Yes Tom, great post and I love the challenge! I so appreciated the comment you made on my post as I am a mere fledgling here in this space and to receive recognition and support from someone really does mean a lot. So it's quite a service, in a way, to uplift others. It could really make their day and encouraging creative expression is what it's really about. It can also be viewed as a writing exercise in it's own right, just getting used to spitting out quick ideas to share with people. Thanks for what you do.
Christoph when someone tells me I made their day, it makes my day. Even if my relationship with them begins and ends with a single encouraging comment, that's cool with me. It's incredible how starved we all are of encouragement. Most writers are really good!! I wish they knew that.
The best thing about this newsletter that I came across randomly is the practicality. Thank you for sharing this and I'm going to definitely use them..
Tom I appreciate this content. I too, started on Medium and was aware of how to get followers, but you expanded in a way that resonates with me. You can like anyone and everyone to get a following, but your way, builds relationships! When God first asked me to write about him, I felt it should be free, now I'm rethinking it. Anyway... thanks, and once I get back to work in April, I'll be happy to become a paid subscriber. Good luck and God bless!🙂
Engaging on others posts is always a good way to become known. I think it’s more valuable if you comment early in the post’s life too. As readers come in and see the comments they will generally see early commenters first.
Yes that's how I feel. Someone suggested to share a quote from the article as a note because it stands out in the notification feed of the person you're interacting with more.
Hey Senetta!! Yes it is! Medium does make it quite easy to find new authors to build relationships with, so that's something that's still very much a big positive about that platform.
Tom this is the post I’ve been searching for. Honest and genuine. A strategy grounded in building true community. Thanks for pulling back the curtain and outlining a playbook that is rooted in caring about what people have to say. Take a bow sir.
Derek thank you!! Substack is truly all about community and I feel like the fact that it's harder to grow here than other platforms actually sorta works in its favor. It kind of just makes all the people looking for a quick way to get thousands of followers to quit. Happy it helps!
Let me know how it goes for you Christopher. Part of the reason I wrote this was to put this idea out into the world to see how it holds up. Let me know if there's any variation to this strategy that works better for you, etc. I'm all ears.
Seeing your kind and thoughtful comment on my post about Kauai today threw me off. No one comments with that kind of thoughtfulness and kindness. I thought it was spam. I had to check out your profile, saw that it was real, then became a free subscriber. So your method absolutely works. I can see how thoughtful comments as a regular practice would help me become better at interacting with others, which is tricky for me. You’ve got me sold. Even though I’m overcommitted this month and don’t have 1.5 hours to spare, I’m joining your community so I can grow mine with the grace you demonstrate.
Marta, I hope you know as well that my comments are genuine. I'm really looking to make friends here on Substack and support great writers like you that deserve to be discovered. I'm excited to see where you go from here. Thanks for coming on board. The goal is to leave 10 comments a day, but even if you do 5 (which will cut the time commitment in half across the board), you'll be fine. 😊🙏 I appreciate you a lot, Marta!!
Kidding... I really enjoyed this, Tom. The unique thing about Substack, compared to other social platforms, is that the people are almost always awesome, genuine, and positive. The bonus is that boosting the work of others, which is interesting and fun on its own, almost always results in more eyes on your work.
I'm currently on a shoe string budget as I focus on writing full-time -- and would be completely broke if I started paying for all the Substacks I want to -- but the challenge sounds great and I'll be with you in spirit. Best of luck to you, Tom, and everyone participating!
Jack let me know how it goes! Let me know what your results are. I heard a Zig Ziglar quote once that's stuck with me ever since... "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want."
I've also had a viral note bring in over 50 subs in a matter of a couple days. You NEVER know what's going to hit with people...reason #1 to stay engaged with other humans on the platform!
Yes Kristi! What's weird is I haven't had a mega viral Note happen since January, despite posting more or less the same kinds of things. Maybe since my Notes were fresher back then, they got shown to more people. I hadn't posted a Note before January, I think, so maybe that initial entry into the Notes game was like a grand opening of sorts. But nowadays I feel more of a consistency to the amount of people who engage with my Notes that I really like. In the early days the numbers were all over the place. Now I can pretty much count on 40 people to like my Notes, and it feels the number is growing. I feel like I kind of rediscovered my baseline and am now growing from there. What has been your experience?
I have found Notes to be instrumental in all of my growth here. When I left Medium I didn't bring anyone over with me. And I don't use social media at all so Notes and engagement is it for me. I've managed to build over 500 subs in 6 months with zero outside influence so I think it's proof positive of what your article is saying.
