How I Became a Substack Bestseller in 3 Months (and What They Don’t Tell You About Growth)
On November 15th (my husband’s b’day), I woke up to see How We Grow marked with that shiny Bestseller badge.
Three months after going all in on Substack, and I hit a milestone I wasn’t even sure was possible this fast.
🎉 26,000 subscribers in 3 months 🎉
That’s the headline, but you know what’s missing?
The messy, chaotic, not-so-glamorous truth behind it.
The truth that “overnight success” is just what people call the years of work they didn’t see.
The Reality Behind the Numbers
Let’s rewind. By the time I launched How We Grow in September, I wasn’t starting from scratch.
I brought over 5,000 subscribers from my email list and social media, built over years of showing up, writing, testing, and sometimes failing.
Here’s what those three months really looked like:
Over a decade of refining my voice—working with clients, building personal brands, and studying what connects with people.
Hundreds of LinkedIn posts to a professional audience, figuring out how to simplify ideas and resonate.
Launching and failing with other projects, learning what works (and what doesn’t).
Stayed Consistent (Even When It Was Hard)
The unsexy truth about growth? Consistency is king. I showed up every single week, no matter what.
I wrote when I was tired.
I posted Notes when I wasn’t sure they’d land.
I kept engaging, even on slow days.
Those three months of growth were built on years of foundation.
So, no—it wasn’t “just” three months.
It was a culmination of everything I’d done before.
You don’t grow a newsletter by being perfect. You grow it by showing up.
How Substack Changed Everything
For years, I’d been on LinkedIn, building my personal brand. I’d seen success there, but the platform often felt noisy and transactional.
Substack? Substack felt like home.
Here, people actually read.
They engage.
They stay for the depth and connection, not just the surface-level soundbites.
When I moved to Substack, I realized I could create something more meaningful: a space where solopreneurs, creators, and high-performers could learn to build portfolio careers and multiple income streams—without burning out or selling their souls to the hustle grind.
That clarity became the backbone of How We Grow.
What Worked (And What Didn’t)
What worked:
Notes as a discovery engine:
I posted daily, shared insights, and connected with others.
This wasn’t just growth—it was community building.
A clear value proposition:
I made sure new readers knew exactly what they’d get—practical strategies, hard-won lessons, and no fluff.
Optimized My Newsletter Page (and Made It All About Them)
Smart pricing:
My annual plan at 91% better than subscribing monthly was a no-brainer for many readers.
Built Relationships with Creators (Not Competitors)
I didn’t treat other creators as competition—I saw them as allies. Substack is a community, and leaning into that community was one of the smartest moves I made.
What I did:
Cross-promotions: I partnered with newsletters in complementary niches to feature each other’s work.
Engagement: I didn’t just promote myself—I genuinely supported other creators, sharing their posts and commenting on their work.
Genuine connections: I reached out to creators I admired, not to “network,” but to learn and collaborate.
Told My Story (and Shared My Journey)
People subscribe to people, not just content. I made my newsletter about more than just tips—I made it personal.
I shared:
Why I left my executive role to start over and build a portfolio career.
The struggles I faced along the way (like the fear of starting at zero).
The wins: Like being featured in Forbes and landing my first major brand deal.
Wrote with Relentless Value (and a Dash of Controversy):
From personal stories to actionable strategies, I made every post count.
Every post & note had a purpose:
Actionable tips they could implement immediately.
Contrarian takes that made them think differently.
Stories they could relate to.
Don’t just write—overdeliver. Make free readers feel lucky to get your content, and make paid subscribers feel like they’ve found a goldmine.
What didn’t work:
Cold DMs: Not my thing, and frankly, they rarely work.
Big discounts: My pricing strategy was already compelling. Flash sales weren’t necessary.
Overthinking: I kept it simple—write, post, engage. That’s it.
Why the Bestseller Badge Matters
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Isn’t this just vanity?
Maybe. But here’s what it’s done for me:
Credibility: It’s proof that my strategies work. If I’m teaching others how to grow and monetize, I need to walk the walk.
Visibility: The badge adds weight to my profile and attracts new readers and opportunities.
Exclusive perks: Advanced stats, access to Substack’s Product Lab, and Business School. These tools have been game-changers for understanding growth and retention.
The Article That Broke It All Down
Recently, I gave an interview about my Substack journey—how I went from burnout in the corporate world to building a thriving newsletter.
One thing I emphasized was this: growth isn’t about luck; it’s about systems.
I leveraged every channel I had—LinkedIn, social media, even Forbes articles—to create a flywheel of growth. It wasn’t a casual effort; it was an intentional strategy.
If you haven’t read the full interview yet, check it out here. It’s packed with insights and practical tips for growing your Substack.
What’s Next?
Now that How We Grow is thriving, I’m doubling down on helping others:
The Growth Challenge: Deepening engagement with my audience through personal challenges and community-building.
December Growth 📈🎁 Challenge: Your First Brand Deal in 30 Days
·
Let’s make this official: I’m launching Monthly Growth Challenges, and December is the first one.
Private Chat: Exploring new ways to collaborate with brands and creators.
Our private chat is where strategies, tips, and real conversations happen. It’s also where we share Note boosts because why not help each other win?Scaling my paid subscriptions with even more exclusive value:
$2,500+ worth of tools for content creation and monetization.
Access to exclusive webinars on Substack growth and branding.
Weekly Q&A sessions and live workshops.
Notes boost
Monthly Challenges
and more
What I Want You to Take Away
Success isn’t linear. It’s messy, iterative, and often slower than you want. But it’s possible.
If you’re starting out, here’s my advice:
Build trust first. Your audience won’t pay for something they don’t believe in.
Show up consistently. You don’t need perfect posts—just honest, valuable ones.
Experiment. Try Notes, test pricing, engage with your readers. Growth lives in the attempts.
So, if you’re ready to grow—join me in the challenge, upgrade to paid, or just keep showing up.
The audience will come. You just need to start.
P.S. What’s one step you’ll take today to grow your audience? Let me know—I’d love to hear your story.
Here’s to your growth,
Ana