258 Amazing Subscribers In One Month On Substack

And What Have I Learned From One Month of Writing Newsletters

May 26, 2024

258 Amazing Subscribers in One Month on Substack

I’ve reached another milestone with 258 amazing subscribers and and 291 followers in ONLY one month on Substack!

A month ago, I jumped into the world of newsletters after procrastinating for over a decade.

In this post, I'll share everything I've learned about starting a newsletter, including growth data, outcomes, and my recommendations. It's a long read, so grab a coffee, get comfortable and enjoy.

You might ask, "What's so challenging about starting a newsletter?"

Honestly, it was more difficult than anticipated, but the benefits are substantial.

If you've followed my newsletters over the past month, you'll know I'm an avid supporter of AI. It's an unprecedented equaliser in our era, a trend that shows no signs of slowing down at the moment. In fact, I still believe that we are still in the ‘Early Adopters’ phase!

I wanted to tap into this trend, creating a platform to share ideas and build a personal brand.

The newsletter's goal was to impart knowledge on solopreneurship, business, wealth-building, and personal development, delve into AI, and explore content writing and community building.

Was it successful?

It depends.

Have I increased my online following and engagement? Yes.

Are people becoming more aware of me and regularly reading what I share? Yes, indeed. My email open rate are averaging 50%, which is higher than the ‘market rate’.

Did I learn about writing content, building a community, and discovering other opportunities as intended? Yes, and I am still learning from all the writers in Substack. They are amazing bunch!

Have I already gain ‘enlightenment’ in newsletter management? NOPE! Not yet.

I believe In the realms of online content and building an audience, i.e. video production, podcasts, blogs, newsletters or social media engagement, there are still much to learn.

I know for sure that anyone I see experiencing success in the online content field has likely been at it for years. So I have to acknowledge that and just follow my own pace.

Was it hard?

Honestly if you ask me for the exact step-by-step guide on how to reach out and get subscribers, I will tell you I have no idea what is the exact steps that I took have the best outcome. I just know that I need to show up every day and post 2-3 posts every week (as per what I have written in the ‘About’ page), among other things.

In terms of actually writing the posts every week, it was manageable.

I’m not a disciplined person, but I know what needs to be done, must be done. At the start, till date, it was all done adhoc, I do not have an annual content calendar yet. Sometimes I would forget and post it at the last minute, but I still managed it without too much stress.

By the way, I started another newsletter with a couple of fellow Notion creators who shares the same passion as me. We call that newsletter ‘Cornerstone’, do check it out.

My writing and content production have become significantly faster with the help of AI. It assists with brainstorming, developing existing ideas, and correcting spelling, among other things. I still need to add in my own style and tone into everything I publish for sure, but AI has increased my efficiency in generating ideas which is crucial.

End of the day, just do it and trust the process.

Would I recommend starting your newsletter?

If you're interested in enhancing your content writing skills and sharing your ideas online to build an audience, then this is a good place to start. I will talk about why I chose Substack perhaps next time.

It's not a major commitment, and you can enjoy the process of writing. You can begin with a weekly post.

Similarly, if you're aiming to build a community and disseminate useful knowledge to enrich others' lives, this platform is an excellent starting point to ‘test the waters’. I belong to both these categories, so for me, it's a no-brainer.

What have I learnt from just 1 month of writing newsletters?

two person standing on gray tile paving — Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Just start

At the start, you’re going to suck. This applies to every new activity and task in life.

I don't believe in people being ‘natural’ at anything. The only way to get past the stages of sucking at anything is to just start.

Repetition is vital to improvement.

Consistently performing a task week after week over a long period can create magical results. Hence, when asked how it happened, I simply reply: "It's magic!"

I also believe that if you can commit to a simple weekly goal of writing content, you can commit to other goals and habits as well. Success and consistency in one area often lead to another.

Keep upskilling yourself

In this journey, I've expanded my skills by learning from others. I regularly read post by other creators, read Substack Notes and watch a variety of videos, which range from writing effective headlines to understanding the tone of the copy.

This process has broadened my capabilities. To achieve more, one must strive to be more.

Leverage on AI but not depend on it

You may have noticed slight variations in the tone of some posts.

I've experimented with AI for writing posts, using tools like ChatGPT or Gemini. However, no matter how precisely I instruct the AI, it cannot replicate my unique ideas and distinct tone for each article.

While AI has sped up the process and is helpful for initiating posts, its capabilities are limited. So make sure you leverage on AI for brainstorming, research and initial ideation only, and add in your story, your perspective, your reflection and your unique ‘secret sauce’.

What's Next?

As the saying goes: when you do what you love, it doesn't feel like work. Writing newsletters is something I enjoy 80% of the time now. They help solidify my ideas and maintain a positive mindset, keeping me committed to my larger goals. Most importantly, they help me be a better writer.

There's still much more I want to explore, particularly in the realm of storytelling. I plan to venture into different content channels such as short videos and social media posts, and explore various marketing strategies for promotion of my offers. I'm also interested in collaborating with other creators on affiliate deals, appearing on podcasts, and cultivating a community of solopreneurs.

Solopreneurship is a fast track to gaining control over your time and shaping the lifestyle you desire. My experience has only reinforced this belief, something I only started less than a year ago (Aug 2023).

So, if you know anyone interested in starting a newsletter, starting their solopreneur business, building wealth, or self-development, please share this post with them.

End of the day, just do it and trust the process. - Anfernee

Interesting Substacks I Read This Week:

Cracking the growth equation in a one person business,

Anfernee

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