Yeah I think not bringing anybody from Medium over with you was a good idea. There's some newsletters with hundreds of subscribers that get more average likes per post than mine does and I have 2,700 subscribers. That's because they really grew a nice following here of people who love Substack. It's kind of crazy to me how much people on Medium don't seem to know too much about Substack or aren't active here. It's slow going sometimes here on Substack but I think 1 subscriber here counts for like 10-50 followers on Medium. It's not even close imo.
I think your 1 to 50 comparison is so accurate! I have over 5K on Medoum now and in 2023 I was lucky if I got 100 views on a story. That's super shitty stats if you ask me 😂 I just feel so much more appreciated here.
I like the idea, Tom! One thing I appreciate is that you are calling this a "sprint". I offered my first challenge to people, in, I don't know, 2016/2017 and led monthly challenges for a company for 3-ish years? But I think "sprint" is a nicer way of describing a similar concept.
If you wanted to make this more accessible to people, you could perhaps also offer the possibility of a "half sprint"? So, writers who know that 10 comments are day are too much for them but would like to participate in this could commit to a half-sprint instead where they comment on 5 posts a day.
That's a good idea Louise!! I was thinking during this challenge I want to encourage the "sprinters" to experiment and see if anything I'm not covering is a better way of doing things. I just started doing this last week, so I'm as much of a novice at building connections with people on Substack as everybody else. Maybe there is a better way!
I'm happy to share a few thoughts if you like? These are just based on my past experience so I'm not sure how well they translate to Substack sprints.
Back when I was a habit coach and someone wanted to develop a new habit (and, in a way, commenting on posts every day is a habit), we'd aim for identifying a "floor" and a "ceiling".
When someone wants to create a new habit, the tendency is to aim for something that's too much of a stretch for them (such as going from 0 to 100, from being a couch potato to working out every day for 60 minutes). The problem with that approach is that it sets them up for failure. If they miss one or more day, they can tell themselves: "oh, of course this wouldn't work." And then go back to 0.
That's where the "floor" comes in. Basically, it's about identifying the minimal effective dose. If they do this little thing every day, they can say that they're building the habit. So, instead of working out every day for 60 minutes, perhaps that's going for a 10 minute walk. They can always do a lot more than that (that's where the "ceiling" goal comes in), but if they walk for at least 10 minutes, they have reached the "floor" goal.
So, one idea is to have a minimum goal of, say, 3 posts a day and a target goal of 10 comments/day. That way, if someone has a super-hectic day, it's more likely that they'll try to catch up on commenting at the end of the day (because 3 comments is so much less intimidating than 10). And, who knows, once they start, they might even make it to 10.
This is really helpful Louise. I'm writing it down and might even share a little bit of your comment with the folks going through this challenge right now, if that's okay?
Thank you so much Jim for the comment. I agree. And the good news is, there's a way to do it that doesn't feel "marketing-y" for lack of a better word (my brain is still waking up lol). There's a way to make connections with people and give just as much, if not more, than you take. That's cool.
Yes Tom, great post and I love the challenge! I so appreciated the comment you made on my post as I am a mere fledgling here in this space and to receive recognition and support from someone really does mean a lot. So it's quite a service, in a way, to uplift others. It could really make their day and encouraging creative expression is what it's really about. It can also be viewed as a writing exercise in it's own right, just getting used to spitting out quick ideas to share with people. Thanks for what you do.
Christoph when someone tells me I made their day, it makes my day. Even if my relationship with them begins and ends with a single encouraging comment, that's cool with me. It's incredible how starved we all are of encouragement. Most writers are really good!! I wish they knew that.
The best thing about this newsletter that I came across randomly is the practicality. Thank you for sharing this and I'm going to definitely use them..
I'm happy to hear that. This is a no-frills approach. Just get in there and do the work. It will pay off.
Tom I appreciate this content. I too, started on Medium and was aware of how to get followers, but you expanded in a way that resonates with me. You can like anyone and everyone to get a following, but your way, builds relationships! When God first asked me to write about him, I felt it should be free, now I'm rethinking it. Anyway... thanks, and once I get back to work in April, I'll be happy to become a paid subscriber. Good luck and God bless!🙂
Thanks Deb! No rush at all. This method just FEELS right in my bones!! :)
Engaging on others posts is always a good way to become known. I think it’s more valuable if you comment early in the post’s life too. As readers come in and see the comments they will generally see early commenters first.
