? Would love to see the data on this.
From the responses to my comment people seem to be getting casual readers find them through notes. I assume some would be scrolling notes or searching keywords for new writers to subscribe to just like they would on other platforms. 84% of my subs have come from notes, and I would say 99% are writers that I'm hoping might also double as ideal clients. Might have to see how it all plays out throughout 2026
Interesting.
So Twitter basically lol?
Well lol kinda...although on twitter I think there's waaaay more people with accounts that just read stuff and follow people, so you're still likely to get followers who might actually convert into a buyer/fan. Where as Substack is still so early that many people starting accounts are starting for the purpose of writing...I think this will shift as it becomes more popular. But people who do Substack growth will always find success/subscribers more easily, because every writer has an interest in that.
Brilliant reply!
I definitely get subscribers who don’t have publications or write here by posting on Notes.
Great news, thanks for sharing this. I was worried most were coming over from people resharing to IG or LI and I just don't get much traction through those channels. My preference is go to all in on Substack
Thank you for the helpful info. New people seeing ‘archive’ are likely to think it’s very old stuff and not bother looking ☹️ Could they not have named it ‘articles’ in a sensible manner?
Right? "Archive" sounds like a dusty storage room. "Articles" or even just "Posts" would have been so much better. Hopefully they'll rethink that one.
I'm not a creator whatsoever. I'm just on Substack to read/view others' contributions. I never, never look at Notes. Never.
As a retired software engineer this tells me one thing. Their software lifecycle process is a mess. Or someone from the top walked back to the floor and intervened. This won’t happen in a mature organisation, so probably they aren’t.
I see Archive in the app and Posts on the website… wonderful consistency!
Same here.
I'm seeing the "old" layout in my app. Maybe this update hasn't been fully rolled out. 🤷🏻♀️
I hope so! Thanks.
I guess the expectation is that you will write a note about your most recent article too
That was me this weekend. I never saw the before times and when I read “Archives” I assumed it meant old feed posts (and did not click)… I’m only learning that’s not the case in this article. 🤷♀️
Thank you. I get it but… it’s genuinely depressing. I don’t want to be shackled to a social media platform. I always loved the freedom of Substack - I shared a thought on Notes when I felt like it, however my fiction and essays I posted with a military discipline. My growth was steady until recently it began to stall massively.
Now you’re telling I should switch it up? I undestand but it still feels sad. ‘Fast food’ culture…
TOTALLY agree! I’m getting off the social media platforms only to have Substack lean in to the social media arm of their platform? I feel as if it’s impossible to escape. Next it will be ads? And an algorithm geared toward outrage? Because that’s the basic biz model. Ugh.
They can't read the room.
Same here Kathrine. It's a pain in the ass. I hate Notes at this point and just want to post fiction.
The irony is that the trend is fighting against brain rot and using less social media. People are even creating their own personal curriculums and starting "grandma hobbies." Now would have been the perfect time to lean into posts.
Yes! Exactly.
I’m with you, Kathrine. It all feels a bit yuk!
I love this concept about making note writing a daily activity to sharpen your thinking. I’m a recent Substack convert because I wanted an excuse to improve my writing - in just a month I’ve already noticed my thoughts and opinions develop. So your daily note perspective is making me genuinely excited to give it a try.
This is another reason why I actually love Substack. I don't do well on IG or tik tok because I don't think in pictures or video. I articulate thoughts through writing. Facebook felt like the closest to this for me, shorter posts there and long form on my personal blog but then I stopped enjoying the platform.
I tried LinkedIn but it lacked soul. So Substack gives me a space to write shorter posts and long form. Which just feels like my lane.
I love that you found the space that fits how you think. That matters more than most people realize.
Whyyy did they call it Archive?! I thought that was awful too. Can’t the long form writing (which came here to do, and spend a lot of time doing) have a little more time in the sun instead of immediately being shoved to the back of the metaphorical shelf?
The naming is genuinely bad, "Archive" makes it sound like your work is already in the past the moment you hit publish. I really hope they change it.
Is it just me, or is it back to “posts”?
Yes! They heard us :)
How good is that! Love this platform
Yes 👏🏽 a little more time in the sun
Thank you, Andy. You see, (or find out from the overwhelm) a clear path to go further. Any structure starting from story telling is close to my heart. This is why I am here. I am old, I started as an old man with a million story recorded in my brain. I went trough courses how to monetise and scale them. How to build and develop my personal brand and grow an audience of ten thousand people and earn 5K a month. In the meantime my real stories have stayed unwritten, and the rest of my life shortened further. My stories will not be written and lost forever. Unless I write them for the few hundred people who will read, and the very few who may pay a small pocket money.
Zsolt, do that today! You’re right, write it, or it will be lost. I think the goal is simple: share.
It took more than a full year to find "My way". In a few months, I will sign up for your strategic audit, when I have something substantial to offer. And the 1:1 can even happen in a fine café in the wonderful city we happen to inhabit.
It’s never too late :)
Andi*
I’ve been on Substack for about two years now. I’ve seen notes shift and sometimes become repetitive. The experts I’ve followed have always said Notes are important , even when they slacked off some this summer.
I found my voice through Notes and in the past month, Notes brought 77 new subscribers.
They don’t have to be hard to write. The more honest and consistent you are, the better they will help you find your audience.
I’m glad I found you today, Andi.
I love it! Thank you, Marylee!
This is actually very clarifying for me as someone newly on Substack and ready to write, connect, be real, without losing my sanity to the noise of traditional social media or my voice to the quick pops of content that are anything but evergreen. This post further confirms my decision to start showing up here consistently as a home base and find other people who share my values
This makes me so happy to read! You're starting at the right time and with the right mindset, that's more than most people have when they arrive here. Welcome!
This was a helpful way to frame what’s happening on Substack.
I’ve been describing the platform lately as a kind of dinner party of writers. The long essays are the moments when someone stands up and shares something meaningful. But Notes feel more like the conversations happening around the table, where people actually get to know each other.
It’s been a subtle shift over time. What initially drove the social media explosion hasn’t changed. I remember back in 2010, watching as Snap and Insta took off. We are still the same fallible creatures seeking to connect with something, anything.
Exactly. The platforms change, the need doesn't.
Thank you for this advice, I think you're right about what's happening, and I will try to be more active, but also, the advice feels so exhausting. I like to post in notes when I have something to say or share. I'm not that interesting, but it seems like I have to do more work in order to grow my list.
thank you for this. so so helpful. really appreciated!
I like how your work keeps inviting writers to actually notice the platform beneath their feet instead of drifting along on autopilot. It makes me think about how important it is to build something rooted in our own voice, so any shift in direction feels like information rather than a threat.
Thank you, I love it, Adia!
I've always thought of substack as a social media platform, despite its user base strongly denying it. It's a different one for sure, but still a social platform :) So thanks for validating my opinion!
This article is helpful, and it explains the changes on Substack.