How to Grow Your Substack in 2025
What are the best strategies for Substack
Growing your Substack in 2025 is more than just writing great content—it’s about creating a strategy that drives growth, keeps your audience engaged, and turns your newsletter into a business.
This is easier said than done, but now is the best time ever to start growing your Substack and newsletter empire.
So, let's get going!
1. Find Your Niche and Stand Out
Some people will tell you that you don't need a niche, or a set of topics that you hover around.
Well, they're wrong. Mostly.
Substack is a huge community and there's for every niche imaginable. But people — recurring readers — like their stuff and they usually prefer a set of topics. Not a mixture of anything and everything.
You know, sometimes that really sucks. It's fun to explore new topics as a writer. But for growth and reader base, niching down is key.
Action Steps:
Identify Your Niche: Instead of covering broad topics, dive deep into a specific subject where you can provide unique insights. Think of niche areas like “Sustainable Living for Urban Dwellers” or “Marketing for Nonprofits” rather than just “Sustainability” or “Marketing.”
Develop Your Unique Voice: Be yourself! Readers subscribe because of the unique perspective you bring. Your personality, stories, and experiences are what make your Substack special.
2. Build a Consistent Content Strategy
Now the next thing, everyone will tell you is that consistency is king.
And that's true. But some people don't understand the concept of consistency.
It doesn't mean pouring out crappy content every day just to have something publish 7 days a week. That might fit into the concept of consistency, but it is definitely not the consistency you want on Substack.
It's not blogging for Google bots.
Consistency is crucial for growth on Substack. Regularly publishing high-quality content helps you stay top of mind with your readers.
But regularly should really mean weekly or bi-weekly on Substack. Hardly ever have I seen a daily newsletter that's good. I do however know some monthly ones that are pretty great.
So less can be more here.
A well-thought-out content strategy will keep you organized and ensure you’re always delivering value.
Action Steps:
Set a Schedule: Decide how often you’ll publish—weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly. Stick to your schedule so readers know when to expect new content.
Create Content Pillars: Focus on a few key themes or topics that align with your niche. For example, if your Substack is about personal finance, your pillars could be investing tips, saving strategies, and debt reduction.
Mix Up Your Formats: Experiment with different types of content—long-form articles, quick tips, interviews, Q&A sessions, and even audio or video posts. This keeps your content fresh and caters to different reader preferences.
3. Engage and Build Community
So, yeah, Substack is not a simple newsletter and blog anymore. It's basically a social media platform. But mostly without all the baggage (just yet).
That makes it the perfect playground for people who loathe Twitter/X and all the others, but want to engage with readers in a more relaxde, shortform way.
Enter Substack Notes and Chat. Two of the key pieces to grow your Substack newsletter in 2025.
Action Steps:
Encourage Comments and Feedback: Ask questions at the end of your posts to spark discussion. Respond to comments to show readers you value their input. That's for newsletter issues.
Go all out on Notes: Whenever you want to publish something but not in a new issue, Notes is perfect. Daily activity here is encouraged. USe Notes like traditional social media... just be cool.
Two other ideas (optional):
Host Community Events: Organize live chats, webinars, or virtual meetups for your subscribers. These events can make your readers feel part of a community and increase loyalty.
Use Polls and Surveys: Regularly ask your readers what they want to see more of. This helps you tailor your content to their interests, making your Substack more relevant.
4. Monetize Smartly with Multiple Tiers
Let's be honest, most of us won't make it through paid subscriptions only. It's a great concept and it feels amazing to get your first paying subscriber on Substack, but you'll probably need thousands of those to make a good living and that'S going to be tough.
Luckily, there are many ways to earn from a growing Substack newsletter.
And a smart approach to monetization involves exploring multiple ways to earn income.
Action Steps:
Freemium Model: Offer a blend of free and paid content. Your free posts should showcase your best work to entice readers to pay for even more exclusive content.
Create Tiered Subscriptions: Consider offering different subscription levels—basic, premium, and VIP. Each level should have distinct perks, such as access to exclusive posts, private Q&A sessions, or even 1-on-1 coaching.
Explore Sponsorships and Affiliates: Collaborate with brands that align with your content. Sponsored posts, affiliate links, and brand partnerships can bring in extra income without putting all the pressure on your readers to pay.
Redirect Traffic to Other Income Sources (like ad-based blogs).
