Growing your newsletter, on Substack or elsewhere, can feel like standing at a crossroads: one path looks like relentless “growth hacking” in blinking neon lights, and the other, staying true to your voice, even when the algorithm and “do-this, do-that” posts whisper otherwise.
A: Must it be one or the other?
B: Can both be true?
C: I’ve written a book, so why do I need to write a newsletter?
D: All of the above?
The truth sits somewhere in the middle, and that’s where our core values, goals, and reality hang out.What do you wish from others? What do you give? Focus there.
BadRedhead Media, LLC’s All Things Book Marketing! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
💥 Gratitude to my exclusive advertising sponsor, the always-free universal link tool, Booklinker, and the paid tool, GeniusLink. I love both💥 (affiliate link).
We can grow our readership in ways that honor our creativity, energy, and mental health. Here’s how…
Start With Your Why (It Grounds Everything)
We’ve discussed finding your ikigai (see Note or read below- ee-kee-guy). Readers can feel when you’re writing from pressure instead of purpose. Keep your creative soul intact by reconnecting with why you’re here: to share insight, story, care, humor, scars, cats, and whatever else you carry.
If you don’t feel it as you write it, the reader won’t feel it as they read it.
A simple weekly practice: Ask yourself, “What feels true for me right now?” Now, write from that place. Readers respond to truth more than slickness.
Write for Humans, Not the Algorithm
You don’t have to chase virality. You just need to create moments of recognition. Ways to stay human:
Share what you’ve learned the hard way. I’ve shared one-star reviews here. We live. We learn.
Tell stories only you can tell. What’s your expertise? What’s your personal mission? Start with that.
Let readers in on your process, not only your output. Want to know how I write these posts? I could tell you, but you’d fall asleep. But sometimes the process is magical. 💫
Talk about writing, fear, burnout, joy, and the mess in between because, life. Universal truths connect us, not perfection.
My creative soul doesn’t thrive in performance. It thrives in connection. How about yours?
Notes: Use Without Letting Them Rule You
Substack Notes are just like social media. Whatever you’d post on Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, or wherever, you can post on Notes. They help new readers find you. Notes don’t go out to subscribers unless you specifically check the box (which I don’t recommend; it’s a different vibe).
We can schedule them now, which is handy.
READ ⬇️
A few Note ideas:
“What’s one sentence you’re proud of today?”
“Here’s what I learned from struggling with this one darn paragraph.”
“What’s one thing you want more creative courage for this week?”
Add a personal anecdote where applicable. When Notes deepen our voice rather than dilute it, they help, not drain, us.
Build a Signature Series
A series is where structure supports soul. Examples:
A weekly craft lesson
A trauma-informed creativity series
A behind-the-scenes writing clinic
A monthly “What I’m Learning” reflection
A storytelling series rooted in memory or identity
A series anchors you, which protects your energy. It also teaches readers what your world is about. This series by psychologist and author Sheila Sharpe on art theft has me hooked. If even one of the tasks above feels like too much, skip it. These are suggestions, never requirements.
Help Readers With Something Small and Useful
Every creator has blind spots. When you gently offer clarity, readers stay. Tiny offerings that make a big difference:
A checklist
A writing prompt
A micro-lesson
A short pep talk
A real-life oopsie (we’re all human, remember?). Just missed a step on my stairs that I’ve walked up and down for 14 years, and broke my fibula (hairline, thankfully). Life happens.
Small, consistent honesty and usefulness build trust. Trust becomes growth. And repeat.
Recommendations: Use With Intention, Not Obligation
Substack Recommendations can grow your list quickly, but the point is alignment, not volume.
Recommend people whose work truly speaks to you. Update a few times per year (or more often). Readers can feel integrity, and integrity is the heart of our creative soul (unless you’re just in it for all the money and glory we writers have hahaha…)
Learn how Recommendations work.
Let Your Welcome Email Do the Emotional Labor
Consider your welcome email a small act of kindness: you’re telling new readers, “Here’s what I care about, here’s what to expect, and here’s where to begin.” It’s not the place for your All About Me! bio. This is about your publication.
Keep it honest, warm, and clear.
Learn how to set up your Welcome email here.
If You Choose A Paywall Tier: Honor What You Want to Paywall
Your paid tier isn’t where you “hide” things; it’s where you go deeper. Paywall ideas that preserve your soul:
Templates, tools, scripts
Interviews or behind-the-scenes content
Personal craft lessons
Creative mentorship pieces
Again, no pressure to go paid. Most people don’t. I have paid subs on as an option, but keep all content free. If you want to rank on a leaderboard, you must turn on paid tiers.
Guard Your Energy Fiercely (It’s Real Currency)
Your creativity is a living thing that needs rest, boundaries, and gentleness. Try:
Accepting that you don’t need to publish every thought
Posting a few times per week instead of daily (gasp)
Taking breaks without apology (I’m terrible at this)
Saying no to collaborations that dilute your focus
Growth built on depletion isn’t growth but erosion of energy. We can be good people with kind hearts and still say no.
Chat: Build Community, Not Dependence
Your newsletter or Substack isn’t a megaphone to shout, “Buy my book!” It’s a circle. Invite conversation. Host chats. Ask questions. Share struggles as well as solutions. Readers stay when they feel like they belong.
Subscribers see your Chat. You can keep it free or make it a paid option. Learn more about how Chat functions here.
People I learn from and subscribe to:
Veronica Llorca-Smith: Honest, author-first advice on using Substack to build visibility without burnout. She writes with clarity, compassion, and zero hype.
Jane Friedman: A sober, reality-based look at Substack for authors — the good, the challenging, and the boundaries worth setting. Great for reframing expectations.
Self-Publishing School (Guide): A solid, beginner-friendly tutorial for writers who want to understand Substack without jargon or pressure.
Samuél Lopez-Barrantes (IBPA Feature): A thoughtful case study on building a meaningful Substack presence without hype or burnout.
Self-Publishing with Dale: A deeply aligned resource for ethical, sustainable book marketing. Dale offers practical advice on self-publishing, distribution, and author branding in a way that feels steady and human.
My Free Substack Tips: https://badredheadmediallc.substack.com/s/substack-tips. Not quite ready to subscribe? I have a tip jar - any amount appreciated.
🌻 Free or paid, I’m glad you’re here. I’m available for hire. See my website or email me!
The truth is simple. Most authors don’t fail because their writing isn’t good. They struggle because readers never get the chance to find them. Let’s fix that.
BadRedhead Media, LLC’s All Things Book Marketing! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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