The Substack Notes algorithm is always changing. Anyone promising a handful of tricks to game the system or telling you to copy what worked for them is peddling “Subhacks” that won’t work long-term.
The key to growth is using Notes to amplify your unique voice and what you do on Substack.
I’ve guided hundreds of Substackers to use Notes to grow and have seen what works on Notes and what doesn’t.
What works? A solid, personal, integrity-based strategy. Always.
» Leverage your unique voice and Substack to craft a Notes strategy that resonates.
Using Notes to grow doesn’t mean spending all your time on the feed; quite the opposite.
I want you to use Notes strategically for growth while dedicating most of your time to what you love: writing and creating on Substack.
Developing your Notes strategy also offers a powerful opportunity to get to know yourself and connect more deeply with your work, which is what is the foundation of Substack Writers at Work and what I’m all about.
A customized Notes strategy for subscriber attraction and viral potential
A life-friendly Notes calendar (based on my proven method for maximizing Notes’ benefits with minimal time investment)
Techniques to break out of your Substack bubble and attract new subscribers
⇢ PLUS (!) a LIVE NOTES BOOST to kickstart your viral journey
Sarah Fay is the leading Substack Growth Strategist and founder of the Substack Writers at Work membership, a bestselling Substack community with over 20,000 members. She's mentored hundreds of writers—from award-winning journalists to bestselling authors and thought leaders—helping them achieve Substack success. As the creator of two bestselling, featured Substacks and an award-winning teacher at Northwestern University, she's widely regarded as the go-to Substack expert.
Sarah is also an award-winning author published by HarperCollins, a freelance writer for The New York Times and other prominent publications, a mental health advocate, and the author of Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses.
Through her signature program, the Substack Writers at Work membership, Sarah helps writers and creatives leverage their unique talents, make money, and build a loyal audience of superfans on Substack. Her singular approach combines platform-specific strategies with professional and personal growth, enabling her clients and members to produce their best work, have a platform, and earn the income they deserve doing work they love.