Sell Your Own Products: I even learned about a cool tool to do that directly in Substack. It's called Sidestack*.
and a lot more
5. Use Growth Strategies to Expand Your Audience
Growing your Substack in 2025 means constantly finding new ways to bring in readers.
From SEO to cross-promotions, there are many tactics you can use to reach new audiences.
Action Steps:
Leverage SEO: Optimize your content with keywords like “how to grow your Substack 2025” and other relevant terms. Use compelling headlines and meta descriptions to make your content searchable.
Promote on Social Media: Share your posts on platforms where your target audience hangs out—Twitter, LinkedIn, and Threads are great places to start. Create eye-catching graphics or pull quotes to grab attention.
Cross-Promote with Other Newsletters: Partner with other Substack writers in your niche. Guest post, feature each other in your newsletters, or run joint events to tap into each other’s audiences.
6. Analyze, Test, and Optimize
One of the most important tips on how to grow your Substack in 2025 is to make data-driven decisions.
It's one of the hardest, though. Learning analytics is valuable for many online jobs.
Use analytics to see what’s working, and continuously test new approaches.
Action Steps:
Track Key Metrics: Regularly review Substack’s built-in analytics. Keep an eye on open rates, click-through rates, and subscription growth to understand what content resonates.
A/B Test Headlines and Formats: Experiment with different headlines, email subject lines, and content types to see what gets the best response. Small tweaks can lead to big improvements in engagement.
Adjust Based on Feedback: Don’t be afraid to pivot if something isn’t working. Listen to reader feedback, adjust your content strategy, and always be willing to try new things.
7. Create an Outstanding Reader Experience
Your newsletter’s look and feel play a big role in whether readers stay subscribed. A clean, enjoyable reading experience can set your Substack apart from others.
Action Steps:
Design Matters: Keep your newsletter design simple and easy to navigate. Use clear headings, short paragraphs, and images to break up the text.
Mobile Optimization: Make sure your newsletter looks great on mobile devices, as many readers will be checking their emails on their phones.
Include a Clear Call to Action (CTA): Whether it’s encouraging readers to share your newsletter, leave a comment, or upgrade to a paid subscription, make sure each post has a clear CTA that guides your readers on what to do next.
8. Build Your Brand and Leverage Your Expertise
As you grow, think of your Substack as a brand. Establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche, and look for ways to extend your influence beyond your newsletter.
Action Steps:
Create a Personal Brand: Consistently use a logo, colors, and style that reflect your brand. Your voice should be consistent, too—whether you’re formal, funny, or somewhere in between.
Share Your Expertise on Other Platforms: Write guest posts, appear on podcasts, or speak at events related to your niche. This will drive traffic back to your Substack and position you as an authority.
Offer Exclusive Perks: Go beyond the newsletter by offering additional resources like eBooks, templates, or access to a private community for paid subscribers. This added value can help you stand out.
9. Use Recommendatios to Grow Your Substack in 2025
Word of mouth is one of the most powerful tools for growing your Substack. Happy readers are your best marketers, so incentivize them to spread the word. Also, use other newsletters to cross-recommend each other.
Action Steps:
Recomendations: Substack’s recommendation feature makes it easy for your readers to learn about other newsletters and vice versa. This is a cool way to help each other grow.
Highlight Your Community’s Success: Showcase subscriber testimonials or feature top referrers. This not only rewards your loyal readers but also builds social proof for potential new subscribers.
10. Stay Committed and Adaptable
Growing your Substack in 2025 isn’t going to happen overnight. Success requires commitment, consistency, and the ability to adapt when things aren’t going as planned.
Action Steps:
Keep Calm: Do this Substack thing for a few months. Don't freak out.
Stay Consistent: Stick with your publishing schedule, even when growth feels slow. Consistency is one of the biggest factors in building a loyal readership.
Keep Learning and Adapting: Follow other successful Substack creators, read up on new growth strategies, and always look for ways to improve your content and approach.
Celebrate Milestones: Whether it’s your first 100 subscribers or your first paid sign-up, celebrate your wins. Recognizing these moments keeps you motivated and reminds you of the progress you’re making.
Final Thoughts on How to Grow Your Substack in 2025
Learning how to grow your Substack in 2025 is about more than just writing great posts—it’s about building a community, engaging with your readers, and constantly finding ways to add value. By following these strategies and staying committed, you’ll be well on your way to creating a thriving Substack that stands out in the ever-growing world of newsletters.