I Thought Substack Growth Took Years. Then I Did This in 4 Months.

How I Hit 28K Subscribers Without Burning Out (And Actually Had Fun)

When I started on Substack, I had 2 non-negotiables:

1. I wouldn’t hustle myself into burnout.

2. I’d make the process enjoyable—no growth hacking, no gimmicks.

Fast forward 4 months: 28,000+ subscribers & Bestseller Status. Pinch me.

(You get a bonus too. Get my annual subscription at 50% off if you subscribe in the next 24hrs, so I can show you how to grow too)

Here’s what I did differently—and why “just keep writing” is the worst advice you’ll get on here.

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1. I Leveraged What I Already Had

Most people treat Substack like starting from scratch. I didn’t.

I brought my audience with me. Former readers, followers, and communities—people who already trusted me.

Pro tip: You’re not starting at zero.

• Cross-post your Substack on LinkedIn, Twitter, or wherever you’ve been active.

• DM your most loyal supporters: “Hey, I’m starting this thing. You’ll love it.”

Your first 100-1,000 subscribers are a warm intro, not a cold start.

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2. I Wrote Less, But Wrote With Purpose

I’m allergic to the hustle-for-hustle’s-sake mindset. So instead of churning out 3 posts a week, I focused on:

• Clear value: Every post had a hook, an insight, and a takeaway.

• Engagement triggers: I asked questions that mattered (not “Did you like this?”).

• Fun for me: If I wasn’t enjoying writing it, I scrapped it. Readers can feel when you’re having fun.

• Always giving more than receiving.

The result? Better posts. More shares. Higher quality subscribers.

Growth hack disguised as a life lesson:
Enjoying the work is the strategy.

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3. I Treated Notes Like My Growth Engine

Substack Notes is where I made friends, found ideas, and grew faster than I thought possible.

What I did:

• Showed up daily—not to promote, but to participate.

• Replied to other writers with thoughtful, interesting comments.

• Turned my best posts into bite-sized Notes that sparked conversations.

Notes isn’t a billboard. It’s a room full of people who actually care about what you have to say—if you show up.

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4. I Made Growth a Two-Way Street

The fastest way to grow? Make it about them, not you.

• Collaborations: I recommended Substacks I loved. They recommended me back.

• Community prompts: “What should I write about next?” or “Share your Substack—I’ll read them all.”

• Rituals: I hosted growth challenges, idea swaps, and reader shoutouts.

  December Growth 📈🎁 Challenge: Your First Brand Deal in 30 Days

Substack growth isn’t a solo sport.

Treat your readers like co-creators, and they’ll carry you further than you could ever go alone.

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5. I Ignored the “It Takes Years” Crowd

I’ll say it: Substack doesn’t have to be slow.

It’s only slow if you:

• Post without purpose.

• Stay in your own bubble.

• Refuse to share your work elsewhere.

But if you write great posts, show up on Notes, and lean into community? Growth compounds—fast.

You don’t need hustle. You need momentum.

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The Bottom Line:

I grew to 28K in 4 months not because I “worked harder.”

I grew because I focused on what works and made it fun.

1. Leverage your existing audience.

2. Write posts worth sharing.

3. Show up on Notes.

4. Build real connections.

5. Enjoy the process—or quit. Seriously.

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Your Turn:

What’s holding you back from faster growth? Or better yet—what’s the most enjoyable thing you’ve done to grow?

Drop it below. I’ll share my favorite answers next week.

P.S. Share this with someone who thinks Substack growth takes forever. They’re in for a surprise.