Month: July 2025

How I went from being invisible to game-changing 350+ subscribers
with one note at Substack.

A few weeks ago, I made myself a quiet promise.
No overthinking. No big expectations. Just one simple challenge:
Write 2 Notes a day on Substack for the next 30 days.

Why Notes?

Because I knew I was writing in the dark.
Notes are little posts on the Substack platform like X(Twitter).
Publishing my weekly newsletter was great, but my audience wasn’t growing.

I wasn’t building visibility.
I wasn’t getting feedback.
And let’s be honest: it’s hard to stay motivated when you feel like no one’s reading.

So I started posting daily Notes.

Note #1: A simple tip.
Got 3 likes.

Note #2: A short story.
2 likes and a kind comment.

Note #3 through #6?
More of the same, low numbers, low traction.

But I kept going.
Because that was the deal I made with myself.

Just show up. Twice a day. For 30 days.

Then came Note #7.
It wasn’t revolutionary.
I just told my journey of retiring early to follow my dream of writing.

For some reason, it resonated.

1,400+ likes.
190 comments
63 reposts
Over 350+ new subscribers.

It may not be big in LinkedIn terms
But it is huge on Substack

My inbox lit up with subscription notices.
I spent hours responding to people’s comments.

Some said they were amazed at my achievements.
Others said I gave them hope that it’s never too late to
– Follow a dream
– Write a book
– Start a business

What changed?
Nothing, except visibility.

I was the same person with the same ideas.
But now, people saw me.

That’s the real lesson here:
👉 If you’re not consistently visible on the platform you’re using,
you’re not giving your work a fair chance.

You don’t need to go viral.

You just need to show up often enough to get noticed.
Because your Note #7 moment won’t happen if you quit after Note #3.

Now, I use Notes to build momentum, test ideas,
and attract the right people.

And you can too.

Pick a platform.
Commit to showing up.
Even if it’s small. Even if it’s slow.

You’re only one post away from being seen.
Want to read the Note that started it all?
Here it is: Activate to view larger image.

“What should my newsletter be about?”

I’ve heard this question more times than I can count.

After running a Substack newsletter for 4.5 years, here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t need a flashy niche.
You need a clear promise.

Not:
“I write about marketing.”

But:
“I help coaches turn their knowledge into a paid newsletter that builds trust and income.”

See the shift?

It’s not about being broad, clever, or hyper-niche.

It’s about being clear. Clear about who you help, what you help them do, and why it matters.

Start with what you already know—your lived experience, your work, your wins (and even your failures).

Then ask: Who needs this knowledge in a focused, practical way?

Because here’s the formula I swear by:

Your zone of genius + A real problem people will pay to solve = A profitable newsletter niche

And before you fall into the rabbit hole of “But it’s been done before”—let me say this:

Don’t overthink it.
Don’t try to be original.
Don’t try to sound smart.

Just be useful. Be helpful. Be you.

That’s more than enough.

PS: Download this guide if you want to learn more.