Yes that's how I feel. Someone suggested to share a quote from the article as a note because it stands out in the notification feed of the person you're interacting with more.
This is a great idea, Tom. I'm on Medium and it's true about building relationships.
Hey Senetta!! Yes it is! Medium does make it quite easy to find new authors to build relationships with, so that's something that's still very much a big positive about that platform.
Tom this is the post I’ve been searching for. Honest and genuine. A strategy grounded in building true community. Thanks for pulling back the curtain and outlining a playbook that is rooted in caring about what people have to say. Take a bow sir.
Derek thank you!! Substack is truly all about community and I feel like the fact that it's harder to grow here than other platforms actually sorta works in its favor. It kind of just makes all the people looking for a quick way to get thousands of followers to quit. Happy it helps!
This is a great practical guide to early Substack growth. Can't wait to use the tips in this article!
Let me know how it goes for you Christopher. Part of the reason I wrote this was to put this idea out into the world to see how it holds up. Let me know if there's any variation to this strategy that works better for you, etc. I'm all ears.
Seeing your kind and thoughtful comment on my post about Kauai today threw me off. No one comments with that kind of thoughtfulness and kindness. I thought it was spam. I had to check out your profile, saw that it was real, then became a free subscriber. So your method absolutely works. I can see how thoughtful comments as a regular practice would help me become better at interacting with others, which is tricky for me. You’ve got me sold. Even though I’m overcommitted this month and don’t have 1.5 hours to spare, I’m joining your community so I can grow mine with the grace you demonstrate.
Marta, I hope you know as well that my comments are genuine. I'm really looking to make friends here on Substack and support great writers like you that deserve to be discovered. I'm excited to see where you go from here. Thanks for coming on board. The goal is to leave 10 comments a day, but even if you do 5 (which will cut the time commitment in half across the board), you'll be fine. 😊🙏 I appreciate you a lot, Marta!!
I appreciate you Tom and I’m grateful you took the time to read my work and leave a genuine comment. Looking forward to growing with you. 🙏🏻🤩
GREAT POST!
Kidding... I really enjoyed this, Tom. The unique thing about Substack, compared to other social platforms, is that the people are almost always awesome, genuine, and positive. The bonus is that boosting the work of others, which is interesting and fun on its own, almost always results in more eyes on your work.
I'm currently on a shoe string budget as I focus on writing full-time -- and would be completely broke if I started paying for all the Substacks I want to -- but the challenge sounds great and I'll be with you in spirit. Best of luck to you, Tom, and everyone participating!
Jack let me know how it goes! Let me know what your results are. I heard a Zig Ziglar quote once that's stuck with me ever since... "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want."
I love that. Going to save it in the archives for a gloomy day.
I've also had a viral note bring in over 50 subs in a matter of a couple days. You NEVER know what's going to hit with people...reason #1 to stay engaged with other humans on the platform!
Yes Kristi! What's weird is I haven't had a mega viral Note happen since January, despite posting more or less the same kinds of things. Maybe since my Notes were fresher back then, they got shown to more people. I hadn't posted a Note before January, I think, so maybe that initial entry into the Notes game was like a grand opening of sorts. But nowadays I feel more of a consistency to the amount of people who engage with my Notes that I really like. In the early days the numbers were all over the place. Now I can pretty much count on 40 people to like my Notes, and it feels the number is growing. I feel like I kind of rediscovered my baseline and am now growing from there. What has been your experience?
I have found Notes to be instrumental in all of my growth here. When I left Medium I didn't bring anyone over with me. And I don't use social media at all so Notes and engagement is it for me. I've managed to build over 500 subs in 6 months with zero outside influence so I think it's proof positive of what your article is saying.
Yeah I think not bringing anybody from Medium over with you was a good idea. There's some newsletters with hundreds of subscribers that get more average likes per post than mine does and I have 2,700 subscribers. That's because they really grew a nice following here of people who love Substack. It's kind of crazy to me how much people on Medium don't seem to know too much about Substack or aren't active here. It's slow going sometimes here on Substack but I think 1 subscriber here counts for like 10-50 followers on Medium. It's not even close imo.
I think your 1 to 50 comparison is so accurate! I have over 5K on Medoum now and in 2023 I was lucky if I got 100 views on a story. That's super shitty stats if you ask me 😂 I just feel so much more appreciated here.
Same Kristi, same. I'm a major fan of Substack's now. :)
I like the idea, Tom! One thing I appreciate is that you are calling this a "sprint". I offered my first challenge to people, in, I don't know, 2016/2017 and led monthly challenges for a company for 3-ish years? But I think "sprint" is a nicer way of describing a similar concept.
If you wanted to make this more accessible to people, you could perhaps also offer the possibility of a "half sprint"? So, writers who know that 10 comments are day are too much for them but would like to participate in this could commit to a half-sprint instead where they comment on 5 posts a day.
That's a good idea Louise!! I was thinking during this challenge I want to encourage the "sprinters" to experiment and see if anything I'm not covering is a better way of doing things. I just started doing this last week, so I'm as much of a novice at building connections with people on Substack as everybody else. Maybe there is a better way!
I'm happy to share a few thoughts if you like? These are just based on my past experience so I'm not sure how well they translate to Substack sprints.
Back when I was a habit coach and someone wanted to develop a new habit (and, in a way, commenting on posts every day is a habit), we'd aim for identifying a "floor" and a "ceiling".
When someone wants to create a new habit, the tendency is to aim for something that's too much of a stretch for them (such as going from 0 to 100, from being a couch potato to working out every day for 60 minutes). The problem with that approach is that it sets them up for failure. If they miss one or more day, they can tell themselves: "oh, of course this wouldn't work." And then go back to 0.
That's where the "floor" comes in. Basically, it's about identifying the minimal effective dose. If they do this little thing every day, they can say that they're building the habit. So, instead of working out every day for 60 minutes, perhaps that's going for a 10 minute walk. They can always do a lot more than that (that's where the "ceiling" goal comes in), but if they walk for at least 10 minutes, they have reached the "floor" goal.
So, one idea is to have a minimum goal of, say, 3 posts a day and a target goal of 10 comments/day. That way, if someone has a super-hectic day, it's more likely that they'll try to catch up on commenting at the end of the day (because 3 comments is so much less intimidating than 10). And, who knows, once they start, they might even make it to 10.
This is really helpful Louise. I'm writing it down and might even share a little bit of your comment with the folks going through this challenge right now, if that's okay?
Sure thing!
P.S.: I already got 2 new subscribers since I started commenting yesterday so your approach definitely works. :)
Louise please let me know how your experiment goes. I would love to hear about what your results are if you stay with it.
The best thing about this newsletter that I came across randomly is the practicality. Thank you for sharing this and I'm going to definitely use them.
Thank you Ayesha!! :) I'll keep trying to give you all practical tips as much as possible. I'm all about that. Cheers.
Great article, Tom!
It's easy to fall into a mania of one-way creativity online:
i.e posting but not interacting.
But as you highlight, social media is a conversation, and a conversation is two-way.
For many people, the pain point is time.
They have to choose between developing the gift of their writing or being present on social media.
The paradox is that "good writing" isn't enough because good writing needs an audience.
And building an audience is, in itself, a discipline.
Many writers have an artist's sensibility and scoff at the (often dreadful) realisation that social media is a game.
We resist it, but it is part of the job.
What you point out is not just the game and its tactics but the importance of opening one's artistic heart to the conversation itself.
Chapeau.
Opening up to that two-way interplay can energise creatively and help build your community - important because a writer's path can be lonely!
And upwind online is - whether we like it or not - motivating.
The reality is that the age of the "discovered" writer may be over.
As artists, we have to emerge from the fog, not just accepting the "game" but finding meaning within it.
That may require resetting our feelings about social media and taking it on as a discipline in itself.
The challenge is not to allow it to eat away at the development of the discipline of writing itself.
That is itself an art form and something we must carefully manage.
Thank you for your inspiring post - I found you through your "reintroduction to Substack note". I will pay tribute by pinching the format!
Have a good day, and greetings from a Scot in Berlin,
Jim
Thank you so much Jim for the comment. I agree. And the good news is, there's a way to do it that doesn't feel "marketing-y" for lack of a better word (my brain is still waking up lol). There's a way to make connections with people and give just as much, if not more, than you take. That's cool.
Absolutely - and its so energising to be in that exchange. Glad to have discovered you Tom - keep inspiring!
The challenge sounds great, interested in participating in this myself!
Ryan we're going to do another one in April. I think April 8 is when the next one will start. I'll have an announcement about it :)
Haha the Lion witch wardrobe analogy is so true 😂
I knew this Tom and I haven't done it. Thanks for the excellent post and the nudge. I'm onto it.
Good luck Robyn! :)